Apr 20, 2026 Work Session & City Commission

[WORK SESSION #1– 5:30 P.M.]

[00:00:04]

GOOD EVENING. WE ARE HERE TO PRESENT THE FEE SCHEDULE FOR THE UPCOMING FISCAL YEAR.

MISS ROARK. YEAH. I'M EXCITED TO SHARE A COUPLE OF CHANGES WE HAVE.

YOU HAVE PAPER COPIES IN FRONT OF YOU. THE FONT IS A LITTLE BIT ON THE SMALL SIDE.

I WAS TRYING TO SAVE SOME TREES. THE FOLKS IN THE AUDIENCE HAVE A SLIGHTLY BIGGER SCREEN, BUT NOT BY MUCH.

SO BUT WE'RE GOING TO START ON PAGE FOUR. THAT THE ONLY NEW FEE WE HAVE THIS YEAR IS A TECHNOLOGY FEE IN THE MUNICIPAL COURT.

YOU MAY RECALL WE, THE PARENTS INTRODUCED SENATE BILL 618 ON OUR BEHALF TO HAVE THIS BE PUT ON THE DOCKET IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY THIS YEAR. AND IT PASSED.

IT GIVES US THE OPTION TO ASSESS A FEE OF UP TO $15 EVERY YEAR.

SO IT WILL BE PART OF THE FEE SCHEDULE ANNUALLY AND YOU CAN DECIDE WHAT THE FEE WILL BE.

BUT WE'RE THE TEAM HAS DECIDED TO START IT AT $10 PER CITATION, AND THAT WOULD NET ABOUT $50,000 A YEAR WITH THAT FEE. AND THAT'S ALSO ON TOP OF THERE'S A $5.50 PER CITATION FEE FOR COURT, WHERE 50,000 ROUGHLY.

OKAY. AND I SHOULD SAY I'M GOING TO DO KIND OF AN OVERVIEW, AND THEN WE'LL KIND OF WALK YOU THROUGH HIGH LEVEL.

AND THEN IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT A FEE IN PARTICULAR, I HAVE FRIENDS IN THE ROOM THAT WILL, I WILL ASK TO COME UP AND TAKE A DEEPER DIVE IN THE TIME THAT WE HAVE.

AND IF WE RUN OUT OF TIME, WE'LL DEFINITELY FOLLOW UP WITH EMAILS.

THIS WORK IN GENERAL, FEES ARE SUPPOSED TO COVER SPECIFIC COSTS.

CORRECT, WHICH IS WHAT DISTINGUISHES THEM FROM A TAX.

OKAY. AND SO THIS FEE, THIS 50,000 WOULD COVER THIS $10 PER CITATION FEE WOULD HELP COVER THE A AV SYSTEM COSTS THAT WE ANNUALLY.

THE GROUP THAT COMES IN. THEY PROVIDE OUR AV SERVICES.

THERE'S A SUBSCRIPTION FOR ELECTRONIC SIGNATURE SOFTWARE.

POLICE RECORDS MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE, THE COPIER RENTAL.

SO ALL THE THINGS THAT GO INTO THE SOFTWARE SIDE OF MUNICIPAL COURT.

THIS FEE WOULD HELP COVER INCLUDING OUR VOA, OUR VIRTUAL OFFICE OR MOBILE OFFICE OF OUR THE NETWORK.

BUT IT DOESN'T COVER ALL THOSE COSTS. IT'S JUST A FRACTION OF THOSE COSTS.

THERE ARE MORE COSTS, BUT THAT'S WHAT WE'RE THINKING THIS FEE WOULD COVER.

THANK YOU. THEN STAYING ON PAGE FOUR THERE, WE'LL JUST HOP DOWN TO THE PARKING BOX.

THAT COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT HAS ENGAGED IN A DOWNTOWN PARKING STUDY, AND THE STUDY FOUND THAT 94% OF ALL CITATIONS ISSUED WERE FOR EXPIRED METER. SO IT WAS RECOMMENDED THAT THE CITATION FEE BE DOUBLED.

SO IT WOULD GO FROM $15 IF YOU RECEIVE AN EXPIRED METER TO OUR PARKING VIOLATION, UP TO NO PARKING VIOLATION WOULD GO UP TO $30. A RESTRICTED PARKING VIOLATION. HOPE SOME OF THESE I NEED TO.

THE OTHER PARKING VIOLATIONS GO TO 30. VIOLATION OF A FIRE LANE WOULD GO FROM 55 TO 75 AS A WAY TO HELP ENCOURAGE BETTER PARKING BEHAVIOR TO NOT STAY ON YOUR METER TOO LONG.

WE HAVE A COLUMN FOR RESIDENT NON RESIDENT. I ASSUME IT'S THE SAME FOR EVERYBODY.

IT'S THE SAME FOR EVERYBODY. IF THERE IS A SEPARATE NON RESIDENT RATE, IT WOULD BE IN THAT BLANK COLUMN NEXT TO IT.

FOR THE MOST PART MOST OF OUR FEES JUST FALL INTO THE RESIDENT CATEGORY.

SO THESE FEES COMMENSURATE WITH THE REST OF THE COUNTY.

DO WE HAVE ANY DATA TO SHOW WHAT. I DON'T HAVE THAT IN MY NOTES WHEN MISS THREADGILL RETURNS INTO THE ROOM.

OKAY, COME BACK TO THAT ONE. THE NEXT IS IN THE PLANNING AND ZONING CATEGORY.

SO STAYING THERE ON PAGE FOUR JUST WENT TO TWO.

IT GOES ON TO PAGE FIVE. THAT'S THE PLANNING AND ZONING TEAM ENGAGED IN A STUDY THIS YEAR TO LOOK AT THEIR FEES.

AND THROUGH THEIR ANALYSIS, THEY DESERVE. NOTICE THAT SEVERAL APPLICATION FEES WERE FAR BELOW WHAT IT COST THEM TO.

DO. AND THEY LOOKED AT EACH APPLICATION TO DETERMINE THE ACTUAL COST ASSOCIATED WITH STAFF TIME, SITE INSPECTION, THE NEWSPAPER ADVERTISEMENT FEE, THE PRINTING, AND ANY OTHER CITY RESOURCES THAT GO INTO.

PLANNING AND ZONING FEE. AND YOU HAVE A SUPPLEMENTAL SHEET WITH YOU THAT WAS NOT IN THE PACKET THAT HAS PLANNING AND ZONING FEES THAT SHOW WHERE WE ARE, OUR CURRENT FEE, HOW MUCH THEY BELIEVE IT WOULD ACTUALLY COST TO COVER THEIR COSTS.

[00:05:03]

HOW WAS THE LAST TIME WE UPDATED THESE FEES? I'LL HAVE TO DO SOME RESEARCH ON THAT, BUT IT HAS BEEN QUITE A WHILE, AND I JUST WE HEAR CONCERNS ABOUT AFFORDABLE HOUSING AFFORDABILITY AND IN GENERAL, LIKE NATIONALLY, THERE'S A MAYBE YOU'RE NOT THE RIGHT PERSON TO ANSWER THIS.

BUT I WOULD LIKE TO UNDERSTAND HOW WE'RE TRYING TO APPROACH MAKING IT EASIER FOR PEOPLE TO BUILD, BUILD HOUSING. AND SO I DON'T KNOW. I MEAN, OBVIOUSLY I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S BEHIND THIS OR, AND I DON'T WANT TO BE COMPROMISING THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF OUR PEOPLE, OUR RESIDENTS.

BUT I'M JUST CURIOUS ABOUT THAT. I'D LIKE TO UNDERSTAND THAT.

COME BACK TO THAT IN JUST A MINUTE. OKAY. I GET TO THE OTHER FEW, BUT THEN THIS THAT'LL BE THE FIRST ONE.

WE COME BACK TO YOU BECAUSE WE'RE GOING TO HOP DOWN TO PAGE SIX BEFORE YOU HOP.

I HAD A QUESTION ABOUT THE SHORT TERM RENTALS.

I'VE HEARD FROM A FEW RESIDENTS THAT THEY'VE, THEY'VE BEEN STUCK IN THE PROCESS.

HAVE WE FULLY INTEGRATED THAT APPLICATION FOR SHORT TERM RENTALS? SO THAT I KNOW WE WENT THROUGH AND THERE WAS AN ORDINANCE SO THAT THEY HAD TO REGISTER.

WHERE ARE WE WITH THIS ROLLOUT? HAVE WE.

GOOD EVENING. PLANNING AND ZONING. SO WE ACTUALLY THE PORTAL JUST OPENED THIS JANUARY.

SO WE ARE NEW IN THE PROCESS. WE ARE COORDINATING THE DIFFERENT INSPECTIONS WITH THE DEPARTMENT BECAUSE THAT WAS ONE OF THE REQUIREMENTS. AND SO THOSE APPLICATIONS ARE OKAY.

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. NOW YOU CAN SKIP JUMP. I'LL BE BACK IN JUST A MOMENT.

SO SO WE'RE GOING TO GO TO SCROLLING BY WHAT IS THE PARKS AND REC SECTION.

WE DON'T ACTUALLY HAVE ANY PARKS AND REC FEE CHANGES THIS YEAR.

THEY ARE GOING THROUGH THEIR REVIEW OF THEIR FINANCIAL SUSTAINABILITY PLAN.

SO THEY'RE GOING TO KEEP THEIR FEES WHAT THEY ARE TODAY IF THEY GO THROUGH THAT PLAN.

BUT THEY WILL THEY DO EXPECT CHANGES NEXT YEAR IN 2728.

HOWEVER, I BELIEVE THEY ARE COMING TO A WORK SESSION SOON ABOUT THE LEGACY PARK TRACK AND FIELD, AND THERE MAY BE DISCUSSION ABOUT THE USE THEN AND THE FEE THAT WOULD BE INCORPORATED.

AND WE WOULD MAKE SURE THAT GETS PUT INTO THE FEE SCHEDULE FOR ADOPTION IN JUNE.

BUT WE WON'T TALK ABOUT PARKS AND REC TODAY. NOW ON TO PUBLIC SAFETY AREA.

THE FIRE DEPARTMENT HAS TWO FEES LIKE TO BRING FORWARD FOR CHANGES.

THE FIRST ONE IS IN THIS FALSE ALARM. PREVIOUSLY IT HAD BEEN $50 AFTER THREE FALSE ALARMS AND THEN $50 EACH TIME AFTER THREE.

AND THEY HAVE FOUND THAT THE EXISTING SCHEDULE AND THE $50 OCCURRENCE AFTER THAT DOES NOT EFFECTIVELY ENCOURAGE CORRECTIVE BEHAVIORS.

SO THEY'RE TRYING TO CHANGE THAT. SO IT WOULD NOW BE FOR RESIDENTIAL FROM THE FIRST TO THE THIRD.

FALSE ALARMS. THERE'S NO FEE, BUT THERE WOULD BE SOME EDUCATION COMPONENTS EACH TIME.

FOR THOSE THREE TIMES. THE FOURTH FALSE ALARM WOULD BE A $50 FINE.

THE FIFTH ALARM WOULD BE A 75 UP THROUGH 125 FOR YOUR SEVENTH OR THEREAFTER.

THAT'S THE RESIDENTIAL SIDE. ON THE COMMERCIAL SIDE, YOU ONLY GET ONE FALSE ALARM, AND AFTER THAT IT STARTS AT 50 AND AGAIN GROWS TO 125. FIRE INSPECTION JUST A LITTLE BIT BELOW THAT.

THIS ONE IS MORE OF A CHANGE TO MAKE IT EASIER TO TO CLARIFY SOME THINGS, MAKE IT EASIER TO UNDERSTAND THE LANGUAGE AS IT'S WRITTEN.

NOW IT'S $150 FOR AN INSPECTION FOR A NEW BUSINESS OR REMODEL, OR A CHANGE IN OCCUPANCY, AND THEN $50 FOR EACH SUBSEQUENT REINSPECTION THEY WANT IT TO BE, IT'D BE $150 FOR YOUR INSPECTION, NO MATTER IF YOU'RE A NEW BUSINESS REMODEL.

CHANGE IN OCCUPANCY. IT'S IN THE RE-INSPECTION AREA.

THAT WOULD BE $50 FOR EACH SUBSEQUENT REINSPECTION RELATED TO.

ONCE YOU HAVE YOUR LICENSE OR YOUR ANNUAL LICENSE, OR IF YOU NEED YOUR NEW BUSINESS REMODEL OR CHANGE IN OCCUPANCY.

EACH TIME YOU NEED A REINSPECTION, YOU WOULD HAVE A $50 FEE.

AND THEN THE LAST ONE WE'LL DISCUSS. I'LL TURN IT OVER TO MY FRIENDS HERE.

[00:10:04]

WORLD CUP. I THINK IT'S SOMETHING GREEK TO ME.

NO BUT I'LL WE'LL GET BACK TO YOU. YEAH, OKAY.

I CAN SEE IT. I CAN'T EVEN I CAN'T EVEN PRONOUNCE IT.

SO. OKAY, I'M GOING TO. BACK UP AND TALK THROUGH THE CHANGES IN THE PLANNING AND ZONING FEES.

GOOD EVENING AGAIN. SO WHAT WE DID WAS WE ACTUALLY WENT THROUGH TO LOOK AT THE ACTUAL COST OF WHAT IT TOOK ON RESOURCES AND TIME FOR ALL OF OUR APPLICATIONS.

THESE ARE PRIMARILY OUR ZONING APPLICATIONS. SO WE DIDN'T ACTUALLY MODIFY THE BUILDING PERMIT FEES, WHICH I THINK MAY BE MORE OF WHAT THE HOMEOWNERS WOULD ACTUALLY BE PAYING.

THESE WOULD BE FOR THE REZONINGS CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT SPECIAL EXCEPTIONS.

VARIANCES. HISTORIC PRESERVATION. WE DO HAVE SOME OTHER INTERNAL ITEMS SUCH AS FINAL PLOTS, PRELIMINARY PLOTS, THINGS OF THAT NATURE. SO I THINK YOU HAVE THE PAGE RIGHT WITH THE THREE COLUMNS.

SO IN LOOKING AT WHAT WE WERE, WHAT WE WERE COLLECTING AND WHAT THE ACTUAL STAFF TIME COST IS, IS WHAT WE BROKE DOWN. AND I KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE FROM THE PUBLIC DON'T REALLY SEE HOW MUCH TIME WE INVEST IN THEM EVERY MONTH, BUT WE DO OBVIOUSLY MEET WITH THE APPLICANT PROCESS, THE APPLICATION, DRAFT THE LEGAL, SEND THE LEGALS, POST THE SIGNS, DO SITE VISITS, EVERYTHING REALLY HAS A COST.

OF COURSE. THEN WE HAVE THE STAFF TIME WHEN IT TAKES TO UPDATE THE REPORT, CREATE THE REPORTS, DO THE ATTACHMENT OUTREACH, RUNNING OF THE PUBLIC MEETING, AND THEN THINGS ON THE BACK END.

AS YOU KNOW, THE REZONINGS CONDITIONAL USE, SPECIAL EXCEPTIONS WOULD COME TO YOU ALL ONE MORE TIME.

SO THAT'S REALLY WHERE YOU CAN SEE THE DIFFERENCE.

THEY'RE KIND OF THE SAME SCHEDULES. AS IT TAKES FOR EVERY MEETING.

AND THEN WE JUST KIND OF ADD IT ON FOR THIS ONE.

BUT THEN WHEN I WAS REALLY LOOKING ACROSS THE METRO AND THE DIFFERENT AREA AND KNOWING THAT WE PROBABLY DIDN'T WANT TO BUMP THEM UP AS TO THAT FULL PRICE THAT IS WHAT WE'RE PROPOSING IN THE INTERIM. SO USUALLY IT'S ABOUT AT LEAST 50% OF THAT ADDITIONAL TIME WAS TAKEN OFF.

SO LIKE A, A REZONING OR A TEXT AMENDMENT WOULD GO FROM 600 TO 800.

SAME THING FOR THE SPECIAL EXCEPTION, THE CONDITIONAL USE 500 TO 700.

THE PRELIMINARY PLOTS GO UP A LITTLE BIT AS WELL.

THOSE REQUIRE PUBLIC HEARINGS. THE FINAL PLOT DOESN'T ALWAYS REQUIRE THAT.

SO THAT'S A LITTLE LOWER. THE LOT COMBINATIONS.

THAT'S, THAT'S MORE OF AN INTERNAL PROCESS. BUT IT DOES TAKE TIME AND GOES THROUGH DIFFERENT REVIEWERS AND DEPARTMENTS.

SURE, IF THERE WAS A SPECIFIC QUESTION OR JUST AN OVERVIEW OF EVERYTHING, I HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT THE HISTORIC REVIEW JUMPING FROM 35 TO 350.

CAN YOU TALK A LITTLE MORE ABOUT THAT? SURE. SO THAT'S THE SAME THING.

WE'VE ACTUALLY LOOKED AT WHAT IT COSTS FOR US TO TAKE EACH APPLICATION THROUGH THAT PROCESS.

AND THAT DOES HAVE SIGNPOSTING. WE DO DRAFT THE STAFF REPORTS.

WE DO HAVE THE TIME INVESTED IN THE MEETING. AND WITH THAT NATURE.

AND BY STATE LAW, OUR FEES CANNOT EXCEED WHAT IT COST US TO PROVIDE THAT SERVICE.

SO IF SOMEONE SAYS YOU KNOW, I, YOU KNOW, I THINK YOU HAVE THAT NUMBER WRONG.

WE HAVE THAT DOCUMENTATION FROM THE ANALYSIS THAT WAS PERFORMED.

I DO HAVE IT. I DIDN'T BRING IT HERE. NO, WE DON'T NEED TO SEE IT. WE DID BREAK IT DOWN BASICALLY WITH THE AVERAGE COST OF THE POSITIONS INVOLVED AND THEN THINGS LIKE WHAT IT ACTUALLY COST TO HAVE THE SIGN PRINTED, THE ACTUAL LEGAL COSTS AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE.

SO WE DO HAVE IT BROKEN DOWN. QUESTIONS.

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU FOR THAT. HAD QUESTIONS ABOUT PARKING.

AND OUR PARKING EXPERT JUST WALKED INTO THE ROOM.

YEAH. TAMMY WASHINGTON OR ANGELA THREADGILL WANT TO TAKE THIS ONE.

[00:15:04]

SO FOR ON STREET PARKING. WE ARE PRESENTLY NOT LOOKING AT ANY CHANGES.

WE'RE KIND OF AT THE NATIONAL AVERAGE ALREADY.

SO. AS FAR AS THE OTHER FEES.

MR. ACTUALLY A VIOLATION. YEAH. THESE ARE YEAH, THESE ARE AND TAMMY KNOWS FIRSTHAND ON THIS ONE, BUT IT'S GOTTEN TO THE POINT WHERE THE.

ENDS ARE NOT ENOUGH TO PREVENT PEOPLE FROM, YOU KNOW.

I'LL PAY I'LL PAY $15 IN MY CITATION TO PARK FOR FOUR HOURS.

CORRECT. NOT THAT I'VE EVER SAID THAT WE HAVE TO HURT PEOPLE.

SO THE QUESTION IS, IS 30 WORTH IT? DAN? I'M SORRY.

IS 30 WORTH IT? I MEAN, YOU KNOW, IF YOU'RE JUST ASKING FOR A FRIEND.

I MEAN, IF THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO BE A PARENT, THERE SHOULD BE A DETERRENT.

YEAH. $30 IS NOT GOING TO DETER. WE LOOK AT THE DIFFERENT LOTS AROUND TOWN AND THAT'S HOW WE CAME UP WITH THIS PRICE, WORKING WITH METROPOLIS TO SEE IF WE CAN JUST COME UP WITH THAT BASE AMOUNT IS $30 AND THEN INCREASE IT EVERY OUNCE.

I THINK OF A HIGH TRAFFIC AREA.

ONCE YOU CROSS OVER, THIS RESTAURANT'S ALL THE WAY THROUGH WHATEVER.

CHALLENGE THAT WE ALSO HAVE IS THAT IF THE RATE IS INCREASED SO MUCH, THEN IT'S ALMOST PROHIBITIVE THAT THEY WOULD PAY THE CITATION.

THEN WE HAVE THE WHOLE KIND OF ISSUE WITH NONPAYMENT.

AND THEN WE HAVE TO GO THROUGH A COLLECTIONS PROCESS.

SO THEY FEEL THAT THIS WOULD IS ENOUGH TO PREVENT PEOPLE FROM OVER PARKING IN THIS SPACE AND NOT PAYING FOR IT.

BUT NOT ENOUGH TO THE POINT WHERE IT WOULD BE A NON.

PARKING SURVEY. WE DID IT. I DO HAVE ANOTHER PARKING RELATED QUESTION, THOUGH, BECAUSE WE TALK, YOU KNOW, WE HEAR THIS ALL THE TIME FROM OUR SENIOR RESIDENTS ABOUT SOME TYPE OF RATE OR REDUCED RATE FOR SENIORS. IS THAT SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE GIVEN? OH, I KNOW IT'S A SEGUE RIGHT INTO THE PARKING PROGRAM TONIGHT BECAUSE WE HAVE ANOTHER WORK SESSION ON PARKING.

WE ARE JOINED TONIGHT WITH MEMBERS OF OUR TEAM AT METROPOLIS.

KEVIN WARRANTS IS HERE. HE IS A SENIOR OPERATIONS MANAGER.

AND THE, THE QUESTION, KEVIN, I'LL PARK THAT UNTIL OUR NEXT.

YEAH. NICELY DONE. OH, IT'S GOING TO BE LIKE THAT.

IT'S GOING TO BE LIKE THAT. IT IS THE 20TH. YES.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS ABOUT. SURE. WHAT THAT MEANS.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS ABOUT PARKING. NO. OKAY. OTHER QUESTIONS ABOUT THE FEE SCHEDULE.

I LOOKED OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS. OF OUR FEES KEPT PACE WITH INFLATION, EXCEEDED INFLATION OR BEEN BELOW INFLATION.

IT WOULD DEPEND ON THE SERVICE AREA. I'VE NOT ANALYZED IT IN THAT WAY.

BUT EVERY YEAR IN THIS PROBABLY THE THIRD YEAR I'VE STOOD BEFORE THIS BODY PRESENTING THE FEE SCHEDULE IN APRIL BEFORE YOU WOULD HAVE RECEIVED IT AT THE SECOND MEETING IN JUNE, RIGHT BEFORE YOU ADOPT THE BUDGET, BECAUSE THEY GO HAND IN HAND.

[00:20:03]

I THINK I WOULD LIKE I WOULD LIKE A LOOK AT THAT.

JUST HOW ARE THEY TRACKING? YEAH. SHORT ANSWER, I WOULD SAY PROBABLY GENERALLY WE HAVE NOT KEPT UP WITH THE RATE OF INFLATION.

THAT HASN'T BEEN OUR DRIVER FROM YEAR TO YEAR.

YOU KNOW, IN TERMS OF SETTING THE RATES, I WILL SAY THAT I THINK I BELIEVE THAT STAFF HAVE FELT SOME PRESSURE TO KEEP FEES WHERE THEY ARE NOT AT ALL COSTS, BUT WE ARE VERY CAREFUL BEFORE WE COME FORWARD TO MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR, FOR FEE INCREASES. AND PART OF THAT IS BECAUSE WE, YOU KNOW, WE DO UNDERSTAND THE REGRESSIVE NATURE OF FEES.

AND SO WE'RE, YOU KNOW, WE'RE ATTENTIVE TO THAT.

I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN JUSTIFY ANY FEE INCREASE, YOU KNOW, BUT I WILL SAY, YOU KNOW, IF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY CONTINUES ALONG ITS CURRENT COURSE YOU KNOW, CITIES LIKE OURSELVES YOU KNOW, WE'LL, WE'LL FIND THEMSELVES MORE MORE RELIANT ON FEES AS THE OPPORTUNITIES FOR PROPERTY TAX INCREASES IN PROPERTY TAXES. THOSE, THOSE OPPORTUNITIES OR, YOU KNOW, WILL BE LIMITED.

AND SO CITIES ARE GOING TO BE FORCED TO LOOK AT ENHANCING EXISTING FEES AND QUITE POSSIBLY CREATING, EVEN CREATING MORE FEES OR FINDING OTHER SOURCES OF REVENUE TO MAKE UP FOR THE LOSS OF PROPERTY TAXES.

THE OTHER CHALLENGE THAT WE'VE SEEN, ESPECIALLY WITH FEES, WE GET RESIDENTS WHO, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A GIVE AND TAKE. AND SO WHILE INFLATION OUTPACES INCOME, SOMETIMES, YOU KNOW, OUR FEES CAN BE A DETERRENCE FOR THOSE FOLKS THAT WE REALLY NEED.

SO IT'S BEEN A, IT'S BEEN AN INTERESTING DYNAMIC TO LOOK AT FEES.

AND SPECIFICALLY, WE'LL POINT TO, YOU KNOW, THE PARKS AND REC FEES WHEN, YOU KNOW, THE TWO DEPARTMENTS WERE COMBINED.

SO IT WOULD BE HELPFUL TO GO BACK AND SORT OF LOOK AT THAT INFORMATION, DISTINGUISH BETWEEN FEES THAT HAVE MORE OF AN IMPACT ON RESIDENTS AND.

ON RESIDENTS. SCHEDULE THAT WAY.

WITH THE PARKS AND REC, I'M LOOKING AT Y'ALL FROM A.

I MEAN, THAT'S I MEAN, WE CAN WE CAN CERTAINLY AS STAFF SPLIT IT.

BUT FROM A POLICY STANDPOINT, IS THAT AN APPROACH THAT THIS BODY WOULD WANT TO TAKE? I MEAN, DO IT FOR PARKS AND REC WHERE WE HAVE RESIDENTS AND NON RESIDENTIAL FEES BASICALLY FOR SPLOST.

BUT THE VAST MAJORITY OF THESE FEES ARE JUST GOING TO HIT OUR RESIDENTS.

AND I'D BE CURIOUS, I MEAN, I AS YOU'VE STATED, I'VE BEEN HERE FOR SIX YEARS.

I'VE NOT SEEN US KEEP UP WITH INFLATION ON THESE BEES.

AND WOULD YOU DISTINGUISH BETWEEN RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES? I'M PUTTING THE QUESTION NOW. OKAY. I MEAN, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT.

SO FOR EXAMPLE, YOU'RE SAYING WITH THE PARKING FEE, IF A NONRESIDENT STAYED IN THEIR SPACE PAST THE.

I THINK LEGALLY WE CAN'T DO THAT. YEAH. BUT BUT IF YOU LOOK AT LIKE, I MEAN, THE IDEA OF LIKE THAT TAX, RIGHT? THAT'S LIKE. THE BULK OF THAT IS BEING PAID BY NONRESIDENTS, RIGHT? SO I MEAN, USING THAT AS A, AS A MODEL OR AS A LENS TO LOOK AT THE FEES, ARE THERE, ARE THERE SOME THAT LEND THEMSELVES TO AN OPPORTUNITY TO SORT OF DISTINGUISH BETWEEN MAYBE THERE ISN'T, THERE'S PROBABLY NOT MUCH I KNOW WITHIN THE PARK, WITHIN THE PARKS AND REC, YOU KNOW, THERE IS A NONRESIDENT RESIDENT FEE AND THERE'S A DISTINGUISHER THERE, BUT I DON'T KNOW IF YOU CAN REALLY DRILL IT DOWN TO THAT LEVEL.

I MEAN, THE ONLY THING I COULD THINK OF OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD WOULD BE PARKING FOR ONE.

WELL, EVEN THE MUNICIPAL COURT CITATION OF THE, YOU KNOW, THE THOUSANDS OF CITATIONS THAT ARE ISSUED AND ADJUDICATED IN MUNICIPAL COURT.

AND I DON'T KNOW THE EXACT PERCENTAGE, BUT I'M PRETTY SURE THAT MOST OF THOSE, YOU KNOW, ARE BEING PAID BY PEOPLE OUTSIDE OF THE CITY, PEOPLE THAT ARE SPEEDING, SPEEDING THROUGH OUR CITY, RUNNING STOP SIGNS IN THE CITY.

DON'T NECESSARILY LIVE HERE ON THIS FEE SCHEDULE ABOUT THE FIRE ALARMS, MAYBE.

I LIVED IN THE ARTISAN AND FIRE ALARM SEEMED TO GO OFF AT LEAST ONCE A WEEK.

[00:25:04]

BECAUSE IT COSTS $125, $25 FOR LIKE 3 OR 4 PEOPLE TO LOAD UP, GET IN THE TRUCK, DRIVE IT THERE.

AND IT'S AND IF YOU'RE DOING MORE THAN SEVEN TIMES, I MEAN, I HAVE VERY LITTLE SYMPATHY FOR YOU IF IT'S A TIME OF YEAR.

AND DO WE KNOW HOW MANY FALL. DO WE KNOW HOW MANY FALL INTO THAT CATEGORY OF SEVEN OR MORE? WE WILL. WE'LL RUN THE NUMBERS. OKAY. I JUST LIKE I JUST WOULD KEEP ESCALATING AND THEY'RE IN THE INFO THAT I HAVE HERE.

THEY SAID THE COST OF ONE PERSON GOING TO CHECK ON THIS FALSE ALARM IS ABOUT $70 AN INSTANCE.

AND IF TWO PEOPLE HAVE TO GO. IT'S ABOUT 140.

OKAY. ABOVE THE 125, THEY EVER SAID JUST ONE PERSON? YEAH. I'VE NEVER. YEAH. OKAY. IT'S A FIRE. IT'S LIKE SAID ONE PERSON PUT IT OUT, I DON'T THINK, BUT OKAY. GREAT ANALOGY. OKAY. THANK YOU. DO YOU HAVE DO YOU GET A CHANCE TO LOOK AT THIS AFTER THIS JUST BEEN 20 MINUTES, BILL, THAT THE CITY MANAGER AND ME KNOW WHAT YOUR THOUGHTS ARE AND ALSO FOLLOW UP ON THE QUESTIONS WE HAVE.

IF I'M MISSING SOMETHING ENTIRELY, I'M THE ALARMS. LET ME KNOW. AND JUST A REMINDER, WITH FEES, I MEAN, IT'S, IT'S QUITE OFTEN YOU KNOW, THERE, THERE'S, THERE ARE DIFFERENT POLICIES KIND OF INHERENT TO THE DIFFERENT FEES AND A REMINDER ABOUT THE RECREATION SERVICE FEES, FOR EXAMPLE.

AND A NUMBER OF Y'ALL WERE, YOU KNOW, PART OF THE STUDY THAT WAS PERFORMED AND REALLY THE WHOLE NEW POLICY AROUND SETTING RECREATION FEES, KIND OF THAT BENEFIT OF SERVICE, YOU KNOW, IF IT'S SOMETHING THAT BENEFITS THE WHOLE COMMUNITY, THEN THAT THAT SERVICE MAY BE IT MAY BE FREE OR VERY LOW PRICED.

BUT IF IT'S A SINGLE PERSON, SAY, I REMEMBER THE EXAMPLE OF THE COMPETITIVE SWIMMER PAYING FOR SWIM LESSONS.

AND IT'S THAT, YOU KNOW, THAT ONE CHILD BENEFITING FROM THAT SERVICE, THEN THEY ARE GOING TO BE ASKED TO COVER MOST OF THE COST OF THAT SERVICE.

AND THEN THERE'S THAT SLIDING SCALE. BUT AGAIN, THAT, THAT HAS BEEN A REALLY STRONG GUIDE FOR US IN TERMS OF SETTING THE FEES FOR RECREATION SERVICES. AND THEN ALSO JUST A REMINDER THAT WE HAVE NEEDS BASED SCHOLARSHIPS FOR RECREATION.

THANK YOU. SO WE BEFORE YOU FOR ADOPTION RECOMMENDED FOR ADOPTION AT YOUR SECOND MEETING IN JUNE.

THIS IS NOT THE ONLY TIME YOU WILL SEE THIS. AND I APPRECIATE SEEING THIS TOO.

THANK YOU, MISS ROARK. WE HEARD YOU. WE WE HEARD THAT REQUEST, SO THANK YOU.

ALL RIGHT. WE WILL DRIVE RIGHT OVER TO THE PARKING.

[WORK SESSION #2– 6:00 P.M.]

SHAUN HAPPEN. WELCOME, MR. MAYOR AND MAYOR PRO TEM.

SHE WILL BE BACK. SHE HAD A LITTLE FAMILY ISSUE TO DEAL WITH, BUT SHE WILL BE BACK BEFORE OUR REGULAR MEETING.

OKAY. THANK YOU. AND OF COURSE, OUR CITY COMMISSIONERS AND MISS ARNOLD.

I'M HERE TO PRESENT AT YOUR WORK SESSION ON WHAT I THINK IS GETTING CLOSER TO A CULMINATION OF A DRAFT ORDINANCE THAT WOULD BE UPDATING OUR RESIDENTIAL PARKING PERMIT DISTRICT ORDINANCE THAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE IN PLACE.

AND I'LL TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT AND WHY IT'S NOT FUNCTIONING.

BUT TONIGHT, I AM JOINED BY OTHER CITY STAFF THAT HAVE BEEN A PART OF THIS PROCESS.

TAMMY WASHINGTON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT, SHE'S AN OPERATIONS ANALYST.

SHE HAS BEEN HELPFUL TO THIS PROCESS. AND THEN ALSO WORKING WITH OUR VENDOR, METROPOLIS WHO PROVIDES CONTRACTUAL SERVICES FOR OUR ON STREET PARKING IN IN OUR DOWNTOWN AREA. THEY, THEY BRING A WEALTH OF KNOWLEDGE WHEN IT COMES TO RESIDENTIAL PARKING PERMITS AS WELL.

AND SO TONIGHT I'M JOINED BY ANDREW LEE, WHO IS.

KEVIN WARRANTS, WHO IS A SENIOR OPERATIONS MANAGER AND WORKS A LOT IN CHARLOTTE AND ANNAPOLIS ON THIS VERY TOPIC.

AND THEN ELLA TAYLOR, WHO IS A MANAGER. SO I'M JOINED TONIGHT WITH THOSE FOLKS AND THEY'LL BE ABLE TO HELP ANSWER SOME QUESTIONS THAT YOU ALL MAY HAVE. SO THE TOPICS THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE COVERING TONIGHT IS THE OVERVIEW OF RESIDENTIAL PARKING PERMIT DISTRICTS.

I KNOW THAT WE'VE HAD A COUPLE OF WORK SESSIONS BEFORE.

A LOT OF THIS MIGHT BE A REPEAT FROM PREVIOUS WORK SESSIONS, BUT I REALIZE THAT THERE ARE A COUPLE OF NEW CITY COMMISSIONERS AS WELL AS MEMBERS OF THE

[00:30:04]

AND THEN WE'LL REVIEW OUR CURRENT ORDINANCE. WE'LL GO OVER THE SUMMARY OF THE SURVEY RESULTS.

I'LL WALK YOU THROUGH THE DRAFT ORDINANCE AND THE COMPONENTS OF THAT DRAFT ORDINANCE, THE FINANCIAL IMPACTS.

AND THEN WE'LL ALSO TALK ABOUT THE NEXT STEPS FOR IMPLEMENTATION.

WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT RESIDENTIAL PARKING PERMITS, THE REASONS WHY AN RPP PROGRAM IS IMPLEMENTED IS REALLY ABOUT THE SPILLOVER FROM COMMERCIAL OR INSTITUTIONAL USES. THERE'S USUALLY A HIGH PARKING DEMAND AND THERE'S CONFLICTS BETWEEN THOSE THAT RESIDE ON THE STREETS AND THOSE ADJACENT LAND USES. TYPICALLY WITHIN 1 OR 2 BLOCKS, THAT'S WHERE WE SEE PARKING CONFLICTS HAPPEN.

AND THEN IT GIVES AREA RESIDENTS PRIORITY TO PARK NEAR THEIR HOME.

THE EXPECTED RESULTS FROM AN RPP PROGRAM IS OBVIOUSLY TO REDUCE THOSE.

TOTAL VEHICLE MILES DRIVEN AND ACCOMPANYING. ALSO, A REDUCTION IN TRAFFIC CONGESTION AND IMPROVE INDUSTRIAL SAFETY AS WELL AS. YOU KNOW, WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR ON THE BACK END WITH AN RPP PROGRAM IS STAFF EFFICIENCY AS WELL AS THE PROGRAM BEING FINANCIALLY SUSTAINABLE. RIGHT HERE IS A SLIDE WITH REALLY THE ONLY VERBIAGE OF OUR RESIDENT PARKING ONLY DISTRICTS.

THIS IS ALL THAT WE GET TO GO ON. AND SO WHAT WE HAVE LEARNED FROM OUR CITY ATTORNEY IS WHEN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT HAVE BEEN CALLED BACK ON NONRESIDENTIAL VEHICLES HAVE NO WAY TO VERIFY THAT THAT VEHICLE IS A RESIDENT OR A NONRESIDENT. THERE HAS BEEN NO PASSED. WE DON'T HAVE THAT SYSTEM IN PLACE.

THEN WHEN THEY GO TO WRITE THE CITATION, IF THEY WERE TO WRITE A CITATION, OUR CITY SOLICITOR HAS SAID THAT IT COULD NOT BE HELD UP IN OUR MUNICIPAL COURT, THAT THE JUDGE COULD EFFECTIVELY JUST THROW THAT CITATION OUT, THAT THIS NEEDS AN OVERHAUL.

AND SO YOU KNOW, KIND OF ON THAT ORDER, THAT IS WHY I'M HERE BEFORE YOU, YOU KNOW, TALK ABOUT WHAT A NEW ORDINANCE COULD LOOK LIKE, AN AMENDED ORDINANCE, LIKE AND THEN THE COMPONENTS THAT WOULD NEED TO BE IN PLACE SO THAT IT IS ENFORCEABLE THAT WE COULD RUN AN EFFECTIVE PROGRAM.

THERE ARE A TOTAL OF 37 DESIGNATED STREETS IN THE.

I HAD TO BECAUSE OUR SIZE OF OUR CITY, I HAD TO SPLIT IT BETWEEN TWO SIDES.

SO THOSE STREETS THAT ARE MARKED IN BLUE ARE THOSE THAT ARE DESIGNATED ON BOTH.

SO NEXT I'M GOING TO BE TALKING ABOUT A SUMMARY OF OUR SURVEY.

WE DID AN ONLINE SURVEY. IT BECAME LIVE ON JANUARY 29TH AND WE LEFT IT OPEN THROUGH MARCH 1ST.

PROVIDED COMMUNICATIONS THROUGHOUT THE CITY ON SOCIAL MEDIA AS WELL AS ON THE CITY'S EVEN USING POLCO.

THERE'S A WAY TO SEND. A LINK, WHICH I BELIEVE IS OVER 500 USERS JUST ALONE ON POLCO. BUT WE ALSO SENT POSTCARDS DIRECTLY TO ALL ADDRESSES ON THOSE EXISTING.

DEFINITELY WANTED TO GIVE THEM PRIORITY AND WANTED TO BE A PRIMARY STAKEHOLDER IN THIS.

THERE WERE 20 QUESTIONS OF WHICH SIX WERE OPEN ENDED.

JUST, YOU KNOW, ALLOWING PEOPLE TO PROVIDE COMMENTS.

AND WE HAD 396. AND JUST TO LET YOU ALL KNOW THE RESULTS OF THE SURVEY, I DO HAVE A PDF OF THOSE RESULTS THAT WILL BE POSTED TO THIS.

YOU AND OTHERS CAN REVIEW THAT AT A TOTAL OF 200.

I KNOW THAT WE TYPICALLY LIKE TO SEE SEE A STATISTICALLY VALID SURVEY, BUT THIS IS NOT STATISTICALLY VALID.

BUT THERE IS A LOT OF ENLIGHTENING INFORMATION, ESPECIALLY WITHIN THE COMMENTS.

BUT ULTIMATELY WE WERE LOOKING TO INCORPORATE.

SO A COUPLE OF THE INITIALS. OF THE RESPONDENT TO AN RPP DISTRICT THAT

[00:35:09]

WHILE 42% ARE NONRESIDENTS. AND WE'RE UNSURE.

WHICH IS FINE. AND THEN OF THE AGE GROUP, YOU CAN SEE THE DIFFERENT AGES THAT RESPONDED.

WE DID NOT HAVE ANYONE UNDER AGE 24 THAT RESPONDED THE OCCUPANCY TYPE ASKING RESPONDENTS WHETHER THEY OWNED OR RENTED.

YOU CAN SEE PRIMARILY. OWN THEIR RESIDENCE. YES.

WHEN WE SAY NONRESIDENT DOES THAT, THAT MEANS THEY'RE NOT A RESIDENT OF AN RPP.

CORRECT. NOT A RESIDENT OF RPP DISTRICT. AND I LOOKED AT THE VERIFIED RESPONDENTS I THINK ACTUALLY LIVED OUTSIDE THE CITY. THANK YOU. OF THE 205, OVER 200 WERE VERIFIED AS BEING IN THE.

IN. OKAY. AND THEN YOU CAN SEE THE TYPE OF RESIDENTS PRIMARILY ARE IN SINGLE FAMILY DETACHED HOMES. AND THEN WE ALSO ASKED THE QUESTION OF HOW MANY RESIDENTS ARE IN HOUSEHOLDS.

AND YOU CAN. LARGE FAMILIES OR TWO PEOPLE ARE KIND OF THE PRIMARY RESPONSES THAT WE.

AND THEN WE ASK THE QUESTION OF, IF YOU ARE IN AN RPP DISTRICT, YOU KNOW, WHICH DISTRICT DO YOU ASSOCIATE WITH? YOU KNOW, WHICH STREET DO YOU LIVE ON? AND SO THERE ARE 37 STREETS.

AND WE ARE ASKING THEM TO EITHER NAME THE STREET.

OUR DISTRICT OR JUST NAME THE NUMBER BECAUSE WE PROVIDED THE LIST OF THE STREETS ASSOCIATED.

A FEW OF THESE DO NOT HAVE LIKE DISTRICT 12, 14, AND 15.

DO NOT HAVE RESPONDENTS, BUT I BELIEVE AT LEAST ONE OF THOSE DO NOT ACTUALLY HAVE RESIDENCES ON THEM.

I BELIEVE IT WAS A BLOCK FACE THAT WAS COMPLETELY DEMOLISHED.

ARE NO RESIDENTS THAT LIVE ON THAT STREET ANYMORE? SO I JUST WANTED TO POINT THAT OUT. WHAT ARE ONE, THREE AND EIGHT? DO YOU KNOW? OKAY. MY HEART. BUT I DO KNOW. ALL RIGHT.

SO LET'S SEE YOUR DISTRICT ONE, THAT IS GARDEN LANE.

WHAT WERE THE OTHER ONES? COMMISSIONER ARNOLD THREE. THREE IS PONCE DE LEON PLACE FROM MONTGOMERY STREET TO PLAINVIEW.

EIGHT IS NORTH.

ON THIS ONE. 23 AND 28. SO YOU WANT TO KNOW 23 AND 28.

SO 23 IS LOCKWOOD TERRACE AND 28 IS KING'S HIGHWAY.

SO YES, LIKE THREE PEOPLE. OKAY. BUT SOMETIMES THERE MIGHT ONLY BE A HANDFUL OF RESIDENTS ON THAT STREET.

SO IF YOU TAKE A LOOK AT THAT MAP JUST A FEW SLIDES AGO, SOME OF THOSE BLOCK FACES ARE QUITE SHORT.

OKAY. OH, HERE'S SOME GOOD ONES. OKAY. AND THEN WE ASKED A QUESTION ABOUT, YOU KNOW, WHAT ARE SOME WAYS THAT WE COULD MANAGE. PRIMARILY THE ANSWERS WERE RESIDENT ONLY AT ALL TIMES THAT ENOUGH OF ENOUGH NEED FOR CURB MANAGEMENT TO REQUEST THAT RESIDENT ONLY AT ALL.

RESIDENT ONLY DURING CERTAIN TIME PERIODS. DURING PEAK DEMAND.

THEN WE ASKED ABOUT A HYBRID VERSION WHERE DURING PEAK DEMAND IT'S PAID PARKING, THOUGH RESIDENTS WOULD STILL HAVE THEIR PERMITS TO NOT BE CHARGED DURING THAT HOUR OR TWO. BUT JUST A HYBRID VERSION AND THEN PAID PARKING FOR EVERYONE. AND THEN AT ALL TIMES OR OTHER. AND SO WITH OTHER, THERE IS A LOT OF COMMENTS, GREAT COMMENTS WHICH AGAIN, YOU KNOW, WE INCORPORATED WHERE WE THOUGHT IT WAS THE BEST PRACTICE.

AND THAT OTHER QUESTION JUST SIMPLY SHOULD ENFORCEMENT OCCUR IN PARKING PERMITS.

OF THE RESPONDENTS, 139. THEN WE ASKED A QUESTION OF WHAT IS THE FREQUENCY OF PARKING ON A STREET? WHETHER YOU LIVE ON THE STREET OR YOU'RE A VISITOR?

[00:40:01]

YOU'LL SEE PARKERS THOSE THAT MIGHT PARK A FEW DAYS PER WEEK OCCASIONALLY AND THEN THOSE THAT RESPONDED NEVER ASKED A QUESTION IF RPP DISTRICT SHOULD EXIST.

PARKS, POOLS AND LIBRARIES. A LOT OF TIMES PUBLIC FACILITIES DON'T NECESSARILY HAVE ENOUGH PARKING. SO OFTENTIMES RESIDENTS.

YOU'LL SEE IT'S A LITTLE MIXED HERE. YES. ANOTHER 74 SAID NO.

YES IN SOME CASES. THAT SO. AND THERE WAS AN OPEN ENDED COMMENT AREA.

AND SO NOW A LOT OF THOSE. AND THEN JUST TO SEE IF WE WERE KIND OF ALIGNED ON GOALS WE KNOW THAT FROM A CITY STANDPOINT, IF THIS IS TO MOVE FORWARD, WE WOULD WANT BETTER SIGNAGE.

WE NEED TO, YOU KNOW, HAVE A WAY FOR PERMIT HOLDERS TO PROVIDE PARKING FOR GUEST PERMITS, YOU KNOW, HOW DOES THAT APPLICATION SYSTEM WORK? BETTER ENFORCEMENT CLEAR ELIGIBILITY FOR BOTH JUST PETITIONS FOR NEW STREETS, BUT ALSO ELIGIBILITY FOR. AND SO, YOU KNOW, CLEARLY WE, WE ARE ALIGNED IN WHAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN TO IMPROVE AN RPP PROGRAM. AND THEN WE ALSO ASKED IF THE NUMBER OF PERMITS SHOULD BE RESTRICTED. THAT CURB SPACE IS FINITE, RIGHT? AND AND SO THE ANSWER 141. YES, THERE SHOULD BE A RESTRICTION ON THE NUMBER OF.

SO THEN THE NEXT QUESTIONS THAT WE WERE ASKING IS IF THE NUMBER OF RESIDENTIAL PARKING PERMITS NEEDED FOR YOUR HOUSEHOLD, AND YOU'LL SEE THE PRIMARY RESPONSE WAS UP TO TWO PERMITS THE NEXT ONE FALLING TO UP TO FOUR PERMITS.

AND A FEW RESPONDENTS DID SAY THAT THEY WOULD NEED FOUR PLUS PERMITS JUST FOR THEIR HOUSEHOLD.

AND THEN, YOU KNOW, WE ASKED THE QUESTION OF THE NUMBER OF GUEST PERMITS THAT WOULD BE NEEDED ANNUALLY.

FUNDING 0 TO 4. SO I'M SURE THAT THEY'RE GOING TO GET INTO WHAT BEST PRACTICE IS BECAUSE IT SEEMS LIKE THERE WOULD BE AN AVERAGE, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE IF YOU'VE GOT FINITE CURB SPACE, YOU'RE A LITTLE DIFFICULT TO GIVE ONE HOUSEHOLD, FOUR PERMITS. AND YOU KNOW, MAYBE THERE'S ONLY 12 ON THE STREET.

SO. YEAH. I'M SURE. AND THEN KEY COMPONENTS OF A PROPOSED ARP PROGRAM. SO IN THE DRAFT ORDINANCE, WE'RE GOING TO BE TALKING ABOUT HOW RESIDENTIAL PARKING DISTRICTS ARE ESTABLISHED, HOW PERMITS ARE ALLOCATED, THE NUMBER OF PERMITS ALLOCATED TO EACH RESIDENCE, THE NUMBER OF PERMITS THAT ARE ALLOWED.

WE'RE ALSO GOING TO TALK ABOUT TEMPORARY PERMITS, THE FEES CHARGE FOR PERMITS.

WEATHER PERMITS ARE ASSIGNED TO A PARTICULAR VEHICLE ARE TRANSFERABLE.

IT'S NOT AN OR. IT'S ACTUALLY AN AND ARE TRANSFERABLE.

WHAT PARKING RESTRICTIONS AND FINES WOULD APPLY TO UNPERMITTED VEHICLES, OUR ENFORCEMENT PRACTICES, AND THEN THE PHASE IN OF ESTABLISHED DISTRICTS THAT ARE ALREADY IN, IN THE CODE.

LET'S TALK A MOMENT ABOUT HOW TO ESTABLISH THE RP DISTRICTS.

SO WHAT WE ARE PROPOSING IS THAT THIS WOULD BE A RESIDENT PETITION ONE THAT IS SUBMITTED TO THE CITY MANAGER.

IT WOULD BE SIGNED BY AT LEAST 75% OF THOSE PROPERTY OWNERS.

A PROPOSED DISTRICT THAT THEY WOULD NEED TO SUPPLY A SIMPLE MAP OF THAT PROPOSED DISTRICT IDENTIFYING THE STREETS.

WE WOULD WANT TO KNOW THE NAMES AND ADDRESSES OF EACH OF THE PROPERTY OWNERS HAVING FRONTAGE ON THAT PROPOSED STREET.

AND THEN THE HOURS OF THE DESIRED ENFORCEMENT.

AND THEN AS FAR AS THE ELIGIBILITY FACTORS. OR THE DESIGNEE.

BOUNDED BY PROPERTY ALREADY IN RESIDENTIAL ZONE.

ALSO BE LOOKING AT THE AVAILABILITY OF OFFICE.

AND THEN ALSO DURING TIMES WHETHER OR NOT THAT CURB PARKING SPACE OCCUPANCY.

[00:45:08]

AND THEN TAKING A LOOK AT WHAT WHAT ARE THE IMPACTS? IS IT A SCHOOL? IS IT A PARK? IS IT A MARTA STATION? YOU KNOW WHAT IS CAUSING THAT THAT PEAK DEMAND.

SO. MR.. THREADGILL. A QUICK QUESTION. ANOTHER QUICK QUESTION. SO WE'RE NOT LOOKING TO GRANDFATHER THE EXISTING 37 STREETS.

WE WOULD START THIS PROGRAM. WE ARE BRAND NEW.

WE'RE NOT STARTING NEW. OKAY. BECAUSE OUR GRANDFATHER SO EXISTING.

YES, THAT IS CORRECT. WE ARE NOT RESCINDING THIS ORDINANCE IN TOTALITY.

WE WILL BE TRANSFERRING. I'LL SHOW YOU HOW THAT'S GOING TO BE DONE.

THANK YOU. AND THE THE KEY THING IS THE PHASE IN OF ESTABLISHED DISTRICTS.

THIS WOULD BE A LOT TO TAKE ON BECAUSE 37 STREETS IN JUST A MATTER OF A FEW WEEKS.

SO THERE IS A PROPOSAL AND I'LL SHOW YOU WHAT PRIORITY IS BEING GIVEN FOR THE FIRST PHASE.

AND THEN SOME ADDITIONAL ELIGIBILITY FACTORS IS.

THAT BEING, YOU KNOW, COVERING THE. SO AND I HAVE A SLIDE ON THE THE FEES THAT ARE BEING PROPOSED.

AND THEN OBVIOUSLY THE, THE RESULTS THAT WE WOULD BE EXPECTING, WHICH I SHARED PREVIOUSLY.

AND THEN OF COURSE THAT WOULD COME BEFORE. OF WHICH ACTION COULD BE APPROVED, APPROVE WITH MODIFICATIONS.

THERE WOULD BE FOLLOWING THAT PUBLIC HEARING IF THERE WAS AN APPROVAL OR.

PROPERTY OWNERS AND RESIDENTS AFFECTED STREETS WITHIN 30 DAYS.

SIGNAGE WOULD GO UP. PARKING REGULATION SIGNS WOULD BE POSTED.

SO THINGS WOULD BE FALLING INTO PLACE WITHIN EFFECTIVE.

BUT JUST AS MUCH AS THERE ARE WAYS TO CREATE DISTRICTS THERE SHOULD BE WAYS TO.

ONCE YOU HAVE A CHANCE TO REVIEW THE COMMENTS FROM THE SURVEY, YOU WILL NOTICE THAT THERE ARE COMMENTS OF FOLKS WANTING TO AMEND THEIR DISTRICTS.

THEY WANT TO SEE IT EXPANDED ONTO ADDITIONAL STREETS OR BLOCK FACES.

BUT THEN YOU'LL ALSO SEE COMMENTS, YOU KNOW, WHERE THEY DON'T WANT IT ANYMORE.

WHY IS IT HERE? I WOULD, I WANT TO HAVE IT REMOVED.

SO YOU'LL SEE THAT. BUT WE HAVE TO HAVE A PROCESS IN WHICH TO, TO AMEND OR RESCIND THOSE DISTRICTS.

AND OF COURSE, IT WOULD BE YOU KNOW, THE CITY COMMISSION HAS THE AUTHORITY TO AMEND OR RESCIND A DISTRICT, BUT THERE'S ALSO THAT PETITION PROCESS THAT THEY COULD FOLLOW.

SO I'M CONFUSED. SO YOU'RE SAYING WE COULD UNILATERALLY INITIATE IT OURSELVES.

BUT OTHERWISE IT'S THE PETITION. SO I, I AM GOING TO BE RECOMMENDING REMOVAL OF A STREET.

THERE ARE NO RESIDENTS ON THAT STREET ANYMORE.

I HAVE IT ON MY NEXT SLIDE AND I THINK YOU'LL UNDERSTAND WHY.

BUT THERE WOULD BE NO RESIDENTS TO YOU KNOW, AMEND OR RESCIND OR I THINK THAT THERE SHOULD BE SOMETHING IN THE ORDINANCE THAT GIVES YOU ALL THE AUTHORITY THAT YOU'RE NOT JUST RELYING ON A PETITION.

IT SHOULD BE CLEAR IN THE ORDINANCE. ROLL STREET.

ALRIGHT, SO THE EXISTING DESIGNATED STREETS, WE ARE LOOKING TO GROUP INTO ZONES.

PROPERTIES OWNED BY THE DECATUR HOUSING AUTHORITY AND ADJACENT TO THE DECATUR.

SO SMALL. BUT IT'S ROBIN STREET, COMMERCE DRIVE AND THEN ALSO WEST TRINITY.

AND IF YOU'LL NOTICE, WEST TRINITY IS HIGHLIGHTED BECAUSE THAT IS FRONTING ON THE PROPERTY ONCE OWNED BY THE HOUSING AUTHORITY, BUT NOW IT IS VACANT. THERE'S NO RESIDENCE. SO I'LL BE ASKING YOU ALL IN THE DRAFT ORDINANCE TO.

THAT'S SO FUNNY, BECAUSE I WONDERED WHY NOBODY EVER PARKED THERE. I DIDN'T.

THINK IT WOULD BE US TO GO AHEAD AND TURN THAT INTO PAID PARKING LIKE THE REST OF OUR DOWNTOWN ZONE B,

[00:50:02]

KIND OF MOVE TO THE NEIGHBORHOODS THAT ARE ALONG WEST PONCE.

YOU CAN SEE THOSE STREETS THAT ARE OPEN. AVONDALE.

MARTA STATION. AND I'M ASSUMING THE DESIGNATION, THE LETTER DESIGNATION IS EQUAL TO THE PRIORITY.

SO A BEING THE FIRST. RECOMMENDING WE WILL BE PHASING IN. FESTIVAL COMING UP.

HAPPENING DURING THE SUMMER WHEN THE CITY IS HOSTING ITS WATCH.

OUTSIDE OF TOWN, THOSE ADDITIONAL. DISTRICTS.

PRESS MY NOSE AGAINST THE GLASS. H IS AVERY STREET, AND I HAVE TO SQUINT TO.

IS IT POPLAR IN POPLAR CIRCLE? THANK YOU. YES.

THANK YOU. I CAN'T SEE THAT. IT'S OVER. BY WINNONA PARK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.

GOT IT. YES. AND THEN WE ALSO HAVE TO THINK ABOUT THE PARKING RESTRICTIONS. AUTHORITIES. WHAT STAFF IS GOING TO BE RECOMMENDING ARE THAT ZONES A, E, F, G, H AND K, AS YOU SEE IT ON THE MAP, ARE RESTRICTED MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY, 8 A.M.

TO 5 P.M.. I'LL JUST GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE. ZONE A AGAIN, THE.

YOU KNOW THESE PROPERTIES, THE RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES ARE ADJACENT TO THE HIGH SCHOOL.

I'M. AND YOU KNOW, THE DEMAND IS PRIMARILY DURING THE AM AND STARTING AROUND 8:00, DEFINITELY FINISHED BY 5:00. AND SPEAKING WITH REPRESENTATIVES OF THE DECATUR HOUSING AUTHORITY.

YOU KNOW, THEY, THEY WANTED TO BE COGNIZANT THAT MANY OF THEIR RESIDENTS, SUCH AS AT THE OLIVER HOUSE DO YOUR BEST FOR DINNER AND ESPECIALLY ON THE WEEKENDS. FOR US TO BE AWARE OF THAT AND NOT TO MAKE IT TOO.

SO MUCH LIKE THE, THE OTHER DISTRICTS IN THAT I'M PROPOSING HERE FOR MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY, 8 A.M. TO 5 P.M. ABOUT WHAT ARE THE PEAK DEMANDS? WHEREAS ZONES B, C, D, I AND J ARE RESTRICTED MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY, 8 A.M.

TO 9 P.M.. MARTA STATIONS AND COMMERCIAL DISTRICTS.

KIND OF CONSISTENT THROUGHOUT THE DAY AND. SO THERE IS NO PARKING 8 TO 9.

WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN NO PARKING 8 TO 9 AND.

WELL, IT SEEMS TO ME LIKE. NO, I UNDERSTAND YOUR QUESTION AND IT COMES DOWN TO ENFORCEMENT.

I KNOW THAT THERE ARE COMMENTS THAT WANT ENFORCEMENT 24 OVER SEVEN, BUT WE'RE NOT ABLE TO REQUEST. SO THIS MATCHES UP WITH OUR ABILITY TO.

OKAY. ALL RIGHT. MAKES SENSE. I THINK GENERALLY ALSO PEOPLE ARE GOING TO VIOLATE IT.

THEY'RE GOING TO BE IN THERE BEFORE. SO I DO HAVE A QUESTION THOUGH, THINKING ABOUT THIS SUMMER AND WITH WATCH FEST AND EVERYTHING, I IMAGINE THERE WILL BE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO ARE OUT PAST NINE DOWNTOWN.

SO IF YOU LIVE RIGHT BY DOWNTOWN AND AFTER NINE, IT'S ANYTHING GOES.

HOPEFULLY BY THEN I HEAR YOU. I HEAR YOUR QUESTION IS THAT HOPEFULLY BY THEN THE RESIDENTS WHO LIVE ON THAT STREET WILL HAVE ALREADY HAD A CHANCE TO PARK ON THAT STREET AND TAKE UP THEIR SPACE. YES. AND, YOU KNOW, YOU GOT TO FIGURE IF THEY'RE COMING THAT LATE, THEY'RE GOING TO STAY FOR THAT BIGGER BLOCK OF TIME. THEY'LL PROBABLY HOPEFULLY GOING TO RIDESHARE IF THEY'RE GOING TO SPEND THAT MUCH TIME DOWNTOWN.

YES. VISITORS TO WATCH FEST REALLY SHOULD BE TAKING.

I DON'T WANT TO MAKE THIS ABOUT WATCH FEST, BUT YOU KNOW, IT IS ON THE HORIZON AND WE'RE EXPECTING A LOT OF VISITORS AND WE RIDE SHARE AND MARTA TO ARRIVE HERE. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. SO LET'S TALK ABOUT PERMITS AND HOW THEY'RE ALLOCATED.

[00:55:01]

IF SO, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT GUEST PERMITS WE'RE, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT YOU KNOW, RESIDENTS WHO HAVE CARETAKERS SUCH AS NANNIES OR YOU KNOW, FOLKS WHO ARE COMING TO THE HOUSE FREQUENTLY, MAYBE A WEEK AT A TIME OR WHAT HAVE YOU OR HOUSE CLEANERS THAT MIGHT BE COMING THE BABYSITTERS.

SO PEOPLE WHO ARE FREQUENTLY COMING TO THE HOUSE THAT THEY WOULD HAVE THE GUEST PERMIT.

AND THEN AS FAR AS TEMPORARY PERMITS, YOU HAVE A PLUMBER OR YOU HAVE A YARD SERVICE WHERE, YOU KNOW YOU COULD NAME A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT PROFESSIONAL SERVICES THAT MIGHT BE COMING TO A HOUSEHOLD.

THIS WOULD BE WHERE YOU WOULD USE A TEMPORARY.

AND THEN LET'S SEE HERE. ANGELA. QUICK QUESTION.

WITH THE UP TO FOUR RESIDENTIAL PARKING PERMITS DO THOSE HAVE TO BE FOR LICENSED DRIVERS? ARE WE ARE WE DOING IT THAT WAY OR ARE WE JUST SAYING YOU CAN HAVE FOR US, EVEN THOUGH THERE MIGHT JUST BE TWO PEOPLE IN THE HOUSEHOLD IT IS ASSIGNED TO? THAT'S BECAUSE OF THE TECHNOLOGY THAT WILL BE ASSIGNED TO THE.

OKAY. OKAY. AND THEN I'LL BE TURNING IT OVER TO KEVIN TO TALK ABOUT THAT TECHNOLOGY.

AND I HAVE A QUESTION TO MR. GILL. SO IF I LIVE ON, SAY, BERRY STREET AND I GET MY, MY PARKING PASS OR I GET MY 24 HOUR GUEST PASS, AND THEN I DECIDE I WANT TO GO OVER TO WINNONA PARK AND TAKE A WALK.

CAN I GO OVER THERE AND USE MY. BECAUSE I HAVE MY PASS ON BERRY STREET, CAN I USE IT THERE OR IS IT IT'S CONNECTED TO THAT ZONE.

IT IS JUST CONNECTED TO THIS ZONE. OKAY. YES.

THANK YOU. SO IF I'M HEARING THIS RIGHT, YOU'VE GOT A STREET THAT'S FAIRLY TIGHT.

THEY COULD HAVE UP TO SIX PASSES. UP TO SIX PASSES.

BUT WILL ALL THOSE USERS BE THERE AT THE SAME TIME? WELL, BOTH GUESTS BE THERE IS THEIR OFF STREET PARKING, SO THAT MAYBE 1 OR 2 VEHICLES COULD PARK IN THE DRIVEWAY THE OTHER TWO HOURS.

BUT WE DO KNOW, YOU KNOW, ON STREETS SUCH AS BARRY STREET AND NORTH CANDLER THAT SOME OF THE OLDEST DEVELOPMENT PATTERNS IN THE CITY.

AND WE KNOW THAT SOME OF THOSE HOUSEHOLDS DON'T HAVE OFFICE, YOU KNOW, AN OPPORTUNITY FOR OFF STREET PARKING OR THEY HAVE SHARED DRIVEWAYS. SO IT, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A BIT OF EQUITY HERE IN TERMS OF EQUAL ASSIGNMENT OF PERMIT TO, TO EACH HOUSEHOLD RATHER THAN RESTRICTING. WELL, YOU, YOU ALREADY HAVE A DRIVEWAY.

YOU SHOULD ONLY BE PERMITTED TO HAVE ONE, YOU KNOW, ON STREET PARKING.

WE DID NOT. WE DID NOT WANT TO GET TO THAT LEVEL BECAUSE I THINK THERE'S QUESTIONS ABOUT FAIRNESS AND EQUITY.

AND SO IT'S REALLY ABOUT YOU KNOW, THE NUMBER OF RESIDENTIAL PERMITS.

YOU KNOW, WE'RE RECOMMENDING UP TO FOUR UP TO TWO AS NEEDED.

THAT'S KIND OF STANDARD. I DON'T KNOW, KEVIN, IF YOU WANT TO SHARE ANYTHING FURTHER ON THAT.

YES. IS FOR PERMITS FOR RESIDENTIAL PERMITS. RARELY IS A FAMILY GOING TO DO.

NOT EVERYBODY'S GOING TO BE ON THE STREET AT THE SAME TIME. ALSO, WE OFTENTIMES WILL ENCOURAGE IF YOU HAVE A DRIVEWAY OR OFF STREET PARKING.

OR YOU COULD BUY AN RP AND HAVE YOUR GUESTS PARK IN YOUR DRIVEWAY.

CARS OFF THE STREET.

UP TO TWO RESIDENTIAL. KIND OF USING THAT DATA.

OKAY. THANK YOU. TAG TEAM. OKAY.

ALL RIGHT. SO MUCH LIKE I'VE SHARED IN A COUPLE OF OUR OTHER WORK SESSIONS, WE'RE LOOKING AT AN ESCALATING RATE STRUCTURE.

SO FOR THE FIRST PERMIT, IT WOULD BE $25 ANNUALLY AT HOUSEHOLD WANTS.

A SECOND PERMIT THAT WOULD BE $50. THE THIRD PERMIT 75.

[01:00:04]

HELPS KIND OF LIMIT OF OF VEHICLES THAT ONE HOUSEHOLD HAS ON.

I'M SORRY TO INTERRUPT. YOU SAID JUST A MOMENT AGO THAT YOU COULD HAVE ONE PASS, BUT YOU COULD MOVE IT FROM CAR TO CAR.

IT'S NOT SOMETHING AFFIXED TO THE WINDSHIELD. NO.

THIS IS. OKAY. SO IT IS PER CAR FOR A REGISTERED VEHICLE.

OKAY. IT IS PER CAR. OKAY. OKAY. OKAY. SO IT'S PER CAR.

IT'S TIED TO THE CAR. YEAH. GOT IT. BUT. BUT TWO, LIKE A SIDE NOTE TO THAT ANSWER IS THAT LET'S SAY.

THAT PASS OR YOU KNOW THAT THAT PERMIT COULD BE TRANSFERRED TO THAT BABY.

OKAY. UPDATING IT ON THE BACK END IN THE SYSTEM.

OKAY. I KNOW THAT IN PREVIOUS WORK SESSIONS. LOW INCOME HOUSEHOLDS BEING ABLE. AT SETTING UP A LOW INCOME PARKING PERMIT FEE, AGAIN, ESCALATING WITH THE $5 AND GOING UP. LIKE THAT.

I THINK. THE MAXIMUM WOULD BE 20. WOULD WE CONSIDER FIVE EACH FOR THE FIRST TWO? I'M SORRY. WOULD WE CONSIDER FIVE EACH FOR THE FIRST TWO? I MEAN, IF THEY TRULY MEET THE CRITERIA, I THINK EVEN GOING FROM 5 TO 10 COULD BE A STRETCH.

BUT JUST SOMETHING TO CONSIDER. HOW WOULD DEFINING LOW INCOME.

SO IT, IT WOULD, WE WOULD BE ABLE TO VERIFY THAT A HOUSEHOLD IS AT A DECATUR HOUSING AUTHORITY PROPERTY.

SO. THAT HOUSEHOLD ARE, YOU KNOW, ON A HOUSING AUTHORITY PROPERTY ARE ARE LOWER INCOME.

AND THEN JUST SAY FOR SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENCES IN, IN ONE OF THESE DISTRICTS WE COULD USE OUR, OUR HOMESTEAD OR OUR EXEMPTIONS TO LOOK AT THAT HAVE THAT WOULD VERIFY WHETHER OR NOT THEY'RE LOWER INCOME.

SO I HOPE THIS DOESN'T SOUND CALLOUS, BUT THAT WE WOULD HAVE A LOW INCOME PARKING PERMIT FOR FAMILY THAT COULD HAVE FOUR CARS. OKAY. BECAUSE I, I MEAN, I'M SYMPATHETIC TO THE FIRST TWO, BUT I'M JUST KIND OF CURIOUS IF SOMEBODY HAS FOUR CARS.

THEY WILL BE REGISTERED AT THAT ADDRESS. I UNDERSTAND THAT, BUT JUST.

YEAH. OKAY. AND LOOKING AT THE GUEST PARKING PERMITS YOU KNOW, THE FIRST PERMIT AGAIN, THIS IS AN ANNUAL FEE, $55. THE SECOND PERMIT WOULD BE $60. AND THEN THE TEMPORARY PARKING PERMITS WOULD BE $5 EACH.

AND AGAIN, THAT'S TEN PERMITS PER MONTH AND EACH VALID FOR.

THE PERMIT APPLICATION WOULD BE AN ELIGIBILITY BASED APPLICATION PROCESS.

ADDRESS OF THE VEHICLE OWNER POSSESSION IF NOT THE OWNER.

DO YOU WANT TO SPEAK. FOR SOMETHING TO REQUIRE CERTIFICATE POSSESSION COULD BE COMPANY VEHICLE.

AND WHERE DOES ONE GET A CERTIFICATE OF POSSESSION? WE HAVE THE FORM. IT'S FAIRLY STANDARDIZED FORM.

I'M HAPPY TO SHARE THAT WITH YOU. JUST THE INFORMATION.

AND SOME OTHER ITEMS THAT WILL BE REQUESTING IS MAKE MODEL AND VALID VEHICLE REGISTRATION.

AND IF THESE DOCUMENTS DON'T ALREADY VERIFY IT, PROOF OF RESIDENCE.

THEY DON'T HAVE ALL THAT DOCUMENTATION.

THE APPLICATIONS AND TECHNOLOGY. ONCE A RESIDENT HAS BEEN VERIFIED, WE'VE SEEN THEIR DOCUMENTS.

[01:05:08]

THEY'LL HAVE ACCESS TO SEE IT AHEAD OF TIME. THEY'LL GO IN, IT'LL TELL THEM WHICH ZONE THAT THEY'RE IN.

THAT AREA. FROM THERE, THEY'LL ENTER THE VEHICLE INFORMATION AND THEN THEY'LL ATTACH REGISTRATION LICENSE.

AND IF THEY IF THEY AS THEIR ADDRESS THERE PARTICULARLY LIKE A HOMEOWNER, A LICENSE REGISTRATION IS ALL YOU'RE GOING TO NEED.

SOMETIMES IF YOU'RE A RUNNER, THE ADDRESS MAY BE DIFFERENT THAN WE WOULD ASK FOR, PROBABLY A D, I'M SORRY, A DAA LEASE OR CURRENT UTILITY BILL, SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

FROM THERE, ONCE EVERYTHING IS SUBMITTED, IT'S TRIGGERED.

IT'LL TRIGGER ON THE BACK END. REAR GOES IN, APPROVES OR NEEDS MORE INFORMATION, AND IT'LL TELL THEM EXACTLY WHAT WE NEED.

YOU SUBMITTED YOUR INSURANCE CARD AND NOT YOUR REGISTRATION. SUBMITTED AN EXPIRED REGISTRATION.

YOU JUST DRAG IT, DROP IT BACK IN THERE. WE CAN APPROVE IT.

IF THEY DON'T FULFILL THAT NEED WITHIN, I BELIEVE.

THEY DON'T RESPOND TO 14 DAYS. THE. OTHER IS WHEN YOU.

WHEN YOU DO THIS. WHEN YOU FILE THE APPLICATION, YOU WILL ENTER A CREDIT CARD NUMBER THAT'LL GET YOU THROUGH THE PROCESS.

YOU'RE NOT CHARGED UNTIL THE APPLICATION IS APPROVED.

IF YOU'RE. FOR SOME REASON, IF YOU'RE DECLINED, YOU KNOW IT'S REJECTED.

FIND OUT IF SOMEBODY'S JUST TRYING TO GET A PERMIT THAT'S NOT LEGIT. THEY DON'T GET CHARGED.

COUPLE QUESTIONS. SO FOR THE INITIAL APPLICATION IS THAT ONLINE ALSO, YES.

IS THERE AN OFFLINE OPTION? YES THERE IS. OKAY.

YES. OUR OUR STAFF ARE PREPARED. SHOULD THIS.

ONLINE. BE ONLINE. SO THEY WOULD COME IN AND GET HELP ON OUR COMPUTERS.

SAME THING WITH THIS PART, CORRECT? YES. AND THEN IS THERE A NON CREDIT CARD WAY TO PAY THAT OUT WITH OUR OUR REVENUE DEPARTMENT.

YES. THANK YOU. YEAH. JUST THINKING ABOUT OUR RESIDENTS WHO MAY NOT BE, YOU KNOW, TECHNOLOGICALLY SAVVY.

YES. THANK YOU. YEAH. THANK YOU FOR GUEST PERMITS AND TEMPORARY PERMITS.

IN ORDER TO APPLY FOR GUEST PERMIT OR TEMPORARY PERMIT, YOU HAVE TO HAVE A RESIDENTIAL PERMIT PERMIT FIRST, AND THEN YOU'RE OPEN TO GO IN AND APPLY FOR YOUR.

FOR THE GUESTS AND TEMPORARY PERMITS. YOU DO NOT NEED TO PROVIDE THE DOCUMENTATION. YOU'LL NEED TO HAVE THE TYPE OF CAR NO NOS. YOU DON'T, BECAUSE THE GAS PERMIT CAN CHANGE AT ANY TIME.

YOU WILL. ONCE YOU ATTACH THAT TO THE RESIDENT, YOU GO AND YOU BUY A GAS PERMIT.

YOU WANT TO HAVE SOMEBODY OVER A GUEST. YOU DO NEED TO GO INTO YOUR YOUR ACCOUNT OR YOUR THE PORTAL.

MAKE AND MODEL THE VEHICLE AND THE PLATE. YOU WILL HAVE TO DO THAT.

BUT FROM THE BEGINNING, YOU DON'T HAVE TO. OFTENTIMES WHAT YOU SEE IS PEOPLE DON'T BUY THE GAS PERMITS UNTIL THEY NEED THEM.

I DON'T KNOW IF YOU. MAYBE YOU DON'T NEED TO. MAYBE ONE IS ENOUGH. HOW LONG IS THAT PROCESS? SO. SO I'VE GOT I'M HAVING A DINNER PARTY AND TEN PEOPLE ARE COMING OVER.

AND SO THAT'S GOING TO BE MY I GUESS MY TEMPORARY PERMITS.

HOW LONG IS IT GOING TO BE UNTIL THEY GET TO SIT DOWN AND EAT DINNER.

HOPEFULLY THEY PLANNED AND PLANNED AHEAD. GUEST PERMITS.

THEY REQUIRE AN APPROVAL, A MANUAL APPROVAL. SO SOMEBODY ON THE BACK END WOULD HAVE TO.

YEAH, THAT'S DIFFERENT THOUGH. SO BUT THE I MEAN YEAH, THE TEMPORARY THAT'S THE PERSON THAT'S JUST COMING OVER FOR DINNER.

RIGHT. THAT'S AN AUTOMATIC. ONCE YOU HAVE A PERMIT, YOU CAN GO THROUGH IT. YOU DON'T NEED TO BE APPROVED FOR A TEMPORARY PERMIT. YOU JUST HAVE TO HAVE A RESIDENTIAL PERMIT. SOMEBODY YOU YOU COULDN'T GO ON WITH A NON ACCOUNT.

I COULDN'T JUST GO INTO AN ADDRESS AND SAY, I WANT TO BUY A TEMPORARY PERMIT.

IT WILL NOT LET YOU DO THAT. RIGHT. YOU HAVE AN ACCOUNT.

SO HOW LONG LIKE HOW LONG WOULD IT TAKE TO GET ALL TEN GUESTS.

I DON'T DO ALL TEN AT ONE TIME. GREAT QUESTION. IT'S FAIRLY QUICK TO GO IN AND YOU CAN GO INTO YOUR PORTAL AND TELL IT HOW MANY YOU WANT TO BUY.

SO IF YOU WANT TO BUY FIVE PERMITS, YOU WANT TO BUY THIS.

AND THEN YOU WOULD GO BACK THROUGH EACH ONE. JUST ENTER. IT'S ON YOUR PHONE.

DO IT ON THE PHONE. YES. IT'S NOT AN APP, BUT IT'S A IT'S A IT'S A MOBILE VERSION.

[01:10:06]

AND IT KNOWS WHETHER IT'S A PERMIT, A VALID PERMIT, OR IT'S NOT A VALID PERMIT.

THE SAME TECHNOLOGY CAN ALSO BE USED AND WILL BE USED.

PAID OR NOT PAID. SO IT'S ONLY CHANNELING MAYOR PRO TEM WHILE SHE'S NOT HERE, BECAUSE I'M SURE SHE'S ABOUT TO TEXT ME IN A SECOND.

THOSE PLATE READERS ARE ONLY READING IN THOSE ZONES.

YES, I MEAN, THEY'RE GOING TO READ WHEN YOU DRIVE AROUND.

IT KNOWS THEY'RE GEOFENCED, SO IT'S GOING TO KNOW WHAT PERMITS ARE ALLOWED ON THIS STREET.

THAT'S WHAT IT'S GOING TO READ. AS YOU'RE DRIVING AROUND THE CAMERAS.

THEY'RE GOING TO SEE THEM, BUT THEY'RE NOT RECORDING ANY DATA UNTIL IT'S TOLD.

AND SO IT'S ONLY LOOKING FOR SOMEONE THAT'S NOT SUPPOSED TO BE PARKED THERE.

NO OTHER A NON RESIDENT. YEAH. THAT'S WHAT IT'S LOOKING FOR.

OKAY. IT'S ONLY LOOKING AT PARKING. RIGHT. SO THE READER.

SO WHEN YOU CROSS THE GEOFENCE IT ACTUALLY STARTS OR STOPS OR STOPS IN AND OUT OF THE FENCED AREA. SO. IF THESE READERS WERE JUST LOOKING FOR LICENSE PLATES THAT ARE VALIDATED, THEY'RE NOT LOOKING FOR STOLEN VEHICLE. NO, THEY DON'T KNOW THAT THEY'RE NOT CONNECTED IN ANY WAY.

THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION. YEAH. I MEAN, SOME PEOPLE MIGHT ARGUE IT SHOULD BE, BUT I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE CLEAR THAT THESE DO NOT.

OKAY. THAT'S A WHOLE DIFFERENT CONVERSATION. BUT THESE ARE ONLY SET TO READ PERMITS.

THEY WILL ONLY READ WHAT WE PUT INTO THEM. SO YOU PUT A PERMIT INTO IT BECAUSE IT'S GOING TO READ THAT.

IT'S GOING TO KNOW WHETHER IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE THERE OR IT'S NOT SUPPOSED TO BE THERE. IT'D BE POSSIBLE AT SOME FUTURE.

DO YOU HAVE A DEMO AVAILABLE OR MAYBE A A LIKE THAT? LIKE A PROMOTIONAL VIDEO? YEAH. OR SOMETHING.

I DON'T HAVE ONE. NOW I WILL GET A YOUTUBE VIDEO.

LIKE THIS IS HOW YOU REGISTER. THIS IS JUST JUST SO WE CAN THAT PART.

YES. JUST SO I ABSOLUTELY GET A SENSE OF LIKE, IS THIS CUMBERSOME OR NOT? SURE. THAT'S I'M SURE YOU GOT SOMETHING. YEAH, I'M SURE YOU GOT SOME WAY.

BUT THE GENERAL SENSE IS THIS IS SOMETHING THAT RESIDENTS IMPOSE UPON THEMSELVES BECAUSE THEY DON'T WANT OTHER PEOPLE USING PUBLICLY OWNED PROPERTY.

I JUST WANT TO FRAME THAT. YES, WE OWN THE STREETS.

I MEAN, EVERYBODY OWNS THE STREETS. AND SO I'M SORRY, CAN YOU SHARE SOME OTHER CITIES WHERE THIS HAS WORKED SUCCESSFULLY? SURE. IS THAT PART OF THE PRESENTATION? AND I'M JUMPING AGAIN. I THINK THE CASE STUDY ON THIS.

I KNOW Y'ALL HAVE DONE YOUR HOMEWORK AND LOOKED AT WHAT'S WORKING.

I THINK I WAS LOOKING AT AROUND EIGHT. YEAH. CHARLOTTE.

ATLANTA. ATHENS. AUSTIN. CHARLOTTE.

RALEIGH. TYBEE ISLAND. THESE ARE ALL MUNICIPALITIES ORDINANCES IN PLACE THAT WERE USED.

AT COSTA MESA. I MIGHT HAVE, BUT THEY WERE THEY WERE.

THEY HAD AN ARTICLE IN THE. I SEE A.

KEVIN BRINGS KNOWLEDGE FROM ANNAPOLIS. THANK YOU.

ONE LAST THING ON HERE TO TOUCH ON IS WHEN A.

WHEN A PERMIT IS GOING TO EXPIRE, THE. SET THE TIME AHEAD OF.

YOU KNOW, WHEREVER YOU WANT IT TO BE. TYPICALLY, IT'S 30 DAYS.

WE GIVE.

THERE A WAY FOR SOMEBODY WHO IS A WAY FOR SOMEBODY TO SIGN UP TO GET SOMETHING IN THE MAIL REMINDING THEM.

I WOULD NEED TO LOOK INTO IT. MOST MUNICIPALITIES THAT I'VE WORKED WITH HAVE GONE AWAY FROM IT FOR COST REASONS.

WHY DON'T WE DON'T WANT TO DO IT, BUT JUST YEAH, OUR ASSUMPTION AGAIN, EVERY HAS THE COMPUTER.

I WOULD NEED TO LOOK INTO IT AND GET YOU AN ACTUAL ANSWER ON THAT.

YEAH, I'M CHANNELING THE MAYOR PRO TEM A LITTLE BIT TOO, BUT I SEE YOUR POINT. THAT'S ONE OF THE BIGGER THINGS IS COST.

WE DO SEND NOTIFICATIONS OUT FOR CITATIONS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

SO DO YOU HAVE ANY. SINCE YOU TALKED ABOUT CITATIONS, WHAT HAPPENS, YOU KNOW, IN THAT CITATION PROCESS?

[01:15:09]

THEY WOULD BE. OR THEY GO THROUGH AND.

THE CITATIONS BE. THE COST. EVENTUALLY. EVENTUALLY, IT'LL BE PART OF THE ORDINANCE THAT WE WRITE.

I BROUGHT UP THE SLIDE THAT.

WE HAVE REGULAR. OLD CITY HALL.

BUT WE WOULD HAVE REGULAR.

FIRST TIME FREE EXEMPTION. SO YOU KNOW, YOU GET THAT INITIAL WARNING.

SO YOU SAID RESIDENT REGULAR PATROLS. WHO'S DOING THE PATROLLING.

THAT WE HAVE IT SET UP. IS THAT METROPOLIS WHO.

PARKING IN DOWNTOWN. FOR THE KIOSK.

SO AS THEY'RE PATROLLING, THEY'RE NOT. THERE'S NO CONTACT.

THEY'RE JUST DRIVING THESE ZONES, AND THEY WILL HAVE TO GET OUT OF THE VEHICLE TO ISSUE A CITATION.

OKAY. WE WILL NOT WE WILL NOT TOW PEOPLE WHO ARE PARKED ILLEGALLY.

I SAY 72 HOURS VERY LAST BULLET POINT. NO. SO METROPOLIS WILL NOT BE TOWING ANYONE THE CITY.

SO. THAT ON OCCASION IN DIFFERENT. WAYS MAYBE.

THE YOU KNOW THE VEHICLE OWNER WE WOULD TURN THAT.

PROCESS FOR IMPOUNDMENT PROCESSES. WHAT'S THE WHAT'S YOUR COLLECTION RATE BASED ON CITATIONS ISSUED. I WILL GET BACK TO YOU ON THAT.

I HAVE THAT INFORMATION. METROPOLIS. ANOTHER AREA.

HOW ABOUT METROPOLIS FOR METROPOLIS IN YOUR IN YOUR ANNAPOLIS? YES. I MEAN, I DON'T I DON'T KNOW OFFHAND. OKAY.

I'D BE HAPPY TO GET IT FOR YOU. PLEASE. IT'S IT'S THEY'RE SIMILAR.

THEY'RE THEY'RE THE RESTRICTIONS OR THE, THE REGULATIONS VARY BY STATE ALSO.

I WILL PREFACE BY SAYING THAT, OKAY, WITH ANNAPOLIS, IF YOU DON'T PAY YOUR CITATION, IT WILL.

WILL DRIVE THE COLLECTION RATE UP. I'M NOT SURE HOW GEORGIA IS SET UP.

I CAN TELL YOU LIKE THAT THEY HIT YOUR TAXES.

SO IT'S A LITTLE. OKAY. THANK YOU. SO. WE STRUCTURED THIS SO IT'S REVENUE NEUTRAL TO

[01:20:10]

GREAT QUESTION. SO WE ARE EXPECTING THE START UP COST IN TOTAL.

PHASED IN ALL OF THE DISTRICTS. YOU'LL SEE.

THE SOFTWARE LICENSE. THAT'S APPROXIMATELY SEVEN.

OFFICERS.

SO LET'S JUST SAY THAT. IF.

PROCESSING FEES. AND CITATIONS ANNUALLY.

OTHER DISTRICTS THAT YOU WORK IN LOOKING AT A REVENUE.

THAT THE CITATION WAS $30. YOU'RE LOOKING AT THAT.

SO FOR $300,000 IN ANNUAL CITATIONS. OKAY.

SORRY. MORE THAN 3300. OKAY. AND SO THIS. SO THIS WOULD BE THIS ASSUMES A BEST CASE ANYHOW. YES. SO ARE WE GOING TO EVALUATE THIS BECAUSE I SEE THIS PROGRAM LOSING MONEY.

OKAY. OKAY. THIS IS PROJECTED TO LOSE MONEY. THIS IS LOOKING AT ANNUALLY.

ANNUALLY. OKAY. WE GO BACK TO THE EXPENDITURE PAGE.

SO WE WOULD THERE'S SOME RECURRING COSTS. WE WOULD REMOVE THE START UP COST.

YEAH. AND I MEAN I GUESS WE'LL TALK ABOUT HOW TO HANDLE THOSE.

BUT IN TERMS OF THE RECURRING COST, YOU KNOW WE'RE LOOKING AT ABOUT 220,000 $225,000.

IT LOOKED LIKE IT WAS BALANCED OUT, RIGHT? I MEAN, OF COURSE THOSE ARE KIND OF IS IT WORSE? WORSE. SQUISHY. AND WE'RE THEIR BALLPARK. THEIR BALLPARK NUMBERS.

BUT IT WOULD HAVE TO BE VALIDATED AT SOME POINT, I GUESS 12 MONTHS IN OR SOME POINT IN.

BUT OBVIOUSLY WE I MEAN, WE HAVE YOUR EXPERIENCE IN OTHER COMMUNITIES.

I MEAN, WE'RE NOT JUST MAKING THIS UP. I MEAN, THERE'S THERE'S SOME SOME IT DEPENDS ON THE SIZE OF THE OPERATION IS WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT. YEAH. I'M CONCERNED BECAUSE I DON'T THINK ALL THESE COMMUNITIES ARE GOING TO OPT IN. SO CAN I CAN I JUST QUICKLY SPEAK TO THAT.

SO IN SOME MUNICIPALITIES.

THAT THERE IS A HIGH LIKELIHOOD THAT THE NUMBER.

WE HAVE LIKE, I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY BLOCKS. YEAH, BUT LIKE, IF TWO THIRDS OF THEM ONLY.

I MEAN, IT DOESN'T SCALE WELL. I GUESS THE OTHER WAY YOU CAN LOOK AT IT IS WE COULDN'T, YOU KNOW, FOR $155,000, OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT COULDN'T DO THAT WORK.

BUT I'M NOT SAYING THAT I JUST BY QUESTIONING SHOULD WE BE SUBSIDIZING.

HOW MUCH SHOULD THE CITY SHOULD BE SUBSIDIZING THIS OR DO WE JUST NOT DO IT? I MEAN, I THINK THERE'S ONE. SO I'M I LIVE IN ONE RIGHT NEAR ONE OF THESE ZONES.

BUT TO ME, THE, THE HISTORIC ZONE, I'M HORRIBLE WITH STREET NAMES, BUT YOU KNOW, THE, BY THE LIBRARY.

I CAN UNDERSTAND THAT, BUT WE'LL SEE. BUT I JUST HAVE A GREAT POINT BECAUSE THE START UP COST IS SOMETHING THAT

[01:25:10]

SORRY, THE LABOR COULD BE. WHEN YOU FACE THIS, WE'RE STARTING WITH, I THINK, LIKE 3 OR 4 ZONES.

YOU PROBABLY WOULDN'T EXPERIENCE THIS FULL ANNUAL LABOR NUMBER.

THAT'S CORRECT. THIS IS THIS IS MORE OF A WORST CASE ON THE ON THE HIGH END AND ALSO WITH WITH HAVING THIS LPR TECHNOLOGY IN THERE, IT WILL STREAMLINE THE ENFORCEMENT PROCESS IN BOTH THE PAID PARKING AND RESIDENTIAL.

NOBODY'S LOSING A JOB. YOU'RE JUST YOU'RE JUST SHIFTING THE RESOURCES MAKES IT IT MAKES IT A LOT MORE EFFICIENT.

SO SOMEBODY WALKING DOWN THE STREET, WHICH THEY WILL STILL BE THERE, BUT YOU CAN NOW DRIVE DOWN AND SCAN WITH AN LPR, AND IT'S GOING TO TELL YOU WHETHER THE CAR IS PAID OR NOT PAID.

SO THEN THIS SOFTWARE LICENSE, THE LIABILITY INSURANCE, THE SOFTWARE LICENSE LICENSE IN PARTICULAR, ARE WE GOING TO USE THIS OUTSIDE OF THESE DISTRICTS? IS THIS SOMETHING WE USE TO ENFORCE.

AND IS IT PRORATED. PRORATED HERE IS THAT THIS IS 100% END.

AND DOES THAT INCLUDE WITH THE ANNUAL EQUIPMENT LICENSE? IS THAT SPECIFIC TO THE CAR? IT'S IT'S PER UNIT. PER DEVICE. PER DEVICE? YES.

NOW FOR THE PERMITTING. THAT'S FOR THE WHOLE PROJECT FOR THE LPR.

THAT IS PER UNIT. OKAY. AND SO WITH THE START UP COST DOES THAT INCLUDE NEW SIGNAGE IN ALL OF THESE AREAS.

BECAUSE I KNOW EDUCATION WILL BE ONGOING. RIGHT.

WE HAVE TO EDUCATE THE PEOPLE ON THE STREETS.

WE HAVE TO EDUCATE OUR COMMUNITY. WE HAVE TO KEEP THE EDUCATION GOING SO PEOPLE UNDERSTAND WE HAVE THAT.

THANK YOU. BUT I WANTED TO TALK.

AND THEN QUESTIONS. AND YOU CAN HAVE. SO THE DRAFT ORDINANCE IS BEING PUBLICLY FOR. I'M DECIDING WHETHER TO CREATE A WHOLE NEW SURVEY AROUND THAT, OR IF THERE'S ANOTHER.

WILL PROBABLY BE RECEIVING EMAILS SEEK REVIEWING.

BUT WE ALSO NEED TO MAKE SURE.

THAT THERE IS A. MY GOAL IS TO BRING THIS BACK TO YOU ALL FOR CONSIDERATION.

TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE BECAUSE OF. AND THEN ALL OF THE.

THAT WERE OPERATIONAL BY THE. AS YOU'LL SEE, I MENTIONED EARLIER ZONES A, B, AND C RIGHT IN DOWNTOWN AREA, RIGHT NEXT TO DOWNTOWN BORDERING IT.

AND THEN ZONES D THROUGH K.

IT'S KEVIN, RIGHT? YES. CAN I ASK, COULD YOU AND FOR A FUTURE DATE, IF I'M LOOKING AT THIS ROLLOUT PLAN AND I THINK BACK TO THE SLIDE ON COST, COULD YOU PRORATE THE COST. SOME ARE JUST FIXED AND DOESN'T MATTER HOW MANY UNITS. IT'S JUST IT'S A SOFTWARE FEE, RIGHT? BUT LIKE EQUIPMENT, RIGHT. I WOULD IMAGINE THAT FROM JUNE TO SOME PERIOD, MAYBE SEPTEMBER.

WE'RE REALLY ONLY GOING TO HAVE ONE READER AND AND POSSIBLY REALLY ONLY ONE PATROL.

RIGHT. SO THAT'S A COST. AND THEN MAYBE D THE K STARTS TO COME ON IN OCTOBER THROUGH THE END OF THE YEAR. MAYBE YOU ADD ANOTHER READER, MAYBE YOU DON'T.

MAYBE YOU ADD ANOTHER PATROL. SO IT WOULD BE HELPFUL TO SEE THE WAY THE COST REALLY ROLL OUT.

SO THIS COST, THE WAY THAT IT'S LAID OUT IN HERE IS, IS SHOWING ALL IN.

YEAH. BUT THAT'S NOT THE WAY IT'S GOING TO BE.

NO INCURRED. SO THE FIRST UNIT IS WOULD BE PURCHASED PRESUMABLY IN THE NEXT YOU KNOW SO SO IT'S READY TO GO BY JUNE 5TH.

SO THAT'S GOING TO BE YOUR LICENSING FEES FOR THE FIRST, SECOND AND THIRD, AND HOWEVER MANY BEYOND THAT,

[01:30:01]

THEY DON'T START FROM DAY ONE. THE PROCESSOR FOR THE PERMIT.

THAT IS AN ANNUAL FEE OR ANNUAL AND MONTHLY FEE.

THAT DOESN'T CHANGE. IT'S SET UP FOR THE FULL PROGRAM.

WE BUILT THAT INTO IT BECAUSE STARTING OUT AT 100 RESIDENTS IS IS A VERY SMALL PROGRAM THAT ALL INTO ONE.

BUT CAN WE SEE WHAT'S LIKE, WHAT'S LUMP SUM AT AT THE TIME THAT WE GO LIVE? AND THEN WHAT'S THE SORT OF RAMP UP FOR ADDITIONAL UNITS AND CONTROL AS ADDITIONAL ZONES ARE ADDED? THAT'S GOING TO BE A A MORE ACCURATE READ ON WHAT WE'RE ACTUALLY GOING TO COME OUT OF POCKET WITH FOR.

A COUPLE QUESTIONS ON. SO WE'RE POSTING PUBLICLY.

WHAT CAPACITY DO WE HAVE TO SEND OUT EMAILS TO LET PEOPLE KNOW, HEY, THERE'S A PARKING ORDINANCE.

YOU WANT ME TO TAKE A LOOK AT IT? I WOULD RELY ON OUR COMMUNICATIONS WE NORMALLY DO THAT. WE HAVE THE NEW EMAIL AND TEXT, RIGHT? ANYONE THAT SIGNED UP FOR THE EMAIL, TEXT NOTIFICATIONS IN ADDITION TO PUTTING IT OUT ON SOCIAL MEDIA.

BUT IN THE IN THE FOLKS THAT RESPONDED TO THE SURVEY, WE WOULD HAVE THOSE EMAIL ADDRESSES SO THAT WE COULD NOTIFY IF THEY PROVIDED IT.

I JUST DON'T KNOW IF WE HAVE LIKE SOME CRITERIA THAT WE WOULD ACTIVATE THAT TO GIVE PEOPLE A HEADS UP FROM A LEGISLATIVE PERSPECTIVE, AS OPPOSED TO THE STREETS ARE CLOSED. DOES THAT MAKE SENSE? THE STREETS ARE CLOSED. LIKE WE USE A TEXT COMMERCE DRIVE IS CLOSED FOR WHATEVER REASON OR IT'S GOING TO BE CLOSED THIS WEEKEND.

WE'VE TALKED A LOT ABOUT COMMUNICATING WITH RESIDENTS AND LET THEM KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON. I DON'T KNOW IF THIS WOULD RISE TO THAT, BUT I, I PARKING CAN BE A CONTENTIOUS ISSUE. AND A LOT OF PEOPLE SAY, WELL, I DIDN'T KNOW THAT.

AND YES, THEY PROBABLY SHOULD PAY ATTENTION AND LOOK AT OUR AGENDAS AND STUFF.

BUT I JUST WAS WONDERING WHEN YOU SAY, HEY, YOU MAY HAVE AN INTEREST IN THIS. TAKE A LOOK AT IT AND WE DON'T HAVE TIME TO RELY ON THE FOCUS THIS TIME.

WE NEED TO GET THIS ROLLED OUT. I WAS GOING TO ASK, I THINK WE'VE GOT MEDIA IN THE HOUSE.

MY SECOND QUESTION WAS, ZOE, IS DECATUR IS GOING TO WRITE SOMETHING ABOUT THIS? SHE'S ALREADY TYPING.

THAT WAS MY SECOND QUESTION. SO YEAH.

DID YOU HEAR THE QUESTION? NO. OKAY. SO THE QUESTION WAS WE HAVE A SHORT TURNAROUND FOR LEGISLATION THAT IMPACTS PARKING, WHICH CAN BE CONTROVERSIAL. AND SO WE'D LIKE OUR AS MANY RESIDENTS AS POSSIBLE TO KNOW THAT WE'RE CONSIDERING RESTRICTING PARKING IN THESE AREAS.

WE SENT OUT AN EMAIL SAYING, HEY, TAKE A LOOK AT THIS ORDINANCE.

THE CITY COMMISSION IS GOING TO BE LOOKING AT WHAT TOOLS, WHAT.

I WAS JUST GOING TO SAY WE ARE STRENGTHENING.

THERE ARE ALREADY RESTRICTIONS. THEY'RE JUST UNENFORCEABLE.

I WANT TO SAY BUT THERE'S LEGISLATION THEY MAY BE INTERESTED IN REGARDING PARKING.

WHAT TOOLS DO WE HAVE TO COMMUNICATE THAT IN A FAIRLY SHORT TURNAROUND? YES. SO WE HAVE SOCIAL MEDIA. WE HAVE EMAIL TEXTS AS WELL.

AND, AND, AND TO BE ON THE EMAIL TO HAVE SOMEONE'S EMAIL, THAT MEANS THAT THEY HAVE THEY HAVE SIGNED UP, HAVE SIGNED UP TO RECEIVE EMAILS TO RECEIVE. YES.

IF THEY HAVE NOT SIGNED UP, THEN THEY ARE NOT GETTING ANYTHING.

THAT'S THAT'S FINE. OKAY. AND THEN WE ALSO EACH HAVE OUR OWN PERSONAL PLATFORMS, WHICH SOME OF US ARE MUCH BETTER AT THAN I AM.

SO JUST, JUST, YOU KNOW, AND I AGREE IT'S GOING TO BE DIFFICULT TO GET THE WORD OUT, BUT I THINK THAT THE PEOPLE IN THOSE ZONES ARE PROBABLY ALREADY LISTENING AND HEARING. SO IT WON'T BE A SURPRISE. AND IN ADDITION TO THE EMAILS, SOMETHING TO NOTE, THERE'S THREE OPTIONS THAT PEOPLE CAN SIGN UP FOR.

SO IT'S THE EMERGENCY ALERTS, MEETINGS AND EVENTS AND THEN NEWS.

SO THIS WOULD BE CONSIDERED DECATUR NEWS THAT THEY WOULD NEED TO SIGN UP FOR THAT, YOU KNOW, LIKE TOPICS AND JUST I'M VERY SENSITIVE BECAUSE THERE'S A GROWING DISTRUST IN GOVERNMENT, A SENSE OF LACK OF TRANSPARENCY, STUFF LIKE THAT. SO ANYTHING WE CAN DO IS HELPFUL.

AND I THINK NOT ALL OF US ARE ON SOCIAL MEDIA AS COMMISSIONERS, BUT WE DO HAVE COMMUNICATIONS WITH DOWNTOWN DECATUR NEIGHBORS OR WINNONA PARK NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION. SO MAYBE ESPECIALLY IN OUR DISTRICTS, WE CAN AMPLIFY THE MESSAGE AND WE ALSO UTILIZE NEXT DOOR AS WELL FOR VERY TARGETED NEIGHBORHOODS OR LOCATIONS THAT MAY NEED SPECIFIC COMMUNICATIONS.

YEAH. PERFECT. YEAH. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THE REMAINDER THAT ONCE YOU KNOW, THERE'S SORT OF ADOPTION, THERE ARE NOTICES SENT TO RESIDENTS AS WELL AS THE PROPERTY RECORDS.

[01:35:02]

OF COURSE THE ACCESS ACCESS TO THE PERMIT. PARK ON THE STREET DURING APPLY FOR THOSE PERMITS. SO ARE THERE ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS? THE ONLY ONE. SO DO WE HAVE A TARGET IN ORDER? GO. NO. GO. IS THERE A TARGET NUMBER OF HOUSEHOLDS? GO. NO. GO! I MEAN, WE WOULD BE LOOKING AT DISTRICT PER DISTRICT.

OKAY. SO IF THERE IS A DESIGNATED STREET RIGHT NOW THAT NO LONGER WISHES TO.

LET ME REPHRASE IT. I'M SORRY. WE ADOPT THE ORDINANCE ON MAY 4TH.

WE GET 25 HOUSEHOLDS. SIGN UP. GO! NO! GO! GO.

I THINK 75% OF THE RESIDENCES ON THE STREET WOULD HAVE TO PETITION FOR THIS IS MY RECOLLECTION.

IS THAT CORRECT, MR. THREADGILL? THAT IS CORRECT, YES.

FOR IT TO BE TO BE ADDED. BUT BUT BUT THE EXISTING ONES, WE'RE JUST GOING TO ROLL THEM OVER.

WELL THEY'RE IN IT FOR EXCEPT FOR A, B AND C CONCERNED WITH THE FINANCIAL FEASIBILITY.

CORRECT. YES. YEAH. JUST. YEAH. VALID. OKAY. THERE'S A STARK COST RISKS, RIGHT? YEAH. CAN WE REPEAT THE WAYS PEOPLE CAN GIVE INPUT ONE MORE TIME? SO WE ARE PLANNING ON POSTING TO THE CITY WEBSITE, AND THEN IT SOUNDS LIKE OUR COMMUNICATION STAFF WILL BE POSTING IT TO SOCIAL MEDIA.

THROUGH EMAIL, THROUGH POLCO AND THROUGH OUR LISTSERVS WHERE PEOPLE HAVE ALREADY SIGNED UP.

ARNOLD. DID YOU KNOW I HAD ANOTHER THOUGHT? OH, OKAY.

AND IF I CAN PULL IT TOGETHER, I MIGHT HAVE A SURVEY AVAILABLE, BUT PLEASE, TIME IS SHORT ON MY END.

SO BUT ULTIMATELY I'M, I'M, I'VE BEEN RECEIVING EMAILS AND I'M HAPPY TO RECEIVE THOSE IF THEY SEND ANY COMMENTS TO YOU, I'M HAPPY TO RECEIVE THOSE. I'M FORWARDING THEM TO ME.

SO THIS GO NO GO QUESTION. SO SO EVEN IF WELL OR KIND OF REGARDLESS, LIKE IF WE SAY WE'RE COMMITTED TO THIS PROGRAM, THIS VEHICLE AND THE LICENSE PLATE READER WILL BE PURCHASED, THAT WILL ALSO BE USED JUST FOR ON STREET PARKING.

I'M JUST SAYING LIKE, LIKE, WHAT IS THAT? LIKE ALL WOULD NOT BE LOST.

YEAH. IF IT WOULD STILL BE THE, THE LPR EQUIPMENT THAT WOULD BE PUT INTO USE JUST WHERE, YOU KNOW, THE PASSPORT TAKES A LOT LONGER TO RECOUP OUR COST.

AND WE DO HAVE I MEAN, IT SOUNDS LIKE WE HAVE SOME.

AND MAYBE THAT'S WHERE WE NEED A SURVEY. YOU KNOW, IS THERE SOME INDICATION THAT, YOU KNOW, THAT DISTRICTS A, B AND C ARE ARE GOING TO PARTICIPATE? I FROM THE SURVEY RESULTS AND THE PARTICIPANTS, I WOULD IMAGINE THAT ZONE B.

I MEAN, I DON'T WANT TO SPEND TOO MUCH TIME, BUT JUST BASED ON THE COMMENTS THAT I'VE RECEIVED THROUGH THAT.

SEVERAL ZONES THAT ARE VERY. WOULD IT BE POSSIBLE TO GO TO THOSE THREE ZONES AND THERE ARE THEIR COMMUNITY LEADERS AND.

SHOE AND ASK FOR SOME KIND OF COUNT. PUT THE ONUS ON THE NEIGHBORHOOD TO SAY, IF WE DO THIS RIGHT, YOU KNOW, WHAT DO YOU THINK YOUR TAKE RATE WILL BE? CAN WE DO THAT? WE COULD, WE COULD. I'M I'M A LITTLE WORRIED ABOUT HOW HOW MUCH OF IT WOULD BE VALID.

I WOULD BE WORRIED ABOUT THE, THE NUMBER OF RESPONDENTS.

AND IF WE'RE LIKE HANGING OUR HAT ON THOSE NUMBER OF RESPONSES.

BUT I DO KNOW IN TALKING WITH THE DECATUR HOUSING AUTHORITY AND WE, THAT ABOUT 60% OF THOSE RESIDENTS HAVE VEHICLES, THE OTHER 40% PROVIDE SUFFICIENT. PROPERTY. AND SO OPPORTUNITIES FOR THEM TO PARK OFF STREET. I'M.

I'LL BE CURIOUS TO KNOW HOW MANY ARE. IN THIS SPECIFIC TO ZONE A WAIT, MAYBE

[01:40:05]

OKAY. SO THERE YOU HAVE A SITUATION WHERE YOU HAVE A LARGE APARTMENT BUILDING THAT HAS PAID MONTHLY PARKING FOR ITS RESIDENTS, AND I THINK A NUMBER OF THEM JUST PARK ON THE STREET BECAUSE THEY WANT TO PAY THAT MONTHLY THING.

AND THIS IS PROBABLY FOR YOU, KEVIN, YOU LIKE ALMOST GIVING THEM AN INCENTIVE, THINKING, WELL, IF I GET AN ON STREET LICENSE AND I CAN SKIP THE PARKING.

HAVE YOU EVER ENCOUNTERED THAT BEFORE? BECAUSE I'M CONCERNED ABOUT ALL OF THESE PEOPLE FLOODING OUT OF THE GARAGE, THINKING THEY'LL BE ABLE TO PARK ON MONTGOMERY STREET DRIVING? HONESTLY, IT'S USUALLY THE OPPOSITE. IT'S USUALLY. USUALLY THE.

I MEAN. YEAH. WHERE THE CITY. PROVIDED PARKING.

YEAH, BUT WE ARE NOT GOING TO GIVE YOU PERMITTED PARKING, BUT WE WOULD NOT GIVE THEM PERMITTED PARKING UNDER THIS ORDINANCE.

I'M NOT SAYING THAT'S THE CASE FOR THIS ONE. OKAY. THAT'S ALL LIKE APARTMENTS AND RENTERS AND STUFF LIKE THAT. YEAH. JUST. YEAH.

OKAY. GOT IT. SO THOSE THOSE PROPERTIES ARE COMMERCIALLY ZONED AND THEY ARE THEREFORE EXCLUDED FROM THE ELIGIBILITY.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. LAST CALL FOR ANY OTHER QUESTIONS.

LAST PUBLIC CALL. WE'LL PROBABLY EMAIL YOU WITH QUESTIONS.

AND ALSO HOPEFULLY GET SOME OF THAT INFORMATION BACK FROM YOU. YEAH. ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU. WE WILL TAKE ABOUT AN 11 MINUTE BREAK, AND WE WILL START OUR NEXT MEETING AT 730.

[ I. Call to Order by Mayor]

COMMISSIONERS, YOU HAVE IN FRONT OF YOU THE MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF APRIL 6TH, 2026.

[ II. Approval of the Minutes.]

MOVE FOR APPROVAL. SO MOVED. SECOND. MOTION HAS BEEN MADE AND SECONDED.

FURTHER DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AYE. AND CHAIR VOTES? AYE. AND THE MEETING MINUTES ARE APPROVED. FIRST UP, WE HAVE A COUPLE OF PROCLAMATIONS.

[ III. Proclamations.]

WHEREAS ADMINISTRATIVE PROFESSIONALS DAY IS OBSERVED ANNUALLY AROUND THE WORLD TO RECOGNIZE THE IMPORTANT CONTRIBUTIONS OF ADMINISTRATIVE PROFESSIONALS MAKE EACH YEAR TO THEIR WORKPLACES. AND WHEREAS, ADMINISTRATIVE PROFESSIONALS ARE VITAL CONTRIBUTORS TO TODAY'S TEAM ORIENTED WORK ENVIRONMENT LIKE THEY'RE DOING RIGHT NOW AND ARE THE FRONT LINE PUBLIC RELATIONS AMBASSADORS FOR THEIR ORGANIZATION.

AND WHEREAS ADMINISTRATIVE PROFESSIONALS PLAY AN ESSENTIAL ROLE IN COORDINATING THE OFFICE OPERATIONS OF BUSINESS, GOVERNMENT, EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS, AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS.

AND WHEREAS THE WORK OF ADMINISTRATIVE PROFESSIONALS DAY REQUIRES ADVANCED KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERTISE IN COMMUNICATIONS, COMPUTER SOFTWARE, OFFICE TECHNOLOGY, PROJECT MANAGEMENT, ORGANIZATION, CUSTOMER SERVICE, AND OTHER VITAL OFFICE MANAGEMENT RESPONSIBILITIES.

AND WHEREAS THE CITY OF DECATUR'S ADMINISTRATIVE PROFESSIONALS GROUP BEGAN IN 2000, WITH BERTHA HUNT SERVING AS THE FIRST CHAIR AND SEVEN STAFF MEMBERS REPRESENTING VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS. AND WHEREAS, THE GROUP CONTINUES TO MEET MONTHLY TO DISCUSS VARIOUS PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES AND PROVIDE VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES AT CITY EVENTS.

AND WHEREAS ADMINISTRATIVE PROFESSIONAL DAY CELEBRATES AND RECOGNIZES OUR ADMINISTRATIVE PROFESSIONALS, DEVOTED AND VALUED WORK IN THE CITY OF DECATUR.

NOW THEREFORE, I TONI POWERS, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF DECATUR, THE CITY OF HOMES, SCHOOLS AND PLACES OF WORSHIP DO HEREBY PROCLAIM APRIL 22ND, 2026 AS ADMINISTRATIVE PROFESSIONALS DAY.

AND I DO HEREBY URGE ALL RESIDENTS AND ORGANIZATIONS OF THIS COMMUNITY TO JOIN ME IN SALUTING ALL OF THE AMAZING ADMINISTRATIVE PROFESSIONALS WHO POSITIVELY CONTRIBUTE TO OFFICES WITHIN THIS COMMUNITY, AS WELL AS DEDICATE THEMSELVES TO THE ADMINISTRATIVE PROFESSION.

AND I THANK. MISS BLACKWELL IS HERE TO. I WOULD LIKE WHEN BLACKWELL TO COME DOWN AND RECEIVE THIS, PLEASE. I KNOW SHE'S GOING TO KILL ME TOMORROW, BUT SHE IS THE OFFICE MANAGER IN THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE AND WE CANNOT DO WHAT WE DO WITHOUT THE SUPPORT AND ASSISTANCE OF MISS BLACKWELL AND THE OTHER ADMINISTRATIVE PROFESSIONALS.

THANK YOU.

[01:45:06]

AND WHEREAS CITY GOVERNMENT IS ADMINISTERED FOR AND BY ITS RESIDENTS AND IS DEPENDENT UPON PUBLIC COMMITMENT TO THE TWO AND UNDERSTANDING OF OF ITS MANY RESPONSIBILITIES. AND WHEREAS CITY GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS AND EMPLOYEES SHARE THE RESPONSIBILITY TO PASS ALONG THEIR UNDERSTANDING OF PUBLIC SERVICES AND THEIR BENEFITS. AND WHEREAS GEORGIA'S CITIES WEEK IS VERY IMPORTANT, IS A VERY IMPORTANT TIME TO RECOGNIZE THE IMPORTANT ROLE PLAYED BY CITY GOVERNMENT IN OUR LIVES. AND WHEREAS THIS WEEK OFFERS AN IMPORTANT OPPORTUNITY TO SPREAD THE WORD TO ALL RESIDENTS OF GEORGIA THAT THEY CAN HELP SHAPE AND INFLUENCE THIS BRANCH OF GOVERNMENT WHICH IS CLOSEST TO THE PEOPLE.

AND WHEREAS THE GEORGIA MUNICIPAL ASSOCIATION AND ITS MEMBER CITIES HAVE JOINED TOGETHER TO TEACH STUDENTS AND OTHER CITIZENS ABOUT MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT THROUGH A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT PROJECTS AND INFORMATION. AND WHEREAS EACH YEAR IN THE CITY OF DECATUR, WE CELEBRATE THIS WEEK WITH A SPECIAL KIDS ACTIVITY BOOK WHICH INCORPORATES THE DESIGNATED THEME. AND WHEREAS THIS YEAR'S THEME IS LOVE YOUR CITY.

AND WHEREAS THE GEORGIA CITIES WEEK OFFERS AN IMPORTANT OPPORTUNITY TO CONVEY TO ALL RESIDENTS OF GEORGIA THAT THEY CAN SHAPE AND INFLUENCE GOVERNMENT THROUGH THEIR CIVIC INVOLVEMENT. NOW, THEREFORE, I TONI POWERS, THE MAYOR OF THE CITY OF DECATUR, THE CITY OF HOMES, SCHOOLS AND PLACES OF WORSHIP DO HEREBY PROCLAIM APRIL 20TH THROUGH THE 25TH AS GEORGIA CITIES WEEK, AND I ENCOURAGE ALL COMMUNITY MEMBERS, CITY GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS AND EMPLOYEES TO DO EVERYTHING POSSIBLE TO ENSURE THAT THIS WEEK IS RECOGNIZED AND CELEBRATED ACCORDINGLY.

SO YOU ALL DID THAT TODAY. SO THANK YOU. AND I'LL ASK.

YES, WE HAVE MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNICATIONS TEAM.

SOME OF YOU MAY HAVE SEEN THEIR SUPER CREATIVE WORK AROUND GEORGIA CITIES WEEK.

AND SO I WILL TURN IT OVER. IF YOU'LL GO TO THE MICROPHONE, INTRODUCE YOURSELVES AND LET US KNOW WHAT YOU ALL HAVE DONE.

WITH THE CITY TO CELEBRATE THIS WEEK. HI, I'M LATASHA BROWN.

I'M THE COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER. SO FROM A COMMUNITY, FROM A FOCUS STANDPOINT TODAY OR THIS MONTH, WE EMBRACE THE COVER OR EMBRACE THE THEME WITH THE COVER OF LOVE YOUR CITY.

SO WE ASKED SEVERAL COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO WRITE LOVE LETTERS TO DECATUR.

WHY THEY LOVE DECATUR. WE ALSO INCORPORATED THAT SAME THEME IN THE INSERT FOR THE KIDS ACTIVITY BOOK.

AND THEN SO THEY ALSO HAVE THEIR LOVE LETTERS AS WELL IN THEIR OWN HANDWRITING.

AND THEN ON THE LAST PAGE, WE ARE ASKING THE KIDS TO WRITE AND VISIT THE DECATUR VISITOR CENTER TO SHARE THEIR LOVE LETTER SO THAT WE CAN SHARE ON SOCIAL.

SO. HI, I'M MOLLY, I'M THE DIGITAL COMMUNICATIONS COORDINATOR.

SO I HANDLE SOCIAL MEDIA AND ALL WEEK LONG. THIS WEEK I'LL BE POSTING ABOUT GEORGIA CITIES WEEK.

LOVE YOUR CITY THEME. I DID PUT UP OUR VIDEO TODAY.

IF YOU HAVEN'T SEEN IT YET, IT IS POSTED ON OUR INSTAGRAM AND FACEBOOK.

THAT VIDEO IS A BUNCH OF OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS STATING WHY THEY LOVE DECATUR.

AND THEN ALSO THROUGHOUT THE WEEK, I'LL BE POSTING A COUPLE STORIES EVERY DAY TO OUR INSTAGRAM AND FACEBOOK WITH PHOTOS OF SOME OF THESE SAME HEARTS ALL AROUND TOWN.

AND WE'VE ALSO OPENED UP THE CONVERSATION WITH OUR AUDIENCE, ASKING THEM TO RESPOND EITHER IN COMMENTS OR TO OUR STORIES ABOUT WHY THEY LOVE DECATUR.

SO WE CAN ALSO SHARE THOSE COMMENTS AS WELL. THANK YOU.

THIS PROCLAMATION. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE WORK THAT YOU DO.

THANK YOU, THANK YOU.

WHILE THE CITY MANAGER STEPS OUT. I'D LIKE TO RECOGNIZE ONE OF OUR YOUTH COUNCIL MEMBERS, ALLIE HOGAN.

COME ON UP AND INTRODUCE YOURSELF. HI, MY NAME IS ALI HOGAN.

I'M A JUNIOR AT DECATUR HIGH SCHOOL AND I'M SO EXCITED TO BE HERE TODAY.

THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU.

[01:50:01]

ALL RIGHT. SO TONIGHT WE HAVE SEVERAL ITEMS THAT WE'RE GOING TO START WITH THE PLANNING COMMISSION RECOMMENDATIONS.

[Items IV.A - IV.C]

AND FIRST UP, MISS KERSEK. EVENING, EVERYONE.

I'M CASEY KERSEK WITH PLANNING AND ZONING. WE DO HAVE THREE CONCURRENT ITEMS THIS EVENING.

THEY WILL REQUIRE AN INDIVIDUAL VOTE ON EACH, BUT IF IT'S OKAY I'M GOING TO TALK ABOUT THEM ALL TOGETHER.

SO WE HAVE PROPERTIES. YOU ALL ACTUALLY KNOW IT AS THE WILD CENTER, BUT THAT IS LOCATED AT 431435 AND 439 OAK VIEW ROAD. THERE ARE THREE CONCURRENT REQUESTS.

THE FIRST IS A LAND USE MAP AMENDMENT FROM OUR LOW DENSITY RESIDENTIAL TO THE COMMERCIAL AND HIGH DENSITY RESIDENTIAL. THERE IS A REZONING FOR FROM THE R 60 SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL DISTRICT TO THE NMU, WHICH IS OUR NEIGHBORHOOD MIXED USE.

AND THEN THERE IS ALSO A SPECIAL EXCEPTION HERE TONIGHT TO REDUCE THE NUMBER OF ON SITE SPACES.

THE REASON WE'RE HERE TONIGHT IS ACTUALLY BECAUSE THEY ARE HOSTING SPECIAL EVENTS ON THE PROPERTY, AND WE FOUND THIS OUT LATE FALL OF LAST YEAR, EARLY WINTER.

SO STARTED WORKING WITH THE WILD CENTER TO ACTUALLY BRING EVERYTHING INTO CONFORMANCE.

THERE IS NO PLAN FOR AN EXPANSION. I THINK MANY OF YOU KNOW, THEY DID RENOVATE THE BUILDING IN LATE 20 FOR THE PLANNING COMMISSION DID ATTACH NINE CONDITIONS. WOULD YOU LIKE ME TO READ THEM? YES, PLEASE.

NO PROBLEM. AND THESE ARE ATTACHED TO ALL THE APPLICATIONS.

NUMBER ONE, THE NEIGHBORHOOD MIXED USE DESIGNATION IS LIMITED TO THE USE OF A COMMUNITY GARDEN, A MARKET GARDEN, AN EDUCATION CENTER, COMMUNITY PROGRAMING AND PRIVATE EVENT RENTALS.

ALL DELIVERIES FOR EVENT RENTALS SHALL LOAD AND UNLOAD IN THE DRIVEWAY ON SITE.

PRIVATE EVENT RENTALS CANNOT EXCEED TEN EVENTS PER MONTH AND NOT MORE THAN 100 GUESTS PER EVENT.

PRIVATE EVENT RENTALS DO NOT INCLUDE EVENTS SPONSORED OR HOSTED BY THE WILD CENTER.

ALL EVENTS WITH MORE THAN 50 ATTENDEES. SHALL WORK WITH THE EVENT COORDINATOR TO DEFINE THE ALLOWABLE PARKING PLAN, SUCH AS A SHUTTLE, MARTA, RIDESHARE, OR OTHER SIMILAR METHODS.

ALL EVENTS SHALL END BY 10 P.M. EVERY DAY OF THE WEEK.

ALL EVENTS SET UP, TEAR DOWN, LOADING AND UNLOADING SHALL BE LIMITED TO THE 90 MINUTES BEFORE AND AFTER EACH EVENT.

PRIVATE EVENT RENTALS SHALL NOT HAVE OUTDOOR AMPLIFIED SOUND TO INCLUDE LIVE MUSIC BANDS OR DJ'S.

THIS RESTRICTION DOES NOT APPLY TO THE USE OF A MICROPHONE OR AMPLIFIED ANNOUNCEMENTS AND SPEECHES.

CONTACT INFORMATION FOR A DESIGNATED WALSH CENTER REPRESENTATIVE MUST BE PROVIDED FOR ALL EVENTS.

AND FINALLY, ALL EVENTS SHALL COMPLY WITH THE CITY NOISE ORDINANCE AS DEFINED IN THE UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT CODE.

YOU DO HAVE SOME HANDOUTS IN FRONT OF YOU BECAUSE WE DID RECEIVE LETTERS FROM THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS.

MANY OF YOU WERE ALREADY COPIED ON THEM, SO YOU WOULD HAVE PROBABLY ALREADY SEEN THEM.

BUT THAT WAS AS A RESULT FROM THE PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING.

YOU ALSO HAVE ON THE TOP THE APPLICANT IS PROPOSING A NEW ROUND OF ADDITIONS.

SOME OF THESE ARE ACTUALLY MORE RESTRICTIVE AS A RESULT OF WHAT THEY HEARD FROM THE PLANNING COMMISSION.

BUT I WILL LET THEM EXPLAIN ALL OF THOSE TO YOU.

THANK YOU MISS. THANK YOU SO MUCH. GOOD EVENING.

GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS ALEXIS CROMARTIE. I'M WITH DENTONS AT 303 PEACHTREE STREET, NORTHEAST ATLANTA, GEORGIA 30308. I AM JOINED BY ANA MARIA MEANS, MY COLLEAGUE, ALSO WITH DENTONS.

THE WILD CENTER TEAM AND BOARD MEMBERS. THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE.

WE WERE CONNECTED TO THE WILD CENTER VIA THE PRO BONO PARTNERSHIP OF ATLANTA.

LARGELY BECAUSE WE ADMIRE AND SUPPORT THE WILD CENTER AND THE WORK THAT THEY DO.

SO WE ARE HERE TODAY AND YOU KNOW, TAKING ON THE CASE FREE OF CHARGE.

WE REALLY BELIEVE IN THE MISSION. I DIDN'T KNOW IF THE PRESENT.

SO IT'S NOT THE PRESENTATION IS NOT GOING TO BE OR IT IS. OKAY. OKAY.

WE COME UP HERE. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. OKAY. IT'S ALREADY UP AND WE CAN SEE IT HERE.

OKAY.

[01:55:01]

THE WILD CENTER IS A NONPROFIT ENTITY THAT HAS BEEN OPERATING IN THE CITY OF DECATUR FOR NEARLY 30 YEARS.

ITS PRINCIPAL PRINCIPAL USE IS A COMMUNITY GARDEN AND MARKET GARDEN, WITH ACCESSORY USES TO INCLUDE AN EDUCATION CENTER AND AN EVENT SPACE.

AS A NONPROFIT, ALL FUNDRAISING AND OTHER STREAMS OF REVENUE GO TOWARDS OPERATIONS.

THE GARDENS ARE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC AND FREE OF CHARGE.

THE SITE FEATURES MULTIPLE GARDEN PLOTS AND EXPANDED CHILDREN'S GARDEN GREENHOUSES, A CHICKEN COOP, A SENSORY GARDEN, A FLOWER ROOM, POND AND BENCHES, AND PICNIC TABLES.

THE SITE HAS BEEN USED FOR YOUTH AND ADULT HANDS ON EDUCATION PROGRAMS, PLANT SALES, COMMUNITY PROGRAMS, YOGA IN THE GARDEN, AND AN INDOOR AND OUTDOOR EVENT SPACE FOR WILD CENTER EVENTS AND PRIVATE INTIMATE EVENT RENTALS.

SO ON THE NEXT SLIDE, YOU'RE LOOKING AT THE RENOVATED PROPERTY SITE PLAN.

THIS SITE PLAN SHOWS THE RENOVATED SPACE, WHICH WAS COMPLETED IN DECEMBER OF 2024.

IT INCLUDES AN ENHANCED ENHANCE LAWN AND GARDEN PLOTS.

THE EXPANDED CHILDREN'S GARDEN AND MANY OTHER REALLY BEAUTIFUL FEATURES THAT HAVE BEEN ADDED.

THE MAIN BUILDING WAS ALSO EXPANDED TO INCLUDE AN INDOOR EDUCATION SPACE TO ACCOMMODATE LARGER GROUPS, FOR EXAMPLE SCHOOL FIELD TRIPS AND ADULT EDUCATION PROGRAMS. AS YOU CAN SEE, THE PROPERTY IS EXPANSIVE. COLLECTIVELY, IT IS AROUND 1.25 ACRES.

THE PARCEL ON THE EASTERN CORNER IS ACTUALLY OWNED BY THE CITY OF DECATUR AND MAINTAINED BY THE WILD CENTER.

THE OTHER THREE PARCELS ARE IN THE PROCESS OF CONSOLIDATION.

THEY ARE OWNED BY THE WILD CENTER, AND THESE THREE PARCELS ARE THE SUBJECT OF THE LAND USE AND ZONING REQUEST.

TODAY. A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE EVENT RENTALS. THE WILD CENTER HOSTS FUNDRAISING AND MARKET EVENTS ON SITE, AND THEY ALSO OFFER THE PRIVATE EVENT SPACE FOR RENTAL TO THE PUBLIC.

THESE EVENTS RANGE FROM BUSINESS RETREATS, CELEBRATIONS OF LIFE, BIRTHDAY PARTIES, CHILDREN'S PARTIES AND MILESTONE CELEBRATIONS FOR ALL AGES.

THE AVERAGE PRIVATE EVENT RENTAL SINCE THE RENOVATION WAS COMPLETED IN DECEMBER OF 2024 IS THREE RENTALS PER MONTH.

THE GUEST COUNTS CAN RANGE ANYWHERE FROM 20 TO 100 GUESTS, WITH AN AVERAGE OF 33 GUESTS PER EVENT.

THESE GATHERINGS NOT ONLY HELP SUSTAIN THE GARDEN FINANCIALLY, BUT THEY ALSO FOSTER A SENSE OF COMMUNITY AND PROVIDE EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR NEIGHBORS OF ALL AGES. I WILL NOW HAND OVER THE REMAINDER OF THE PRESENTATION TO MY COLLEAGUE, ANA MARIA MEANS TO DISCUSS THE LAND USE AND ZONING REQUEST AND THE SPECIAL EXCEPTION.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. HELLO. ANA MARIA MEANS WITH DENTONS, 303 PEACHTREE STREET, NORTHEAST, SUITE 5300, ATLANTA, GEORGIA, 30308. THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

AS WAS STATED EARLIER, THE CITY ACTUALLY REACHED OUT TO THE WILD CENTER TO INITIATE THIS REZONING, AND THE CENTER WORKED WITH THE CITY TO DETERMINE THAT THE COMMERCIAL HIGH DENSITY LAND USE DESIGNATION, AS WELL AS THE NMU ZONING DISTRICT, WERE THE MOST APPROPRIATE AND BEST SUITED FOR THE SITE.

THE COMMERCIAL HIGH DENSITY LAND USE IS THE ONLY LAND USE DESIGNATION THAT SUPPORTS THE MARKET GARDEN USE.

THAT THE WILD CENTER USES. AND THE NMU ZONING DISTRICT IS THE LOWEST DENSITY COMMERCIAL ZONING DISTRICT.

SO WHILE, WHEN YOU HEAR THE LAND USE AND YOU HEAR HIGH DENSITY, IT SOUNDS A LITTLE CONCERNING.

OH, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. IT SOUNDS A LITTLE CONCERNING.

WHEN WE LOOK AT THE NMU ZONING DISTRICT, YOU'LL SEE THAT IT IS, IT IS RELATIVELY LOW DENSITY AND PARTICULARLY MADE FOR THE SITUATION.

AND OF COURSE, AS YOU KNOW, IN ORDER TO APPROVE THE REZONING, THE LAND USE MUST FIRST BE APPROVED.

AND THEN IN ORDER TO APPROVE THE SPECIAL EXCEPTION, WHICH WE'LL GET TO THE REZONING MUST BE APPROVED.

SO A LITTLE BIT DEEPER INTO THE ZONING DISTRICT.

THE PURPOSE OF THIS DISTRICT IS TO PROVIDE, AND THIS IS COMING FROM THE CODE TO PROVIDE FOR PROTECTION AND CONTROL OF DEVELOPMENT OR REDEVELOPMENT, TO SERVE THE COMMERCIAL NEEDS OF A RELATIVELY SMALL AREA, USUALLY A RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD.

SO AGAIN, THIS DISTRICT IS MEANT FOR COMMERCIAL USES IN A RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD.

AND THE CONTROLS AND CONSTRAINTS IN THIS DISTRICT RESPECT A NEIGHBORHOOD ENVIRONMENT.

YOU'LL SEE THAT THE MAX ALLOWED DENSITY IS NINE UNITS PER ACRE, WHICH IS ACTUALLY SMALLER THAN A LOT OF THE RESIDENTIAL DISTRICTS.

THE MINIMUM, THE MAXIMUM STORAGE IS THREE STORIES AND THE MAXIMUM SQUARE FOOTAGE IS 10,000 SQUARE FOOT SQUARE FEET.

BUT AGAIN, THE WILD CENTER IS NOT CHANGING ANYTHING THAT IS CURRENTLY ON SITE.

BUT WE BRING THIS UP BECAUSE AS WE'LL GET TO, THERE ARE SOME CONCERNS ABOUT FUTURE USE AND WHAT THIS REZONING COULD POSSIBLY BRING.

[02:00:08]

THE SPECIAL EXCEPTION WE ARE REQUESTING IS TO REDUCE THE REQUIRED ON SITE PARKING SPACES FROM THREE, WHICH IS WHAT NMU WOULD REQUIRE FOR THIS USE DOWN TO ONE.

THAT IS TO ACCOMMODATE AN ADA PARKING SPACE ON SITE AND ALSO TO ALLOW FOR LOADING AND UNLOADING TO HAPPEN ON SITE.

WE FIGURED IT WOULD BE MUCH LESS BURDENSOME ON THE PUBLIC STREET TO HAVE LOADING AND UNLOADING HAPPEN ON SITE INSTEAD OF ON THE STREET WHERE IT CAN NOT ONLY DISRUPT THE PUBLIC PARKING, BUT SOMETIMES THE SIDEWALK AND THE, THE MOVING TRAFFIC.

AND SO THE NATURE OF THE SPECIAL EXCEPTION IS TO ACCOMMODATE THAT.

AS FAR AS COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT. AS WE STATED PREVIOUSLY, THE WILD CENTER HAS BEEN IN EXISTENCE IN THE OAKHURST NEIGHBORHOOD FOR NEARLY 30 YEARS, OPERATING AS A COMMUNITY GARDEN, HOLDING AND HOLDING EVENTS.

SINCE THEN, WE HAVE ONLY HEARD OF ONE COMPLAINT.

IT IS THE COMPLAINT THAT SPARKED THE CITY TO COME TO US AND KIND OF OVERALL GET INTO CONFORMANCE, BUT WE HIGHLIGHT THAT TO SAY THAT FOR OVER 30 YEARS, THE OAKHURST GARDEN HAS OPERATED AS A GOOD NEIGHBOR AND THEY PLAN TO CONTINUE TO DO SO.

EARLY ON, THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT EMPHASIZED US THE IMPORTANCE OF COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.

AND WHEN WE BROUGHT THAT REQUEST BACK TO THE WILD CENTER, THEY WERE MORE THAN HAPPY TO ENGAGE IN THE COMMUNITY BECAUSE THEY WANT TO, AGAIN, CONTINUE TO BE A GOOD NEIGHBOR. IF YOU LOOK AT THEIR MISSION STATEMENT, COMMUNITY IS VERY MUCH A PART OF THAT.

INITIALLY WE ATTEMPTED TO REACH OUT TO THE OAKHURST NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION VIA EMAILS ON ITS WEBSITE.

UNFORTUNATELY, THOSE EMAILS WERE RETURNED. WE REACHED OUT TO THE CITY TO GET ADDITIONAL CONTACT INFORMATION.

AND BECAUSE THEY'RE THE OFFICIAL NEIGHBORHOOD ORGANIZATION DOESN'T HAVE AN OFFICIAL REPRESENTATIVE, WE DECIDED TO MOVE TO A MORE GRASSROOTS EFFORT TO REACH OUT.

AND SO, AS YOU'LL SEE, THE WILD CENTER SENT OUT 33 LETTERS TO ITS IMMEDIATE NEIGHBORS.

THEY BEGAN INFORMAL DISCUSSIONS IN DECEMBER OF 2025, AND THEY HELD TWO MORE FORMAL COMMUNITY MEETINGS IN MARCH.

ONE WAS IN EARLY MARCH, ONE WAS IN LATE MARCH.

THE FIRST MEETING HAD NO ATTENDEES. THE SECOND MEETING HAD EIGHT ATTENDEES. AND WE HEARD THREE MAIN CONCERNS.

OUTDOOR PARKING, I'M SORRY, PARKING, OUTDOOR AMPLIFIED SOUND AND THEN FUTURE USE AND RESTRICTIONS AROUND THAT.

I ALSO NOTE THAT THE CITY POSTED, OF COURSE, A SIGN AT THE PROPERTY AND PUBLISHED A NOTICE IN THE NEWSPAPER.

SO ON TO OUR PROPOSED CONDITIONS, WHICH I BELIEVE YOU ALL HAVE A COPY OF.

SO IN ADDITION TO THE COMMUNITY MEETINGS, ALEXIS AND I, ALONG WITH THE WILD CENTER TEAM, HAVE HAD SEVERAL PHONE CALLS AND EXTENSIVE EMAIL CORRESPONDENCE WITH NEIGHBORS, WHICH WE WELCOME.

WE UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS A PUBLIC PROCESS. NEIGHBORS SHOULD BE ABLE TO TELL US THEIR CONCERNS AND AS RESPONSIBLE PARTS OF THE NEIGHBOR PEOPLE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD, WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO RESPOND TO THAT. SO WE'VE CONSIDERED THE FEEDBACK WE RECEIVED, AND WE DRAFT THESE PROPOSED CONDITIONS AIMED AT ADDRESSING THOSE CONCERNS.

AND I'LL RUN THROUGH SOME OF THEM SO YOU ALL CAN SEE SORT OF THE PROGRESSION.

THIS WAS AN EXTENDED COLLABORATION TO MAKE SURE THAT THESE CONDITIONS REALLY DO ADDRESS THE CONCERNS.

SO THE FIRST ONE WILD CENTER HAS SIGNIFICANTLY INVESTED IN THE SITE.

SO THERE IS NOT ANY PLANS TO SELL OR MOVE OR RELOCATE.

HOWEVER, WE DID HEAR A LOT OF CONCERNS ABOUT, WELL, YOU'RE CHANGING THE ZONING DISTRICT.

OF COURSE THAT RUNS WITH THE LAND. WHAT HAPPENS IF YOU DO SELL OR GO ELSEWHERE? SO IN RESPONSE TO THOSE THOSE CONCERNS. WE PUT THIS FIRST CONDITION WHICH RESTRICTS THE USE OF THE PROPERTY ESSENTIALLY TO THE CURRENT USE.

SO IF NEW OWNERS WANTED TO SELL OR DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT, LIKE A RESTAURANT, THEY WOULD HAVE TO COME BEFORE YOU AGAIN.

THEY'D HAVE TO SEEK COMMUNITY INPUT AND THEY WOULD ESSENTIALLY HAVE TO DO A REZONING BECAUSE THIS FIRST CONDITION VERY MUCH RESTRICTS THE USE.

THE SECOND ONE, AS WE DISCUSSED PREVIOUSLY, THE LOADING AND UNLOADING ON SITE, AGAIN TO ALLEVIATE BURDEN ON THE STREET.

THE THIRD ONE A THROUGH F REALLY IS CONCERNING PRIVATE EVENT RENTALS.

WE HEARD A LOT OF CONCERN ABOUT PRIVATE EVENT RENTALS.

AND TO BE CLEAR, AGAIN, THERE'S NO IMMEDIATE DESIRE TO DRASTICALLY INCREASE THE NUMBER OF PRIVATE EVENTS.

BUT SINCE THESE CONDITIONS RUN WITH THE LAND, WE WANTED TO ALLOW SOME SPACE FOR GROWTH.

AND WE'LL NOTE THAT THESE EVENTS VARY AND THE TIME OF DAY AND THE DAY OF THE WEEK.

[02:05:01]

THEY OCCUR THROUGHOUT THE DAY. EVENT RENTAL IS AVAILABLE MONDAY THROUGH SUNDAY, 9 A.M.

TO 10 P.M.. SO A THE PRIVATE EVENTS CANNOT EXCEED EIGHT EVENTS PER MONTH OR 80 EVENTS PER YEAR.

WHEN WE STARTED THIS, WE HAD NO RESTRICTIONS AND WE WERE JUST WE HAD NO RESTRICTIONS ON THE AMOUNT OF PRIVATE EVENTS THROUGH THE NEIGHBORHOODS MEETING. WE THEN IMPLEMENT. WE THEN WENT BEFORE THE PLANNING COMMISSION, WHICH WERE SOME OF THOSE CONDITIONS THAT YOU HEARD FROM CASEY AND SAID, OKAY, WE'LL CAP IT AT TEN PER MONTH. AFTER THE PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING.

YES. I WANT TO MAKE SURE I'M UNDERSTANDING. SO LEGALLY ABSENT THE REZONING, CAN THE WILD CENTER HAVE PRIVATE EVENTS? SO IT IS OUR POSITION THAT WHEN YOU LOOK AT DECATUR USE CHART EVENT CENTER IS NOT IN THE NMU ZONING DISTRICT OR OUR 60, WHICH IS WHAT THEY'RE CURRENTLY ZONED.

AND THE IMPETUS FOR THE REZONING IS FOR THIS MARKET GARDEN USE.

AND THEN EVENT CENTER IS AN ACCESSORY USE IN THE DECATUR CITY CODE.

ACCESSORY USES ARE ALLOWED SORT OF SUBJECT TO PLANNING, SAYING THAT THEY ARE ACCESSORY TO THE PROPER USE ACCESSORY USES.

DO WE HAVE ACCESSORY USES IN RESIDENTIAL ZONING? ACCESSORIES ARE TYPICALLY. ARE YOU ASKING ME OR CASEY? I'M SORRY.

WHOEVER. YEAH. I MEAN, ACCESSORY USES ARE TYPICALLY INCIDENTAL, BUT DECATUR REQUIRES THE PLANNING COMMISSION, THE PLANNING DIRECTOR, TO CERTIFY. I CAN I CAN CLEAR THIS UP.

THE WAY OUR CODE WORKS, WE DO NOT SPECIFICALLY SPELL OUT EVENT SPACE.

BUT IN BOTH OUR INDOOR AND OUTDOOR RECREATION, WE ACTUALLY CLASSIFY IT AS A MEETING AND CONGREGATION OR MORE OF LIKE AN OPEN SPACE, WHICH IS WHAT WE'VE HAD ALL THE EVENT CENTERS FALL UNDER BEFORE.

SO THEN THAT IS A USE THAT'S PERMITTED WITHIN THIS NEIGHBORHOOD MIXED USE DISTRICT, BUT NOT NECESSARILY IN A RESIDENTIAL DISTRICT.

AND WHEN WE DID ORIGINALLY GET THE COMPLAINT AT THE END OF THE YEAR, I SCOURED THROUGH ALL OF OUR FILES AND WE JUST DIDN'T SEE WHERE THAT USE OF HOSTING THE PRIVATE EVENTS WAS EVER REALLY DEFINED OR APPROVED OR MENTIONED.

WE REALLY DON'T DOUBT THAT IT PROBABLY HAPPENED FROM TIME TO TIME, BUT I THINK NOW THAT THE RENOVATION OCCURS, IT IT'S MORE PREVALENT AND PEOPLE WANT TO USE IT.

THANK YOU. AND I'LL NOTE THAT WHILE THE PRIVATE EVENTS ARE LIKELY MORE PREVALENT BECAUSE OF THE RENOVATION, IT IS STILL NOT THE PRINCIPAL USE OF THE SITE. THE PRINCIPAL USE IS STILL COMMUNITY GARDEN AND MARKET GARDEN. BUT WE, WE HEAR FROM FROM THE COMMUNITY AND THE NEIGHBORHOOD THAT THE PRIVATE EVENTS ARE A POINT OF CONCERN, WHICH IS WHY WE HAVE EXTENSIVE CONDITIONS ADDRESSING THOSE.

AND SO ULTIMATELY THERE WE LANDED AT EIGHT EVENTS PER MONTH AS A MAXIMUM 80 EVENTS PER YEAR.

THE NEXT IS THE NUMBER OF PRIVATE EVENTS CANNOT EXCEED 100 GUESTS PER EVENT.

AGAIN, WE STARTED WITH NO RESTRICTIONS. OBVIOUSLY, TYPICALLY IT WOULD BE LIMITED BY THE ACTUAL CAPACITY OF THE SITE.

THE SPACE CAN ACTUALLY COMFORTABLY HOLD AROUND 300 PEOPLE INDOORS AND OUTDOORS, BUT AGAIN, WE WANT IT TO BE A GOOD NEIGHBOR. AND SO WE WE RECOMMENDED THIS 100 PERSON CAP.

SEE THE PRIVATE EVENTS OVER WITH OVER 50 GUESTS MUST WORK WITH AN EVENT COORDINATOR TO DEVELOP, TO DEVELOP AN ALTERNATE PARKING PLAN THAT ENCOURAGES WALKING, BIKING, MARTA RIDESHARE, CARPOOL AND OR SHUTTLE USAGE.

WE HEARD A LOT OF CONCERNS FROM FROM THE NEIGHBORHOOD ABOUT PARKING.

OAK VIEW IS A PUBLIC STREET. AND SO AS A PRIVATE ENTITY AND THROUGH ZONING, WHICH ZONING ONLY REGULATES PRIVATE PROPERTY, WE CANNOT RESTRICT THE PUBLIC FROM PARKING ON A PUBLIC STREET.

THAT WOULD HAVE TO BE DONE THROUGH A SEPARATE PERMIT PUBLIC STREET PARKING PROCESS.

AND SO OUR ATTEMPT TO HELP WITH THAT IS TO REQUIRE THESE LARGER EVENTS.

THE WHILE THE FRONTAGE ON THE WILD CENTER CAN FIT ABOUT TEN CARS.

AND SO WE FIGURED, OKAY, IF WE HAVE ABOUT, YOU KNOW, THREE OR SO PEOPLE IN A CAR THAT'S 30, MAYBE A COUPLE OTHER CARS ON THE STREET IS NOT VERY DISRUPTIVE.

50 COULD BE DISRUPTIVE. AND SO THE POINT OF THIS IS ONE TO, TO FORCE THESE PEOPLE THAT ARE LEASING OUT WITH EVENTS OVER 30, OVER 50 GUESTS TO HAVE TO MEET WITH THE EVENT COORDINATOR.

THE EVENT COORDINATOR CAN GO OVER SORT OF THE BASIC PARKING RULES AND, AND COURTESY RULES, DON'T BLOCK PEOPLE'S DRIVEWAYS, DON'T PARK ON PRIVATE PROPERTY, BUT ALSO TO SAY, HEY, WE NEED YOU BASED UPON THE TYPE OF EVENT AND THE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE AT YOUR EVENT TO ENCOURAGE CERTAIN THINGS AND OR ASK YOUR GUESTS TO DO CERTAIN THINGS.

TAKE MARTA, WALK, BIKE, CARPOOL, PERHAPS SET UP PARKING ELSEWHERE AND THEN SHUTTLE PEOPLE IN.

THERE WERE SOME COMMENTS ABOUT, WELL, WHY DON'T WE PREEMPTIVELY SORT OF SET UP ALTERNATIVE PARKING RATES IN OTHER LOCATIONS?

[02:10:05]

ALL THE MONEY THAT'S NOT GOING TO OPERATIONS IS TAKING AWAY FROM OPERATIONS.

AND SO TO SET UP SOME SORT OF CONTRACT AND PARKING PLAN WITH ANOTHER SITE WILL ULTIMATELY COST MONEY.

I'VE DONE THOSE BEFORE. THEY USUALLY DO NOT HAPPEN FOR FREE AND WILL TAKE UP RESOURCES FROM THE WILD CENTER THAT WE DON'T FEEL IS CURRENTLY AN IMMINENT ISSUE.

HOWEVER, IF IT BECOMES AN ISSUE, THAT IS SOMETHING WE'RE WILLING TO DISCUSS AND TALK FORWARD.

BUT TO PUT IT AS A ZONING CONDITION AT THIS POINT, WE'LL ESSENTIALLY CAUSE STRESS ON THE ORGANIZATION, AND THERE'S NOT AN IMMEDIATE NEED FOR THIS AT THIS MOMENT.

BUT WE'RE HOPING THAT THIS PARKING ALTERNATIVE PARKING REQUIREMENT WILL ALERT THOSE WHO ARE PLANNING EVENTS THERE TO THAT.

WE ALSO HEARD CONCERNS ABOUT LOUD MUSIC. SO NO PRIVATE EVENTS CAN HAVE AMPLIFIED MUSIC.

HOWEVER, WE OFTEN HAVE EVENTS LIKE RENAE PASSES AND CELEBRATIONS OF LIFE WHERE PEOPLE WANT TO SAY COMMENTS OR MAKE ANNOUNCEMENTS ON THE MICROPHONE.

WE DIDN'T WANT TO LIMIT THAT. AND SO WE ACCEPTED THAT THERE ALSO E LOADING AND UNLOADING FOR PRIVATE EVENTS ARE RESTRICTED TO 90 MINUTES BEFORE AND 90 MINUTES AFTER THE EVENT. AND THAT WILL HELP ENSURE THAT, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE AREN'T ON THE STREETS AT ONE, TWO, THREE IN THE MORNING, LOADING OR UNLOADING.

AND THAT WILL LIMIT THAT. YES. QUICK QUESTION.

SO THAT DRIVEWAY, THAT ONE SPACE, IS IT ABLE TO HANDLE, SAY, A LARGE, YOU KNOW, 28 FOOT U-HAUL.

IT'S A VERY LONG DRIVEWAY. SO THERE'S ONE PARKING SPACE ON THE DRIVEWAY, BUT IT'S A IT'S A RELATIVELY LONG DRIVEWAY.

I BELIEVE IT COULD ACCOMMODATE. YES, IT CAN ACCOMMODATE A U-HAUL.

AND AGAIN, THAT'S WHY IF THERE WERE THREE PARKING SPACES THERE, IT PROBABLY WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO ACCOMMODATE SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

SO THAT'S A SPECIAL EXCEPTION. AND THEN F EVENT SPONSORED AND HOSTED BY THE OWNER OPERATOR.

IN THIS CASE, THE WILD CENTER ARE NOT CONSIDERED TO BE PRIVATE EVENTS. WE LARGELY HEARD FROM THE NEIGHBORS THAT THEY DON'T HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT WILD CENTER EVENTS.

ALSO THE WILD CENTER EVENTS THEY HAVE A CONCERT SERIES.

THEY HAVE YOGA IN THE PARK. THOSE ARE VERY PURELY FUNDRAISING EVENTS.

AND VERY IMPORTANT TO THE OPERATIONAL BUDGET OF THE WILD CENTER.

ALL OF THE OTHER. SO ONE, TWO, FOUR AND FIVE WILL APPLY TO AND SIX WILL APPLY TO THE WILD CENTER EVENTS.

BUT WE WANTED THE WILD CENTER ITSELF FOR ITS FUNDRAISING EVENTS TO HAVE A LITTLE BIT MORE FLEXIBILITY THERE.

THE NEXT THREE THE CONTACT INFORMATION FOR ALL DESIGNATED REPRESENTATIVES.

MUST BE. I'M SORRY. YEAH. NO. NO PROBLEM WITH THE YOGA AND THE CONCERTS.

HOW LONG HAVE THOSE BEEN GOING ON AT THE WILD CENTER? THAT'S WHAT I THOUGHT. NO, I JUST YEAH. THANK YOU.

ALMOST 30 YEARS. I WILL ALSO NOTE THAT USUALLY THE CONCERTS IF YOU LOOK ON THEIR WEBSITE OR OVER AROUND NINE, THE YOGA IS NOT HAPPENING IN THE DARK. SO, YOU KNOW, I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT NIGHTTIME AND EVENING EVENTS.

AND THE WILD CENTER EVENTS AREN'T AGAIN, AREN'T ONLY FOCUSED ON NIGHTTIME AND EVENING.

THE CONTACT INFORMATION IS REALLY SO THAT PEOPLE HAVE A POINT OF CONTACT.

THERE IS A CONCERN WHILE CENTER CAN REACH OUT TO WHOEVER'S RENTING OUT THE SPACE AND ENFORCE THEIR RULES AND POLICIES AND PROCEDURES.

WE HEARD SOME CONCERNS ABOUT, WELL, MAYBE THE WILD CENTER SHOULD BE TASKED WITH CALLING THE AUTHORITIES OR REGULATING THE PARKING OR TELLING PEOPLE THEY CAN'T DO CERTAIN THINGS.

AND AS YOU ALL VERY WELL KNOW, THERE ARE OTHER PEOPLE FOR THAT.

WHILE THE WALD CENTER WILL CERTAINLY ENFORCE CITY OF DECATUR AND ITS RULES AND POLICIES WITH WITH THE PEOPLE WHO ARE RENTING OUT THE SITE.

WHILE WE DIDN'T WANT A CONDITION THAT WOULD KIND OF OBLIGATE WILD CENTER TO ACT AS LIKE A 911 OPERATOR AND CALL IF THERE'S AN ACTUAL EMERGENCY SITUATION.

ALL EVENTS MUST END BY 10 P.M. EVERY DAY OF THE WEEK.

THE NMU ZONING DISTRICT ACTUALLY ALLOWS FOR COMMERCIAL OPERATIONS UNTIL 11 P.M., BUT WE BUMPED THAT UP TO 10 P.M.

TO SORT OF MORE CORRELATE WITH THE NOISE ORDINANCE AND JUST, AGAIN, BE RESPECTFUL.

AND THEN FINALLY, ALL ACTIVITIES MUST COMPLY WITH THE CITY NOISE ORDINANCE AS DEFINED IN CHAPTER 42, ARTICLE THREE. AS I'M SURE YOU ALL KNOW, BECAUSE IT WAS RECENTLY ADOPTED, THE NOISE ORDINANCE HAS A 65 DBA LIMIT BETWEEN 7 A.M.

AND 9:59 P.M. AND A 60 DBA LIMIT BETWEEN 10 P.M.

AND 6:59 A.M. AND THE NOISE IS MEASURED FROM THE PROPERTY LINE OF THE EMANATING PROPERTY, WHICH IS ACTUALLY FAR MORE RESTRICTIVE THAN A LOT OF OTHER JURISDICTIONS WHICH MEASURE THE NOISE FROM THE RECEIVING PROPERTY.

AND SO ESSENTIALLY, YOU KNOW, IF I'M TWO DOORS DOWN, IT CAN'T BE 65 AT MY DOOR.

IT HAS TO BE 65 AT THE WILD CENTER. AND OF COURSE, THAT APPLIES TO ALL PROPERTIES AND ALL USES IN THE CITY.

[02:15:05]

AND TO THE BEST OF OUR ABILITY, WE HAVE INCORPORATED ALL THE CONCERNS INTO LAWFUL AND ENFORCEABLE ZONING CONDITIONS IN A WAY THAT WILL ALLOW THE WILD CENTER TO CONTINUE TO OPERATE AND BE A GOOD NEIGHBOR, AS IT HAS FOR THE LAST 30 YEARS.

I WILL BE FOLLOWED BY ALAN ASH, WILD CENTER'S GREENSPACE MANAGER, AND DAMON GOODWIN, A BOARD MEMBER.

AFTER THEY SPEAK, WE WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE.

WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND WE RESPECTFULLY REQUEST THAT YOU APPROVE THE ABOVE MENTIONED APPLICATIONS. THANK YOU.

GOOD EVENING. GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS ALAN ASH.

I AM A RESIDENT OF DECATUR. I LIVE AT 126 SECOND AVENUE.

I AM ALSO THE GREEN SPACE AND OPERATIONS DIRECTOR AT THE WILD CENTER.

SO I WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK TO SOME OF THE CONCERNS RELATED TO OUR PRIVATE RENTALS AND PUT THEM IN THE CONTEXT OF HOW WE RUN THE ORGANIZATION IN ORDER TO BE GOOD NEIGHBORS AND STEWARDS OF OUR LOCAL ENVIRONMENT.

FIRST, FOR ALMOST 30 YEARS NOW, AT ITS CURRENT LOCATION, THE OAKHURST COMMUNITY GARDEN HAS BECOME WOVEN INTO THE FABRIC OF THIS NEIGHBORHOOD, AND IT'S CONSISTENTLY BEEN A GOOD NEIGHBOR TO EVERYONE WHO LIVES CLOSE BY.

SO THIS NEEDED CHANGE TO OUR ZONING DESIGNATION THAT WE'VE BEEN REQUIRED TO SEEK WILL NOT CHANGE OUR OBLIGATION TO CONTINUE TO BE GOOD NEIGHBORS. AT THE WILD CENTER. WE FEEL LIKE EVERY INTERACTION WE HAVE WITH THE PUBLIC IS A CHANCE FOR ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION.

AS ENVIRONMENTALISTS, WE RECOGNIZE THAT PRIVATE RENTALS EVENTS IN GENERAL TEND TO TEND TO PRODUCE A LOT OF WASTE.

THAT'S WHY WE'VE IMPLEMENTED STRICT POLICIES FOR OUR PRIVATE RENTALS TO MINIMIZE THE AMOUNT OF WASTE PRODUCED.

FOR EXAMPLE, RECYCLING IS MANDATED. WE USE COMPOST NOW FOR FOOD WASTE.

COMPOSTABLE CONTAINERS AND UTENSILS. OUR ULTIMATE GOAL WOULD BE TO HAVE ZERO WASTE EVENTS.

THIS BRINGS ME TO PARKING. AS NOTED, ALTHOUGH WE'VE NEVER DONE SO IN THE PAST, PRIVATE RENTERS WITH 50 OR MORE GUESTS WILL BE REQUIRED TO WORK WITH US ON A PARKING AND ALTERNATIVE TRANSPORTATION PLAN DUE TO OUR CAR DEPENDENT CULTURE.

I'M NOT SURPRISED THERE'S SKEPTICISM ABOUT HOW THIS MIGHT WORK, BUT WE'LL DO OUR BEST.

EVEN THOUGH NO OTHER ENTITY IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD IS GOING TO BE REQUIRED TO DO SUCH A THING.

BUT JUST LIKE ALL THE OTHER PARTS OF OUR GREEN RENTAL POLICY, WE'RE CONSTANTLY SEEKING WAYS TO REDUCE WASTE.

WE WILL GLADLY USE THIS AS ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY TO EDUCATE PEOPLE ABOUT LIVING SUSTAINABLY.

PERHAPS MORE IMPORTANTLY, FOR THOSE WHO LIVE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD, WE WANT WILDE CENTER TO CONTINUE TO BE THE PLACE FOR LOCALS TO HAVE BIRTHDAYS, GRADUATIONS, ALL THE CELEBRATIONS THAT CAN BE HAD WITHOUT THE ABILITY TO RENT OUR FACILITIES.

OUR FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS MAY END UP DRIVING TO ANOTHER PART OF TOWN INSTEAD OF WALKING OR BIKING TO OAKHURST GARDEN.

RENTING OUR GARDEN FILLS AN IMPORTANT NEED IN THE COMMUNITY, SEVERELY LIMITING OR PROHIBITING THE OAKHURST COMMUNITY GARDEN AS AN OPTION JUST MEANS SOME OTHER ENTITY MAY OPEN UP OR OR BUILD ANOTHER FACILITY TO FILL THE GAP.

SO THE NEXT THING IS NOISE. I AGREE, IT'S VERY NICE TO LIVE.

BE LOCATED IN A QUIET NEIGHBORHOOD, ABIDE BY THE CITY'S NOISE ORDINANCE FROM AN ENVIRONMENTAL PERSPECTIVE STANDPOINT.

WE'RE NOT LOOKING TO MAKE A LOT OF NOISE. I PAID A LOT OF ATTENTION ON THE GROUNDS THROUGHOUT THE DAY.

THE LOUDEST NOISES THAT I HEAR FOR A SUSTAINED AMOUNT OF TIME.

SOUNDS THAT MAKE IT HARD TO CONCENTRATE OR CARRY ON A CONVERSATION, OR CHILDREN USING THEIR OUTSIDE VOICE, SCREAMING WITH JOY AND AMAZEMENT AS THEY EXPLORE ALL WE HAVE TO OFFER AT THE WILD CENTER.

AND HERE'S ANOTHER THING FOR AS LONG AS THE TECHNOLOGY HAS BEEN AVAILABLE, WILD CENTER HAS USED QUIET NONPOLLUTING BATTERY POWERED LANDSCAPING LANDSCAPING EQUIPMENT. WE USE TECHNIQUES TO MANAGE OUR LANDSCAPE THAT ARE ENVIRONMENTALLY SUSTAINABLE AND MINIMALLY HARMFUL.

WE BELIEVE NOISE POLLUTION IS SOMETHING TO TAKE SERIOUSLY.

[02:20:02]

AND I'M NOT. SO I'M SURE I'M NOT ALONE WHEN I SAY THE DAILY NUISANCE OF GAS POWERED LAWN EQUIPMENT, FOR EXAMPLE, THROUGHOUT THE NEIGHBORHOOD, CAN BE FAR MORE OFFENSIVE THAN THE OCCASIONAL NEIGHBORHOOD EVENT WITH A BAND.

THAT'S NOT EVEN WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HERE TONIGHT. FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF GENERATING NOISE 24/7, 365. I'D SAY WE'RE MAKING CONCESSIONS THAT WILL ENSURE THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE THE QUIETEST NEIGHBORS ANYONE IN DECATUR COULD HAVE, CONSIDERING ALL OF OUR SELF-IMPOSED LIMITATIONS.

SO I'LL END BY SAYING THANK YOU TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION FOR HAVING A ROBUST DISCUSSION, CONSIDERING ALL THE RELEVANT PARTS OF THIS REQUEST AND PUTTING FORTH THEIR RECOMMENDATION.

THANK YOU, CITY COMMISSIONERS, FOR LISTENING TO ME, AND I ASK FOR YOUR APPROVAL OF OUR.

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN THERE? SO I'VE WORKED AT THE WILD CENTER FOR THREE YEARS.

I STARTED IN APRIL. I MOVED TO OAKHURST IN 2006, AND I BEGAN VOLUNTEERING WITH WILD CENTER IN 2000 AND. A LARGEST EVENT. I'VE BEEN THERE.

LARGEST. I DON'T KNOW IF WE REALLY HAD A COUNT, BUT I AM.

A FUNDRAISER THAT WE PUT ON, WHICH IS IT WASN'T A PRIVATE EVENT.

SO I WOULD SAY PROBABLY OUR BEER GARDEN EVENT LAST SUMMER.

BUT PRIVATE EVENTS, PRIVATE EVENTS. WE'VE GOT SOME FIGURES THAT WE.

THAT'S THE LARGEST PRIVATE EVENT. HOW HOT IS THAT TYPICAL.

IS THAT THAT'S NOT TYPICAL AT ALL. 30 IS OUR AVERAGE AND THREE PRIVATE RENTALS A MONTH.

OKAY. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. COMMISSIONERS I WOULD ASK THAT.

LET'S GET THE PUBLIC COMMENT AND THEN WE'LL CALL THE EXPERTS BACK UP FOR Q AND A LATER, BECAUSE I'M SURE YOU'RE ALL GOING TO HAVE QUESTIONS AFTER PUBLIC COMMENT. SO AND SO. WITH THAT BEING SAID, WE WILL OPEN UP THE PUBLIC HEARING.

OH, IS THERE ONE MORE SPEAKER? MY APOLOGIES. GOOD EVENING.

GOOD EVENING. DAMIEN GOODWIN AT 5095 HUNT CREST DRIVE, MABLETON, GEORGIA 30126.

NOT A DECATUR RESIDENT JUST ON THE BOARD. SO I'M A BOARD MEMBER OF THE WILDE CENTER AND WANT TO TAKE A FEW MINUTES TONIGHT TO SHARE WITH YOU WHO WE ARE, WHAT WE BELIEVE, AND WHY THIS ORGANIZATION MATTERS SO DEEPLY TO OUR COMMUNITY.

THE MISSION OF THE WILDE CENTER IS TO SUPPORT RESILIENT COMMUNITIES BY CONNECTING PEOPLE TO NATURE THROUGH ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION AND PUBLIC GREEN SPACE.

THAT MISSION HAS GUIDED US SINCE 1997, WHEN THIS ORGANIZATION WAS FOUNDED OUT OF A SIMPLE BUT POWERFUL NEED TO PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES TO EXPERIENCE NATURE IN AN URBAN ENVIRONMENT. WHAT BEGAN AS A GRASSROOTS EFFORT HAS GROWN THANKS TO THE INVOLVEMENT AND COMMITMENT OF THIS COMMUNITY, TO A LARGE AND ACTIVE NONPROFIT. HERE IN DECATUR, THE OAK COAST GARDEN IS OPEN YEAR ROUND FOR THE COMMUNITY, FOR EVENTS AND FOR EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS. OUR WORK IS GROUNDED IN A SET OF CORE BELIEFS I BELIEVE THAT I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE WITH YOU. FIRST, WE BELIEVE THAT WE SHOULD HONOR THE LAND BY REMAINING CONSCIOUS OF HOW WE IMPACT THE ENVIRONMENT IN WHICH WE LIVE, BY EMBRACING SUSTAINABLE LIVING AND ORGANIC PRACTICES.

WE STRIVE TO BE GOOD ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDS. AND ENCOURAGING A HEALTHY LIFESTYLE BY NURTURING THE MIND, BODY AND SOUL. WE BELIEVE THAT EDUCATION IS THE KEY TO CREATING CHANGE IN HUMAN BEHAVIOR.

AND OUR APPROACH TO HOW WE IMPACT THE ENVIRONMENT.

WE EMBRACE LIFELONG LEARNING AND FEEL THAT A PROACTIVE APPROACH TO OUTREACH IS CRITICAL IN CREATING SOCIAL CHANGE.

WE BELIEVE THAT WE MUST EMBRACE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND BE RECEPTIVE TO THE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY.

BECAUSE OUR ORGANIZATION EXISTS DUE TO THE COOPERATION BETWEEN THE PEOPLE THAT LIVE, WORK AND PLAY WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY.

[02:25:03]

WE LIVE THEM EVERY DAY THROUGH OUR EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM, EVENTS, AND GREEN SPACES THAT ACTIVELY ENGAGE YOUTH, FAMILY AND INDIVIDUALS IN THEIR ENVIRONMENT, HEALTH AND COMMUNITY.

OUR PROGRAMS DEVELOP SKILLS IN ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND SUSTAINABLE URBAN LIVING.

ORGANIC GARDENING, HEALTH AND NUTRITION PROVIDE ONE OF THE LARGEST YOUTH ENVIRONMENTAL AND SCIENCE EDUCATION PROGRAMS IN METRO ATLANTA.

THE DECATUR FARM TO SCHOOL PROGRAM, HEALTHY LIVING BY HEALTHY GROWING AT THE DECATUR HOUSING AUTHORITY, AND SCIENCE PROGRAMS AND FIELD TRIPS LINKED TO COMMON CORE STANDARDS.

I'D LIKE TO SPEAK A BIT MORE CANDIDLY FOR A MOMENT ABOUT WHAT IT TAKES TO SUSTAIN THIS WORK.

WE ARE A NONPROFIT. ALL THE MONEY WE MAKE GOES TOWARDS OUR OPERATIONAL BUDGET AND IS NECESSARY TO RUN THE WILD CENTER.

THIS ORGANIZATION HAS MADE IT THROUGH ROUGH ECONOMIC PERIODS THAT AFFECTED ALL OF THE ENTIRE COUNTRY.

AND WHAT SAVED US EACH TIME WAS THE DIVERSITY OF OUR INCOME STREAMS, INDIVIDUAL DONATIONS, FOUNDATION SUPPORT, PLANT SALES, EDUCATION FEES, FUNDRAISING AND RENTALS.

RENTAL INCOME HAS ALWAYS BEEN A PART OF OUR BUDGET AND IT REMAINS ESSENTIAL.

THE OAKHURST GARDEN IS FREE TO FREE FOR YOU TO VISIT, BUT IT'S NOT FREE TO RUN.

OF THE EVENTS HELD AT OUR SITE LAST YEAR, 28 RENTED OUR BUILDING WITH THE GARDEN AS A BACKDROP.

15 FAMILIES HELD THEIR CHILD'S BIRTH, THEIR CHILD'S BIRTHDAY PARTY.

AT OUR LOCATION WE HOSTED A GRADUATION AND A MEMORIAL SERVICE.

WELCOME FELLOW NONPROFITS SO THEY COULD SHARE THEIR MISSIONS IN A BEAUTIFUL SETTING.

EVERYTHING WE DO, EVERY PROGRAM, EVERY GARDEN, EVERY EVENT SERVES THIS COMMUNITY.

TONIGHT, I RESPECTFULLY ASK THE CITY COMMISSION TO APPROVE THE REQUESTED LAND USE AMENDMENT, REZONING AND SPECIAL EXCEPTION SO THE WILDE CENTER CAN CONTINUE TO FULFILL ITS MISSION OF CONNECTING PEOPLE TO NATURE RIGHT HERE IN DECATUR.

THANK YOU SO MUCH. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT.

NOW, WITH THAT BEING SAID, WE WILL OPEN UP THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR THE.

PLANNING COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION. THERE WILL BE A THREE MINUTE TIME LIMIT, AND MISS ARNOLD WILL BE YOUR TIMEKEEPER.

SO WHEN SHE CALLS YOUR NAME, PLEASE COME TO THE MICROPHONE AND MAKE YOUR ADDRESS TO THE CITY COMMISSION, PLEASE. GREAT. ALL RIGHT. FIRST UP, THE FIRST ONE, ELLEN CULPEPPER.

THERE WAS A SIGN IN SHEET, SIR. DID YOU HAVE YOU SIGNED UP? I'M SALLY WILES HUSBAND. OKAY. SO WOULD YOU LIKE TO SPEAK, SIR? WELL, JUST FOR A MINUTE. YES, PLEASE. WE. WE MOVED TO DECATUR.

YES. WE TALKED TO MR. LOPEZ ABOUT BUYING HIS FIELD.

WHERE HE GREW, GREW BASIL. HE ENDED UP BUYING THAT IN THE DUPLEX.

DONATED IT. SHE STARTED THE GARDEN WITH MISS JACKSON, AND IT'S BEEN A WONDERFUL EXPERIENCE FOR THE WHOLE BUILDING.

THE COMMUNITY BECAME VITAL TO THE CITY, AND IT'S BEEN A PRIVILEGE TO BE A PART OF IT.

I LIVE ON THE CORNER OF ADAMS AND OAKVIEW AND BETWEEN THE PARKING OF THE.

WINE FESTIVAL OR THE PORCH FEST, THE FACT OF THE GARDEN IS MINIMAL AND I WOULD HATE TO SEE THE COMPROMISE.

SO THANK YOU FOR TAKING INTO CONSIDERATION HISTORY AND THE GIFTS THAT THE GARDEN OFFICE.

THANK YOU. MISS CULPEPPER. AND IF YOU WILL, THERE WAS SOME CONFUSION.

WEREN'T AWARE THAT THAT WAS TO SIGN UP TO SPEAK AT THE MICROPHONE.

SO OTHER FOLKS MAY. I WANTED TO SPEAK. OKAY. I BELIEVE THERE'S ANOTHER SIGN UP SHEET OUT IN THE HALLWAY SO WE CAN WE'LL PUT YOUR NAME ON THERE. AND THEN ONCE THAT EVERYONE HAS SIGNED UP ON THAT SHEET, THEN HAND IT OVER TO ME.

YEAH. AND I THOUGHT, WELL, HERE WE GO. HI, I'M ELLEN CULPEPPER.

I AM A NEIGHBOR OF THE WILDE CENTER. I LIVE AT 627 SOUTH MCDONOUGH STREET, LIKE FIVE DOORS UP FROM THE WILDE CENTER.

AND FRANKLY, THAT'S HOW I DESCRIBE IT TO PEOPLE WHEN THEY ASK WHERE I LIVE. SO I AM DELIGHTED TO BE A NEIGHBOR OF THE WILDE CENTER,

[02:30:03]

AND I DO APPRECIATE THAT THE TEAM HAS WORKED TOGETHER TO TAKE NEIGHBORS CONCERNS QUITE SERIOUSLY AND MAKE SURE THAT THIS IS A.

PLEASE SPEAK TO THIS TO THE MICROPHONE. ABSOLUTELY.

SO MY ONLY REMAINING CONCERNS, I'M IN FULL SUPPORT OF THE CONDITIONS THAT HAVE BEEN APPLIED.

AND ALL I HAD LEFT TO SAY WAS, IS THERE A LIMIT TO WILD CENTER EVENTS ANNUALLY? WOULD THAT BE WORTH CODIFYING? CURRENTLY I THINK THEY HOST AROUND SIX.

I COULD GUESS AT A NUMBER THAT THE NEIGHBORS WOULD TOLERATE, I WOULD SAY UP TO 12, BUT NO MORE THAN THAT.

SAME SOMETHING AVERAGING AT ONE A MONTH. THAT WAY THEY'VE GOT ROOM TO GROW AND FUNDRAISE, BUT STILL STAY WITHIN A TOLERABLE PARTY IN THE GARDEN KIND OF VIBE FOR THE NEIGHBORS.

MY ONLY OTHER CONCERN IS WITH THE NOISE ORDINANCE.

AS WE ALL KNOW, IT'S VERY DIFFICULT TO REGULATE.

AND THE ONUS OF THAT NOISE ORDINANCE GOES ON TO THE NEIGHBORS, AS ANYONE WHO KNOWS WHO HAS NEIGHBORS WITH A GAS LEAF BLOWER.

AND TO OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT. I WONDER IF THERE'S A PLAN WE COULD PUT IN PLACE THAT PUTS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF DECIBEL MONITORING ONTO THE WILD CENTER ITSELF? I KNOW, FOR EXAMPLE, THE TROLLEY BARN, WHICH IS IN A DEEPLY DENSE NEIGHBORHOOD AND OPERATES AS A FULL TIME EVENT, SPACE PARTY HOUSE, WEEKENDS, NIGHTS THAT THEY HAVE A STAFFED PERSON, EACH EVENT WHOSE SOLE JOB IS TO MONITOR THE DECIBEL AND TO KEEP THE DOORS AND ALL EXTERIOR DOORS CLOSED DURING EACH EVENT SO THAT THE AMPLIFIED SOUND INSIDE DOESN'T GET OUT WHEN IT'S DRAFTY OR OPPOSITE OF DRAFTY STUFFY. THEY ALSO HAVE A DIGITAL READOUT AT THE BACK OF THE ROOM THAT MEASURES THE DECIBELS OFFICIALLY BETTER THAN A PHONE COULD AND WOULD BE COMPLIANT WITH THE CITY'S NOISE ORDINANCE, WHICH I ALSO FULLY SUPPORT.

AND THAT WOULD JUST TAKE A LOT OF THE RESPONSIBILITY AND NUISANCE AWAY FROM THE NEIGHBORS AND AWAY FROM CALLING THE NON-EMERGENCY NUMBER AND HAVING AN OFFICER HAVE TO COME AND MAKE AN INTERACTION WITH EITHER THE NEIGHBORS OR THE EVENT ITSELF.

SO THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

THE NEXT IS MARIA MOORE RIGGS. AND THEN JUST SO YOU'LL BE ON CUE ROBERT LEONARD WILL BE AFTER MISS RIGGS.

RIGGS. I LIVE AT 111 GREENE STREET. I'M ABOUT A BLOCK AWAY FROM THE GARDEN, AND I JUST WANTED TO COMMENT, BOTH IN TREMENDOUSLY IN SUPPORT OF THE GARDEN.

I'VE HUGELY BENEFITED FROM THEIR PRESENCE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

I APPRECIATE WHAT GREAT NEIGHBORS THEY'VE BEEN.

THERE. DEFINITELY BEEN RESPONSIVE TO THE CONCERNS OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

I THINK THE MISSION OF THE BUSINESS IS DEFINITELY IN LINE WITH CITY OF DECATUR STRATEGIC PLAN.

AND I ALSO THINK YOU KNOW, JUST THERE AGAIN, THEIR, THEIR MODEL DEFINITELY BENEFITS THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND ACTS AS BEAUTIFUL GREEN SPACE, LIKE A LITTLE POCKET PARK.

I AM CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT ALL OF THE COMMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN BROUGHT UP THIS EVENING AND I THINK HAVE BEEN THE GARDENS DONE A GREAT ATTEMPT TO ADDRESS, BUT I THINK MY ORIGINAL QUESTION AND I JUST DIDN'T HAVE THE TIME TO DO A DEEP DIVE INTO THIS, BUT IS JUST, CAN THE GARDEN CONTINUE AT THEIR, IN THEIR CURRENT CAPACITY WITH THEIR CURRENT ZONING? THAT'S MY FIRST QUESTION. BECAUSE THEY'VE BEEN DOING IT FOR 30 YEARS WITHOUT ISSUE.

AND SO I THINK WHAT'S PROMPTING ALL OF THIS CONCERN IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD IS THE PROPOSAL TO BASICALLY QUADRUPLE THE NUMBER OF EVENTS, QUADRUPLING THE SOUND, THE FREQUENCY, THE TRAFFIC, THE PARKING. I KNOW THEY'RE NOW REDUCING IT TO BASICALLY DOUBLING BECAUSE I THINK THEY'RE DOING ABOUT 40 EVENTS A YEAR.

AND SO THEY'RE SAYING WE'LL KEEP IT TO 80. THAT'S COOL.

I THINK THEY SHOULD BE ABLE TO GROW AND SUSTAIN THEMSELVES AND EXIST.

I WANT THEM TO BE THERE, BUT I AM DEFINITELY CONCERNED ABOUT THE IMPACT TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD WITH THE SOUND, WITH THE PARKING AND AND YEAH, I'M JUST WONDERING, I GUESS MY I DON'T KNOW, MAYBE SOMEONE FROM THE TEAM CAN

[02:35:08]

IT SOUNDS LIKE THEY'RE TRYING TO BE MORE IN COMPLIANCE, BUT ARE THEY OUT OF COMPLIANCE BEING A MARKET GARDEN AND HAVING EVENTS? THANK YOU. MR.. ROBERT LEONARD AND THEN GREG AFTER THAT.

HELLO, MY NAME IS ROBERT LEONARD. I LIVE AT 217 GREEN STREET.

MY BIGGEST CONCERN IS I'M ABOUT TWO BLOCKS AWAY FROM THE GARDEN.

I'M ON THE BIKE PATH, AND I KNOW IN THE PAST SOMETIMES I'LL HEAR THE MUSIC AT MY HOUSE AND I'M QUITE A DISTANCE.

HOW ARE YOU GOING TO MONITOR THE DECIBELS? YOU KNOW SOMEBODY THERE? YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE, LIKE, A MONITOR SYSTEM OR WHAT? THE OTHER THING IS PARKING. A LOT OF TIMES THEY WILL PARK ON MY STREET.

GREEN STREET WAS A VERY NARROW STREET AND THEY BLOCKED.

WE CAN'T GET. WE CAN'T GET THROUGH. SOMETIMES THEY'LL EVEN PARK IN FRONT OF MY DRIVEWAY.

WHEN I SAY SOMETHING. THEY GO, WE'RE LATE AND THEY TROT OFF.

BUT THE GUARD'S BEEN THERE FOR A LONG TIME. THE GUARD, ORIGINALLY THE GUY ACROSS THE STREET THAT HAS THE BRICK HOUSE.

HE WAS A CHEF AND HE USED TO GROW BASIL OVER THERE.

AND AND HIS WIFE GOT SICK. HE HAD TO SELL EVERYTHING.

AND THAT'S HOW THE BIT. AND SALLY BOUGHT IT AND THEY TURNED IT INTO THE WELLNESS CENTER.

THEY'VE DONE A GOOD JOB WITH IT. BUT THOSE ARE MY ONLY TWO BIG CONCERNS.

THANK YOU. GREG. AND THEN JULIE AND BILL WILL BE AFTER THAT JOB WITH MY LAST NAME.

GREG SHIMKOVITZ. I LIVE DIRECTLY ACROSS THE STREET.

IF YOU MISSTEP, YOU'LL ROLL DOWN MY DRIVEWAY AND STUMBLE RIGHT INTO THERE.

WHICH IS TO SAY THAT PARKING IS, YOU KNOW, COULD BE A HUGE CONCERN FOR ME.

I WORK IN AN OFFICE, LIKE A CLOSET OFFICE, AND I CAN LORD OVER FROM UP THERE AND I'LL SEE THE BIG TRUCK PULL UP FOR THE PLANT SALE.

AND I THINK, AWESOME. MORE PLANTS. THAT'S MY THOUGHT.

IT'S NOT. OH, NO, THEY'RE UNLOADING MORE. THEY DO HAVE A NICE DRIVEWAY FOR IT.

I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU KNOW, THEY SAID SOMETHING ABOUT AN 18 FOOT U-HAUL FITTING ON IT.

PROBABLY. ACTUALLY, I THINK I'VE SEEN IT BEFORE, BUT I'M NOT.

IT'S NOT A HUGE CONCERN FOR ME. WE LIVE IN ATLANTA.

I LIKE TO WALK EVERYWHERE, WALK HERE. BUT THAT THAT IS PROBABLY THE CHIEF CONCERN.

BUT WHEN I THINK ABOUT HOW THEY'VE BEEN HERE FOR THREE DECADES, TWO DECADES LONGER THAN ME, THREE TIMES IN MY TIME HERE, I KNOW THAT THEY'RE MORE INVESTED.

THEY'RE DEEPLY INVESTED IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD. I KNOW THAT LIKE TODAY I HEARD, I THINK IT WAS AVERAGE THREE EVENTS PER MONTH SO FAR, LIKE CURRENTLY THREE EVENTS PER MONTH, PRIVATE EVENTS.

I WOULDN'T KNOW THAT. LIKE THAT'S HOW THE NOISE DOESN'T REALLY.

OH, SORRY. MY SIDE. I KNOW, I UNDERSTAND IT'S A CONCERN FOR LIKE BACKYARD NEIGHBORS, BUT I KNOW THAT WE ACTUALLY.

SO IF IT, IF IT DID HAPPEN, IT WOULD HAPPEN. BUT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT DO YOU, YOU, YOU'VE ALL BEEN TO THE WILD CENTER.

DO YOU KNOW THE COB HOUSE? IT'S THAT MUD HOUSE, THAT LITTLE HUT THAT A TREE FELL ON IT YEARS AGO, FOUR TIMES. AND IT SMASHED IT. AND THEN THE PERSON WHO HAD BUILT IT INITIALLY WAS OUT THERE SHORTLY AFTER A BEER GARDEN EVENT THAT YEAR.

IT WAS AND SHE WAS BUILDING IT UP AND I WAS JUST WATCHING BECAUSE IT'S A PRETTY COOL STUFF.

DO YOU EVER GO IN THERE? YOU SHOULD CHECK IT OUT.

THE ROOF ISN'T FINISHED. IT'S HOLE IN THE CENTER.

IT'S WOOD SLATS. THEN THERE'S HOLES. THEY ARE GOOD DOOBIES. THEY DO THE RIGHT THING. THEY JUST FOLLOW IT.

SO, LIKE WE'RE HERE BECAUSE THEY WANT TO DO THE RIGHT THING.

AND I FEEL LIKE THEY KEEP DOING THE RIGHT THING. AND I ACTUALLY TRUST THAT THEY WILL CONTINUE TO DO THE RIGHT THING.

AND I'D LIKE TO SEE THEM THRIVE. I COME FROM FUNDRAISING.

I WAS AT EMORY FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS. NONPROFITS NEED SUPPORT AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY CAN LIKE, DO THESE THINGS, HAVE THESE PRIVATE EVENTS THAT SEEMINGLY HAVE YET TO CONCERN US? I HATE TO SAY IT. IT REALLY DOESN'T. IT REALLY DOESN'T.

LIKE, I TOOK MY KIDS OVER THERE TO THROW A FRISBEE IN THEIR THEIR NEW FIELD BECAUSE THERE ALL THE TIME, AND IT TURNED OUT THEY WERE HAVING A PRIVATE EVENT INSIDE.

I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW IT. IT WAS BECAUSE IT WAS.

[02:40:05]

THANK YOU. AND THEN JULIAN BELL. AND AFTER MR. BELL. BRIAN GROSS. I THANK YOU. EXCUSE ME. MY NAME IS JULIAN BELL.

I LIVE AT 428 OAKVIEW ROAD. I'M JUST TWO DOORS DOWN FROM GREG.

I CAN THROW A BASEBALL AND HIT THE WILD CENTER.

AND I'M NOT VERY GOOD AT BASEBALL. SO, AGAIN, WE ARE VERY CLOSE TO THE WILD CENTER.

MY FOUR YEAR OLD VISITED THE WILD CENTER FOR THE FIRST TIME WHEN HE WAS FIVE DAYS OLD.

I DON'T THINK A WEEK HAS GONE BY SINCE IN HIS LIFE WHERE WE HAVEN'T BEEN THERE AT LEAST ONCE.

THIS IS A THIS IS A, YOU KNOW, A KEYSTONE OF OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.

I LOOK FORWARD TO SENDING HIM TO THE WILD, WILD CENTER CAMPS.

WE BUY FLOWERS THERE AND VEGETABLES EVERY SPRING INTO THE FALL.

THIS IS ONE OF THE SELLING POINTS OF THIS NEIGHBORHOOD TO US.

I THINK THE I'VE NEVER BEEN NEGATIVELY IMPACTED BY WILD CENTER EVENTS.

I'VE. I'M SORRY TO HEAR THE STORIES. MY NEIGHBORS HAVE HAD THEIR THEIR DRIVEWAYS BLOCKED WHO'VE BEEN BOTHERED BY MUSIC.

I HONESTLY CAN'T RECALL HEARING THE MUSIC FROM INSIDE MY HOUSE.

MAYBE THAT'S THE HEARING DAMAGE FROM SAID FOUR YEAR OLD, BUT IT THIS THIS HASN'T BEEN A PROBLEM FOR US.

IN OUR EXPERIENCE, THE WILD CENTER HAS BEEN COMMUNICATIVE, COMMUNICATIVE, RESPECTFUL NEIGHBORS.

THEY'RE A DELIGHT TO HAVE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

AND I THINK THAT IT'S IN THE BEST INTERESTS OF OUR COMMUNITY, OUR IMMEDIATE COMMUNITY, ESPECIALLY AS PARENTS OF YOUNG KIDS, TO HAVE THEM CONTINUE TO BE IN THAT COMMUNITY, IN MY VIEW, BECAUSE THE BEST INTEREST OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD ARE SERVED BY THE WILD CENTER CONTINUING TO EXIST. IF THIS IS GOING TO HELP THE WILD CENTER STAY IN BUSINESS, I'M WHOLEHEARTEDLY SUPPORTIVE OF THEIR PETITION FOR THIS ZONING CHANGE.

IN FACT, THE PRIMARY CONCERN I HAVE. TONIGHT, AFTER HEARING THE COMMENTS FROM THE WILD CENTER TEAM, FROM THE REST OF THE COMMUNITY, IS THAT THIS THESE RESTRICTIONS PLACED ON THEIR ZONING SEEM TOO RESTRICTIVE.

I MEAN, IS THERE ACTUALLY A BUSINESS CASE IF THESE IF THE IF THERE ARE SO MANY RESTRICTIONS PLACED ON THE TYPES OF EVENTS THEY CAN RUN, THEIR ABILITY TO PROVIDE AMPLIFIED MUSIC TO THOSE EVENTS.

AGAIN, YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT WE LIVE IN A COMMUNITY WITH OUR NEIGHBORS.

SOMETIMES OUR NEIGHBORS DO THINGS THAT MIGHT INCONVENIENCE US A LITTLE BIT. WE KNOW WE'RE GOING TO DO THE SAME THING TO THEM, RIGHT? LIKE I GOT TO BLOW THE LEAVES IN MY DRIVEWAY.

AREN'T MY NEIGHBORS HAVE TO BLOW THE LEAVES IN THEIR DRIVEWAY. THAT'S PART OF LIVING IN A COMMUNITY. I THINK THAT THE BENEFIT THAT THE WILD CENTER PROVIDES US FAR OUTWEIGHS ANY INCONVENIENCE, AT LEAST THAT I'VE EXPERIENCED. I WOULD BE SUPPORTIVE OF GIVING YOU GUYS THE OPPORTUNITY AND THE ABILITY TO DO EVEN MORE STUFF WITH THE GARDEN.

AND SO I'D LIKE TO ASK ALL OF YOU TO AT THE VERY LEAST SUPPORT THEIR PETITION.

SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT IS BRIAN GROSS.

AND AFTER THAT, LENNY EPSTEIN. HEY. GOOD EVENING.

MY NAME IS BRIAN GROSS. I'M ALSO A NEIGHBOR ON OAK VIEW ROAD.

I'M ALSO A MEMBER OF THE WILD CENTER, BUT I WILL NOT LET THAT INFLUENCE MY COMMENTS.

I JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU FOR SHARING ALL THE INFORMATION TONIGHT. I AM IN SUPPORT OF THE APPLICATION.

I'VE LEARNED A LOT. MY PRIMARY CONCERN WAS ABOUT LAND USE BEING USED BY SOME FUTURE OWNER.

I THINK THAT'S MITIGATED BY THE LAND USE AS A MARKET GARDEN.

SO THAT GIVES ME SOME ASSURANCE THERE THAT IT WILL NOT BE TURNED INTO A, SOME LARGE EVENT SPACE.

SO I APPRECIATE THAT THAT CONCESSION, ALONG WITH SOME OF THE OTHER CONCESSIONS ON TIMING.

10 P.M. I THINK THAT'S MORE THAN FAIR. AND THE NUMBER OF EVENTS, WHICH, ALSO INCLUDES DAYTIME EVENTS.

SO DOES NOT NECESSARILY GOING TO BE 80 LATE NIGHT EVENTS.

AND I DON'T CONSIDER 10 P.M. LATE NIGHT PER YEAR.

SO I APPRECIATE ALL THE INFORMATION AND SOME OF THE RESTRICTIONS THEY PLACED ON THEMSELVES AS PART OF THE APPLICATION, AND I'M IN SUPPORT OF IT. THANK YOU. MR. GROSS.

WHAT WAS YOUR ADDRESS, PLEASE? 432 OAKVIEW ROAD.

THANK YOU. AND THE NEXT LYNNEA EPSTEIN. AND AFTER THAT, MATT SAYLES.

I'M EPSTEIN, I'M A RESIDENT, 706 SOUTH MCDONOUGH STREET.

AND TO PIGGYBACK ON WHAT MOST OTHERS HAVE SAID WELL, FIRST, I'D LIKE TO START BY THANKING EVERYONE THAT HAS TAKEN A ROLE IN THIS PLANNING, ESPECIALLY STEPHANIE AND ALAN. WHEN WE MET WITH THEM AND WE HAD FIRST OUR ADDRESS CONCERNS, I WAS REALLY HAPPY TO SEE THAT ALL OF THOSE CONCERNS REALLY WERE PRESENTED IN THE OUTCOME OF THE THE LIMITATIONS THAT WERE PUT ON THAT THEY REALLY PAID ATTENTION, ESPECIALLY TO THE NOISE AND THE PARKING.

AND A LOT OF THOSE THINGS WERE ADDRESSED. SO I DEFINITELY AM VERY SUPPORTIVE OF THE WILD CENTER AND THEIR PETITION AND WHAT THEY ARE PUTTING

[02:45:05]

AND AS SOME HAVE MENTIONED WITH THE FACT THAT THIS STAYS WITH THE LAND, THE QUESTION IS, IF WE ARE IN A SITUATION WHERE THE NUMBER OF EVENTS B BECOMES THE MAXIMUM OF WHAT THE ALLOWABLE EVENTS WOULD BE, AND THE NUMBER OF EVENTS WOULD NOT BE CAPPED, THEN ARE WE IN A SITUATION WHERE IT LOOKS VERY DIFFERENT THAN THE SITUATION THAT WE HAVE TODAY.

AND THAT WOULD BE REFLECTED IN SOME OF THE CONCERNS WITH PARKING AND SOME OF THE CONCERNS WITH NOISE.

SO I FEEL AS THOUGH ALL THE CONCERNS HAVE BEEN ADDRESSED YET THERE'S A BIT OF AN OPEN MINDEDNESS THAT IS REALLY LEFT UP TO TRUST. SO I GUESS I WOULD SAY I WHOLEHEARTEDLY SUPPORT THE WILD CENTER.

LOVE THEM AS NEIGHBORS, BUT IF THERE COULD BE A BIT MORE CLARITY AROUND SOME WHAT IFS, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT WOULD BE, BUT THAT'S. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL OF YOUR SUPPORT.

THANK YOU. MATT SAYLES AND THEN ERIC JACOBS.

I'M MATT SAYLES, I LIVE AT 116 WEST DAVIS STREET.

WE ARE DIRECTLY ACROSS THE CREEK FROM THE GARDEN.

SO JUST NORTH. WILD CENTER HAS ALWAYS BEEN AN INCREDIBLE NEIGHBOR, BUT WE'VE LIVED THERE FOR ALMOST 20 YEARS NOW, AND THEY'VE BEEN TRUSTWORTHY. WE'VE HEARD A LOT OF THE CONCERTS AND THINGS LIKE THAT, YOU KNOW, OVER THE YEARS, IT HAS NEVER BEEN EXCESSIVE. IT'S ALWAYS BEEN CONTROLLED.

IT'S NEVER BEEN A PROBLEM. MY LARGE CONCERN, MUCH LIKE MR. GROSS WAS IN THE EVENT THAT THE PROPERTY GOT SOLD IN FUTURE USE, I'M SATISFIED BY THE CONDITIONS THAT WERE LAID OUT.

IT IS UNFORTUNATE TO HEAR THE PARKING ON GREEN STREET. I'M SURE THAT'S THAT'S PRETTY AWFUL.

BUT PERSONALLY, AS A NEIGHBOR AND AS, AS JUST A SOMEBODY THAT LIVES IN THE COMMUNITY, LIKE I FULLY SUPPORT.

THANK YOU. AND ERIC JACOBS AND THEN VIVIAN ERNST.

ERIC JACOBS. I SIGNED UP BUT DIDN'T REALIZE.

THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. THERE'S NO PRESSURE, MISS ERNST.

GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS VIVIAN ERNST. I LIVE AT 507 SOUTH MCDONOUGH STREET.

I HAVE LIVED AT THAT ADDRESS SINCE 1996. I HAVE LIVED IN THE CITY OF DECATUR SINCE I STARTED COLLEGE IN 1981.

WITH THE EXCEPTION OF A FEW YEARS IN GRADUATE SCHOOL, I HAVE MY WRITTEN SUBMISSION THAT I EMAILED TO YOU FOR THE RECORD, AND I DID MAKE COPIES OF THE EMAIL AND THE LETTER FOR YOU ALL, NOT THE ATTACHMENTS.

IN AN EFFORT TO SAVE A FEW TREES, I, MY, MY HUSBAND AND I, WE WANT THE WILD CENTER TO STAY OPEN.

WE BELIEVE IN ITS MISSION, AND WE WANT IT TO HAVE ENOUGH EVENT RENTALS AND INCOME SO THAT IT REMAINS AN IMPORTANT PART OF OUR NEIGHBORHOOD. BUT TO BE CLEAR, I AM THE HOUSE RIGHT IN FRONT OF THE WILD CENTER ON THE SAME SIDE OF THE STREET.

I AM ADJACENT TO THEM. I HEAR THE SOUND FROM MUSICAL EVENTS.

I HEAR THE SOUND FROM AMPLIFIED EVENTS. I HAVE BEEN WILLING AND AS A PART OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD TO HEAR THAT OVER THE YEARS.

WHAT I DON'T WANT IS A SPECIAL EVENT FACILITY IN MY BACKYARD.

WORDS MATTER. THEY MATTER IN LIFE. THEY MATTER IN CONTRACTS.

THEY MATTER IN ORDINANCES, AS I HEARD DURING YOUR WORK SESSION.

AND THEY MATTER IN ZONING CONDITIONS. THE WORDS IN THE ZONING CONDITIONS ARE SIMPLY NOT PRECISE ENOUGH TO BE ENFORCEABLE IN THE FUTURE. I UNDERSTAND TRUST, AND I AGREE WITH TRUST.

BUT YOU TRUST AND YOU VERIFY. WHAT IS NOT IN THE ZONING CONDITIONS.

IS ANY LIMITATION ON EVENTS HOSTED OR SPONSORED BY THE OWNER OR THE OPERATOR IS THE APPLICANT SEEKS TO HAVE.

I DON'T KNOW WHO THE OPERATOR MIGHT BE OR AMPLIFIED SOUND.

[02:50:04]

CAPACITY 300 FOLKS WE HEARD THIS EVENING, ONE ON SITE PARKING SPOT IN.

RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF A RESIDENTIAL SINGLE FAMILY NEIGHBORHOOD.

MOVING TO THE CONDITIONS CONDITIONS ASKED FOR BY THE APPLICANT.

IF YOU LOOK AT NUMBER FOUR, IT SAYS CONTACT INFORMATION FOR A DESIGNATED REPRESENTATIVE MUST BE PROVIDED FOR ALL EVENTS.

ON THE WEBSITE, ON THE FACEBOOK PAGE. WHAT IS THE CONTACT INFORMATION? IS IT A NAME, AN ADDRESS, AN EMAIL? I UNDERSTAND THAT THE IDEA IS IN THE IN THE CONDITIONS, BUT THE ACTUAL WORDS ARE JUST SIMPLY NOT PRECISE.

I DO NOT CARE ABOUT PRIVATE EVENTS THAT DON'T INVOLVE.

MUSIC. THE A LIVE BAND PLAYING THE ACOUSTIC GUITAR.

SO YOGA CLASSES, MEMORIALS. YOU WANT TO HAVE YOUR FUNERAL AT THE WILD CENTER AND YOU WANT TO HAVE AMPLIFIED MUSIC AT THAT.

THAT'S FINE. THE PLANT SALES. WHAT? SO WHAT WE WOULD I WOULD LIKE IS TO HAVE THE CONDITIONS DEAL WITH PRIVATE OUTDOOR EVENTS WITH SOUND, WHETHER IT IS AMPLIFIED SOUND OR JUST SOUND THAT CAN BE HEARD IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD.

BUT WHAT I AM ASKING IS FOR YOU ALL TO DEFER THIS AND ASK THE WILD CENTER TO NEGOTIATE WITH ME ON ENFORCEABLE CONDITIONS.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. I THINK WE HAVE A FEW MORE FOLKS HERE.

KATIE BRADY. I WILL NEED YOU TO STATE YOUR ADDRESS.

I DON'T SEE IT HERE ON FOR EVERYONE THAT SPEAKS FROM NOW ON.

I NEED THE ADDRESS. IT'S 713 SOUTH MCDONOUGH STREET.

OKAY. I'M NOT HERE BECAUSE OF THE WILD CENTER AS IT IS TODAY.

I'M HERE BECAUSE YOU'RE PUTTING ZONING IN PLACE THAT WILL AFFECT THIS PROPERTY FOR THE NEXT 50 YEARS.

THIS PARTICULAR PIECE OF PROPERTY IS IN THE MIDDLE OF WHAT? IN THE UNIFIED ZONING ORDINANCE IS CONSIDERED RESIDENTIAL.

THERE IS NOTHING ELSE THAT IS NOT RESIDENTIAL IN A HUGE SWATH OF THIS PARTICULAR PIECE OF PROPERTY.

WILD CENTER HAS BEEN A GREAT STEWARD. THEY HAVE DONE EVERYTHING THAT WE COULD HOPE FOR A COMMUNITY GARDEN TO DO.

THAT'S GREAT, AND I KNOW ALL THESE PEOPLE APPRECIATE IT VERY MUCH.

I THINK WE HEARD ALL THAT TONIGHT, BUT THAT'S NOT WHY I'M HERE, BECAUSE I'VE BEEN IN THIS SITUATION BEFORE.

I HAD A GARDEN BEHIND MY HOUSE THAT THEY DECIDED THAT THEY WOULD GO FROM 28 EVENTS TO 80 EVENTS, AND THAT THEY WOULD INCREASE THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THERE BY 2 OR 3 TIMES WHAT THEY TYPICALLY HAD HAD PREVIOUSLY.

AND IT WAS A NIGHTMARE. DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THIS AND THAT IS THAT THEY HAD NOT GOTTEN THE ZONING BEFORE THEY DID THAT.

SO WE KNEW HOW BAD IT WAS. MY NEIGHBORS KNEW HOW BAD IT WAS.

WE KNEW WHAT THE IMPACT WAS BEFORE THEY GOT THEIR ZONING.

SO WE HAD TO GO THROUGH THAT PROCESS WITH DEKALB COUNTY.

THEY EVENTUALLY GOT A SWAP AND SETTLED THE THINGS AND MADE IT BETTER FOR THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE THERE NOW.

BUT IT WAS AN ORDEAL THAT TOOK THREE YEARS AND IT WAS MISERABLE.

WHAT. THE WILD CENTER IS ASKING FOR WITH THIS ZONING IS A GREAT EXPANSION FROM WHAT THEY HAVE BEEN DOING.

THEY'RE ASKING TO GO FROM WHAT I BELIEVE STEPHANIE SAID LAST YEAR TO 80 EVENTS.

THERE ALSO IS NO RESTRICTION ON WILD CENTER EVENTS FOR AMPLIFIED SOUND UNDER THIS ZONING.

THAT'S PROBLEMATIC BECAUSE RIGHT NOW THEY ONLY HAVE SIX EVENTS WITH AMPLIFIED MUSIC.

AND SO THAT'S NOW GOING TO UNLIMITED. NOW AM I WORRIED THAT STEPHANIE IS GOING TO SUDDENLY GET OUT HER MEGAPHONE AND START HAVING A BUNCH OF AMPLIFIED MUSIC? NO I'M NOT. BUT I WILL TELL YOU THAT I LIVE NEXT TO THAT OTHER GARDEN FOR MANY YEARS BEFORE THEY GOT A NEW DIRECTOR WHO DECIDED TO GO IN THIS DIRECTION AND CREATE ALL KINDS OF NEW PROBLEMS. AND HE DID NOT CARE ABOUT THE COMMUNITY.

THAT WAS NOT HIS GOAL. HE WANTED TO BECOME A WIDER, BIGGER BUSINESS FOR THEIR NONPROFIT.

SO THE NEXT CURATOR MAY NOT BE SALLY WILDE OR STEPHANIE.

IT COULD BE SOMEBODY WHO HAS ENTIRELY DIFFERENT AMBITIONS.

IT COULD EVEN BE A DIFFERENT KIND OF CHARITY OR NONPROFIT.

SO I ASK THAT YOU GUYS SERIOUSLY CONSIDER LIMITING ALL AMPLIFY ALL AMPLIFICATION, EXCEPT FOR FOR THE SIX FUNDRAISER EVENTS A YEAR THAT

[02:55:07]

GOOD EVENING. I WASN'T AWARE THAT WE WERE GOING TO HAVE A THREE MINUTE RESTRICTION LIKE THE WILD SINNER GETS TO SPEAK ALL THEY WANT AND WE DON'T GET TO DO THAT. I LIVE AT 108 WEST DAVIS STREET.

THE GARDEN IS IN MY BACKYARD DIRECTLY IN MY BACKYARD.

WE'RE HERE BECAUSE THE GARDEN FINDS THEMSELVES OUT OF COMPLIANCE WITH CURRENT ZONING STANDARDS.

AND SO THE ANSWER IS LET'S CHANGE THE GOALPOSTS.

LET'S CHANGE THE RULES TO SUIT THEM RATHER THAN CONFORMING TO WHAT IS EXISTING IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

THIS HAS ALWAYS BEEN A RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD.

RESIDENTS PAY HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS AND THOUSANDS IN TAXES FOR THE PRIVILEGE OF LIVING IN A QUIET RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD.

GARDEN TELL YOU THAT THEY'RE THAT THEY ARE SEEKING TO MEET THE MISSION OF THE GARDEN.

I KNEW SALLY WILD. THIS WAS NOT HER MISSION OF THE GARDEN.

SHE ENVISIONED A QUIET IT SPACE FOR GARDENING AND FOR LEARNING ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENT.

SHE DID NOT ENVISION A CONCERT VENUE. THERE WAS ONE EMPLOYEE.

THAT WAS IT. THE GARDENS BECOME FROM A PROJECT TO A HUGE COMMERCIAL ENTERPRISE.

ALL THIS INCREASES THEIR OPERATING EXPENSES AND THEY NEED TO EXPAND THEIR EVENT AND FUNDRAISING TO PAY FOR ALL THIS.

THEY ARE ATTEMPTING TO INCREASE THEIR ACTIVITIES WITH LARGER GATHERINGS AND CONCERTS.

THEY ARE ENTHUSIASTIC ENVIRONMENTALISTS EXCEPT FOR NOISE POLLUTION.

THIS IS BECAUSE IT SUITS THEIR NEEDS. FINALLY, THE GARDEN HAS BEEN IN SEVERE FINANCIAL PROBLEMS. LESS THAN A YEAR AGO, THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT FORECLOSURE.

SOMEHOW, THESE FINANCIAL PROBLEMS HAVE MAGICALLY DISAPPEARED IN EIGHT MONTHS.

WHAT I'M SAYING IS THIS COULD OCCUR AGAIN WITH.

IF THE GARDEN MAY BE SOLD AND. THE POINT IS THAT ENABLING ALL THESE CONCERT EVENTS MIGHT BE.

MIGHT BE IN THE LIKING FOR SOME. SOME. SOMEONE TO PURCHASE FOR A CONCERT VENUE.

AS YOU KNOW, DECATUR DID A NOISE STUDY AND THE NUMBER ONE COMPLAINT FOR NOISE WAS NOT WAS NOT NUISANCE OR CONSTRUCTION.

IT WAS MUSIC AND IT WAS PARTIES. THE THE NOISE THAT HAS COME FROM THE GARDEN, FROM AMPLIFIED SOUND NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. IT RATTLES WALLS, IT RATTLES WINDOWS AND IT GO ON FOR HOURS.

WHEN I HAVE SPOKEN WITH THE WITH THE GARDEN ABOUT THIS.

IN THE MANY YEARS THAT I'VE LIVED THERE, I WAS TOLD, WELL, WE.

CAN'T CONTROL THE THE BAND THAT WAS SELECTED BY WHOEVER CONTRACTS.

WE CAN'T CONTROL. WE CAN'T CONTROL ALL THE MUSIC THAT THEY PLAY.

BUT I'VE ASKED THE DIRECTOR ABOUT TY. MR. MILLER AND I SPEAK FOR A LITTLE BIT LONGER.

PLEASE. NO, SIR. NEXT IS ERIC MILLER.

ERIC MILLER, 108 WEST DAVIS STREET. MY BROTHER AND I HAVE LIVED THERE SINCE LATE 1988.

WE MOVED THERE WITH A REASONABLE EXPECTATION OF A TRANQUIL RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD.

I NEED TO INVOKE A SIMPLE BUT IMMUTABLE ALGEBRAIC IDENTITY.

NOISE POLLUTION, TRAFFIC CONGESTION, AND INCREASED COMMERCIAL ACTIVITY EQUALS NOISE POLLUTION, TRAFFIC CONGESTION AND INCREASED COMMERCIAL LIKE ACTIVITY EQUALS NOISE POLLUTION AND TRAFFIC CONGESTION AND INCREASED AND INCREASED COMMERCIAL ACTIVITY, WHETHER IT ORIGINATES FROM A NONPROFIT NONCOMMERCIAL SOURCE OR A COMMERCIAL SOURCE, SUCH AS A RESTAURANT WITH BANDS AND ALCOHOL THE GARDEN HAS MORPHED INTO A COMMERCIAL LIKE MONSTROSITY.

AND I WONDER IF NEXT ON THE AGENDA IS THE HANGING GARDENS OF BABYLON.

THE MISSION AND OBJECTIVES OF THE GARDEN ARE FINE WITH ME, BUT CAN THEY BE FINANCED IN A LESS INTRUSIVE MANNER? THEY DO HAVE OTHER LOCATIONS. A LOCAL PUBLICATION, DECATUR ISH, HAS SOME ARTICLE ABOUT FINANCIAL PROBLEMS PLANTED IN THE GARDEN.

[03:00:03]

IF THAT'S THE CASE, THEN WHY SUCH AN AMBITIOUS FUNDRAISING AGENDA IS MORE EXPANSION LOOMING ON THE HORIZON? HOW CAN THE GARDEN EXPRESS SUCH COMPASSION FOR OUR ANIMAL AND VEGETABLE NEIGHBORS, AND NOT SHOW THE SAME CONSIDERATION FOR HIS HUMAN NEIGHBORS? OR IS IT OKAY TO BREAK SOME EGGS IN ORDER TO MAKE AN OMELET? NEXT IS ONE MORE THING. DISCONTINUE THAT LINE ON.

SATURDAY. THERE IS NO MORE WATER. THANK YOU. AND NEXT WE HAVE MARY JANE LEACH AND THEN BILL GREGORY.

I'M MARY JANE LEACH. I'M THE CURRENT SUSTAINABILITY DIRECTOR AND FORMER FINANCE DIRECTOR OF THE WILD CENTER.

HOWEVER, TONIGHT I'M SPEAKING AS A SUSTAINABILITY PROFESSIONAL, FORMER DECATUR SUSTAINABILITY BOARD MEMBER AND MUNICIPAL SUSTAINABILITY BOARD MEMBER OF TWO OTHER STATES.

YOUR ADDRESS PLEASE. 1697 GLEN COVE AVENUE. OKAY.

NOT DECATUR ANYMORE, BUT I DID LIVE HERE FOR TEN YEARS.

WELL, YEAH. SO I WANTED TO SPEAK TO. THE CURRENT PLANS FOR SUSTAINABILITY PROGRAMING AND REITERATE THAT IN 2021, WE DID CHANGE OUR MISSION STATEMENT TO SUPPORTING RESILIENT COMMUNITIES THROUGH GREEN SPACE AND EDUCATION. AND THAT REMAINS TRUE.

AND SO AND JUST KIND OF RECENTER BACK ON WHAT WE'RE DOING AND WHAT WE ANTICIPATE DOING.

YOU KNOW, PROBABLY DURING THE TIME THAT I WAS ON SUSTAINABILITY BOARD, WE DID A LOT OF MEASUREMENT AND REALIZED THROUGH THOSE STUDIES THAT A LOT OF WATER CAME THROUGH THE NEIGHBORHOOD SETTLED IN THE LOWER PARTS, INCLUDING WILDE CENTER, AND THEN THROUGH OUR CAPITAL CAMPAIGN, WE WERE ABLE TO REPAIR THE BUILDING FROM TEN YEARS OF FLOODING AND INSTALL A LOT OF GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE, WHICH HAS WORKED. HOWEVER, IT TAKES UP A LOT OF SPACE SO THAT WE WILL PROBABLY NOT EVEN BE ABLE TO HAVE SOME OF THE EVENTS THAT WE'VE HELD IN THE PAST AT THE AT THE SCALE. SO I JUST WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW THAT THE LIMITATIONS ON THE ON THE ROOM, THE SPACE ON, ON THE LOT IS RESTRICTED SOMEWHAT BY THE GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE.

YOU'RE JUST NOT GOING TO HAVE YOU KNOW, THERE ARE BRIDGES NOW THERE ARE LARGE RAIN GARDENS AND BIOSWALES IN THERE.

SO, YOU KNOW, AFTER ALL OF THE REPAIRS, I WANTED TO EXPLAIN WHY I THINK AS A SUSTAINABILITY PROFESSIONAL THAT IT'S IMPORTANT TO HAVE THE WILDE CENTER WHERE IT IS AND TO HAVE EVENT RENTALS.

AND SINCE WE'VE OPENED THE BUILDING BACK UP, ALIGNED NONPROFITS AND BUSINESSES HAVE COME TO US FOR DAYTIME RENTALS.

THEY'VE BEEN 15, 20 PEOPLE. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT STAFF AND BOARD RETREATS.

THEY ARE ATTRACTED TO THE ALIGNMENT WITH THEIR OWN MISSIONS.

WE'RE NOT ADVERTISING FOR THIS. THEY'RE JUST COMING TO US.

I WOULD SAY THAT THIS HAVING BEEN INVOLVED IN COMMUNITY SUSTAINABILITY FOR A LONG TIME, MEETING SPACE IS AT A PREMIUM.

TO HAVE A PLACE THAT'S FREE AND LOW COST IS VERY SCARCE.

IT'S A SCARCE RESOURCE. AND WHILE THE CENTER HAS, HAS INCUBATED NONPROFITS AND OTHER GROUPS LIKE B CARTER, WHICH IS UNDER OUR AUSPICES FOR YEARS AND HAVING PROVIDING FREE AND LOW COST SPACE.

THAT WAS MY MAIN POINT. THANK YOU. SO I HOPE YOU WILL SUPPORT.

I'M HERE SPEAKING IN FAVOR. NEXT IS BILL GREGORY AND THEN DESIREE GREGORY.

I WOULD BE SPEAKING. THANK YOU. THAT'S NOT NORMALLY THE WAY IT WORKS IN OUR FAMILY.

BILL GREGORY, 136 WEST DAVIS STREET. I MEAN, I COULD NOT LOVE THE WILD CENTER ANY MORE THAN THAN I DO.

IT'S BEEN FANTASTIC. BEFORE I HAD KIDS, ETC., I, I CAN'T BELIEVE 30 YEARS YOU'VE HAD ONE COMPLAINT.

I, I'VE LIVED AT 136 FOR 26 YEARS AND THERE'S BEEN WAY MORE THAN ONE COMPLAINT.

I'M CONFIDENT ABOUT ME OVER THE YEARS. I DO HAVE ISSUES OF MR..

MAYER. I HAD NEVER HEARD THIS BEFORE. CITY OF HOMES, SCHOOLS AND PLACES OF WORSHIP.

WHEN I THINK OF HOMES, I THINK OF. EXACTLY. AND I THINK YOU SAID THIS WORDS MATTER.

[03:05:02]

IT'S LOW DENSITY RESIDENTIAL. WE ARE THE CITY OF HOMES.

YOU COULDN'T SAY IT ANY BETTER. COMMERCIAL. HIGH DENSITY.

THAT'S NOT WHAT YOU DO WHEN YOUR CITY'S MONIKER IS CITY OF HOMES, SCHOOLS AND PLACES OF WORSHIP.

AND AGAIN, I LOVE THE WILD CENTER. I WILL DO ANYTHING I CAN TO SUPPORT IT.

THE 30 SOME ODD EVENTS THEY HAVE A YEAR I THINK IS PERFECT.

ANYTHING THAT WE NEED TO DO TO FUNDRAISE IT TO MAKE IT BETTER.

A FEW POINTS I WORK FOR THE PHONE COMPANY. UNFORTUNATELY FOR MANY YEARS.

THE TCPA MEANS I CAN'T CALL YOU AT 9:00 AT NIGHT.

THEY'RE GOING TO END EVENTS SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.

SO AT 10:00 AT NIGHT. I'VE ALSO WORKED IN CATERING, WHICH MEANS I BREAK DOWN TILL 1130 ON A SUNDAY NIGHT.

I CAN'T RING YOUR PHONE AT NINE. OKAY. IT'S JUST THERE WAS ONE COMPLAINT.

AND TO SOLVE ONE COMPLAINT, THIS IS A LOT MORE THAN ONE COMPLAINT.

THIS IS JUST RIDICULOUS, RIGHT? ON ITS SURFACE, IF THEY NEED MONEY, WE WILL RAISE THE MONEY.

WE ALL LOVE IT. NO ONE HAS SAID THAT THEY DON'T LOVE IT.

WE LOVE IT. IT'S JUST RIDICULOUS. BLOCK PARTY.

I HAVE TO END AT EIGHT. RESIDENTS HAVE TO END AT EIGHT FOR A BLOCK PARTY.

THAT'S IN THE SUMMER. IT'S SUNSET WHEN IT'S NOT IN THE SUMMER.

CURRENT STRUCTURE THERE IS ABOUT 2000FT. I DON'T KNOW IF GOOGLE'S CORRECT, BUT I COULD HAVE THREE AT 10,000FT².

AND WE KNOW THAT IN 30 YEARS FROM NOW, NO ONE'S GOING TO REMEMBER THIS MEETING.

NO ONE'S GOING TO REMEMBER THE COMMUNITY GARDEN.

SO PLEASE, I ASK YOU TO REEVALUATE THE RECOMMENDATIONS BECAUSE THIS IS NOT WHAT DECATUR IS ABOUT.

AND WE DO LOVE THE WILD CENTER. BOTH CAN EXIST IN A VERY SUCCESSFUL WAY AND A VERY HAPPY WAY.

THANK YOU SO MUCH. AND NEXT WE HAVE CRAIG COOK AND THEN MICHAEL KOSKI.

CRAIG COOK OH, OKAY. AND. MICHAEL.

MICHAEL. 607 SOUTH MCDONOUGH STREET. I HAVE HAD THE PLEASURE OF LIVING ACROSS THE STREET FROM THE COMMUNITY GARDEN SINCE I MOVED HERE IN 1998, THE YEAR AFTER SALLY STARTED THE GARDEN. MY KIDS HAVE GROWN UP GOING TO THE GARDEN, ENJOYING ALL THE LAND THERE, RUNNING AROUND. I VOLUNTEERED THERE COUNTLESS HOURS OF SUPPORTED FINANCIALLY.

I WANTED TO CONTINUE. I WANTED TO THRIVE. I HAVE CONCERNS WITH A NUMBER OF EVENTS THERE.

THEY PLAN ON DOING. RIGHT NOW, 30 IS PERFECT.

INSIDE WOULD BE LOVELY, BUT THE POSSIBILITY OF UP TO 80 OUTSIDE WITH 100 PEOPLE IS CONCERNING.

MY BACK PORCH. MY BACKYARD OVERLOOKS THE GARDEN.

I'M PROBABLY THE CLOSEST PERSON TO THE GREEN SPACE THEY BUILT OUT THERE.

I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S A SOLUTION TO THAT. I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S A LIMIT THAT CAN BE PUT ON LARGE EVENTS OUTDOORS WITH 80 INSIDE THE HOUSE.

THAT WOULD NOT BE A CONCERN TO ME. I DON'T KNOW IF A RESTRICTION CAN BE PUT ON THE LAND USE TO A NONPROFIT COMMUNITY GARDEN INSTEAD OF JUST A COMMUNITY GARDEN. BUT I JUST CAME HERE TO ONE SHOW MY SUPPORT FOR THE GARDEN, BUT ALSO VOICE MY CONCERNS AS TO THE POSSIBILITY OF 80 WEDDINGS, PARTIES TAKING PLACE OUTSIDE. THAT WOULD LESSEN THE ENJOYMENT I HAVE OF MY OWN PERSONAL PROPERTY.

FOR HIRING AN EVENT COORDINATOR WEBSITE TALKS ABOUT.

YOU CAN RENT THE SPACE FOR A WEDDING FOR UP TO, I THINK $1,300.

ALL FINE AND GOOD WITH REGARDS TO RAISING MONEY TO SUPPORT THEIR MISSION, BUT IT SOUNDS LIKE THEY'RE RAMPING UP EVERYTHING TO TRY TO LEAN INTO THIS AS A WAY TO MAKE MORE MONEY, WHICH IS GREAT. I JUST WANT THEM TO.

FOCUS ON THE IMPACT IT'S GOING TO HAVE ON THOSE THAT LIVE IMMEDIATELY AROUND IT.

AS FAR AS LARGE OUTDOOR EVENTS. I DON'T KNOW WHAT CAN BE DONE TO LIMIT THAT.

THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY. THANK YOU. THEN MARK CONE.

GOOD EVENING. MARK CONE 128 WEST DAVIS. MY HOUSE IS ACTUALLY ONE OF THE TWO HOUSES IN THE PICTURE THAT THE WILD CENTER PUT UP THERE AT THE END OF THEIR PRESENTATION.

SO LIKE A FEW OF THE FAMILIES HERE TONIGHT, I BACK RIGHT UP TO THE WILD CENTER.

I DON'T REALLY HAVE ANY CHALLENGE TO THEIR PLANS PER SE.

I THINK IT'D BE GREAT IF THEY'RE SUCCESSFUL. WE BOUGHT OUR PROPERTY ALMOST SOLELY BECAUSE OF THE GREEN SPACE BEHIND THE HOUSE, BECAUSE IT IS SO HARD TO FIND. I THINK MY BIGGEST CONCERN WITH THE PLAN IS THAT BY THE APPLICANT'S OWN DOCUMENTATION HERE, IT SAYS THAT THEIR BUSINESS MODEL IS NOT SUSTAINABLE WITHOUT THIS.

[03:10:01]

SO SO IF THEY NEED 80 EVENTS A YEAR TO REMAIN SUSTAINABLE, I DON'T THINK THAT THEY'LL GET IT.

THAT'S OBVIOUSLY MORE OF A PERSONAL OPINION THAN AN OBJECTIVE FACT.

BUT DOES THAT MEAN IF THEY DON'T GET 80 THEY'RE GOING TO GO OUT OF BUSINESS? AND SO WHEN I THINK OF ZONING THIS PROPERTY FROM A COMMERCIAL WAY, LIKE WHAT ARE LIKE, THE HISTORY IS PAVED WITH THE BEST INTENTIONS.

AND SO HOPE IS NOT A PLAN. A LOT OF CATCHPHRASES, I GUESS I COULD USE.

BUT IF WE THINK OF THE LONG TERM, IF THIS IS NOT SUSTAINABLE, WHAT HAPPENS TO THAT PROPERTY? IF IT'S ZONED COMMERCIAL AND YOU GET MORE OF A PROPERTY DEVELOPER, A LITTLE MORE NEFARIOUS INTENTIONS, THAT ALL THEY WANT TO DO IS MAKE MONEY. WHAT HAPPENS TO THAT COMMERCIAL ZONING WHEN THE BEST LAWYERS IN TOWN COME TO REPRESENT SOMEONE AND THEY GET PASSED THE FACT THAT IT'S ON A GIANT FLOODPLAIN AND THEY WANT TO BUILD SOMETHING UP TO THE VARIOUS MAXIMUM OF WHAT THE NEW ZONING WOULD CONTAIN.

IT WON'T BE RESIDENTIAL, IT'LL BE SOMETHING ELSE. SO I JUST WOULD ENCOURAGE THE COMMISSION TO LOOK AT WHAT OPTIONS WE HAVE TO REALLY CODIFY WHAT THEY'RE ASKING FOR, SOME BALANCE BETWEEN WHAT THE COMMUNITY IS LOOKING FOR IN TERMS OF THE NOISE AND THE PIECES THERE, BUT ALSO MAKE SURE THAT THAT PROPERTY CAN TRULY REMAIN GREEN FOREVER.

THERE'S GOT TO BE WAYS TO DO THAT. I THINK A COMMERCIAL ZONING IS NOT THE WAY TO GO ABOUT IT.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

THAT IS ALL THE PUBLIC SPEAKERS WE HAVE. SO AT THIS POINT, WE'LL ASK THE COMMISSIONERS.

I KNOW YOU HAVE QUESTIONS. LET'S START THERE.

AND WE'LL PROBABLY ASK MEMBERS OF THE DENTONS AND WILD CENTER TO FIELD THESE QUESTIONS AS WE GO.

AND WANTS TO GO FIRST OR SECOND OR THIRD OR 10TH OR I'M HAPPY TO GO FIRST AS A IN OAKHURST OR LONG TIME OAKHURST UNTIL FRIDAY. NO. NO. YES. IT'S ONE WORD.

SO INTERESTINGLY, THERE ARE TWO OAKHURST ON THE COMMISSION, SO WE ARE VERY FAMILIAR WITH THE WILD CENTER.

SO I HAVE A QUESTION FIRST, AND I'M SO SORRY.

THIS IS GOING TO BE TERRIBLE. I CAN'T REMEMBER WHAT THE BUILDING IS CALLED, BUT WE AFFECTIONATELY CALLED IT FART LAB FOR A REALLY LONG TIME.

I'M TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THAT IS ZONED IT IS.

IT IS NOW BEING RENTED OUT AS A PARTIAL EVENT SPACE.

IT'S ON, IT'S ON. YEAH. I MEAN, THEY KNOW WHAT THAT'S RIGHT.

I MEAN, HE JUST LOOKED SO PERPLEXED. AND I AND I ASKED THAT BECAUSE THERE WAS NO EXPECTATION THAT THAT WAS GOING TO BE A SOURCE OF NEIGHBORHOOD DISRUPTION AND BECAME A SOURCE OF NEIGHBORHOOD DISRUPTION.

UNFORTUNATELY, BECAUSE OUR ZONING ALLOWANCES, IF YOU WILL, WERE TOO BROAD.

AND SO IF THIS IS GOING TO BE A SCENARIO THAT'S SIMILAR TO THIS, THEN I THINK I HAVE MORE FOLLOW UP QUESTIONS, IF NOT THAN THAN I DON'T. AND THEN MY, MY SECOND QUESTION IS NOT REALLY SO MUCH OF A, OF A QUESTION, BUT IT IS A CONCERN. 100 OR 80 EVENTS A MONTH DOES FEEL LIKE A LOT A YEAR.

I'M SORRY, A YEAR, 80 A MONTH WOULD BE, WOULD BE TOO MANY.

LET ME DRINK MY NIGHT COFFEE. IT WOULD BE A LOT.

I AM NEVER REALLY FREAKED OUT ABOUT PARKING IN OAKHURST.

IT'S JUST KIND OF THE NATURE OF THE BEAST. THERE ARE EVENTS AND PEOPLE PARK ON OUR STREETS AND THEN THEY MOVE AND WE GO ON WITH OUR LIVES.

OUR STREETS ARE GENERALLY WIDE AND THEY FACILITATE PARKING, UNLIKE, SAY, MLK OR SOME OF THE DISTRICTS ON THE NORTH SIDE OF THE TRACK.

BUT I AM VERY CONCERNED WHEN SOMEONE BRINGS A PROPOSAL TO US AND SAYS WE ARE GOING TO WORK WITH THESE FOLKS WHO WANT TO HAVE EVENTS AND ENCOURAGE THEIR FOLKS TO USE. MARTA AND I AS AN OAK COASTER USE MARTA TO GET TO 303 PEACHTREE STREET EVERY DAY BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE I WORK TOO. AND IT IS NOT EASY. IT'S ABOUT A MILE TO GET TO THE CLOSEST MARTA STATION AND WE DON'T HAVE A BUS.

SO WHEN I SEE THAT THAT IS ONE OF THE OPTIONS THAT IS BEING ENCOURAGED AS A SOLUTION TO MITIGATE TRAFFIC ISSUES.

I KNOW IT'S NOT A GOOD ONE. IT'S NOT A IT'S NOT A PRACTICAL ONE.

AND I KIND OF FEEL LIKE I'M BEING DUPED. AND I LIVE IN THIS NEIGHBORHOOD, YOU KNOW, SO I KNOW THAT'S NOT AN OPTION.

NOW, IF YOU HAD SAID TO ME, WE'LL HAVE FOLKS PARK AT COLLEGE HEIGHTS AND WALK OVER OR WE'LL HAVE, YOU KNOW, WE'LL, WE'LL HAVE, YOU KNOW, FOLKS PARK IN THE VILLAGE AND WALK OVER.

I'D SAY, OKAY, THAT'S SUSTAINABLE. BUT WHEN WE START TALKING ABOUT THINGS THAT I, I KNOW FOR A FACT WILL NOT WORK, THEN I START TO GET CONCERNED ABOUT THE PRACTICALITY OF THE ENTIRE REQUEST.

SO THOSE ARE, THOSE ARE MY TWO IMMEDIATE CONCERNS.

I LOVE THE WILD CENTER. I DEEPLY TRUST STEPHANIE VAN PARIS'S LEADERSHIP.

I LOVE THE EVENTS THAT HAVE BEEN HELD THERE BY WILD CENTER.

[03:15:01]

BUT WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT EXPANDING THIS GREATLY, THERE IS NO WAY TO DO THAT WITHOUT SOME SORT OF ADVERSE IMPACT TO THE COMMUNITY.

AND I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT'S REALLY BEING THOUGHT ABOUT REALISTICALLY, PRACTICALLY AND HONESTLY, YOU KNOW, I'LL FOLLOW THAT UP. JUST A SIMPLE COMMENT.

YOU KNOW, THE ONE THING I THINK ABOUT, YOU KNOW, ESPECIALLY TO EVENTS AT LEGACY, A STAFF PERSON IS REQUIRED TO BE THERE, PERIOD. AND I, AND I THINK REGARDLESS OF HOW WE GO, I THINK THAT'S ONE OF THE CONDITIONS I'D LIKE TO SEE ADDED IS THAT A STAFF PERSON BE REQUIRED TO BE AT THESE EVENTS BECAUSE. YEAH.

WHO'S GOING TO KNOW WHO TO CALL AT? YOU KNOW, 1130 WHEN THE TRUCKS AREN'T GONE.

AND, YOU KNOW, AND THAT'S JUST ONE OF MANY CONCERNS.

BUT I'D LIKE TO HEAR FROM YOU GUYS TOO, BECAUSE I THINK THERE ARE SOME, YOU KNOW, WE'VE HEARD THINGS THAT THEY'RE GREAT NEIGHBORS.

AND BUT SO I THINK THAT'S A REAL CHALLENGE WHEN, YOU KNOW, WE ALL LOVE THE WILSON CENTER.

IN FACT, FOR FULL TRANSPARENCY, THE CITY SUPPORTS THE WILD CENTER FINANCIALLY EVERY YEAR WITH A SMALL STIPEND TO HELP WITH THE CHILDREN'S FIELD TRIPS OR ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION, ENVIRONMENTAL, THAT PART.

SO, YOU KNOW, WE KNOW THEY'RE GOOD STEWARDS, BUT THINGS SEEM TO BE SHIFTING.

SO HOW DO WE, YOU KNOW, MITIGATE? AND THE ONE QUESTION I HAD FOR MISS KURTZIG, YOU KNOW, WE'VE HEARD A LOT ABOUT, YOU KNOW, WHAT FUTURE ZONING ZONING WOULD LOOK LIKE.

I'D ALSO LIKE TO KNOW WHAT COULD BE DONE IN THE CURRENT ZONING IF WE DON'T CHANGE IT.

SO THOSE ARE IF YOU WANT TO. I THINK I WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT THAT, I'M ALSO CURIOUS ABOUT THE STREAM BUFFER AND THE 100 YEAR FLOOD ZONE.

AND IF THAT ALSO IMPACTS DEVELOPMENT POTENTIAL OF THE SITE.

SURE. IF YOU DON'T MIND, I'M ALSO GOING TO LOOP THAT IN TO A COUPLE OF THE QUESTIONS THAT CAME UP.

THANK YOU. JUST FOR SOME CLARIFICATION, BUT I THINK I CAN GET THEM ALL.

SO I KNOW THERE THERE WAS CONCERNS. SO CURRENTLY THE PROPERTY IS THREE PARCELS.

I CAN TELL YOU THAT THEY DID SUBMIT AN APPLICATION WITH THE CITY IN 2023 TO COMBINE THOSE PARCELS.

I'LL BE HONEST WITH YOU. I WAS NOT HERE. I BELIEVE IT'S JUST A SMALL CLERICAL ERROR AND THAT NEEDS TO BE TAKEN TO DEKALB COUNTY.

SO THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE'VE ADVISED THEM ABOUT.

WE ALL AGREE THAT THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN. SO I KNOW THAT WAS ONE QUESTION.

WHEN WE START TALKING ABOUT USES I KNOW PEOPLE ARE TALKING ABOUT PRIMARY AND ACCESSORY, THE WAY THE UDO ADDRESSES IT IS REALLY, IT'S JUST A CATEGORY OF USES. SO THE REAL ONE THAT ISN'T CONFORMING TO THE CURRENT ZONING OF THAT RESIDENTIAL USE IS THE EVENT RENTALS. THOSE ARE CLASSIFIED IN OUR UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT CODE AS COMMERCIAL.

WHEN WE LOOKED AT WHAT ZONING WOULD BE COMPATIBLE WE RARELY WENT THROUGH THEM ALL BECAUSE THE NEIGHBORHOOD MIXED USE IS THE MOST RESTRICTIVE OF ALL THE COMMERCIAL DISTRICTS. IT IS DESIGNED TO BE IN THAT PROXIMITY TO A COMMUNITY TO ENSURE THAT THAT CHARACTER IS STILL UPHELD. AND WITHIN IT THE DENSITY IS NINE DWELLING UNITS PER ACRE.

I THINK THE APPLICANT TOUCHED ON THAT. AND THEN WHEN YOU LOOK AT OUR 60 ZONING, YOU ALSO HAVE TO REMEMBER THAT WE ALLOW SINGLE FAMILY DUPLEXES, TRIPLEXES, QUADRUPLEXES.

AND THEN ALL OF THOSE CAN ALSO HAVE AN ACCESSORY DWELLING USE.

SO WHEN YOU KIND OF RUN THOSE NUMBERS, WE KNOW NOT EVERY SINGLE PARCEL AS IT'S DIVIDED MAY REACH THAT, BUT YOU'RE LOOKING AT ABOUT 15 UNITS PER ACRE ON A TYPICAL RESIDENTIAL, IF IT WAS KIND OF MAXED OUT PER THE SITE BECAUSE THEY'RE SMALLER INDIVIDUAL WITH THE CURRENT ZONING, RIGHT? SO THIS ONE NOT WITH WHAT'S BEING PROPOSED, NOT WHAT'S BEING PROPOSED, BUT IF FOR SOME REASON THAT RESIDENTIAL ZONING WAS DIVIDED, SOMEHOW THERE, THERE COULD BE ADDITIONAL LOTS OR USES OR THINGS LIKE THAT.

I ALSO WANT TO GO BACK THROUGH THE FUTURE LAND USE DESIGNATION VERSUS THE ZONING DESIGNATION.

SO THE FUTURE LAND USE DESIGNATION IS A GUIDELINE FOR THE FUTURE.

I WILL TELL YOU THAT IS THE MAP OVER THERE. WE DO NOT HAVE A WHOLE LOT OF ZONING CLASS OR A LOT OF LAND USE CATEGORIES.

WE BASICALLY HAVE LOW DENSITY RESIDENTIAL, MEDIUM DENSITY, RESIDENTIAL, INSTITUTIONAL, AND THEN ALL OF THE COMMERCIAL FALLS UNDER COMMERCIAL AND HIGH DENSITY. AND THEN THE WAY THE UDO IS WRITTEN IS THAT YOU MUST HAVE THAT UNDERLYING ZONING DISTRICT TO

[03:20:09]

AND THEN I KNOW WE WERE TALKING ABOUT FLOODPLAIN. THERE ARE BUFFERS ON THAT SITE.

SO THERE ARE STREAM BUFFERS. THERE ARE FLOODPLAINS THAT DOES ACTUALLY, EVEN THOUGH ZONING DOESN'T CLASSIFY IT, THAT WILL RESTRICT WHAT CAN BE BUILT UPON THE PROPERTY.

SO WE DON'T ALLOW ANYTHING WITHIN THE 25 TO 50 OR THE YEAR.

THE 75 STREAM. STREAM BUFFER. AND THEN OF COURSE, THE FLOODPLAIN ALSO HAS RESTRICTIONS.

IT COULD BE BUILT WITHIN. BUT IT REALLY IS ALL ABOUT.

HOW IS THAT ENGINEERING DESIGNED FOR THE RUNOFF BEING CAPTURED? OKAY, SO JUST TO CLARIFY, THE WHOLE REASON WE'RE HERE HAVING THIS CONVERSATION IS BECAUSE THE CITY TOLD THE WILD CENTER THE CURRENT RESIDENTIAL ZONING YOU HAVE IS NOT IN LINE WITH THE BUSINESS YOU'RE OPERATING.

YOU MUST HAVE A COMMERCIAL ZONING TO CONTINUE OPERATING THE WAY YOU ARE.

IT IS FOR THE SPECIAL. IT IS FOR THE SPECIAL EVENT OR FOR THE EVENT RENTAL.

OKAY, SO THE GARDEN, THE MARKET GARDEN, WHICH BASICALLY MEANS THEY CAN SELL WHAT THEY HAVE ON THEIR THE EDUCATIONAL FACILITIES, THOSE ARE ALLOWED IN BOTH DISTRICTS, BOTH THAT RESIDENTIAL DISTRICT AND THE NEIGHBORHOOD MIXED USE DISTRICT.

BUT WHEN WE TALK ABOUT ACTUALLY RENTING THESE OUT AS EVENTS, THAT IS WHAT IS TRIGGERING THAT NEIGHBORHOOD MIXED USE AS THAT COMMERCIAL COMPONENT.

THAT EVENT RENTAL ACTIVITY HAS BEEN GOING. I HAVE NO RECORD IN THE CITY THAT WE KNEW IT WAS GOING ON, SO WE DON'T HAVE AN ISSUE. THEY SAY IT WAS HAPPENING.

WE CAN'T CONFIRM IT. IT WASN'T ON A BUSINESS LICENSE.

WE NEVER HAD ANY WRITE UPS. SO FOR US, IT REALLY JUST KIND OF NEVER EXISTED.

SO IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT COULD BE LEGALLY NONCONFORMING OR ANYTHING IN THE FUTURE BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE A RECORD OF IT HAPPENING.

THEY HAVE SAID IT HAS, AND WE DON'T DOUBT THAT, BUT THERE'S ACTUALLY NOTHING IN THE RECORDS TO SHOW THAT.

CAN YOU OPERATE A SUMMER CAMP WITH A RESIDENTIAL LICENSING? THAT'S A FUNNY ONE, BECAUSE THE WAY THEY DO IT IS PROBABLY ON THAT EDUCATIONAL COMPONENT.

BUT MANY TIMES THE SUMMER CAMPS ARE LINKED TO A DAYCARE, WHICH IS THEN ONCE AGAIN A COMMERCIAL BUSINESS.

SO IT WOULD JUST BE DEPEND ON HOW IT'S SET UP.

IT WOULD HAVE TO BE COMMERCIAL. COMMERCIALLY ZONED.

NOT. NOT RESIDENTIAL. RIGHT. IS THAT WHAT. THAT'S WHAT I'M WONDERING.

I'M JUST WONDERING BECAUSE SOMEONE, SOMEONE ASKED, YOU KNOW, WHY CAN'T WE JUST LEAVE IT THE WAY IT IS, BASICALLY. AND I'M TRYING TO DISTINGUISH. RIGHT.

AND WE DON'T HAVE A MECHANISM FOR A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT UNDER THAT RESIDENTIAL ZONING AND THE EVENTS THAT THEY'RE CURRENTLY HAVING AS WILD CENTER EVENTS, THOSE WERE ALLOWED IN THERE.

I THINK EVERYBODY KNEW THOSE WERE HAPPENING. EVEN WHEN WE TALKED ABOUT IT, THERE WAS NO REAL RECORD OF IT, BUT EVERYONE KIND OF ALLUDED THAT THEY KNEW THEY HAPPENED EVERY YEAR FOR FUNDRAISING PURPOSES.

YEAH. I MEAN, I, I'VE HAD SOME NEIGHBORS, MYSELF INCLUDED, THAT HAVE HAD SOME HOUSE PARTIES THAT PROBABLY ENVY SOME OF THE WILD CENTER'S EVENTS THEMSELVES. AND I DON'T THINK THOSE ARE PROHIBITED AS LONG AS WE'RE NOT DISTURBING THE NEIGHBORS OR VIOLATING.

THAT'S CORRECT. YOU WOULD STILL. EVERY RESIDENTIAL HOME WOULD STILL BE COMPLIANT TO THE NOISE ORDINANCE.

SO THE STICKING POINT REALLY IS THE SUMMER CAMPS AND THEN THE RENTALS.

THE RENTALS. YES. SO THERE WAS A COMMENT ABOUT THE BUSINESS MODEL NOT WORKING ANYMORE.

AND KNOW THAT THE WILD CENTER DID A PRETTY SIGNIFICANT RENOVATION.

SO I AM CURIOUS, I MEAN, I THINK LIKE, KIND OF LIKE WHAT'S CHANGED ASPECT OF IT IS THAT, YOU KNOW, THERE'S BEEN SOME TRANSITIONS WITH THE WILD CENTER WITH THE BUSINESS MODEL THAT HAVE OCCURRED.

WE'VE HAD SOME LEADERSHIP CHANGES. WE'VE HAD SOME PHYSICAL CHANGES. I WOULD LIKE TO, YOU KNOW, I MEAN, THE ISSUE IS THESE EVENTS. AND THEN IF WE DENY THIS AND THEY CAN'T DO THE EVENTS, THEN DOES THE BUSINESS MODEL GO AWAY? AND I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S A QUESTION FOR YOU OR NOT. YEAH. I DON'T KNOW THAT I CAN ANSWER THAT ONE SPECIFICALLY.

GO AWAY. AND THEN DOES IT'S GOING TO GO AWAY.

THANK YOU. WE'RE HAPPY TO ANSWER THAT QUESTION.

SO AGAIN THE WELD CENTER IS A NON PROFIT RIGHT.

AND SO EVERY DOLLAR GOES SOMEWHERE IN OPERATIONS.

THESE EVENTS ARE A PART OF THE BUDGET THAT ALLOW THE WELD CENTER TO OPERATE IN THE WAY THAT IT DOES.

IF THEY GO AWAY, THE NATURE OF THE WELD CENTER WILL NEED TO CHANGE IN SOME WAY OR FASHION.

YOU KNOW, WE CAN'T TELL YOU EXACTLY HOW THAT WOULD HAPPEN, BUT THE BUDGET WOULD NOT PENCIL OUT UNTIL SOMETHING WOULD MOST DEFINITELY NEED TO CHANGE.

[03:25:08]

ABOUT HOW MUCH? 40,000 TOTAL. YES. AS THEY AS THEY CURRENTLY ARE.

AND AGAIN, THE PROJECTED NUMBER FOR THAT, MISS.

MISS VAN. COME TO THE. YES. WE ARE CURRENTLY BRINGING IN $20,000 A YEAR FOR EVENT RENTALS FOR $1 MILLION BUDGET.

AND IF WE WENT TO UP TO OUR OUR OUR RENTALS AVERAGE ABOUT $532 PER RENTAL. SO IF YOU MULTIPLY THAT OUT BY THE ALLOWED, THAT'S HOW MUCH WE WOULD BE ABLE TO EARN OFF OF THE OAKHURST GARDEN LOCATION IN A YEAR. THANK YOU.

I WORKED WITH AN ORGANIZATION THAT WAS ZONED COMMERCIAL IN A RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITY.

WE DID HOST SPECIAL EVENTS, BUT PRIMARILY IT WAS AN ORGANIZATION THAT WAS OFFERING EDUCATION AND SERVING AS A HOME BASE FOR COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES.

HOWEVER WITH PARTNERSHIPS IN THE COMMUNITY AND AGREEMENTS WITH OTHER PARKING LOTS AROUND THE COMMUNITY, WE WERE ABLE TO WORK OUT A SYSTEM THAT I DON'T BELIEVE OFFENDED THE NEIGHBORS THAT I'M AWARE OF AND SERVE THE NEEDS OF THE ORGAN ORGANIZATION AND GENERATED FUNDING FOR THAT ORGANIZATION IN A WAY THAT SEEMED TO WORK FOR EVERYONE.

SO I BELIEVE THERE'S A WAY TO GET TO A SOLUTION THAT SATISFIES THE COMMUNITY AS FAR AS THE PARKING GOES.

AND I BELIEVE YOU KNOW, WE'VE HEARD SOME EXAMPLES OF DIFFERENT WAYS TO MEASURE DECIBELS.

I'VE THE WILD CENTER HAS ALREADY SHOWN THAT THEY'RE A GOOD NEIGHBOR, AND I THINK I'M NOT SPEAKING FOR THEM, BUT I ASSUME THEY WOULD BE OPEN TO SOME OF THOSE THINGS.

SO I JUST FEEL THAT PERHAPS WITH A LITTLE MORE DISCUSSION AND A LITTLE MORE STRUCTURE AROUND THE PARKING.

THIS COULD BE SOMETHING THAT COULD BE AGREEABLE.

I'M CURIOUS ABOUT THE PARKING, THOUGH. I'VE HEARD PARKING BROUGHT UP NO ONES, BUT AS FAR AS I CAN TELL, IT'S UNCLEAR TO ME IF ANYONE HAS BEEN ABLE TO ATTRIBUTE.

SO THERE'S ALL SORTS. I KNOW THAT NEIGHBORHOOD.

THERE'S ALL SORTS OF STUFF GOING ON IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD.

OAKHURST VILLAGE, THE SOLARIUM. IT SOUNDS TO ME MORE SO.

AND THERE ARE MULTIPLE EVENTS THAT JUST TAKE PLACE IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD AND ON A WARM ON A, YOU KNOW, WARM FALL OR SPRING EVENING, YOU KNOW, STEINBECK'S AND ALL THE PLACES IN THAT VILLAGE.

SO, I MEAN, I BELIEVE THAT PEOPLE HAVE ENCOUNTERED PARKING ISSUES.

WHAT'S NOT CLEAR TO ME IS THE ATTRIBUTION TO THE CALL CENTER, BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW WHAT EVENING THESE THINGS HAPPEN.

WHAT ELSE COULD IT HAVE BEEN HAPPENING? I MEAN, THERE'S A LOT THAT TAKES PLACE IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD THAT'S NOT SOLELY THE WILD CENTER.

SO I'M JUST CURIOUS IF ANYONE CAN ESTABLISH ATTRIBUTION.

QUESTION FOR YOU. DID YOU GUYS REACH OUT TO AGNES SCOTT ABOUT THE USE OF THEIR PARKING DECK? SO THAT WAS BROUGHT UP, I THINK AT THE CURRENT MOMENT AND TO COMMISSIONER ARNOLD'S POINT, WE HAVE NOT HEARD PRESENT CONCERNS ABOUT EVENTS AT THE WILD CENTER ARE CURRENTLY HAVING IN RELATION TO PARKING. AGAIN, IT IS A PUBLIC STREET.

WE CAN'T TELL PEOPLE THEY CANNOT PARK ON A PUBLIC STREET AND IT IS FRANKLY A LITTLE BIT CHALLENGING TO IDENTIFY.

UNLESS SOMEONE'S WEARING A SHIRT THAT SAYS, I'M GOING TO THE WILD CENTER WHERE THEY'RE GOING AND WHY THEY'RE PARKING THERE. AND IF WE WERE TO DO SO, THAT COULD BECOME PROBLEMATIC, RIGHT? AND SO THERE WAS A SUGGESTION BROUGHT UP TO TALK TO AGNES SCOTT ABOUT, YOU KNOW, PARKING AND COMING UP WITH A PARKING ARRANGEMENT.

I WILL NOTE THAT I HAVE DONE THOSE BEFORE, AND THEY ARE NEVER FREE TO DO AND TO COME UP WITH AND TO NEGOTIATE.

AND THE WILD CENTER AGAIN, IS A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION.

AND SO BECAUSE WE HAVE NOT HEARD THAT CONCERN FOR THE CURRENT EVENTS THAT ARE HAPPENING, THAT IS NOT SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE REACHED OUT TO DO.

WHAT WE'VE HAD, WHAT CASEY SAID AT THE PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING, AND WE'VE DISCUSSED INTERNALLY,

[03:30:01]

BUT AT THE MOMENT IT IS NOT A CONCERN AND IT WILL BE AN INCREASED BURDEN AND COST.

I GUESS WHAT I'M HEARING FROM THE COMMUNITY IS, YOU KNOW, MORE THAN DOUBLING THE NUMBER OF EVENTS.

IT'S GOING TO MORE THAN DOUBLE THE AMOUNT OF OPPORTUNITIES TO HAVE PARKING CONCERNS.

SO WE'RE NOT ACTUALLY DOUBLING THE EVENTS AS IF IF YOU DID THIS REZONING, RIGHT, THERE ARE NO RESTRICTIONS.

SO WHAT WE'RE DOING IS WE'RE SAYING WE'RE NOT GOING TO REQUEST A ZONING DESIGNATION THAT WILL ALLOW US TO HAVE THESE EVENTS WITH NO RESTRICTION.

WE'RE PUTTING AN OUTSIDE CAP ON THAT. AND THESE CONDITIONS RUN WITH THE LAND IN PERPETUITY.

AND SO THAT OUTSIDE CAP IS. SO IN 2087, IF SOME FOR SOME REASON THEY WANT THESE 80 EVENTS A YEAR, THEY CAN HAVE THEM WITHOUT GOING BACK BEFORE YOU, THE THE STAFF, THE CURRENT OPERATIONS.

WE'RE NOT PLANNING ON EXPLODING THIS TO 80 TOMORROW, NEXT YEAR OR THE YEAR AFTER, BUT THE CONDITIONS RUN WITH THE LAND IN PERPETUITY UNLESS THEY ARE CHANGED. AND SO WE'RE ALLOWING SPACE FOR GROWTH IN THE LAST 30 YEARS WE'VE GOTTEN TO 33 EVENTS A YEAR.

MAYBE IN THE NEXT 30 YEARS WE'LL GET TO 60. AND 30 YEARS AFTER THAT, MAYBE WE'LL GET TO 80.

BUT IT IS JUST FUTURE PROOFING. SO, I MEAN, THAT'S NOT WHAT WE'RE DEBATING HERE TODAY.

I MEAN, WHAT WE'RE DEBATING IS A CHANGE THAT WOULD ALLOW THERE TO BE 80 EVENTS OR I'M CONFUSED LIKE 80 VERSUS 100.

WELL, I THINK THE CHANGE IS RESTRICTING THE 80 EVENTS BECAUSE THE ACTUAL ZONING CHANGE WOULD ALLOW UNLIMITED EVENTS.

WELL, BUT THE ARGUMENT BEING CURRENTLY IT'S NOT ALLOWED.

AND SO WE'RE I THINK THAT'S WHY WE'RE HERE IS BECAUSE THE RENTALS, NOT NECESSARILY THE EVENTS, BUT LET'S EQUATE THE RENTALS WITH THE EVENTS A LITTLE BIT. I SHARE MR. ARNOLD PERSPECTIVE ON THE PARKING. I AM CONCERNED THOUGH ABOUT THE NOISE AND I AM CURIOUS ABOUT LIKE THE COMMERCIAL REDEVELOPMENT ASPECT OF IT.

AGAIN, YOU KNOW, I MEAN, IT PROBABLY WILL CHANGE IN A HUNDRED YEARS, BUT WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT COULD LAST FOR 100 YEARS.

AND SO WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN FOR 100 YEARS WOULD HAPPEN WITHIN THE CONSTRAINT OF THIS.

IT IS LARGELY RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD. IT IS A RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD, I SHOULD SAY.

AND SO WHAT, WHAT I'M STRUGGLING WITH IS MORE OF THE NOISE IMPACT ON THE ADJACENT NEIGHBORHOOD NEIGHBORS, ASSUMING THAT THERE ARE GOING TO BE 80 EVENTS A YEAR WHERE THERE COULD BE THAT NOISE.

AND SO I'D LIKE TO FIND SOME KIND OF RESOLUTION IF WE ARE GOING TO APPROVE THIS, THAT WOULD ENSURE THAT THE RESIDENTS WOULD NOT HAVE TO PUT UP WITH NOISE 80 TIMES A YEAR.

SO THE THE PRIVATE EVENTS WHICH ARE THE, THE A D THOSE PRIVATE EVENTS CANNOT HAVE AMPLIFIED MUSIC AT ALL.

SO. WAIT, WAIT, COULD THEY CANNOT HAVE IT INSIDE.

THEY THEY CAN'T HAVE AMPLIFIED MUSIC AT ALL. IT SAYS PRIVATE, I'M SORRY.

OUTDOOR. THEY CANNOT HAVE OUTDOOR AMPLIFIED. BUT THEY COULD HAVE INDOOR. THEY COULD HAVE INDOOR AMPLIFIED MUSIC. AND THEN REGARDLESS OF WHAT'S GOING ON, THE NOISE ORDINANCE APPLIES WHEN YOU ASK WHO'S ENFORCING THAT.

THESE ARE ZONING CONDITIONS. SO ZONING ENFORCEMENT COULD ENFORCE THEM.

AND THE IF IF THESE CONDITIONS ARE NOT FOLLOWED, YOU KNOW, THERE'S THERE'S A PROCESS FOR CITATIONS, BUT ULTIMATELY THE CITY HAS THE ABILITY TO PULL A CERTIFICATE OF OCCUPANCY.

AND THAT'S HOW THEY'RE ENFORCED. ON TOP OF THAT, WE WILL ENFORCE THEM.

BECAUSE AGAIN, WE HEAR THE CONCERNS AND WE APPRECIATE THEM AND WE'RE NOT TRYING TO SKIRT THEM.

THESE ARE CONDITIONS THAT WE RECOMMENDED BECAUSE THESE ARE CONDITIONS THAT WE BELIEVE THAT WE CAN ALSO ENFORCE.

AND TO YOUR POINT, AND ALSO TO HELP WITH THAT ENFORCEMENT.

OUR EVENT CONTRACTS DO REQUIRE THE EVENT COORDINATOR TO BE ON SITE.

WOULD THAT BE A STAFF PERSON OF THE WILD CENTER? YES, THAT THAT'S WHAT I'M CONCERNED ABOUT BECAUSE ULTIMATELY PEOPLE ARE GIVEN.

IT HAS BEEN MY EXPERIENCE IN OAKHURST THAT PEOPLE ARE GIVEN RESTRICTIONS AND THEY DON'T ALWAYS FOLLOW THOSE RESTRICTIONS.

AND SO THEN IT'S UP TO THE NEIGHBORS TO CALL THE NON-EMERGENCY NUMBER, AND THE POLICE DEPARTMENT COMES OUT AND THEY TELL THEM POLITELY TO TURN THE MUSIC DOWN.

AND THEN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT LEAVES, AND THEN THE MUSIC IS RATCHETED BACK UP, AND THEN SOMEONE HAS TO CALL OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT THAT'S, YOU KNOW, SMALL BUT MIGHTY AGAIN. AND SO THAT'S WHAT I'M WORRIED ABOUT.

I'M NOT WORRIED ABOUT WHAT'S DOCUMENTED. I'M NOT WORRIED ABOUT WHAT'S BEING PROMISED.

I'M NOT WORRIED ABOUT THE BEST INTENTIONS OF THE STAFF AND THE BOARD. I'M WORRIED ABOUT EVENT RENTERS INTENTIONALLY VIOLATING THE RULES AND THE DRAIN ON BOTH THE COMMUNITY

[03:35:09]

THIS IS A GREAT PLAN. IF IT'S FOLLOWED TO THE LETTER, I JUST DON'T TRUST PEOPLE THAT MUCH.

SO OUR EVENT COORDINATOR WILL BE ON SITE. THESE CONDITIONS WILL BE INCORPORATED INTO CONTRACTS.

AND SO IF WE HAVE SOMEONE ON SITE WHO IS NOT FOLLOWING THE CONDITIONS, THAT'S A BREACH OF THEIR CONTRACT.

WE CAN SHUT DOWN THEIR EVENT. WE'LL HAVE SOMEONE ON SITE, WE'LL HAVE A PHONE NUMBER SO THAT HOPEFULLY IT'LL BE ON THE WEBSITE SO THAT IF A NEIGHBOR DOES HAVE A CONCERN, THEY CAN CALL WILD CENTER FIRST AND WE CAN DEAL WITH IT.

AND I, AND I DEFINITELY HEAR YOU ABOUT, YOU KNOW, INTENTIONS ARE NOT ALWAYS CARRIED OUT.

BUT WE THINK WE HAVE FORCE BEHIND OUR, OUR, OUR INTENTIONS IN, IN OUR POLICIES.

SO IS THAT A, IS THAT A CONDITION THEN THAT YOU WOULD HAVE TO HAVE SOMEBODY ON SITE.

IS THAT A LEGALLY ENFORCEABLE? WE ARE HAPPY TO ADD THE CONDITION.

IT'S IN OUR CONTRACT CURRENTLY. SO WE'RE HAPPY.

YEAH, IT'S PART OF OUR CONTRACT. SO WE'RE HAPPY TO ADD IT AS A CONDITION.

AND WOULD THAT BE BECAUSE I WOULD BE SUFFICIENT FOR A VOLUNTEER.

NOT NECESSARILY A STAFF PERSON. BUT YOU CAN DO.

NO. I WANT A STAFF PERSON OR A BOARD MEMBER OR I MEAN STAFF PERSON WOULD BE FINE.

OKAY. HOW MANY STAFF DO YOU HAVE? THIS HAS TO BE A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE FUTURE USE RESTRICTIONS.

YES. SO THE FUTURE USE RESTRICTIONS LIMITS THE PROPERTY AS A COMMUNITY AND MARKET GARDEN AS A PRINCIPAL USE.

I WILL NOTE THERE MARKET GARDEN EXCEEDS 5000FT².

OUR 60 DOES NOT ALLOW THAT. NMU DOES WITH ACCESSORY USES TO INCLUDE EDUCATION CENTER AND EVENT SPACE.

OBVIOUSLY THE DISTINCTION THERE IS THEY CANNOT THEN TRANSFORM THE GARDENS TO A FULL TIME EVENT CENTER, RIGHT? AND SO WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE USES ON SITE, THE MAJORITY OF USES THE MAJORITY OF THE DAYS, AND THE MAJORITY OF THE TIME IS A COMMUNITY GARDEN AND A MARKET GARDEN.

AND THEN THE SUPPLEMENTAL USES ARE THE EDUCATION CENTER AND THE EVENT SPACE.

AND THAT IS REFLECTED IN THE FIRST CONDITION.

SO IF THE WILD CENTER LEAVES, IF SOMEONE AT THE WILD CENTER DECIDES WE WANT TO CHANGE HOW THINGS ARE DONE, THAT WILL BE A ZONING VIOLATION. SO IF SOMEONE WERE TO LOOK, FOR WHATEVER REASON, THE WILD CENTER TO.

DO SOMETHING ELSE, I CAN'T IMAGINE AT THIS POINT THE LAND IS SOLD RIGHT.

MARKET GARDEN. THEY WOULD HAVE TO COME BACK BEFORE.

CORRECT. THEY'D HAVE TO APPLY FOR REZONING TO CHANGE THE CONDITIONS. THEY'D HAVE TO HAVE ANOTHER PUBLIC HEARING AT THE PLANNING COMMISSION. ANOTHER PUBLIC HEARING BEFORE YOU ALL.

PICKING UP A COMMENT ALSO. SO ALL EVENTS MUST END BY 10 P.M.

AND THEN YOU DO THE LOAD OUT AFTERWARD, WHICH CAN BE NOISY.

AND IS IT 90 MINUTES? I HEARD 90 MINUTES. YEAH.

FOR 90 MINUTES BEFORE AND AFTER. OKAY. SO LIKE, LIKE AT A WEEKNIGHT OR A SCHOOL NIGHT.

I'M NOT TOO KEEN ON NOISE TILL 1130 AT NIGHT.

SO I ALSO DON'T KNOW IF IT'S SOMETHING WHERE WE WOULD MAKE THAT 9:00 SUNDAY THROUGH THURSDAY IF WE COULD DO SOMETHING LIKE THIS, I KNOW I'M. ARE WE SUPPOSED TO BE DOING THIS? LIKE NITPICKING THIS. OKAY. THANK YOU. I WILL NOTE THAT THAT CONDITION WAS ONE RECOMMENDED BY PLANNING COMMISSION.

BUT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE HAPPY TO TO HEAR. YEAH. I KNOW WHAT YOUR BUSINESS MODEL IS.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOUR EVENTS ARE LOOKING LIKE. BUT IF I'M A RESIDENT, THERE'S A BIG DIFFERENCE BETWEEN 1030 AND 1130 BEFORE THE NOISE STOPS.

ESPECIALLY, YOU KNOW, MY KIDS ARE GETTING UP TO SCHOOL THE NEXT DAY. I MEAN, YEAH, I MEAN, I'M LIKE YOU. I'M IN BED BY TEN. MR. COMMISSIONER ARNOLD.

THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO TELL EVERYONE. NOT TONIGHT.

NICE. COME ON. GEORGE. I DIDN'T SAY, GEORGE. IF I WANTED TO TELL EVERYONE, I WOULD HAVE TOLD THEM.

GOTTA OWN IT. BUT BUT BUT YOUR BUT YOUR POINT IS, YOU KNOW.

SO DISTINGUISH BETWEEN SUNDAY THROUGH THURSDAY AND THEN FRIDAY AND SATURDAY.

FRIDAY. SATURDAY COULD BE TEN 10 P.M.. YEAH. I MEAN, BECAUSE IT'S NOT LIKE THE NOISE STOPS WHEN THE, THE EVENT ENDS. SO UNDER THE CURRENT STRUCTURE, JUST THE LAST QUESTION, HOW MANY EVENTS DOES THE WOW CENTER. NOT PRIVATE RENTALS. HOW MANY EVENTS DO YOU HOST A YEAR ABOUT SEVEN.

[03:40:02]

IF WE'RE TALKING ABOUT PURE FUNDRAISING EVENTS.

SO WE HAVE A MAJOR EVENT THAT WE USUALLY HOLD.

THAT'S THE BEER GARDEN. IT'S THREE HOURS OF AMPLIFIED MUSIC.

AND THEN WE INTRODUCED SIX CONCERTS THIS YEAR.

THEY'RE EACH ONE HOUR LONG FROM SEVEN UNTIL 8 P.M..

AND THEN WE HAVE OTHER EVENTS THAT TAKE PLACE AT THE ORGANIZATION PLANT SALE, SEED SAVERS EXCHANGE.

AND THEN YOU START ADDING IN THE COMMUNITY CLASSES, VOLUNTEER EVENTS, GIRL SCOUT MEETINGS.

SO YOU START DEFINING LIKE, WHAT DO YOU DEFINE? WHAT DO YOU LIMIT AND AMPLIFIED? SO AMPLIFIED WOULD BE.

SO WE GENERALLY, HISTORICALLY, WE WOULD HAVE ONE AMPLIFIED EVENT.

ACTUALLY THAT'S NOT TRUE. EARTH DAY WAS AMPLIFIED.

BEER GARDEN WAS AMPLIFIED, AND WE MIGHT HAVE AN AMPLIFIED EVENT IN THE FALL, BUT THAT WAS RARE.

SO IT WAS IT WAS THAT MANY. AND THEN THE OTHER THE OTHER EVENTS THAT WE HAD.

AND THEN THIS YEAR WE INTRODUCED A SIX CONCERT SERIES, WHICH ARE EACH ONE HOUR LONG, AND THEN NEXT YEAR BEER GARDEN WILL LIKELY RETURN.

SO THAT WOULD BE ANOTHER AMPLIFIED EVENT. SO WITH CONCERT SERIES CONTINUE.

I DON'T KNOW, BUT THEY'RE FUN AND PEOPLE LIKE THEM.

SO THAT'S 6 TO 7 AMPLIFIED EVENTS IN A YEAR. THAT WOULD BE NEW.

AND THOSE TYPICALLY TAKE PLACE AT WHAT TIME. THE CONCERT SERIES ARE FROM SEVEN UNTIL EIGHT.

AND THEN WE CLEAN UP. WE'RE OUT OF THERE BY NINE ON A SATURDAY.

NO. YEAH. ONE IS ON THIS WEDNESDAY BECAUSE IT'S EARTH DAY, BUT USUALLY IT'S ON A SATURDAY AND THEN BEER GARDENS ON A SATURDAY NIGHT AFTERNOON.

AND THAT WAS USUALLY DONE BY DUSK. SO THE THING THAT DRIVES OUR EVENTS OUTSIDE AND THIS INCLUDES RENTALS.

IT'S THE FACT THAT THE SUN SETS AND WE ONLY HAVE THREE STRINGS OF LIGHTS BEHIND THE BUILDING.

SO WHEN THE SUN SETS, THAT MEANS THE PARTY IS OVER AND PEOPLE GO HOME.

AND WE MIGHT HAVE A COUPLE PEOPLE IN THE CORNER HAVING A NICE LITTLE TIME TOGETHER.

LIKE MAYBE NOT THAT KIND OF TIME, BUT TALKING, TALKING TO EACH OTHER OVER.

AND WE'VE HAD THAT. WE'VE HAD THE LITTLE, YOU KNOW, BUT ANYWAY BUT LET ME JUST SAY THAT THE SUN GOING DOWN IS A NATURAL END TO A, TO AN EVENT THAT TAKES PLACE OUTSIDE. AND AND SO THE 10:00 IS TO RESPECT ANYBODY THAT MAY BE USING THE BUILDING.

AND IF SOMEBODY IS USING THE BUILDING, THERE'S PROBABLY VERY LITTLE PACK OUT THAT'S TAKING PLACE WHEN THEY'RE USING THE BUILDING BECAUSE THEY'RE USING OUR STUFF THAT WE HAVE IN THE BUILDING TABLES, CHAIRS, PLATES, ETC..

SO THAT'S THE 10:00 REQUEST. BUT USUALLY THE SUN WILL DRIVE THE END OF AN OUTDOOR EVENT.

AND I FEEL LIKE I KNOW THE QUESTION TO THIS, BUT YOU'RE NOT GOING TO ADD ANY EXTERIOR LIGHTING.

NO, NO NO NO. AND WE AND WE WOULD HAVE, I MEAN, WHEN WE DID THE RENOVATION, WE WOULD HAVE ADDED THEM AT THAT TIME, BUT WE DID NOT. WE JUST ADDED THE STRING LIGHTS BECAUSE THEY WERE HISTORIC AND WE LOVE THEM BEHIND THE BUILDING.

BUT OTHERWISE WHEN THAT SUN GOES DOWN, IT GARDENS DARK AND PEOPLE CLEAR OUT.

BUT AGAIN, WHAT ARE WE ALLOWING? AND SO JUST RIGHT.

YES. AND SO I THINK TIME IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN THE LIGHT.

YEAH I AGREE. OH NO I TOTALLY AGREE. JUST FOR KICKS AND GIGGLES THE SOLARIUM CONCERT START AT WHAT TIME AND END AT WHAT TIME? 7 TO 9. SEVEN AND NINE. NO RESTRICTIONS ON NOISE PER SE.

RIGHT. WITHIN THE NOISE ORDINANCE. YEAH. SO A COMMERCIAL DISTRICT I MEAN I WOULD IT'S IT'S ON A COMMERCIAL.

WELL I'M JUST SAYING, IF IT'S APPLES AND APPLES AT THAT POINT.

I MEAN, SO TYPICALLY JAZZ NIGHTS, A LOT OF THEY'RE MILDLY AMPLIFIED, RIGHT? TAKES OVER A WIDER SPACE. AND THERE ARE RESIDENCIES DESPITE THAT, DESPITE THE FACT THAT'S A COMMERCIAL DISTRICT, THERE ARE HOUSES ACROSS THE STREET. YEAH. I CAN HEAR IT.

I MEAN, LIKE A HALF A MILE AWAY. IT'S NOT THE MUSIC THAT'S NOISY.

YEAH. THAT'S RIGHT. LIKE I SAID, I'M JUST TRYING TO PUT THE CONTEXT OF SHOULD THIS HAPPEN.

YOU KNOW, APPLES AND APPLES. SO BUT IT IS AMPLIFIED ENOUGH THAT I CAN HEAR IT.

I DON'T KNOW, I'M A QUARTER OR A HALF MILE AWAY.

OKAY. WELL, AND I LIKE IT. I LIKE THAT I CAN HEAR IT, BUT BUT JUST TO BE CLEAR ON THE POINT OF AMPLIFICATION, MAKE SURE I UNDERSTAND THIS.

THE. RENTAL EVENTS, THEY'RE NOT PERMITTING AMPLIFICATION OUTDOORS IS THAT EXCEPT FOR LIKE A HANDHELD MICROPHONE. CORRECT.

OKAY. SO WHAT ARE THE PROBLEMS THAT WE'VE HAD BEFORE IN THE IN EVENT RENTALS THAT'S IN A NEIGHBORHOOD DISTRICT IN OAKHURST IS INDOOR

[03:45:06]

SO RESPONSE TO THAT. WELL, I THINK THE NOISE ORDINANCE THAT YOU ALL RECENTLY PASSED IS, IS VERY STRONG IN THAT, YOU KNOW, WHERE YOU HAVE TO MEASURE THE SOUND.

IF YOU HEAR SOMETHING A HALF MILE AWAY, IT LIKELY FAR EXCEEDS 65 DBAS AT THE SITE.

I CAN HEAR ANOTHER CONDITION COMING AN INDOOR METER.

SO THE ONUS GOES BACK TO WILD CENTER AS OPPOSED TO NEIGHBORS CALLING.

BECAUSE I THINK IT HAS TO BE. I THINK IT HAS TO BE.

OUR SPACE DOES NOT FIT A DJ INSIDE. WE'VE BEEN INSIDE.

YEAH. YOU ACT LIKE WE DON'T LIVE HERE. WE'VE BEEN IN THE BUILDING.

WE CUT THE RIBBON. BUT AGAIN, IT'S NOT Y'ALL.

IT'S RENTERS. RENTERS WHO DO NOT LIVE IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD, WHO DO NOT LIVE IN OUR COMMUNITY, WHO WANT TO HAVE A WEDDING AND ARE TRYING TO MINIMIZE BUDGET AND MAXIMIZE EFFECT.

IT'S NOT YOU. IT'S THEM. RIGHT. AND THE TROLLEY BARN CONCEPT.

WE'RE HAPPY WITH THE INDOOR METER. MONITOR. YEAH.

I THINK WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO SAY IS WE'RE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WAYS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ADDRESS THE COMMUNITY CONCERNS, BECAUSE YES, WALSH CENTER IS A BIG PART OF OUR COMMUNITY.

THE EXTRA RENTALS, YOU KNOW, LOOKING AT, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE GOING TO MAKE AN EXTRA 20,000 A YEAR.

IS THE JUICE WORTH THE WORK? IS THE SQUEEZE WORTH THE JUICE, JUICE OR WHATEVER? YOU KNOW, I WOULD ARGUE IF YOU HAD $100 AND NOW YOU HAVE $80, YOU WILL FEEL THE LOSS OF THAT $20.

AND SO IT MAY OR MAY NOT MEAN THAT THE WILD CENTER SHUTS DOWN, BUT IT COULD MEAN THAT WHAT'S OFFERED AT THE WILD CENTER CHANGES BECAUSE AGAIN, ALL OF THE MONEY IS GOING TOWARDS OPERATIONS. OF COURSE, OF COURSE.

AND IN THE NONPROFIT WORLD, IT CAN MEAN A STAFF PERSON OR A PART OF A STAFF PERSON.

AS I'VE BEEN A PART OF NONPROFITS FOR ABOUT 17 YEARS, I LOVE WHAT I'VE HEARD SO FAR.

THAT'S OKAY. YES, PLEASE. I'M JUST GOING TO SUM UP THE CHANGES TO THE CONDITIONS THAT I'VE HEARD SO FAR.

ONE, THERE'S NO CHANGE. TWO, THERE'S NO CHANGE.

WILD CENTER FOLKS. LET ME KNOW IF I'VE GOT THAT WRONG.

NUMBER THREE ACTUALLY, TO BE CONSISTENT WITH WHAT THE WILD CENTER FOLKS HAVE OFFERED THIS EVENING.

THE PRIVATE EVENT RENTALS CANNOT EXCEED EIGHT EVENTS PER MONTH RATHER THAN TEN OR 80 EVENTS PER YEAR, AND NOT MORE THAN 100 GUESTS PER EVENT. SO THE CHANGE THERE IS FROM 10 TO 8 BUT NOT EXCEEDING 80 EVENTS A YEAR.

FOUR THERE'S NO CHANGE. NUMBER FIVE YOU DON'T SEE OR ARE YOU GOING.

NO, WE'RE GOING WITH THERE. I'M LOOKING, I'M LOOKING AT THE, THE ORDINANCE THAT THAT YOU ALL WERE PRESENTED.

LET'S SEE ALL EVENTS EVENTS ON FRIDAY AND SATURDAY NIGHTS SHALL END BY 10 P.M. AND 9 P.M. SUNDAY THROUGH THURSDAY.

THAT WAS FIVE, RIGHT? NUMBER FIVE. YEAH. YES.

09:00. IS THAT WHAT YOU GOT? 9:00 SUNDAY THROUGH THURSDAYS AND THEN TEN AND 10 P.M..

YES. OKAY. FRIDAY. SATURDAY. NO CHANGE TO SEVEN.

NO CHANGE TO EIGHT. NO CHANGE TO NINE. AND THEN I BELIEVE I HEARD THE RECOMMENDATION TO ADD A WILD CENTER STAFF MEMBER SHALL REMAIN ON PREMISE FOR THE DURATION OF PRIVATE, PRIVATE EVENT RENTALS AND WILL MONITOR DECIBEL LEVELS.

I THINK IT WAS THE INSTALLATION OF A DECIBEL MONITOR.

SO IT WOULD BE AN ADDENDUM TO NINE. NO, NO. WELL, THEN THE INSTALLATION OF A MONTH.

ISN'T THAT WHAT YOU SAID, MAYOR? THE INSTALLATION OF A MONITOR INSIDE THE BUILDING.

AND THAT. SO FOR NUMBER TEN THERE'S GOING TO BE A STAFF MEMBER.

AND IT ALSO GOES ON TO SAY THAT THAT STAFF MEMBER WILL MONITOR DECIBEL LEVELS.

IT WAS HIS POINT. YEAH. JUST. AND SO IN ORDER TO BE ENFORCED, THAT STAFF MEMBER WOULD HAVE TO HAVE THE RIGHT DEVICE. SO SO HOW PRESCRIPTIVE DO WE WANT TO GET?

[03:50:03]

YES. I MEAN, YOU WILL MONITOR DECIBEL LEVELS WITH.

WELL, I HAD INDOOR INDOOR NOISE METER WRITTEN DOWN, ALTHOUGH I AM NOT AN ACOUSTIC EXPERT.

SO I MAY NOT BE THE SCIENTIFIC THING. LIKE, OKAY, A CELL PHONE WITH AN APP LEGALLY ENFORCEABLE OR SOMETHING.

BUT THAT WOULD MEAN THAT IT, IT WOULD MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF OUR NOISE ORDINANCE FOR ENFORCEMENT PURPOSES BY NOT SAYING IT PROPERLY SOUNDS RIGHT. LEGALLY ENFORCEABLE WITH THE LEGALLY ENFORCEABLE MEASURE.

YEAH. WE HAVE A NOISE ORDINANCE. RIGHT. SO THAT'S THAT'S THE MECHANISM.

YEAH. I MEAN, I, I, I SAID ALL THOSE THINGS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE COULD ADDRESS THE COMMUNITY CONCERNS THAT WE'VE HEARD AND NOT JUST, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, WORDS DO MATTER. AND SO THE ORDINANCE WILL MATTER.

YEAH. HOW ABOUT THE YOU ALSO TALKED, MR. MAYOR, ABOUT THE NUMBER OF EVENTS I'VE HAD AMPLIFIED MUSIC OUTDOORS.

WELL, REALLY, THOSE WERE ALL JUST THE WILD CENTER. THOSE WERE NO PRIVATE.

ARE WE GOING TO LIMIT THE WILD CENTER TO SEVEN EVENTS WITH AMPLIFIED MUSIC OUTDOORS AMPLIFIED? THAT'S THAT'S A NEW POINT. THAT WAS, WELL, I, SO I, I, SO THEY COULD JUST DO AS MANY AS THEY WANT TO.

AND SO WE'RE FINE WITH THAT. I THINK THAT WAS ALSO A FEW CONCERNS THAT WAS RAISED, BUT WERE RAISED BY INDIVIDUALS WHO WERE SPEAKING.

THEY WERE THINKING THAT WILD CENTER COULD DO AS MANY AS THEIR OWN PRIVATELY HOSTED EVENTS AS THEY WANTED TO WITH NO RESTRICTION.

SO IF IT WOULD ADD COMFORT TO PUT THE RESTRICTION IN PLACE.

I MEAN, I THINK THAT SEVEN IS ACTUALLY A LITTLE RIGID.

OKAY. I THINK, YOU KNOW, I DON'T SEE WHY THEY COULDN'T HOST ONE OF THEM A MONTH.

I THINK, I MEAN NOT TO EXCEED ONE A MONTH. YEAH.

I MEAN, SEVEN JUST SEEMS REALLY, REALLY. I WAS JUST CHOOSING THE NUMBER THAT ACTUALLY HAPPENED.

SO YEAH, IF I MAY, THERE WAS A SUGGESTION FROM THE COMMUNITY TO LIMIT IT TO 12 PER YEAR, WHICH I THINK WE'RE COMFORTABLE WITH.

PER MONTH RESTRICTION OR 12. YEAH. I MEAN, BUT JUST THINKING ABOUT THAT, IF YOU WANTED TO HAVE A MONTHLY RECURRING SOMETHING IN THE FUTURE THAT GIVES ENOUGH SPACE TO DO THAT, OR IF YOU DON'T TIME RESTRICTION ON THAT TOO.

I THINK IT ADHERES TO THE TIME. YEAH. IT FALLS WITHIN WHAT WE'VE ALREADY STIPULATED THE WEEKDAYS VERSUS WEEKENDS TO.

CAPTURE EVERYBODY'S CONCERNS ACCURATELY. I WANT TO DO JUST AN OBSERVATION ABOUT THE EVOLUTION OF SOMETHING WITHIN THE COMMUNITY, BECAUSE IT IS A RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITY, AND IT STARTED OFF AS A COMMUNITY GARDEN AND THE ORGANIZATION HAS EVOLVED LIKE COMMISSIONER COURT MAYER, LIKE MAYOR. I HAVE A LOT OF EXPERIENCE WITH NONPROFITS TOO.

AND SO IT EVOLVES AND THERE IS THIS INHERENT TENSION WITH THE COMMUNITY IN WHICH IT EXISTS.

AND THE NONPROFIT IS NOT ALWAYS GOING TO BE ALIGNED WITH THE COMMUNITY WITHIN WHICH IT EXISTS.

AND WE, AS A GOVERNING BODY HAVE PUT REGULATIONS ON WHAT CAN OPERATE WITHIN THERE.

AND SO IT JUST PUTS US IN A TOUGH SPOT. WHEN YOU HAVE A BELOVED ORGANIZATION LIKE THE WILD CENTER IN CONFLICT WITH THE COMMUNITY OR SOME OF THE RESIDENTS NEAR IT, BECAUSE OF THE EVOLUTION OF THAT NONPROFIT, WITH EXPANDING BEYOND THE CONSTRAINTS OF WHAT SHOULD BE HAPPENING IN THAT COMMUNITY.

SO I THINK THIS IS A GOOD BALANCE. BUT I ALSO THINK THERE WAS A KIND OF A HARD THING TO TO GET TO.

AND I, YOU KNOW, I, I APPROVE IT WITH A CERTAIN LEVEL OF DISCOMFORT BECAUSE OF THAT OR I HAVEN'T VOTED YET, SO I. I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU SAYING THAT. I THINK AS NONPROFITS GROW, THEY'RE ABLE TO HELP MORE PEOPLE AND FULFILL THEIR MISSION EVEN GREATER. I TOTALLY RESPECT OUR NEIGHBORS WHO HAVE BEEN HERE SINCE THE 1980S.

IT PROBABLY WAS A VERY QUIET NEIGHBORHOOD BACK IN THE 1980S.

WHEN I MOVED IN IN 2004, IT WAS NOT SO QUIET.

SO. ALL RIGHT, SO. I DON'T THINK I NEED TO READ ALL THOSE AGAIN.

ALSO, THERE WAS CONCERN ABOUT THE COMMERCIAL DESIGNATION AND WHAT KIND OF DEVELOPMENT COULD TAKE PLACE THERE IN THE FUTURE IN TERMS OF WHAT THAT WOULD HAPPEN.

AND SO I WAS WONDERING IF WE COULD LIKE, SAY, PUT A HEIGHT RESTRICTION OF 20FT FROM THE PROPERTY.

NO, BECAUSE IT GOES AGAINST THE. THERE'S SOME STUFF.

AND REGARDLESS, WHATEVER WANTS TO BE WHATEVER SOMEONE IN THE FUTURE, THEY WOULD HAVE TO COME BACK, HAS TO COME BACK. EVERYTHING REVERTS UPON SALE.

I MEAN, THERE'S AND I THINK THAT'S I THINK THAT'S AND THEN THERE HAS TO COME.

OKAY. THE CONDITION, THE FIRST CONDITION WHICH RESTRICTS THE USE ON THE LAND, RUNS WITH THE LAND.

OKAY. SO IF SOMEONE WERE TO BUY IT AND THEY DON'T WANT A COMMUNITY GARDEN AND A MARKET GARDEN WITH EDUCATION CENTER AND EVENT SPACE,

[03:55:01]

CORRECT. OKAY. JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE WE ADDRESS THAT.

ANY OTHER ADD ONS THOUGHTS, CONCERNS. SO THERE ARE THREE DIFFERENT ORDINANCES. SO I'M PROBABLY GOING TO NEED A MOTION FOR EACH ONE FOR EACH ONE, AS AMENDED.

AS AMENDED. AS AMENDED. EACH ONE IS AMENDED WITH THE SAME CONDITIONS.

IDENTICAL AMENDMENT IN EACH ONE. CORRECT. SO THE THREE PROPERTIES, WHICH WILL SOON BE ONE I SEE.

CORRECT. OKAY. SO MOTION TO APPROVE ORDINANCE 0-26-Z-XX WITH THE. CAN I JUST SAY WITH THE AMENDMENTS WITH WITH THE WITH CONDITIONS AS AMENDED, WITH CONDITIONS AS AMENDED. OKAY. SECOND. MOTION BEEN MADE AND SECONDED.

ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? THIS IS A ROLL CALL VOTE, COMMISSIONER CORMIER.

HOW DO YOU VOTE? I COMMISSIONER ARNOLD I COMMISSIONER DUSENBURY I MAYOR PRO TEM FRANK I CHAIR VOTES AYE.

ORDINANCE 0-26-Z-XX IS APPROVED WITH THE ADDITIONAL AMENDMENTS.

ALRIGHT, NEXT UP IS ORDINANCE. OH, CONDITIONS.

EXCUSE ME. ORDINANCE 0-26-Z-YY. CAN I GET A MOTION FOR THAT? MOTION TO APPROVE WITH THE AMENDED CONDITIONS.

MOTION BEEN MADE AND SECONDED. THIS IS ANOTHER ROLL CALL. VOTE. COMMISSIONER COURT MAYER I COMMISSIONER ARNOLD I COMMISSIONER DUSENBURY.

HI MAYOR PRO TEM FRANK I AND CHAIR VOTES AYE.

THE ORDINANCE IS PASSED. NEXT UP, ORDINANCE 0-26-Z-ZZ.

MOTION TO APPROVE WITH AMENDED CONDITIONS. THERE.

A SECOND, SECOND MOTION HAS BEEN MADE AND SECONDED.

ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? AGAIN ANOTHER ROLL CALL VOTE.

COMMISSIONER COURT MAYER I COMMISSIONER ARNOLD AYE COMMISSIONER DUSENBURY.

AYE. MAYOR PRO TEM FRANK AYE AND CHAIR VOTES I AND ORDINANCE DASH O-26-ZZZ IS ALSO PASSED.

THANK YOU FOR THAT. THANK YOU. WOW. SENATOR. NEXT UP, I WILL ASK THE PUBLIC TO COME AND COMMIT COMMENT ON AGENDA ACTION ITEMS.

[V. Public Comment on Agenda Action Items.]

WE HAVE THE GLEN LAKE POOL BONDING REPAIR PROJECT, AND WE HAVE THE WEST HOWARD AVENUE PLANTING.

IF YOU CARE TO SPEAK ON ANY OF THOSE AND HAVE SIGNED UP ALREADY.

MISS ARNOLD WILL TAKE YOUR NAMES IN THE ORDER IN WHICH THEY WERE PRESENTED.

SAME PROCEDURE AS BEFORE. AND I BELIEVE THAT THE ONLY AGENDA ITEM THAT I HAVE FOLKS SIGNED UP FOR IS RELATED TO THE HISTORIC DISTRICT.

SO WE'LL JUST WE'LL TAKE THOSE. AND THEN IF THERE ARE SPEAKERS ON THE OTHER EXCITING ITEMS THEN WE'LL, ALSO THAT WE'LL STILL LIMIT THE COMMENT FOR THOSE TWO.

SO WE'RE GOING TO START WITH DORIS JOHNSON. AND THEN NEXT WILL BE WANDA WATERS.

MISS JOHNSON. SORRY WE HAD TO HAVE YOU WAIT SO LONG.

AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE. ARE YOU GOING TO PAY FOR THIS? IN THREE MINUTES WE WILL SEE. OKAY. GOOD EVENING.

MY NAME IS DORIS JOHNSON. I RESIDE AT FIVE, SEVEN, THREE, NINE HUNTERS CHASE COURT IN LITHONIA, GEORGIA, 30038. I'M SPEAKING TO YOU THIS EVENING ON BEHALF OF THE BEACON HILL ELDERS IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE DECATUR DAY ORGANIZERS AND THE BEACON HILL GRASSROOTS COALITION.

I AM SPECIFICALLY SPEAKING ABOUT THE ORDINANCE BEFORE YOU.

WE DO HAVE OTHER AREAS OF CONCERN THAT SOME OF THE OTHER SPEAKERS MAY WELL TALK ABOUT AS THEY COME UP AND STUFF.

BUT RIGHT NOW, AND I JUST WANT TO MENTION THOSE TOPIC WISE BEING THE ORDINANCE ITSELF, THE HISTORIC DISTRICT, THE PRESERVATION OF THE LAND WITHIN THE DISTRICT, ALSO HAVING AN ARCHEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF THE AREA, THE TOTAL DISTRICT, AND THEN TWO, TALKING ABOUT REPARATIONS.

NOW, YOU MIGHT THINK THESE THINGS DON'T HAVE ONE THING TO DO WITH THE OTHER.

[04:00:02]

SO FOR THE RECORD, I JUST WANT TO BE CLEAR THAT I'M SPEAKING ABOUT THE ORDINANCE ITSELF AS PRESENTED TO YOU BY THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION ESTABLISHING THE BEACON HILL HISTORIC DISTRICT.

THAT ORDINANCE NUMBER 0-26-Z AS IN ZEBRA DASH A AS IN APPLE, DASH A AS IN APPLE.

I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE SAME THING, BECAUSE ALL MY COMMENTS ARE PREDICATED ON WHAT I READ AS THE ORDINANCE BEFORE YOU.

NOW I'M DELIGHTED AND I'M EXCITED. AND I'M ALSO GRATEFUL TO BE AT THIS PIVOTAL POINT IN THE HISTORIC DISTRICT DESIGNATION WHERE YOU, THE CITY COMMISSIONERS, THE ELECTED BODY REPRESENTING PAST AND PRESENT RESIDENTS OF THIS CITY. YOU GET TO VOTE AND YOU GET TO MAKE THE BEACON HILL HISTORIC DISTRICT A REALITY.

THE HISTORIC DISTRICT WILL BE THE FIRST AND ONLY HISTORIC DISTRICT IN THE CITY OF DECATUR THAT SPECIFICALLY RECOGNIZES THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF FORMERLY ENSLAVED AFRICAN AMERICANS WHO CREATED THE BEACON HILL COMMUNITY.

IT ALSO WILL HONOR THE LIFE, HISTORY, AND LEGACY OF BLACK RESIDENTS AND BLACK OWNED BUSINESSES THAT THRIVED IN BEACON HILL THROUGH THE LATE 1960S, ONLY TO BE FORCIBLY REMOVED AND REPLACED DISPLACED MANY RENOWNED FORMER RESIDENTS OF THE CITY OF DECATUR.

THE BUILDERS, THE BUSINESSES. WHAT THIS HISTORIC DISTRICT WILL DO FOR US IS THAT IT WILL OPENLY AND VISIBLY DISPLAY DECATUR'S HIDDEN HISTORY OF ITS FORMER AND CURRENT BLACK RESIDENTS.

IT WOULD FULFILL ONE OF THE GOALS IN YOUR OWN DOWNTOWN PLAN FOR HIGH QUALITY OPEN SPACES DOWNTOWN FOR DECATUR RESIDENTS AND VISITORS TO ENJOY. IT WOULD SECURE THE LAST REMAINING GREEN SPACE IN DOWNTOWN DECATUR, WHERE THE LEGACY BEACON HILL RESIDENCE GROUNDS THAT WE CONSIDERED SACRED GROUNDS.

YOUR TIME IS. IT WOULD PRESERVE. IT IS OKAY. COULD I MAKE ONE LAST STATEMENT? DO YOU THINK I QUICK. OKAY. MY STATEMENT IS THE ONLY THING IN THIS ORDINANCE.

AND WHAT? WE'RE ASKING YOU TO VOTE YES, TO ADOPT THE ORDINANCE.

AND THERE'S ONE SPECIFIC THING IN THAT. ARE WE ASKING IS THAT THE LAW BE FOLLOWED AND THE PROCESS FOR BUILDING, DEVELOPING AND EVERYTHING IN THIS HISTORIC DISTRICT BE FOLLOWED TO THE LAW AND THAT IT BE DONE WITHOUT FEAR OR FAVOR TO ANY INDIVIDUAL OR INSTITUTION OR ENTITY GROUP, AND THE ONE EXCEPTION IT MAKES TO NOT HAVING TO GET SOME KIND OF INPUT OR APPROVAL IS FOR THE CITY OF DECATUR AND DEKALB COUNTY THAT ARE EXEMPT FROM GETTING ANY CERTIFICATE OF APPROPRIATENESS OR OF THE COE.

AND I WOULD JUST ASK JUST TO FOLLOW THE LAW, GIVE US THAT OPPORTUNITY TO LET THE PROCESS TAKE PLACE.

WE FOLLOWED IT, PARTICIPATED IN EVERY ASPECT WE CAN, GIVING YOU ALL THE INFORMATION THAT WAS ASKED.

AND NOW WE'RE ASKING YOU TO DO YOUR PART. MAKE THIS A REALITY FOR US AND LET'S SAVE THIS LAND AND THIS SPACE AND TALK ABOUT BLACK HISTORY FOR ALL GENERATIONS TO COME. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT IS MISS WATERS.

AND AFTER MISS WATERS IS LYNN FARMER.

HER NAME IS WANDA WATERS. I'M AT 1031 JEFFERSON DRIVE IN CONYERS.

I'M DEEPLY ROOTED IN THIS CAUSE I'M A MEMBER OF THE ORGANIZERS FOR DECATUR DAY, MY LEGACY LEGACY DESCENDANT, THE BLACK HISTORY BEACON HILL, BLACK HISTORY, REPARATIONS TASK FORCE, AND THE COALITION.

SO I WANTED TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT THAT LAND AND REPARATIONS, THAT LAND BEING 346 WEST TRINITY PLACE.

WHEN WE LOOK BACK OVER OUR CONTINUOUS EFFORT TO PRESERVE THIS ONE LAST PIECE OF LAND THAT HOLDS THE HISTORY OF THE INDIGENOUS MUSCOGEE INDIAN NATION AND OUR ENSLAVED AFRICAN AMERICANS AND MY PERSONAL DESCENDANTS, THIS IS JUST SIMPLY A CRY FOR RESPECT.

THERE'S BEEN SO MUCH DISRESPECT IN THE PAST, WHICH ACTUALLY LED TO THE DISPLACEMENT OF THE AFRICAN AMERICAN FAMILIES.

[04:05:06]

AND WE TRULY APPRECIATE THAT BECAUSE THIS CITY, THIS BOARD, FORMALLY ACKNOWLEDGED AND PASSED A HISTORIC REPARATION RESOLUTION IN 2025 AFTER READING THAT IN ITS ENTIRETY. THAT RESOLUTION WAS THE FIRST TIME I EVER FELT RESPECTED AS A CITIZEN IN THE CITY OF DECATUR. GROWING UP HERE IN A CITY THAT'S TOTALLY THAT WAS TOTALLY SEGREGATED.

NOW, YOU KNOW, IT'S 1953. IT WAS ON THE BRINK OF INTEGRATION AND SEGREGATION, BUT COMING.

BUT LIVING IN A, IN A, IN A COMMUNITY WHERE EVERYTHING WAS SEGREGATED FROM SCHOOLS TO CHURCHES TO EATING AT THE COUNTER AT WOOLWORTH'S, NOT BEING ALLOWED TO TRY ON CLOTHES AND BELKS DEPARTMENT STORE DRINKING COLORED WATER IN THE DEKALB COUNTY COURTHOUSE AND LEARNING FROM OVERUSED BOOKS THAT WAS PASSED DOWN FROM THE WHITE SCHOOLS TO OUR SCHOOLS.

NONE OF THIS MADE US FEEL LIKE WE WERE RESPECTED CITIZENS, BUT THE RESOLUTION DID MAKE US FEEL GOOD.

I WAS SO HAPPY ABOUT THAT RESOLUTION THAT I JOINED THE REPARATIONS TASK FORCE, WHICH I CO-CHAIR.

I DO MY PART TO AVOID THAT. THE THAT FOR OUR REAL HISTORY, KEEP IT FROM BEING STRIPPED FROM THE RECORDS.

I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT IT'S DOCUMENTED BY THE ELDERS AND THE DESCENDANTS WHO LIVE HERE, THAT THE HISTORY IS SHARED CORRECTLY AND NOT WORDED INCORRECTLY BY SOME STUDENTS WHO PROBABLY DOESN'T EVEN KNOW WHERE THE CITY OF DECATUR IS.

SOMEBODY THAT LIVES IN KENNESAW. PRESERVING THIS SACRED GROUND IS EDUCATIONAL.

WE'RE NOT AGAINST A FACILITY FOR EDUCATION, BUT THEY HAVE OTHER OPTIONS.

WE DON'T HAVE ANY OTHER OPTIONS. THIS IS THE LAST GREEN SPACE LEFT THE LAST SACRED SPACE.

THAT MEANS SO MUCH TO US. SO HERE WE ARE AGAIN IN 2026 AND IT STILL FEELS THE SAME.

WE FEEL FORGOTTEN AND PUSHED TO THE SIDE. ACKNOWLEDGMENT TIME IS WATERS TIME, RIGHT? THIS LAST THING I'LL SAY THEN REAL QUICK IS THAT RESPECTFULLY, WE'RE ASKING YOU TO PLEASE URGE THE VOTE TO PRESERVE THE LAND SO THAT WE CAN KNOW THAT YOU DID. OUR COMMUNITY IS WATCHING, AND WE'RE LISTENING TO MAKE SURE THAT YOUR ACTIONS SPEAK FOR THE WORDS YOU SAID.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT IS LYNN FARMER AND THEN CAROL BURGESS.

MY NAME IS LYNN FARMER AND I LIVE AT 540 MCCOY STREET.

I'VE SPOKEN BEFORE TO CITY AND HISTORICAL COMMISSION MEETING ON THIS ISSUE, AND I COME AGAIN SUPPORTING THE BEACON HILL ELDERS APPLICATION FOR HISTORIC DESIGNATION. CONSERVING THE ENTIRE GREEN SPACE FOR HISTORIC COMMUNITY AND EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES FREE OF ANY ECLC BUILDING.

MANY QUESTIONS HAVE ARISEN CONCERNING THE PROCEDURES, COSTS AND PROFITS TIED TO THIS ISSUE.

WHO IS BEING REPRESENTED OR MISREPRESENTED? WHO REALLY GAINS DIDN'T MATTER WHOSE PROPERTY IT WAS WHEN IT WAS TAKEN FROM THE INDIGENOUS PEOPLE OR THE MULTIPLE TIMES FROM LATER AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITIES.

THE LEGAL ARGUMENTS OF POSSESSION PALE IN COMPARISON TO THE MORAL, ETHICAL AND SPIRITUAL IMPERATIVE.

I ASKED THE CITY COMMISSION TO HONOR AND SUPPORT THE BEACON HILL ELDERS, REQUEST, SUPPORT THE EQUITY AND EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION WITH WHAT CAN BE DONE NOW, AS OPPOSED TO WAITING FOR A PROPOSED BUILDING IN 2028.

SUPPORT AND CONDUCT A RECOMMENDED ARCHEOLOGICAL SURVEY.

SUPPORT HOLDING A PUBLIC REFERENDUM. SUPPORT THE ULTIMATE DENIAL OF ANY WORK PERMITS ON THE LAND.

SUPPORT REPARATIONS NOW. THIS HISTORIC DESIGNATION AND PROTECTING THE LAND ARE IMPORTANT TO BEGIN REPAIR.

I ASK YOU TO PASS THIS DESIGNATION AND THEN DO EVERYTHING IN YOUR POWER TO MAKE SURE IT'S HONORED.

LAND SWAP EMINENT DOMAIN. PLEASE FIND AN ANSWER.

IT MATTERS TO ME BECAUSE OF THE FRIENDS AT BEACON HILL I MADE IN HIGH SCHOOL, THE BEACON HILL ELDERS I'VE MET SINCE, AND ALL THEIR STORIES ARE AS IMPORTANT AS MINE OR YOURS.

IT MATTERS TO ME BECAUSE AS A TEENAGER, I LIVED THROUGH THE CITY BANKS REDLINING OF 1960S, WHICH SUPPORTED THE CITY GOVERNMENT'S RACIST URBAN RENEWAL POLICIES.

[04:10:03]

I URGE YOU TO HELP DECATUR LIVE UP TO THE PROGRESSIVE IMAGE IT'S TRIED TO FOSTER WHILE REBOUNDING FROM THE SCOURGE OF WHITE FLIGHT IN THE 60S BY DOING WHAT YOU CAN. BUT DESIGNATION IS NOT CONCESSION. DON'T DESIGNATE ONLY TO ALLOW DESECRATION.

AGAIN, EXPOSE THE HYPOCRISY AND THE TRUE MOTIVES.

SUPPORT THE BEACON HILL ELDERS AS ONE SMALL ATTEMPT TO REDEEM THE SACRED GROUND, TO HEAL THE CITY.

TO REALLY SERVE THE UNDERSERVED. TO HONOR CITIZENS WITH A HISTORY HERE TO CITY COMMISSIONERS.

DO WHAT YOU THINK. YOU CAN'T DO WHAT IT TAKES.

BEACON HILLS, AN IMPORTANT PART OF DECATUR'S HISTORY, DESERVES TO BE RECOGNIZED, HONORED, AND PRESERVED AS ITS PAST RESIDENTS AND DESCENDANTS WOULD HAVE IT NOT REMOVED ONCE AGAIN OR GRANTED THE GRASS LEFT OVER AFTER FURTHER INTRUSION AND APPROPRIATION. THANK YOU. AND NEXT IS CAROL BURGESS, FOLLOWED BY MAUREEN MYERS.

MY NAME IS CAROL BURGESS. I LIVE AT 108 EVANS DRIVE.

I'M A LIFELONG RESIDENT OF DECATUR. I WENT TO DECATUR HIGH SCHOOL AND IN 1965 I MET THE, THE FIRST TIME I MET RESIDENTS OF THE BEACON HILL AREA.

I GOT TO BE FRIENDS WITH DORIS AND SEVERAL OTHER STUDENTS.

AND THEN THE SUMMER AFTER I GRADUATED FROM HIGH SCHOOL IN 1967, I VOLUNTEERED AT BEACON AT THE HEAD START. I VOLUNTEERED AT HEAD START, AND I GOT TO KNOW THE NEIGHBORHOOD BETTER.

AND I REALLY, I REALLY LOVE THAT NEIGHBORHOOD.

AND I WAS VERY DISMAYED WHEN IT WAS RAZED. SO THEN IN 1983, I BOUGHT A HOUSE IN OAKHURST, AND AT THAT TIME I HAD A LOT OF NEIGHBORS WHO WERE FROM THE BEACON HILL NEIGHBORHOOD. AND THEN GENTRIFICATION HAPPENED AND THEY WERE SCATTERED ONCE AGAIN.

SO I HAVE I REALLY FEEL LIKE THE CITY OF DECATUR OWES THIS COMMUNITY A LOT.

THE BEACON HILL COMMUNITY A LOT. SO I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THAT THEY THAT YOU.

WELL, WHATEVER IS UP TO Y'ALL TO APPROVE THE HISTORIC DESIGNATION, NOT BUILD ON THE LAND.

HAVE THE ARCHEOLOGICAL SURVEY AND REPARATIONS.

THAT'S WHAT I'M IN FAVOR OF. SO THANKS FOR LETTING ME SPEAK.

THANK YOU. NEXT IS MAUREEN MYERS AND THEN DAVID SMALL.

GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS MAUREEN MYERS. I'M A RESIDENT OF THE CITY OF DECATUR.

I LIVE AT 206 GARDEN LANE AND I'M A PROFESSIONAL ARCHEOLOGIST.

I'M HERE TO URGE YOU TO APPROVE THE DESIGNATION OF BEACON HILL AS A HISTORIC DISTRICT.

I FIRST LEARNED OF THE DISTRICT OR THE POTENTIAL DISTRICT THROUGH THE WORK OF THE BEACON HILL ALLIANCE AND THE AFFILIATED EDITORS BY READING ABOUT IT IN DECATUR ISH.

AS AN ARCHEOLOGIST WITH OVER 35 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE IN HISTORIC PRESERVATION AND ARCHEOLOGY IN THE SOUTHEASTERN U.S., I WAS GRATEFUL TO THE BEACON HILL ALLIANCE FOR BRINGING BRINGING THE HISTORY OF THIS SPACE TO THE FOREFRONT AND I WENT TO THEM AND OFFERED MY ARCHEOLOGICAL EXPERTISE AND SERVICES.

THERE ARE SEVEN HISTORIC DISTRICTS IN THE CITY OF DECATUR, AND NONE OF THEM RECOGNIZE THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF FORMERLY ENSLAVED AFRICAN AMERICANS WHO BUILT THE BEACON HILL COMMUNITY. THIS IS NOT UNUSUAL FOR THE ENTIRE STATE OF GEORGIA OR THE ENTIRE SOUTHEAST.

IT IS IMPORTANT TO RECOGNIZE THE HISTORIC DISTRICT TO HONOR THEIR WORK AND THEIR LEGACY.

ADDITIONALLY, AN ARCHEOLOGICAL SURVEY WOULD ALLOW A FULL DOCUMENTATION OF THIS PAST ONE INFORMED BY THE PEOPLE WHO LIVED HERE.

[04:15:03]

ON APRIL 3RD, I SENT ALL OF YOU, AS WELL AS THE BOARD OF EDUCATION, A DETAILED PROPOSAL TO UNDERTAKE THIS WORK IN CONJUNCTION WITH OTHER ARCHEOLOGISTS IN THE GREATER ATLANTA AREA. THIS VOLUNTEER WORK IS DONE BY ARCHEOLOGISTS TO SERVE OUR COMMUNITIES, AND I OVERSEE A PROGRAM THAT MAKES THIS HAPPEN.

SINCE I DRAFTED THE PROPOSAL, GEORGIA STATE UNIVERSITY'S DEPARTMENT OF ANTHROPOLOGY HAS COMMITTED USE OF THEIR ARCHEOLOGICAL LAB THAT MEETS FEDERAL STANDARDS, AND ANOTHER ARCHEOLOGIST HAS COME FORWARD AND COMMITTED TO CURATING THE ARTIFACTS AT NO COST.

WHEN I PRESENTED THIS IDEA TO THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION LAST MONTH, THEY INSTRUCTED THE CITY SCHOOLS ATTORNEY TO CONTACT ME FOR MORE INFORMATION, BUT HE DID NOT. LAST WEEK, I SPOKE AT THE BOARD'S MEETING, WHERE THEY MADE A MOTION TO ORGANIZE A MEETING WITH ME TO DISCUSS THE PROPOSAL IN MORE DETAIL. AS YET, NO ONE HAS CONTACTED ME. I CALLED SUPERINTENDENT WHITAKER THIS MORNING AND LEFT A DETAILED MESSAGE ON A VOICEMAIL, BUT NO ONE HAS RETURNED MY CALL. ADDITIONALLY, MY ARCHEOLOGY COLLEAGUE SARAH LOVE, PROVIDED A STATEMENT AT LAST WEEK'S HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMITTEE MEETING URGING THE COMMITTEE TO AGREE TO A FULL ARCHEOLOGICAL SURVEY RATHER THAN MONITORING.

MONITORING AN ARCHEOLOGICAL SITE DURING CONSTRUCTION WITHOUT A SURVEY VIOLATES THE BEST PRACTICES AS SET FORWARD BY THE GEORGIA COUNCIL OF PROFESSIONAL ARCHEOLOGISTS, AND DOES NOT ALLOW TIME FOR PROPER ANALYSIS AS THE REMAINS ARE DESTROYED WHILE THEY'RE BEING REMOVED.

MY COLLEAGUES AND I WOULD LIKE TO ASSIST THE BEACON HILL COMMUNITY, THE CITY SCHOOL SYSTEM AND THE CITY OF DECATUR IN HONORING AND RECORDING ITS PAST.

BUT I'M GETTING A BIT FRUSTRATED AND DISMAYED AT THE LACK OF RESPONSE.

SO I URGE THE COMMISSION TO ADOPT THE HISTORIC DESIGNATION OF BEACON HILL AND TO REQUIRE AN ARCHEOLOGICAL SURVEY IN LIEU OF MONITORING, OR AT LEAST TO URGE THE HPC AND THE CITY SCHOOLS TO MEET WITH ME TO DISCUSS IN MORE DETAIL.

AS A RESIDENT OF DECATUR, I'M FRUSTRATED AND DISHEARTENED BY THE ACTIONS OF SOME OF MY ELECTED OFFICIALS, AND I URGE YOU ALL TO DO THE RIGHT THING. THANK YOU.

SO, DAVID SMALL AND THEN LARRY PADILLA. GOOD EVENING.

MY NAME IS DAVID SMALL, AND I'M A MEMBER OF THE ATLANTA FRIENDS MEETING, 701 WEST HOWARD.

I'M SPEAKING TONIGHT BOTH AS A QUAKER AND AS AN ARCHEOLOGIST.

FOR MORE THAN HALF MY LIFE, I HAVE WORKED ON AN ARCHEOLOGICAL EXCAVATIONS IN THE MIDDLE EAST, HELPING UNCOVER THE LAYERED HISTORIES OF COMMUNITIES WHOSE STORIES WERE BURIED, FORGOTTEN, CONTESTED, OR OVERLOOKED. THAT WORK HAS TAUGHT ME SOMETHING IMPORTANT.

THAT LAND REMEMBERS. AND SOIL HOLDS. HOLDS MEMORY.

AND WHEN WE TAKE THE TIME TO INVESTIGATE A PLACE WITH CARE, HUMILITY, AND RIGOR, WE OFTEN DISCOVER THAT WHAT SEEMS ORDINARY ON THE SURFACE MAY CONTAIN AN IRREPLACEABLE HUMAN STORY UNDERNEATH. THAT IS WHY I AM ASKING YOU TONIGHT TO SAY YES TO THE HISTORIC DESIGNATION OF THE PROPERTY AT 346 WEST TRINITY PLACE. AS A QUAKER, I BELIEVE THAT THERE IS THAT OF GOD IN EVERY PERSON, AND THAT INCLUDES THE PEOPLE WHOSE LIVES, STRUGGLES, AND DIGNITY ARE TIED TO THIS LAND.

WHEN MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY TELL US THAT THIS IS SACRED GROUND SHAPED BY ANCESTRY, DISPLACEMENT, SUFFERING AND ENDURANCE, WE SHOULD LISTEN. LISTENING IS NOT WEAKNESS.

IT IS MORAL RESPONSIBILITY. ONE WAY WE LISTEN FAITHFULLY IS BY TAKING THE HISTORY OF A PLACE SERIOUSLY ENOUGH TO INVESTIGATE IT BEFORE IT IS ALTERED FOREVER. AND BY PROTECTING THAT PLACE WHEN ITS MEANING HAS BEEN MADE CLEAR.

I ALSO WANT TO NOTE, RESPECTFULLY, THAT AT THE LAST SCHOOL BOARD MEETING, A MEMBER OF THAT BOARD SHARED MISINFORMATION ABOUT WHAT AN ARCHEOLOGICAL SURVEY WOULD INVOLVE. I SAY THAT HERE, NOT TO CONFUSE THE ROLES OF THESE TWO BODIES, BUT TO MAKE AN IMPORTANT DISTINCTION.

THE COMMENT SUGGESTED THAT STUDENTS MIGHT SOMEHOW BE PUT IN A POSITION OF PICKING UP BONES.

THAT IS SIMPLY NOT WHAT IS BEING PROPOSED. NO RESPONSIBLE ARCHEOLOGICAL SURVEY WOULD ASK CHILDREN TO HANDLE HUMAN REMAINS.

THAT IS NOT HOW ARCHEOLOGY WORKS. PROFESSIONAL ARCHEOLOGISTS CONDUCT THIS WORK WITH TRAINING, LEGAL STANDARDS AND ETHICAL SAFEGUARDS. IF ANYTHING SENSITIVE WERE FOUND, IT WOULD BE HANDLED WITH CARE AND RESPECT BY QUALIFIED PROFESSIONALS.

TO USE THAT IMAGE AS MISLEADING AND IT DISTRACTS FROM THE REAL ISSUE BEFORE US.

THE REAL ISSUE IS WHETHER DECATUR IS WILLING TO TAKE ITS OWN HISTORY SERIOUSLY ENOUGH TO STUDY IT RESPONSIBLY BEFORE IT IS LOST.

ARCHEOLOGY. ARCHEOLOGY IS NOT A GRUESOME SPECTACLE.

IT IS CAREFUL, RESPECTFUL, DISCIPLINED WORK. IT HELPS COMMUNITIES UNDERSTAND WHO WAS HERE,

[04:20:04]

THIS WOULD BE IMPORTANT NOT ONLY FOR THE COMMUNITY, BUT FOR THE DISCIPLINE OF ARCHEOLOGY AS WELL.

TOO OFTEN ARCHEOLOGY IS IMAGINED AS SOMETHING THAT HAPPENS FAR AWAY IN DESERTS OR AMONG ANCIENT RUINS.

BUT ARCHEOLOGISTS, ARCHEOLOGY IS ALSO ABOUT THE LIVED HISTORY BENEATH OUR OWN FEET.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT. LARRY PADILLA AND THEN LASHAWN PAYNE.

GOOD EVENING. GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS LARRY PADILLA.

I'M THE CEO AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF DECATUR HOUSING, THE HOUSING AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF DECATUR.

OUR ADDRESS IS 511 WEST TRINITY HERE IN DECATUR, GEORGIA.

DECATUR HOUSING STANDS IN SOLIDARITY WITH HONORING THE HISTORIES THAT SHAPED THIS COMMUNITY, WHETHER TIED TO GENERATIONS PAST OR TO THOSE WHO HAVE MORE RECENTLY CONTRIBUTED TO THE CULTURAL AND SOCIAL FABRIC THAT DEFINES BEACON HILL TODAY.

WITHIN DECATUR, HOUSING COMMUNITIES INCLUDING ALLEN, WILSON TERRACE, SWANTON HEIGHTS AND OLIVER HOUSE, THE RESIDENT POPULATION IS PREDOMINANTLY PEOPLE OF COLOR, WITH A SIGNIFICANT MAJORITY BEING AFRICAN AMERICAN HOUSEHOLDS.

THESE ARE FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS WHO LIVE, WORK, RAISE CHILDREN AND CONTRIBUTE TO THE SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC FABRIC OF THIS CITY EVERY SINGLE DAY. THEY MAY NOT ALL BE DESCENDANTS OF THOSE WHO ONCE LIVED IN BEACON HILL, BUT THEY ARE THE NEXT GENERATION CARRYING FORWARD ITS LEGACY.

THEIR PRESENCE IS NOT SYMBOLIC. IT IS LIVING PROOF OF OF PERSEVERANCE, RESILIENCE AND CONTINUITY.

HOWEVER, I AM HERE TO SPEAK ON AFFORDABLE AND ATTAINABLE HOUSING.

WHILE WELL INTENTIONED, A HISTORIC DISTRICT DESIGNATION MAY INTRODUCE ADDITIONAL COSTS WHICH MAY NOT ONLY LIMIT THE NUMBER OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNITS WE CURRENTLY OPERATE AND MAINTAIN, BUT MAY DIRECTLY LIMIT THE PRESERVATION AND ADDITION OF FUTURE AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

FOR THE RECORD, SHOULD THIS DESIGNATION BE APPROVED, WE RESPECTFULLY REQUEST A CLEAR, EXPLICIT AND BROADLY DEFINED VARIANCE FROM ANY REGULATION REQUIREMENT OR ADDITIONAL COMPLIANCE MEASURE THAT WOULD HINDER OUR ABILITY TO PRESERVE, EXPAND OR SUSTAIN AFFORDABILITY WITHIN EXISTING AND FUTURE AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPMENTS LOCATED WITHIN THE DESIGNATED DISTRICT.

AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS A COMPLEX, HIGHLY REGULATED AND DEEPLY SUBSIDIZED UNDERTAKING.

ON AVERAGE, IT COSTS 20 TO 30% MORE TO DEVELOP THIS ASSET CLASS THAN COMPARABLE MARKET RATE HOUSING, OFTEN AVERAGING $350,000 FOR ONE SINGLE UNIT.

IN TODAY'S ENVIRONMENT, THESE DEVELOPMENTS RELY ON LAYERED FUNDING SOURCES, INCLUDING LOW INCOME HOUSING TAX CREDIT, STATE ALLOCATIONS, LOCAL SUBSIDIES AND PRIVATE EQUITY, ALL OF WHICH OPERATE WITHIN STRICT TIMELINES AND COST CONSTRAINTS.

EVERY ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENT, WHETHER DESIGN MANDATES, EXTENDED APPROVAL PROCESSES OR LAND USE RESTRICTIONS, INTRODUCES MORE COSTS, MORE UNCERTAINTY AND MORE RISK.

IN THIS CONTEXT, RISK IS NOT THEORETICAL. IT DIRECTLY DETERMINES WHETHER A PROJECT MOVES FORWARD OR FAILS.

ULTIMATELY, IT DETERMINES WHETHER PEOPLE CAN AFFORD TO LIVE IN THIS CITY.

FROM A COMPLIANCE STANDPOINT, HISTORIC DESIGNATION ADDS LAYERS OF ADMINISTRATIVE BURDEN BEYOND STANDARD ZONING AND PERMITTING FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROVIDERS SUCH AS US.

THIS CREATES POTENTIAL CONFLICTS WITH EXISTING FEDERAL AND STATE PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS, INCLUDING HUD, LOW INCOME HOUSING TAX CREDITS, AND HOME REGULATIONS, WHILE SIGNIFICANTLY, SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASING DOCUMENTATION AND REVISION DEMANDS.

THE FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS ARE EQUALLY SIGNIFICANT.

IN EFFECT, THESE REQUIREMENTS FUNCTION AS UNFUNDED MANDATES.

THEY MAY IMPOSE ADDITIONAL COSTS WITHOUT PROVIDING ADDITIONAL SUBSIDY, RESTRICT THE FLEXIBILITY NEEDED TO MAKE AFFORDABLE HOUSING VIABLE.

AND SO THE QUESTION BEFORE US IS NOT WHETHER WE VALUE HISTORY.

WE DO. BUT IF WE TRULY COMMIT TO HONORING LEGACY, THEN WE MUST ALSO PRIORITIZE THE PEOPLE WHO CARRY IT FORWARD.

WE CANNOT ALLOW WELL-INTENTIONED POLICY TO CREATE UNINTENDED EXCLUSION WHERE INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES ARE PRICED OUT, REGULATED OUT, OR DESIGNED OUT OF THE VERY COMMUNITY WE SEEK TO PRESERVE.

MR. PADILLA, THANK YOU. NEXT IS LASHAWN PAYNE AND THEN LORI KING.

LASHAWN PAYNE. IF NOT, LET'S GO TO LORI. OH. I'M SORRY.

OKAY. OKAY. THANK YOU. LORI KING AND THEN BARBARA WILLIAMS. GOOD ONE. STILL GOING. OKAY. THANK YOU. WE GOT THIS.

HI, I'M LORI KING. I LIVE HERE IN DECATUR. I'M IN MAC.

I'M AT 142 ADAMS STREET. I'M SPEAKING OF NOISE RIGHT ACROSS FROM THE MIDDLE SCHOOL.

[04:25:02]

I'M HERE TONIGHT AS A CITIZEN OF DECATUR. AND I'M ALSO HERE BECAUSE I SHOULDN'T BE HERE.

IF IT WAS 1930, I WOULD NOT BE ALLOWED IN THIS ROOM WITH YOU.

BECAUSE MY FAITH AND MY PERSONHOOD DEMAND THAT I STAND WITH OTHERS.

THAT MEANS THAT I HAVE TO SEE THAT ALL OF OUR LIBERATION IS BOUND UP TOGETHER.

AND WHAT IS LIBERATION BUT FREEDOM? AND WHAT DOES FREEDOM INCLUDE? FREEDOM INCLUDES AS WE FIGHT ABOUT ALL THE TIME OUR FREEDOM OF SPEECH AS GUARANTEED UNDER THE FIRST AMENDMENT.

AS A PROFESSOR, THAT ALSO SHOULD MEAN THAT I HAVE THE FREEDOM TO TEACH WHAT I WANT TO TEACH.

IT MEANS TO HAVE THE FREEDOM OF AN INDIVIDUAL TO SHAPE AND TELL OUR OWN STORIES AND OUR OWN NARRATIVES.

AND MANY OF THOSE HAVE BEEN UNDER ATTACK FOR A REALLY LONG TIME.

AND AS A PROFESSOR BY WAY OF TRAINING, I'M A GENOCIDE SCHOLAR AND I AM A HUMANITARIAN HEALTH PRACTITIONER, AND I HAVE WORKED IN ACTIVE AND POST-CONFLICT SETTINGS AND DURING PEACETIME AROUND THE UNITED STATES AND IN THE SOUTHEAST WITH GENERATIONS OF SURVIVORS OF ATROCITY. AND ONE THING THAT I KNOW THAT I'M ABSOLUTELY CONVINCED OF IS THAT HISTORY DOESN'T REPEAT ITSELF BECAUSE NOBODY LISTENS.

HISTORY REPEATS ITSELF BECAUSE NOBODY IS TELLING THE TRUTH TO BEGIN WITH.

AND WE ARE PEDDLING LIES AND BS ALONG IN THE HISTORY BOOKS AND CALLING IT THAT.

AS WE KNOW IF HISTORY HISTORY WAS WRITTEN BY THE PEOPLE IT AFFECTED, THE ZEBRA WAS THE ZEBRAS WOULD BE TELLING THE LION STORIES. AS BRYAN STEVENSON, THE FOUNDER OF EQUAL JUSTICE INITIATIVE, SAYS, THE PAST IS NOT SOMETHING TO FEAR.

IT IS SOMETHING TO BE WELCOMED. IT IS AN OPPORTUNITY, RIGHT? IT CAN ALSO BE A SIGNAL OF PROGRESS, AND IT CAN BE A SIGNAL OF HEALING.

AND I'VE LEARNED A HANDFUL OF THINGS OF WORKING WITH SURVIVORS, WHETHER OR NOT THEY ARE RIGHT IN THE AFTERMATH OF A CONFLICT OR WHETHER OR NOT WE'RE TALKING GENERATIONS ON. AND ONE OF THE NUMBER ONE THINGS IS BEING ABLE TO NAME THINGS IN PUBLIC, TO SAY THINGS OUT LOUD, TO HAVE IT WITNESSED, TO HAVE IT RECOGNIZED, TO HAVE THE ENTITIES AND INSTITUTIONS THAT HAVE DONE THE HARM, TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THAT RIGHT TO INSTITUTE A PLAN OF REDRESS THAT IS INFORMED BY THE VICTIM, NOT THE DOERS OF HARM. AND IN THIS CASE, SADLY, THE CITY OF DECATUR, LIKE MANY OTHER CITIES IN THE SOUTHEAST, HAVE CHOSEN OVER AND OVER AGAIN TO SWEEP ASIDE THE LEGACY OF RACISM THAT IT HAS TO SWEEP ASIDE THE TRUTH THAT HERE IN DECATUR, WE LIVE ON DOUBLY DISPLACED LAND EVERY SINGLE DAY, AND IN MOST CASES, MOST OF THE RESIDENCES IN 30030 ARE NOT FILLED BY PEOPLE OF COLOR. THEY ARE FILLED BY WHITE PEOPLE WHERE WE HAVE REPLACED BLACK LIVES WITH BLACK LIVES MATTER SIGNS.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU MISS. WELL, I WOULD ASK FOR YOU TODAY IS TO STEP UP AND LIVE INTO THE OPPORTUNITY OF HONORING THE PAST.

WE HAVE ASKED OUR BLACK RELATIVES TO DEFER JUSTICE WITH TIME.

JUST A LITTLE BIT MORE TIME. WE'LL DO IT LATER.

WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY NOW TO TAKE A LITTLE BIT OF EXTRA TIME.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. STEP INTO COURAGE. THANK YOU, BARBARA WILLIAMS. GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS BARBARA BUSSEY WILLIAMS AND I LIVE AT 1739 CECELIA DRIVE, ATLANTA, GEORGIA. I'D LIKE TO THANK THE CITY OF DECATUR, COMMISSIONERS AND DECATUR HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION FOR COMING TOGETHER AND LISTENING TO US, HOPING THAT YOU WOULD CONSIDER, WHILE MAKING YOUR DECISION ON THIS GREEN SPACE AT THREE SIX, 346 TRINITY PLACE.

THE LAST OF ALL WE HAVE AND WHERE WE LIVED, WENT TO SCHOOLS, WORKED AND HAD HOMES, CHURCHES AND BUSINESSES ON THIS SACRED LAND OF GREEN SPACE AND TO PRESERVE IT WOULD BRING SOME CLOSURE TO THIS COMMUNITY IN A WAY THAT NO ONE COULD EVER.

EVER KNOW UNLESS THEY LIVED HERE DURING THOSE TIMES, KNOWING WE EXISTED IN DECATUR CITY, COMMUNITY ALSO SUBMITTED A LETTER TO THE COMMISSION. IT WAS THE FEBRUARY MARCH MEETING, SO YOU SHOULD HAVE A COPY OF THAT AS WELL.

IT'LL TELL YOU MORE ABOUT MYSELF, AND I'M GOING TO END IT ON THAT TONIGHT BECAUSE I'M VERY EMOTIONAL.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT IS KATHY GANNON.

[04:30:15]

MY NAME IS KATHY GANNON. I LIVE AT 335 WEST PONCE DE LEON.

I AM A MEMBER OF THE DOWNTOWN DECATUR NEIGHBORS AND THE BEACON HILL COALITION, AND WE ARE VERY GLAD TO BE BEFORE THIS BODY, AND WE'RE VERY GLAD TO BE BEFORE THIS BODY AND ENCOURAGE YOU AND HOPE THAT YOU WILL ADOPT THE ORDINANCE.

AS WE HAVE SEEN IT IN YOUR FORMAL MEETING, LINK'S NUMBER 026ZAA WITH JUST A COUPLE NOTES I WANT TO MAKE IS NO, NO EXCEPTIONS TO THE REQUIREMENT FOR A CERTIFICATE OF APPROPRIATENESS EXCEPT THOSE THAT ARE ALLOWED CURRENTLY IN YOUR CODE.

AND ALSO IF YOU WOULD CONSIDER AMENDING THE LANGUAGE, THERE IS A SENTENCE IN THERE ABOUT THE ARCHEOLOGIST TO MONITOR ANY SITE, AND THAT COULD BE IMPROVED AND CHANGED TO HAVING AN ARCHEOLOGICAL SURVEY BEFORE ANY LAND DISTURBANCE EVER IS UNDERTAKEN.

ALSO, I NOTED IN YOUR UDO THAT YOU HAVE THE ABILITY TO AUTHORIZE A SPECIAL RESOLUTION THAT YOU COULD USE TO NEGOTIATE A REASONABLE OPPORTUNITIES TO PRESERVE HISTORIC PROPERTIES.

THIS COULD BE DONE BY NEGOTIATING WITH THE OWNER TO HAVE THE CITY BUY THIS, PURCHASE IT, EXCHANGE IT, OR OTHERWISE FIND SOME WAY TO PRESERVE THAT PROPERTY THROUGH YOUR NEGOTIATIONS.

AND I WOULD RESPECTFULLY ASK THAT YOU TRY TO DO THAT.

AND ADDITIONALLY ONE LAST REQUEST WOULD BE IF YOU WOULD ASK YOUR SCHOOL BOARD REPRESENTATIVES TO HONOR AND RESPECT THE CITIZENS OF DECATUR WHO PAY THEIR BILLS TO CONDUCT A REFERENDUM IF THEY CHOOSE TO GO FORWARD WITH ANY NEW SCHOOL BUILDING.

EVEN IF THEY WHITTLE THEIR PLANS DOWN TO $20 MILLION, IT WOULD BE THE RIGHT THING TO DO WITH THOSE ADDITIONS, THOUGH WE VERY MUCH APPRECIATE BEING HERE. THIS OPPORTUNITY FOR HISTORIC PRESERVATION IS A MEANINGFUL CHANGE TO WHAT HAS BEEN A VERY LONG AND CONTENTIOUS AND PROBABLY NOT OVER ISSUE. THANK YOU. THE NEXT PERSON.

YOUR LAST NAME STARTS WITH A B AND IT'S NOT BE A JONI.

SO IT'S ANOTHER ONE. LAST NAME STARTS WITH B MAYBE 892492.

THIS IS THE STREET NUMBER 13. YES NUMBER 13. YEAH.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO. YEAH. NO THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

SO THEN NEXT WOULD BE SARAH WEBB PHILLIPS. AGAIN, I AM SARAH WEBB PHILLIPS. 801 PINE TREE DRIVE. AND A RETIRED UNITED METHODIST PASTOR.

I BELIEVE THAT EVERY PIECE OF LAND HAS A STORY.

WHEN WE MOVED TO DECATUR, WHEN THE MOVING VAN PEOPLE HAD GONE AND THE FIRST TOILET FLUSH OCCURRED, THE TOILETS OVERFLOWED, ONLY TO REVEAL. UNDERNEATH OUR FRONT YARD WERE BUSTED SEWER PIPES WE DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT.

BUT WITH THE DUG UP FRONT YARD, AS A FORMER WEST TENNESSEAN, WE SAID GREAT PLACE TO PUT IN A GARDEN.

AND THERE WAS A SECOND. STORY FROM THE LAND AND IT WAS.

UPON DIGGING ABOUT THREE INCHES DEEP, WE FELT THAT WE HAD HIT A BRICK PATIO THAT HAD BEEN IN THE FRONT YARD, BUT IT WAS ONLY GEORGIA RED CLAY. AND SOME PEOPLE HAVE HEARD ME SAY THAT AS A CHILD IN WEST TENNESSEE, EVERY YEAR WE TILLED OUR GARDEN. WE WOULD FIND ARROWHEADS COMPLETE OR IN FLINT IN THE PROCESS OF BECOMING ONE. AND I DIDN'T KNOW THAT STORY UNTIL HIGH SCHOOL WHEN I FOUND OUT IT WAS NATIVE CHICKASAW LAND.

OVER TIME, LIVING IN DECATUR, I LEARNED ABOUT THE BEACON HILL COMMUNITY.

AND I DON'T HAVE TO REPEAT ALL OF THE AMAZING THINGS THAT WE KNOW ABOUT IT.

AS NATIVE MUSKOGEE NATION LAND OFFERED TO LAND OFFERED TO FREED FORMER SLAVES WHO HAD TO HAVE WORKED COTTON MIRACLES WORKING IN GEORGIA, RED CLAY, AND THE THRIVING COMMUNITY THAT YOU ALL KNOW ABOUT.

ALL THIS IS TO SAY, THESE THREE ACRES OF DECATUR LAND HAS A STORY TO TELL.

[04:35:08]

LET THIS LAND CONTINUE TO BE AN OPEN PLACE OF STORIES AND GATHERINGS, OF OPEN PLAY AND RELAXING SPACE, AND A WAY FOR A WHITE SETTLER MENTALITY THAT CAN ATONE FOR ITS DISPLACEMENT AND MISTREATMENT OF FOLKS WHO HAVE CALLED THIS LAND HOME.

THIS IS MORE THAN JUST REGULATIONS FOR A CITY.

IT IS A MORAL ISSUE. THANK YOU. NEXT IS DOCTOR BRENDA SMITH. MAYBE DOCTOR BRENDA. WAS I CLOSE THERE? GOOD EVENING. GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS DOCTOR BRENDA SMITH AND I'M A MINISTER AT COLUMBIA PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH HERE IN DECATUR. I STAND BEFORE YOU AND ASK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND ENDORSEMENT OF THIS HISTORIC SITE.

IN EVERY PLACE, IN EVERY TOWN PEOPLE HAVE LIVED LIVES.

THEY HAVE STORIES. THEY HAVE GENERATIONS OF HISTORIES THAT TELL OF THE STRUGGLE.

THIS CITY IS NO DIFFERENT. BLACK SOULS HAVE COME HERE, ENDURED HERE, LIVED HERE, AND CONTRIBUTE TO WHERE WE ARE TODAY.

SO I'M ASKING YOU TO REMEMBER THEM, TO REMEMBER THEM FOR NOT ONLY WHAT THEY HAVE DONE, BUT WHAT THEY ALSO MEAN TO YOU AND YOUR CHILDREN.

AND TO SAY THAT TO REMEMBER YOUR MEMORIAL. YOU ALL WANT TO BE REMEMBERED ONE DAY IN THIS CITY.

SO GIVE THAT JUSTICE TO THOSE WHO CAME BEFORE YOU.

BECAUSE ON THEIR SHOULDERS WE ALL STAND. WE ALL SIT.

WE ALL LOOK TOWARD THE FUTURE BECAUSE OF THEM.

THOSE WHO COME AFTER YOU WILL DO THE SAME UPON WHAT YOU HAVE DONE TODAY.

SO STAND WITH INTEGRITY, MORALITY, COURAGE, AND CONVICTION TO GIVE A MEMORIAL FOR THOSE WHO ENDURED SO MUCH.

THANK YOU. GOOD NIGHT. THANK YOU. NEXT APRIL AND THEN MOLLY DAVIS.

I KNOW EVERYONE'S TIRED. I APPRECIATE EVERYONE.

SOMEONE LEFT THEIR GLASSES HERE. COME UP LATER.

SO APRIL B IS TONI 706 HE'S PINTS. JUST THANK YOU GUYS.

I'M GOING TO TALK REALLY FAST. SO WE APPRECIATE YOUR CONTINUED LEADERSHIP FOR YOUR ACKNOWLEDGMENT IN MAY 25TH OF THE HISTORICAL ROW AND THE HARM AND THE DISPLACEMENT OF THE BEACON HILL COMMUNITY. THAT ACKNOWLEDGMENT MATTERS, RIGHT? AND IT CREATES MEANINGFUL OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL OF US TO MOVE FORWARD TOGETHER.

SO I RESPECTFULLY ASK A FEW THINGS TONIGHT. ONE IS NO EXCEPTIONS ON THE CERTIFICATE OF APPROPRIATENESS.

TWO WITH SOMEONE HAD JUST PREVIOUSLY MENTIONED THE SPECIAL RESOLUTION TO NEGOTIATE OR TO GET THIS HISTORICAL DESIGNATION.

I'M ALL FOR A LAND SWAP OR BUYING BACK THIS LAND IN THE NAME OF REPARATIONS.

WE REALLY WANT THIS TO CONDUCT AN ARCHEOLOGICAL STUDY.

WE KNOW THAT THIS LAND HOLDS THE HISTORY, AND WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY AND RESPONSIBILITY TO BETTER UNDERSTAND IT AND PRESERVE IT.

TO CONTINUE ADVANCING THE REPARATIVE EFFORTS.

SO WE'VE HAD THE FIRST STEPS OF ACKNOWLEDGING THE PAST HARM, AND THIS IS A CHANCE TO CONTINUE ON THIS WORK IN A MEANINGFUL WAY.

AND IF THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO A LAND SWAP, THEN TO ME, THAT SEEMS LIKE A WIN WIN FOR BOTH THE CITY.

AND PERHAPS MAYBE BUYING THE LAND BACK FROM THE CITY SCHOOLS OF DECATUR MAYBE AT PRICE FOR WHAT? THEY GOT IT FROM THE DECATUR HOUSING AUTHORITY.

YOU KNOW, NOBODY HERE IS AGAINST EARLY LEARNING.

[04:40:03]

BUT COMING UP WITH MEANINGFUL AND CREATIVE IDEAS SO THAT WE CAN CLOSE THOSE EQUITY GAPS, YOU KNOW, NOW OR SOONER THAN LATER. ONE THING THAT I HEARD EVEN FROM ONE OF OUR SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS WAS MAYBE MOVING PRE-K BACK TO THE LOWER ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS.

AND TO ME, THAT SOUNDS LIKE AN AMAZING IDEA, BOTH AS A PARENT.

SO I WOULDN'T HAVE TO TAKE MY KIDS, YOU KNOW, ACROSS THE TRAIN TRACKS, BACK AND FORTH SEVERAL TIMES A DAY.

IT KEEPS THE FAMILY UNIT TOGETHER. IT TAKES SOME TRAFFIC OUT OF OUR STREETS.

SO IF WE HAD THAT OPPORTUNITY, THEN IMAGINE WHAT WE COULD DO WITH COLLEGE HEIGHTS.

AND THAT WAS THE WHOLE PURPOSE OF THIS, OF BUYING THIS LAND TO BEGIN WITH FROM THE CITY SCHOOLS OF DECATUR.

SO WHAT IF MAYBE COLLEGE HEIGHTS THEN BECOMES LIKE A STAFFING PLACE FOR OUR, OUR, OUR TEACHERS AND OUR STAFF TO BE ABLE TO PUT THEIR KIDS THERE FROM 0 TO 3. WE COULD BUILD TUITION OFF OF THAT AND THEN WE CAN BUILD ON THE THE RENOVATIONS AT THE HIGH SCHOOL.

SO WHAT IF THEN AT THE HIGH SCHOOL WE CAN FIX, YOU KNOW, THE FRASER CENTER AS IT IS NOW, TO MAKE IT MORE ACCESSIBLE, TO MAKE SURE THAT THE HOUSING AUTHORITY AND THE STUDENTS THAT MIGHT NEED TO USE THAT FACILITY, HAVE ACCESS TO IT AND BUILD IT AND DESIGN IT AROUND THEM IN MIND.

ANYWAY, I JUST THINK THERE'S A LOT OF CREATIVE SOLUTIONS THAT WE COULD COME UP WITH.

BUT I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF THE BEACON ELDERS IN SUPPORT OF THEM.

AND REALLY JUST CALLING FOR THIS ARCHEOLOGICAL STUDY IS THE FIRST STEP.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT IS WALLY DAVIS, AND AFTER THAT, JACKIE HOLMAN.

GOOD EVENING. I OWN A PROPERTY AT 1041 ATLANTA AVENUE IN THE CITY OF DECATUR.

AND AS I STAND HERE AND I'VE HEARD FROM THE DECATUR HOUSING AUTHORITY AND FROM OUR ELDERS I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE HEAR FROM THOSE MOST IMPACTED AND AFFECTED ELDERS AND WHAT THEY'VE GONE THROUGH.

THEIR FAMILIES DESERVE TO BE RECOGNIZED. DESIGNATION.

SHOULD EVEN BE EXPANDED TO THE ENTIRE AREA WHERE WE CATER THE BEACON HILL TOPPERS.

SO WHEREVER THE BEACON HILL TOPPERS ARE, WHATEVER THAT AREA HAS BEEN HISTORICALLY SHOULD BE RECOGNIZED AS A HISTORIC DISTRICT.

AT THE SAME TIME, I THINK WE THERE'S A NEED FOR CONVERSATIONS, DEEP CONVERSATIONS WITH DECATUR HOUSING RESIDENTS. THEY ARE NOT HERE IN THIS MEETING AT.

OBVIOUSLY A REPRESENTATIVE HERE, BUT THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE THERE SHOULD BE HEARD FROM AS WELL.

AND I WOULD JUST ENCOURAGE THAT CONVERSATION WITH THE RESIDENTS AS WELL AS THE SCHOOL BOARD, SO THAT THERE CAN BE A RESOLUTION THAT ADDRESSES BOTH THE FOLKS THAT ARE LIVING IN THE SPACE, THE HIGHEST CONCENTRATION OF AFRICAN AMERICAN RESIDENTS.

AND THE ADDRESSING THIS HISTORIC NEED FOR THIS RECOGNIZED, IT'S VERY HOPEFUL TO SEE A LOT OF NEW FOLKS WHO SUPPORT REPARATIONS NOW.

AND WE'LL CONTINUE THE REPARATIONS WORK AND HOWEVER IT SHOWS UP YEARS TO COME.

I THINK THIS DESIGNATION HELPS DEFINE THE IMPACTED AREAS AND WHERE PEOPLE LIVED, WHERE THEY WORSHIPED, WHERE THEY WENT TO SCHOOL. AND IT'S IMPORTANT THAT THAT AREA BE DEFINED AS SUCH, I THINK IT HONORS THEIR LEGACY AND IT SHOULD HONOR THOSE WHO STILL LIVE IN THIS SPACE. SO THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. NEXT IS JACKIE HOLMAN AND THEN ANISSA SHARIF.

SORRY, I'M JACKIE HOLMAN. I LIVE AT 152 RIDLEY CIRCLE AND I'M THE MOTHER OF TWO CSD STUDENTS.

I'M HERE THIS EVENING TO EXPRESS MY STRONG SUPPORT FOR THE EFFORTS OF THE BEACON HILL GRASSROOTS COALITION AND THE COMMUNITY ELDERS TO SECURE FORMAL RECOGNITION OF THE BEACON HILL NEIGHBORHOOD AS A HISTORIC SITE AND TO STOP DEVELOPMENT ON THE PROPERTY.

IF RECOGNIZED, THIS PROPERTY WILL BE THE ONLY HISTORIC SITE WITHIN THE CITY TO FORMALLY RECOGNIZE THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF THE CITY'S FORMERLY ENSLAVED AFRICAN DESCENDANTS.

THIS FEBRUARY, ON THE LAST DAY OF BLACK HISTORY MONTH, MY FAMILY AND I WENT ON THE BEACON HILL HISTORY TOUR.

I CANNOT RECOMMEND THAT EXPERIENCE HIGHLY ENOUGH.

HEARING DIRECTLY FROM THE ELDERS, SHARING THEIR PERSONAL AND COLLECTIVE HISTORIES WAS DEEPLY MEANINGFUL AND SPECIAL.

[04:45:04]

WE BEGAN AND ENDED AT THE WEBSTER RECREATION CENTER.

WALKED AROUND THE DEVELOPED AREAS OF ELECTRIC AVENUE.

WE LEARNED ABOUT THE ROADS AND THE HOMES THAT ONCE STOOD WHERE THE TURF FIELD AT WEBSTER PARK IS NOW LOCATED.

WE LISTENED TO THE HISTORY OF LILLIE HILL BAPTIST CHURCH WHILE STANDING OUTSIDE OF LILLIE HILL BAPTIST CHURCH.

WE LEARNED ABOUT THE HISTORY OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH AND THE WALL AND MY FAMILY.

AND I LEARNED ABOUT HENRY OLIVER, WHO SEEMS TO BE THE MOST INFLUENTIAL AND GENEROUS MAN WHO WE NEVER KNEW ABOUT.

AND NEARING THE END OF THE TOUR, YOU TAKE A FINAL TURN OFF OF COMMERCE DRIVE, WHICH WAS ONCE OLIVER STREET ONTO, I THINK IT WAS CHEWNING WAY AND AND THEN ALL OF THE LIKE, BUZZING NOISE AND THE ODOR FROM THE CARS AND EVERYTHING. AS WE WERE STANDING OUTSIDE OF THE OLIVER HOUSE, HEARING ABOUT THE HISTORY WAS GONE.

AND INSTEAD WE HAD THIS BEAUTIFUL RESPITE OF LAND JUST RIGHT IN FRONT OF US.

THERE WAS REALLY GORGEOUS, MATURE TREES AND THERE'S THIS LIKE CUTE LITTLE LIKE WONKY TREE SUBSTANCE THAT'S ALSO THERE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE PROPERTY.

AND I DIDN'T ACTUALLY EVEN REALIZE THAT WE WERE AT THAT SITE BECAUSE I'VE NEVER COME ON IT FROM THAT ANGLE.

BUT IT WAS REALLY A POWERFUL CONTRAST IN SEEING ALL OF THE CONCRETE AND ASPHALT ALONG THE REST OF THE TOUR TO COME ONTO THIS, THIS PROPERTY THAT WAS UNDEVELOPED. AND I COMMEND THE CITY OF THE SCHOOLS OF DECATUR FOR ITS COMMITMENT TO INCORPORATING BLACK HISTORY INTO THEIR CURRICULUM FROM AN EARLY AGE. BUT I DO WONDER HOW MUCH OF THE LOCAL BLACK HISTORY IS BEING MEANINGFULLY PRESENTED IN THE SCHOOLS.

MY CHILDREN ARE TEN AND SEVEN. THEY HAVE A STRONG UNDERSTANDING OF ALL THE NATIONAL HISTORIC FIGURES AND MILESTONES, AND HAVE BEEN LEARNING ABOUT BLACK INVENTORS AND LEADERS SINCE THEY WERE IN GEORGIA PRE-K. HOWEVER, I CANNOT TELL YOU THEY COULDN'T TELL YOU WHO EASTER RECREATION CENTER OR THE OLIVER HOUSE WAS NAMED AFTER.

THEY ARE UNFAMILIAR WITH THE INDIVIDUAL STORIES THAT SHAPE THEIR OWN HOMETOWN.

IN MAY 2025, THE CITY FORMALLY ACKNOWLEDGED ITS PAST ROLE.

THANK YOU MISS. I'M SORRY YOUR TIME, BUT OKAY.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. AND THEN WE'LL HAVE ANISSA SHARIF.

GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS ANISSA SHARIF AND I AM A JUNIOR AT DECATUR HIGH SCHOOL.

I ALSO HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE IN LEADERSHIP ROLES SUCH AS FORMER MEMBER OF THE SUPERINTENDENT ADVISORY COUNCIL, VICE PRESIDENT, VICE PRESIDENT OF MUSLIM STUDENT UNION, AND YOUTH COMMISSIONER OF DEKALB COUNTY.

I SHARE THAT NOT AS TITLES, BUT BECAUSE THEY HELPED ME LISTEN TO DIFFERENT PARTS OF MY COMMUNITY AND UNDERSTAND HOW DECISIONS LIKE THIS AFFECT REAL PEOPLE.

I'M HERE TODAY BECAUSE I BELIEVE STUDENTS DESERVE ACCESS TO THE FULL HISTORY OF THE COMMUNITIES WE LIVE IN, AND BEACON HILL IS A POWERFUL EXAMPLE OF THAT HISTORY. BEACON HILL WAS A THRIVING BLACK COMMUNITY BUILT BY FORMERLY ENSLAVED AFRICAN AMERICANS AFTER THE CIVIL WAR.

IT WAS MORE THAN LAND. IT WAS A PLACE WHERE FAMILIES, CULTURES, AND RESILIENCE TOOK ROOT.

OVER TIME, MUCH OF THAT HISTORY HAS BEEN DISPLACED OR ERASED.

AND AS STUDENTS, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE DON'T ALWAYS GET THE CHANCE TO FULLY UNDERSTAND.

DESIGNATING BEACON HILL AS A HISTORICAL DISTRICT IS NOT JUST RECOGNITION.

IT IS A RESPONSIBILITY ENSURES THAT THE CONTRIBUTIONS AND EXPERIENCES OF THE PEOPLE WHO BUILT THIS COMMUNITY ARE PRESERVED AND HONORED.

THE GREEN SPACE ALONG TRINITY AVENUE IS PART OF THAT HISTORY, AND A FULL ARCHEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF THIS LAND IS CRITICAL BECAUSE IT HELPS UNCOVER WHAT MAY STILL REMAIN BENEATH THE SURFACE, SUCH AS ARTIFACTS, STRUCTURES, AND LIVED HISTORY.

WITHOUT THAT DEVELOPMENT RISK, PERMANENTLY ERASING WHAT CANNOT BE REPLACED.

I ALSO WANT TO SPEAK AS A STUDENT FROM THE LOW INCOME COMMUNITY WHO CARES ABOUT BOTH EDUCATION IN MY COMMUNITY.

I'VE MET WITH STUDENTS ALONG WITH STUDENTS LIKE ME, AND WE WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT BEACON HILL.

WE WANT TO. WE WANT TO LEARN ABOUT THE PEOPLE, THE LEGACY, AND THE HISTORY THAT SHAPED IT. WE WANT TO ENGAGE WITH THAT HISTORY IN REAL WAYS, NOT JUST PASSING BY IT. RUSHING DEVELOPMENT OF THE TRINITY AVENUE GREEN SPACE WITHOUT A FULL ARCHEOLOGICAL SURVEY IN FULL COMMUNITY INPUT RISK REPEATING THE SAME PATTERNS THAT DISPLACED BLACK FAMILIES AND ERASE THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS IN THE FIRST PLACE.

AN ARCHEOLOGY SURVEY IS NOT A DELAY. IT IS A RESPONSIBILITY.

IF WE MOVE FORWARD WITHOUT UNDERSTANDING WHAT EXISTS BENEATH THE SURFACE, WE ARE NOT BUILDING PROCESS.

WE ARE NOT BUILDING PROGRESS. WE ARE CONTINUING HARM.

AND THE LAST THING I WANT TO LEAVE WITH YOU TODAY IS THAT YOU CANNOT HONOR HISTORY WHILE BUILDING OVER IT WITHOUT FULLY UNDERSTANDING WHAT IS BEING LOST.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. WE'RE GOING TO TAKE. ANY MORE PUBLIC COMMENTS IF THERE'S ANYONE HERE? OH, YEAH, I FORGOT ABOUT THAT. YEAH. SO IF THERE'S ANYONE THAT WANTS TO SPEAK TO THE GLENWOOD POOL BONDING REPAIR PROJECT OR WEST HOWARD BEFORE

[04:50:03]

ALL RIGHT. WE'RE GOING TO TAKE A BRIEF BREAK BECAUSE WE ALL NEED ONE.

WE'RE GOING TO GO BACK TO ORDER NOW. HOPEFULLY EVERYBODY ENJOYED THEIR BREAK.

MOST OF ALL US. PLEASE TAKE YOUR SEATS SO WE CAN GET THIS MEETING BACK UNDERWAY.

PLEASE TAKE YOUR SEATS. ALL RIGHT. NOW THAT PUBLIC COMMENT IS OVER, WE WILL BEGIN WITH AGENDA ACTION ITEM A THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION'S RECOMMENDATION FOR BEACON HILL HISTORIC DISTRICT.

[VI.A. Historic Preservation Commission (HPC) Beacon Hill Historic District Recommendation.]

YEAH. GOOD EVENING. ALMOST MORNING. YES, HELLO.

I'M EILEEN DE LA TORREE, PLANNER WITH THE CITY OF DECATUR, AND I AM STAFF TO THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION.

I'M HERE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE, BUT FIRST, I JUST WANT TO BRIEFLY GO OVER WHAT WAS WRITTEN IN THE MEMO.

AND IT'S TALKING ABOUT THIS PARTICULAR AREA OF BEACON HILL IN WHICH THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION HAS RECOMMENDED APPROVAL OF A HISTORIC DISTRICT. THAT WOULD BE A TRADITIONAL CULTURAL PLACE.

SO TRADITIONAL CULTURAL PLACES ARE BUILDING STRUCTURES, OBJECTS, SITES OR DISTRICTS SIGNIFICANT TO A LIVING COMMUNITY DUE TO THEIR CULTURAL BELIEFS, CUSTOMS OR PRACTICES THAT ARE ROOTED IN THE COMMUNITY'S HISTORY AND IMPORTANT TO MAINTAINING THE COMMUNITY'S CULTURAL IDENTITY.

IN PRACTICE, BECAUSE A PLACE CONTINUES TO PLAY AN ACTIVE ROLE IN THE TRANSMISSION OF A TRADITIONAL COMMUNITY'S BELIEFS, CUSTOMS, AND PRACTICES, ITS PERIOD OF SIGNIFICANCE EXTENDS TO THE PRESENT.

ADDITIONALLY, ASPECTS OF A PLACE THAT HAVE CHANGED MAY THEMSELVES BE SIGNIFICANT IF THEY ARE CONSISTENT WITH THE TRADITIONS THAT GIVE IT VALUE.

AN IMPORTANT DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A TCP AND OTHER TYPES OF HISTORIC PROPERTIES IS THAT THE TCP DERIVES ITS PRIMARY SIGNIFICANCE, NOT FROM ITS PHYSICAL FEATURES, BUT FROM ITS DIRECT AND CONTINUING ASSOCIATIONS WITH A LIVING COMMUNITY.

BEACON HILL HAS BEEN REDEVELOPED MULTIPLE TIMES.

EVEN SO, COMMUNITY MEMBERS REMAIN STRONGLY CONNECTED TO THEIR ANCESTRAL HOME.

THEREFORE, THE ORDINANCE WAS DEVELOPED NOT TO FOCUS ON ARCHITECTURAL DETAILS OR GROWTH PATTERNS AS IN OTHER HISTORIC DISTRICTS, BUT TO PROTECT AND ENHANCE THE COMMUNITY'S CULTURAL IDENTITY.

EXISTING BUILDINGS WITHIN THE DISTRICT WILL BE MINIMALLY IMPACTED.

INTERIORS ARE NOT REVIEWED AND EXTERIOR REHABILITATIONS ARE APPROVED ADMINISTRATIVELY WITH A CERTIFICATE OF EXEMPTION AS PART OF THE PERMIT PROCESS. CONSTRUCTION THAT NEEDS A LAND DISTURBANCE PERMIT WOULD BE REQUIRED TO HAVE AN ARCHEOLOGIST TO MONITOR THE SITE.

MATERIAL CHANGES REQUIRING FULL HISTORIC PRESERVATION REVIEW WOULD APPLY ONLY TO THE FOLLOWING.

DEMOLITION OF RESOURCES THAT CONTRIBUTE TO THE HISTORY OF BEACON HILL, EASTER JIM LILLY HILL BAPTIST CHURCH AND TRINITY PRESBYTERIAN, NOW KIDIST MIRIAM ETHIOPIAN CHURCH TO PREVENT THE LOSS OF THESE BUILDINGS IF POSSIBLE, AND NEW CONSTRUCTION SO THAT ARCHITECTURAL DETAILS REFERENCE HISTORIC BUILDINGS THAT EXISTED IN THIS AREA, AND ELEMENTS RELATING TO BEACON HILL HISTORY ARE INCORPORATED.

SO ARCHITECTURAL DETAILS COULD BE SIMPLE THINGS LIKE HAVING ARCHED DOORWAYS TO MIMIC HERRING STREET SCHOOL, FOR EXAMPLE AS OPPOSED TO SQUARED OFF, YOU KNOW THINGS RELATING TO BEACON HILL HISTORY COULD BE AS SIMPLE AS A MURAL.

IT COULD BE A SPACE THAT, THAT PEOPLE CAN GATHER.

IT CAN BE ANY NUMBER OF THINGS. THE IDEA IS THAT THAT THE COMMUNITY THAT EXISTS THERE NOW IS STILL PART OF THIS ONGOING CULTURAL TRADITION. AND AND I JUST WANT TO CLARIFY BECAUSE I KNOW THERE WAS SOME CONCERN ABOUT THE SURVEY VERSUS THE MONITORING, WHICH I KNOW WAS BROUGHT UP IN, IN THE APRIL 6TH MEETING AS WELL.

SO THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION DID PROVIDE THEIR COMMENTS TO THE CITY SCHOOLS OF DECATUR ON THE 17TH AS REQUESTED, AND WITHIN THOSE COMMENTS, THEY DID REQUEST A FULL ARCHEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF THAT PROPERTY.

THAT'S SEPARATE FROM WHAT THIS ORDINANCE STATES.

THIS ORDINANCE IS, IS TALKING ABOUT THE MONITORING.

WHEN YOU HAVE LAND DISTURBANCE GOING ON, HAVING AN ARCHEOLOGICAL ARCHEOLOGIST THERE, AND SHOULD SOMETHING BE FOUND,

[04:55:04]

SO THAT IS SOMETHING I JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY THERE.

SO IF THERE'S ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE, I'M HERE TO ANSWER THEM.

OKAY. SO I THINK THE FIRST QUESTION I THINK. I THINK WE JUST HAVE TO HAVE A MOMENT OF CLARITY AND WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYONE UNDERSTANDS THE TRUTH OF WHAT'S HAPPENING HERE.

AND SO MY QUESTION IS PROBABLY WHAT EVERYONE HERE REALLY WANTS TO KNOW, WHICH IS, AND YOU'RE PROBABLY GOING TO BE NEEDED FOR THIS. HOW DOES THE CREATION OF A HISTORIC DISTRICT, THE BEACON HILL HISTORIC DISTRICT AFFECT THE STATE OF THE PERMITS OR THE STATE OF THE BUILDING OF THE PROPOSED ECLC FOR THE SITE? SO AS MENTIONED, THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION DID PROVIDE THEIR COMMENTS WITH THE FULL UNDERSTANDING THAT A SCHOOL IS, IS POSSIBLY PROBABLY GOING TO BE BUILT THERE.

AND THE COMMENTS WERE VERY EXTENSIVE DISCUSSING THINGS LIKE REQUIRING THE SURVEY MAKING SURE THAT, THAT THEY HAVE THE, THE CONTINUOUS GREEN SPACE THAT WAS PROMISED AT THE BEGINNING SO THAT THERE CAN BE YOU KNOW, THESE EVENTS, THESE SPACES FOR THE BEACON HILL COMMUNITY HAVE ARCHITECTURAL DETAILING THAT REFLECTS MORE OF THE HISTORY OF THE BUILDING. AND I BELIEVE THAT HERRING STREET SCHOOL AND TRINITY HIGH SCHOOL WERE, WERE TALKED ABOUT DURING THE MEETING, AS OPPOSED TO HAVING A VERY GENERIC HORIZONTAL BUILDING THAT DOESN'T REALLY GO IN, YOU KNOW, THAT DOESN'T REFLECT ANY, ANY SORT OF HISTORY OF THE AREA.

AND THOSE WERE JUST A FEW OF THE THINGS THAT WERE, THAT WERE BROUGHT UP, THESE COMMENTS FROM THE HPC.

ARE THEY LEGALLY BINDING? THEY ARE NOT LEGALLY BINDING.

THAT IS CORRECT. THEY ARE THE REQUESTED COMMENT FOR THE BUILDING.

THEY ARE NOT LEGALLY BINDING. AGAIN, IN A LEGAL SENSE, WE'RE HOPING THAT IN, YOU KNOW, THERE'S WHAT'S LEGAL AND THERE'S WHAT'S RIGHT. SO WE'RE HOPING THAT IN, IN THE RIGHT SENSE, THEY'LL, THEY'LL PAY ATTENTION TO SOME OF IT AT LEAST.

AND THOSE COMMENTS ARE JUST FOR THE, THE PROPERTY AT 346 WEST TRINITY PLACE.

BUT THE DISTRICT IS A NUMBER OF PROPERTIES, CORRECT? YES. THOSE COMMENTS WERE THE COMMENTS THAT WERE REQUESTED BY THE SCHOOL BY THE 17TH, WHICH Y'ALL HAD VOTED ON, I THINK IN MARCH. THAT'S WHAT I'D LIKE TO GET TO.

YES. I, THAT'S THE CONVERSATION I REALLY WANT TO HAVE BECAUSE THERE HAS BEEN A REALLY STRONG IMPRESSION THAT BY PASSING THIS HISTORICAL DESIGNATION TODAY, THAT THERE IS A POSSIBILITY THAT A CERTIFICATE OF APPROPRIATENESS WOULD BE REQUIRED OF CITY SCHOOLS OF DECATUR FOR A PROPOSED ECLC.

AND I WOULD LIKE TO CONFIRM WHETHER OR NOT THAT'S THE CASE, OR IF WHAT WE VOTED ON IN MARCH TO REQUIRE THEM TO GO THROUGH THAT PROCESS IS WHAT STANDS. AND THAT JUST TO BE CLEAR, THAT THE THAT I DON'T EVEN THINK I GOT A SECOND ON THAT MOTION.

SO, YES. SO IF THIS IF THE ORDINANCE PASSES TODAY, THEN YES, THEY WOULD NEED A CERTIFICATE OF APPROPRIATENESS BECAUSE THAT COMMENT WAS FOR THE MORATORIUM.

AND THAT IS HOW THE ORDINANCE WAS WRITTEN. WE DO HAVE OUR LEGAL COUNSEL HERE AS WELL IN CASE THERE'S ANY ANYTHING THAT MIGHT COME UP, BUT I. I PER THE REQUEST OF THE APPLICANTS, I DID NOT INCLUDE THE CITY SCHOOLS AS PART OF THE EXEMPTIONS BECAUSE OF THE QUESTION OF WHETHER THAT IS A LEGAL IT, IS IT A GOVERNING ENTITY? IS IT NOT A GOVERNING ENTITY? THAT'S NOT A QUESTION THAT'S BEEN 100% ANSWERED.

SO AND ANOTHER QUESTION OR REQUEST THAT CAME UP QUITE A FEW TIMES TODAY WAS RELATED TO AN ARCHEOLOGICAL

[05:00:04]

I HAVE A GREAT RESPECT FOR ARCHEOLOGISTS AND I FULLY SUPPORT THAT.

WHAT WHAT AUTHORITY DO WE HAVE TO DEMAND IT OR WHAT LANGUAGE.

ARE WE LEGALLY ALLOWED TO ADD INTO AN ORDINANCE TO REQUIRE IT? SO SHOULD THE ORDINANCE BE PASSED THIS EVENING? AND IT DOES GO BEFORE A CERTIFICATE OF APPROPRIATENESS.

A CERTIFICATE OF APPROPRIATENESS IS LEGALLY BINDING.

THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION IS ENABLED BY THE STATE TO PASS CERTAIN THINGS.

THEY'RE QUASI JUDICIAL MUCH LIKE THE ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS.

SO THE, THE C OF A WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT WOULD NEED TO BE FOLLOWED SUBSTANTIALLY FOLLOWED.

OBVIOUSLY THERE'S THINGS THAT THAT HAPPEN, BUT AND SO THAT COULD BE PART OF THE C OF A.

AND CAN WE. I WANT TO GIVE A LITTLE BIT OF A, A DIFFERENT ANSWER.

I WANT TO GIVE SOME MORE CONTEXT TO THAT ANSWER. THANK YOU. SO IT'S NOT IN I KNOW THAT AILEEN SAYING THAT THEY THEY WERE THE SCHOOL DISTRICT AND THE OTHER BASICALLY THE ONLY ENTITIES THAT WERE LISTED AS PUBLIC ENTITIES THAT YOU INTRODUCE YOURSELF.

YES. BY THE WAY, I'M DANIEL WHITE. THANK YOU. I'VE BEEN TO SOME SOME OF THE HPC MEETINGS AND I'VE ACTUALLY BEEN TO ONE OF YOUR MEETINGS BEFORE.

I DID NOT I WAS NOT ABLE TO MAKE IT TO THE EARLIER MEETING IN APRIL ON THIS, BUT I, I'M AN ATTORNEY WITH HANEY, LITCHFIELD AND WHITE. MY LAW FIRM REPRESENTS SEVERAL CITIES AND I'VE DONE HISTORIC PRESERVATION WORK.

AND I'M HERE AS CONFLICT COUNSEL ON BEHALF OF THE CITY.

SO BECAUSE THE CITY'S LAW FIRM HAD A CONFLICT OF INTEREST ON THIS, I STEPPED IN AND I'VE BEEN ADVISING THE CITY ALONG THE WAY.

THE ULTIMATE ORDINANCE THAT WAS, THAT WAS INTRODUCED HERE DOES ONLY SAY INCLUDE THIS, THE CITY OF DECATUR AND THE COUNTY AS PUBLIC ENTITIES.

AND THAT'S REALLY IN MY READING OF IT. THAT'S A REFLECTION OF THIS, THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION ACT THAT'S MIRRORING THAT THE STATES HPA.

AND SO I THINK THAT'S APPROPRIATE FROM A LEGAL STANDPOINT.

IT'S STILL A PRETTY MURKY QUESTION AS TO WHETHER A SCHOOL DISTRICT OR A HOUSING AUTHORITY OR ANY OTHER PUBLIC AUTHORITY COULD ACTUALLY BE REQUIRED TO GET A CERTIFICATE OF APPROPRIATENESS.

BUT I DO THINK IT'S APPROPRIATE TO NOT NAME THEM IN IT, BECAUSE THE HOPE IS THAT THEY WOULD DO THE RIGHT THING AND THAT THEY WOULD COME IN AND THEY WOULD WANT TO PARTICIPATE FULLY. AND SO I THINK IT'S APPROPRIATE TO LEAVE THEM OUT OF THE ACTUAL ORDINANCE AND TO, TO, TO NOT NAME THEM AS A PARTY THAT'S EXEMPTED.

BUT I WANT TO CLARIFY, WHEN IT COMES TO THIS SPECIFIC PROPERTY, THE PARK PROPERTY, THEY'VE ALREADY TRAVELED UNDER THE MORATORIUM LANGUAGE.

AND THAT'S ALREADY BEEN INTERPRETED TO SAY THAT THEY DON'T, YOU KNOW, THEY GET TO GO UNDER THE REVIEW AND COMMENT THING.

AND SO THAT'S ALREADY, THAT'S KIND OF THAT SHIP'S KIND OF ALREADY SAILED OUT OF PORT.

AND SO THAT, THAT, THAT COMMENT WAS PROVIDED AND ONCE THAT'S RECEIVED BY THE THE SCHOOLS, IT'S NOT GOING TO BE BINDING ON THEM.

BUT WE WOULD AGAIN, WE WOULD HOPE THEY WOULD DO THE RIGHT THING AND TAKE THOSE THINGS INTO CONSIDERATION. BUT IN TERMS OF HOW IT AFFECTS THE PERMITS THAT ARE ACTUALLY ALREADY ON FILE, AND WE'RE ON FILE WITH THE CITY BEFORE BEFORE THIS HISTORIC PRESERVATION PROCESS EVEN STARTED.

ONCE THAT RECEIVED BY THE ONCE THOSE COMMENTS ARE RECEIVED BY THE COUNTY OR EXCUSE ME, BY THE CITY SCHOOLS THAT THEN THEY WOULD I WOULD BE MY POSITION THAT THEY WOULD BE ENTITLED TO THEIR PERMITS. THERE'S NOT REALLY ANYTHING YOU COULD DO IN TERMS OF REQUIRING AN ADDITIONAL CERTIFICATE OF APPROPRIATENESS OR ARCHEOLOGICAL SURVEY OR ANY OF THAT TYPE OF STUFF, BECAUSE THEY WERE SORT OF ENTITLED TO THE STATE OF PLAY AT THE TIME THAT THEY APPLIED.

AND THERE ARE SOME THINGS YOU COULD DO TO SORT OF EXTEND THIS PERIOD UNDER THE INTO 90 DAYS, WHICH IT WAS ALREADY DONE, BUT THERE'S NOT ANY, THERE'S NO WAY TO KIND OF WALK THAT BACK AND APPLY IT TO THE MORATORIUM EXEMPTION PROVISION THAT THEY'VE ALREADY TRAVELED UNDER. SO IT'S NOT, YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT WHAT PEOPLE HOPED WOULD HAVE HAPPENED, THAT THE SCHOOL DISTRICT WOULD RETHINK THINGS AND SORT OF, YOU KNOW, DO WHAT? DO WHAT THE PEOPLE ARE ASKING THEM TO DO. THEY JUST THEY KIND OF PUT THEIR FOOT DOWN AND SAID, NO, WE'RE GOING TO ASK TO MOVE FORWARD UNDER WITH THE REVIEW AND COMMENT.

AND THERE'S JUST ONLY, YOU KNOW, I UNDERSTAND THE PUBLIC'S DESIRE TO USE THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION PROCESS THAT WAS IN PLACE ALREADY TO TRY TO HAVE SOME ACCOUNTABILITY FROM THE SCHOOL DISTRICT, BUT THAT'S REALLY NOT APPLICANTS.

AND A LOT OF PEOPLE HERE ARE ASKING THAT TO CARRY TOO MUCH.

I MEAN, THERE'S JUST NOT THE AUTHORITY EITHER UNDER THE STATE ACT OR UNDER THE ACT THAT THE CITY HAS TO REQUIRE AS PARTICULARLY A SCHOOL DISTRICT.

I MEAN, THERE'S WHEN YOU COME TO PRIVATE PROPERTY OWNERS, THERE'S CERTAIN THINGS YOU CAN DO, BUT JUST REALISTICALLY THE CITY HAS DONE ABOUT AS MUCH

[05:05:05]

AND WE CAN'T COMPEL CITY SCHOOLS OF DECATUR TO SELL THAT PROPERTY TO US.

AND EMINENT DOMAIN IS NOT APPLICABLE BECAUSE THEY ARE CONSIDERED GOVERNMENTAL.

YEAH. THEY THEY TO TWO ENTITIES WITH SOVEREIGN IMMUNITY.

POWERS DON'T CAN'T REALLY ONE CAN'T CONDEMN THE OTHER.

AND THAT IS CLEAR. THERE'S NO THERE'S NO MURKINESS THERE.

A CITY CANNOT EMINENT DOMAIN A SCHOOL SYSTEMS PROPERTY.

YEAH. OKAY. AND YOU CAN'T EVEN LIKE YOU CAN ASK THEM, DO YOU WANT TO SELL IT OR DO YOU WANT TO SWAP IT OR.

BUT IF THEY DON'T WANT TO LISTEN, THEN THEY. WELL, AND JUST FOR THE PUBLIC RECORD, YOU KNOW, THE HOUSING AUTHORITY HAS RIGHT OF FIRST REFUSAL.

SO, YOU KNOW, IS BEEN MADE CLEAR TO US THAT THEY WILL DEVELOP IF THEY BUY IT BACK.

SO THAT IS THEIR INTENT. AT LEAST THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE BEEN PUBLICLY TOLD.

SO, YOU KNOW, THERE ARE NOT A LOT OF OPTIONS IN TERMS OF, YOU KNOW, LEVERAGE THAT WE HAVE WITH THE SCHOOL SYSTEM.

NOW, MAYBE THE HOUSING AUTHORITY HAS SOME LEVERAGE WITH THE SCHOOL SYSTEM, BUT WE DO NOT HAVE THAT SAME LEVERAGE.

SAMUEL, JUST TO BE CLEAR, THIS VOTE THAT WE TAKE, IT HAS BINDING EFFECT.

IT IT WOULD TO THE EXTENT, YOU KNOW, THEIR PLANS CHANGE ENOUGH THAT THEY HAVE TO GO BACK THROUGH THE PROCESS, THEN WE, YOU KNOW, BUT AS IT STANDS TODAY, IF THEY MOVE FORWARD WITH WHAT THEY'VE ALREADY PROPOSED.

NO. BUT IF THINGS WHETHER IT'S LEGISLATION OR WHETHER IT'S OTHER, YOU KNOW, THINGS HAPPEN THAT THAT WOULD REQUIRE THEM TO SORT OF HAVE TO PAUSE AND COME BACK AND CHANGE IT COULD. I'M NOT SAYING IT CAN NEVER HAVE AN EFFECT, BUT WHAT YOU'RE VOTING ON TONIGHT IS REALLY THE LARGER DISTRICT, WHICH IS ABOUT AS MUCH AS YOU. I MEAN, I THINK THE GOOD THING THAT HAPPENED IS THAT THE THE APPLICANTS CAME IN WITH A SMALLER REQUEST THAT COULD HAVE AMOUNTED IN BASICALLY NOTHING REALLY BEING DONE ON BEHALF OF THE BEACON HILL COMMUNITY.

BUT WHAT I THINK THE HISTORIC PLANNING COMMISSION AND WHAT THIS COMMISSION HAS DONE, HAS TAKEN SOMETHING THAT COULD HAVE RESULTED IN NOTHING AND TRIED TO MAKE THE BEST YOU COULD OUT OF IT AND MAKE A LARGER WE'RE GOING TO MAKE A LARGER HISTORIC DISTRICT HERE TO RECOGNIZE THIS AREA AND PRESERVE WHAT WE CAN.

BUT WHEN YOU'RE DEALING WITH ANOTHER GOVERNMENTAL ENTITY, THERE'S ONLY SO MUCH POWER YOU HAVE TO, YOU KNOW. ASK THEM TO SIT DOWN AND TALK. AND SPEAKING SPECIFICALLY TO THE FACTS OF.

YEAH, THERE'S NOTHING BINDING ON THEM, AT LEAST PROPERTY AS IT CURRENTLY STANDS.

THANK YOU. I WANTED, AND I HATE THAT I HAD TO BE THE ONE, BUT I FELT LIKE I FELT LIKE I HAD TO BE THE ONE TO MAKE THAT CLARIFICATION BECAUSE IT'S NOT FOR LACK OF COURAGE. IT'S NOT FOR LACK OF DESIRE.

IT'S NOT FOR LACK OF ATTEMPT TO NEGOTIATE. I WE WE'VE DONE EVERYTHING WE COULD.

AND NOW WE HAVE AN APPLICATION FOR A HISTORIC DESIGNATION THAT HAS GREAT MERIT AND COULD PROTECT TWO OF THE LAST REMAINING BEACON HILL CHURCHES. LILY HILL AND HISTORIC TRINITY PRESBYTERIAN UNDER YOU KNOW, UNDER HISTORIC PRESERVATION PROTECTIONS.

AND THAT I KNOW IS NOT WHAT YOU REALLY WANT, BUT IT'S ALL WE HAVE TO GIVE. YOU KNOW, IT'S THIS HAS BEEN A, A TRUE TEST OF AUTHORITY AND, AND SEPARATION OF POWER.

AND IT IS UNFORTUNATE THAT WE DIDN'T GET TO THIS PLACE THREE YEARS AGO OR FOUR YEARS AGO OR, YOU KNOW, HAVE THAT CONVERSATION, THEN MAYBE THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN ADDITIONAL.

AND, YOU KNOW, THE PASSION IN THE ROOM IS CLEARLY HEARD.

AND AS THE MAYOR PRO TEM SAID, IT WASN'T FOR LACK OF WE DID EVERYTHING WE COULD TO DO WHAT WE COULD. YOU KNOW, OUR UNFORTUNATE THING IS OUR SIZE.

THERE'S JUST NOT. AND THERE'S NOT ANOTHER BEACON HILL COMMUNITY.

AND THIS IS, YOU KNOW, THE REALITY THAT, YOU KNOW, WE CAN PROTECT WHAT WE CAN.

AND UNFORTUNATELY, THERE'S NOT A LOT OF STRUCTURES LEFT TO PROTECT. I'VE GOT ANOTHER QUESTION, AND I'M NOT SURE WHO. STARTED TO.

[05:10:13]

OR HOW WOULD THIS POTENTIALLY AFFECT THEIR ABILITY TO DEVELOP.

THE HOUSING AUTHORITY. I MEAN I'M SORRY, THE HOUSING AUTHORITY. THEY ARE NOT NAMED AS A SORT OF WHAT WE MENTIONED EARLIER.

THEY'RE NOT NAMED AS A EXEMPTED ENTITY, SPECIFICALLY WITH THE HOPE THAT THEY WOULD COME, THAT THEY WOULD FOLLOW THROUGH WITH THE PROCESS AND, YOU KNOW, COME IN AND ASK FOR A CERTIFICATE OF APPROPRIATENESS. AND I HEARD THE COMMENTS THAT WERE MADE, AND I, AND I UNDERSTAND THERE WAS ASKING TO NOT MAKE IT APPLY TO THEM. YOU KNOW, ULTIMATELY THE CITY WOULD HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE SAME ANALYSIS IF THEY ASK TO BE EXEMPTED, YOU'D HAVE TO LOOK AT WHETHER THIS ACTIONS APPLIED TO A HOUSING AUTHORITY THAT APPLIES TO THE SCHOOL DISTRICT.

AND I'M NOT I DON'T BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE THAT. I'M NOT GOING TO OPINE ON A HYPOTHETICAL.

I'D RATHER JUST WAIT UNTIL, YOU KNOW, YOU GIVE THEM THE CHANCE TO DO THE RIGHT THING, AND HOPEFULLY THEY DO THE RIGHT THING.

AND WHETHER THEY THINK IT'S ACTUALLY GOING TO COST THEM PROJECTS. I CAN TELL YOU I'VE SEEN PROJECTS IN OTHER CITIES BEING BUILT RED TAPE.

BUT WE ALSO HAVE I'VE ALSO SEEN SCHOOL DISTRICTS COOPERATE AND OTHER JURISDICTIONS, AND I'VE SEEN HOUSING AUTHORITIES COOPERATE IN OTHER JURISDICTIONS.

SO THESE THESE BODIES CAN DO THE RIGHT THING IF THEY WANT TO.

I'M SURE EVERYBODY WOULD LIKE IT TO GO AS QUICKLY AND EASILY AS POSSIBLE. BUT I THINK I WOULD RATHER NOT GIVE AN OPINION TODAY ON, ON WHETHER YOU WOULD HAVE TO EXEMPT THEM OR NOT, BUT I WOULD, THEY'RE LEFT OUT ON PURPOSE BECAUSE WE THINK IT'S APPROPRIATE THAT THEY SHOULD HAVE TO. SO LET ME ASK YOU A FOLLOW UP QUESTION TO THAT.

UNDER THE CURRENT ORDINANCE, THERE ARE NO DESIGN GUIDELINES THAT ARE CODIFIED IN THIS ORDINANCE.

THAT'S RIGHT. WELL, SORRY. YEAH. AILEEN CAN SPEAK TO THAT.

YEAH, LET ME SPEAK TO THAT. I THE SO THE GUIDELINES ALWAYS GO WITH THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE DISTRICT.

THAT'S WHERE THE GUIDELINES THE ORDINANCE IS DERIVED FROM THE GUIDELINES. GUIDELINES COMES FROM THE SIGNIFICANCE. THE ARCHITECTURE IS NOT THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THIS DISTRICT. SO THE DESIGN GUIDELINES ARE VERY MINIMIZED IN TERMS OF, YOU KNOW, LIKE, DON'T MAKE IT LOOK LIKE A GENERICALLY NEW BUILDING, TRY TO KIND OF BRING SOME OF THAT. THOSE HISTORIC ELEMENTS IN THE ORDINANCE WAS WRITTEN SPECIFICALLY SO THAT PROPERTIES SUCH AS THE DECATUR HOUSING AUTHORITY OR ARE MINIMALLY AFFECTED.

AND WHAT I MEAN, MINIMAL, MINIMALLY AFFECTED.

I MEAN, LIKE, IT'S REALLY ONLY WHEN A LAND DISTURBANCE PERMIT.

YOU KNOW THAT THEY HAVE AN ARCHEOLOGIST MONITORING AS PART OF THE PROJECT.

MY UNDERSTANDING IS THERE MAY BE SOME SOME CONNECTION WITH THE WITH THE ETHIOPIAN CHURCH OR THE FORMER PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

BUT THOSE ARE THE BUILDINGS THAT ARE REALLY THE CONCERN.

AND ALSO, YOU KNOW, JUST THE ARCHEOLOGY IS REALLY WHAT IS THE CENTER OR IS THE CORE OF THINGS HERE? YOU KNOW, BECAUSE THERE, THERE MAY VERY WELL BE A LOT OF INFORMATION.

I MEAN, TEN YEARS AGO THEY FOUND KING RICHARD THE THIRD IN A PARKING DECK.

SO THEY WERE LIKE, YOU KNOW, WE KNOW HE'S HERE SOMEWHERE.

AND THEY DUG UP A PARKING DECK AND THERE HE WAS.

SO SO THIS THE INFORMATION IS STILL THERE TO BE FOUND.

AND SO, SO THAT'S KIND OF LIKE THE WHOLE GOAL OF THIS NOW.

YES, IT IS TRUE THAT THE SCHOOLS DO HAVE THEIR, THEIR PERMITS AND YOU KNOW, BUT MOST OF THE PROJECTS THAT WE GET IN, YOU KNOW, THERE'S ALWAYS REVISIONS. SO JUST BECAUSE THE PERMITS ARE IN DOESN'T MEAN THAT IT'S THOSE PERMITS THAT, YOU KNOW, GO THROUGH THERE, THEY CAN EASILY COME BACK AND REDESIGN THE WHOLE THING.

SO THAT'S WHERE THE COMMENT PART OF IT COMES IN.

AGAIN, WHICH IS SEPARATE FROM THE ORDINANCE. SO LET'S SAY WE ADD TO THAT ORDINANCE, THE ARCHEOLOGICAL SURVEY. WHAT WEIGHT WOULD IT CARRY THAT WOULD THAT WOULD APPLY TO THE WHOLE DISTRICT.

RIGHT. SO ANYTIME LAND IS DISTURBED IT WOULD REQUIRE AN ARCHEOLOGICAL ARCHEOLOGICAL SURVEY AND THAT WOULD BE PAID FOR BY THE BUT THAT WOULD BE PAID FOR BY THE. YEAH. WHOEVER THE PROPERTY OWNER IS, WHICH IS A YOU KNOW,

[05:15:06]

AND I WAS THINKING ABOUT THE HOUSING AUTHORITY SPECIFICALLY WHEN I WAS THINKING OF THAT YOU KNOW, BECAUSE I, I LIVE IN BOTH THOSE WORLDS. I LIVE IN AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND HISTORIC PRESERVATION.

SO I REALIZE THAT, YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES IT CAN, IT DOESN'T GO TOGETHER, BUT A LOT OF TIMES IT CAN IF WE DO IT.

RIGHT. AND SO THAT'S WHAT I WAS TRYING TO GET TO WHERE IT WOULD A FULL SURVEY WOULD ONLY BE REQUIRED IF SOMETHING IS IF SOMETHING SIGNIFICANT IS FOUND. WITH DE LA TORREE, YOU AND THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION HAS AN EXCELLENT WORK, AND WE APPRECIATE ALL OF THE TIME AND THE EFFORT THAT YOU PUT INTO THIS.

WE HEARD A LOT OF TESTIMONY TODAY FROM THE COMMUNITY ABOUT BEING HEARD AND BEING VALUED, AND IT'S BECAUSE OF THE WORK THAT YOU HAVE DONE THAT HELPS MAKE THEM FEEL THAT WAY. IT'S UNFORTUNATE THAT THERE'S ANOTHER ELECTED BODY IN THIS CITY WHO HAS NOT LIFTED A FINGER TO MAKE PEOPLE FEEL THAT WAY, AND I THINK I'M EXPRESSING THE FRUSTRATION OF THIS BODY THAT WE, LIKE YOU, FOR ALL OUR GOOD INTENTS, ARE TRYING TO GET THEM TO AT LEAST MAKE ANY MODICUM OF CHANGE FOR THE BETTERMENT OF THE BROADER COMMUNITY.

WE'RE NOT SEEING THAT. SO I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO YOU AND TO THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION FOR DOING WHAT YOU'RE DOING.

AND YOU PLEASE DON'T GET DEFENSIVE. WE'RE NOT MAD AT YOU.

I KNOW I, I HAVE DONE I'VE I'VE DONE WHAT I CAN FOR THE BEACON HILL FOLKS AND I KNOW THAT IT'S, THIS IS NOT AN EASY PLACE THAT ANY OF US ARE IN.

AND YEAH, SO I WON'T GO FURTHER THAN THAT. HOW WOULD THE ADDITIONAL.

PRACTICAL TERMS. SO BASICALLY, THE WAY IT WORKS IS AN ARCHEOLOGIST IS THERE AND WATCHING AS PEOPLE DIG AND YOU KNOW, IF IF THEY NOTICE SOMETHING, IF SOMETHING IS SEEN THAT MAY, YOU KNOW, THAT THAT MAY BE IMPORTANT. YOU KNOW, IT'S BASICALLY A REQUEST TO, TO STOP AND JUST, YOU KNOW, VERIFY. AND IF IT'S NOTHING, THEN YOU MOVE FORWARD.

IT JUST APPLIES TO THE WORK BEING DONE UNDER THE LAND DISTURBANCE PERMIT.

IS THAT CORRECT? THAT IS CORRECT. OKAY. I MEAN, OBVIOUSLY THE THE DIRT IS BEING MOVED DURING THAT TIME.

BUT YES, IT'S THE WORK THAT HAS BEEN PERMITTED BY WAY OF THE LAND DISTURBANCE PERMIT.

SO IN THEORY, IF THE DECATUR HOUSING AUTHORITY DID NEED TO BUILD, THEY WERE BEING MONITORED.

THEY WOULD ONLY NEED TO DO A SURVEY IF SOMETHING WERE FOUND.

BUT I UNDERSTAND. CORRECT. YES. OKAY. YEAH. I ABSOLUTELY HATE BEING PUT IN A POSITION TO HAVE TO JUSTIFY MY DEVOTION TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND MY DEVOTION TO REPARATIONS AND SUPPORTING MY PEOPLE. IT MAKES ME PHYSICALLY SICK. I'M LIKE, I'M BARELY HOLDING ON RIGHT NOW.

BUT I WILL SAY THAT IT HAS BEEN MY EXPERIENCE THAT SPECIFICALLY WITH THE HOUSING AT LEGACY IS THAT DA DOES NOT JUST RAM ITS WAY THROUGH THE PROCESS. I HAD A LOT OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT HOW HOUSING AT LEGACY, THE PROCESS, HOW THE PROCESS WENT.

AND I WAS NOT HAPPY WITH A LOT OF THINGS. BUT ONE THING I KNOW FOR SURE IS THERE WERE COMMUNITY MEETINGS.

THERE WERE POSTER BOARDS WITH DESIGNS, THERE WERE ALL DIFFERENT KIND OF COLOR SCHEMES, AND THEY CAME BEFORE US AT LEAST 5 OR 6 TIMES BEFORE THEY EVEN, YOU KNOW, DUG A HOLE IN THE GROUND. AND I DO NOT DOUBT FOR ONE SECOND THAT IF THEY HAD FOUND A SINGLE, WHAT WE SIMILARLY FOUND IN IN CREATING OUR PATH, THAT THE HOUSING AUTHORITY WOULD HAVE ABSOLUTELY STOPPED CONSTRUCTION AND FOLLOWED ALL OF THE RULES THAT THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN APPROPRIATE IF SOME REMAINS OR SOMETHING WAS FOUND.

AND I'M LOOKING AT MR. PADILLA BECAUSE I, I FEEL LIKE HE WOULD OPERATE WITH COMPLETE INTEGRITY IN THAT REGARD.

I DON'T DOUBT THAT. SO I DO NOT THINK THAT A HISTORIC DISTRICT DESIGNATION TO HONOR THE BEACON HILL DISTRICT AND PRESERVE WHAT IS LEFT OF IT WOULD CONTRADICT OUR ABILITY TO CONTINUE TO PROVIDE AFFORDABLE HOUSING OPTIONS HERE IN CITY OF DECATUR. I THINK DA DOES WHAT THEY DO VERY WELL.

THERE ARE MANY THINGS IN HOUSING WE DO TERRIBLY, BUT I THINK THEY DO WHAT THEY DO VERY WELL.

AND SO THAT IS WHY THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING GIRL IS UP HERE STILL IN SUPPORT OF MOVING FORWARD WITH THIS.

[05:20:12]

AND CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, I'M NOT. LET ME FINISH BEFORE YOU CORRECT ME IF I COULD REASON.

THE CITY MANAGER WHICH WOULD BE ON THE BALLOT THIS NOVEMBER.

SO ACTUALLY THEY DON'T HAVE THE MONEY CURRENTLY TO PAY BACK THE BONDS THAT THEY'RE DOING FOR THIS, BUT THEY PLEDGED TO PAY, FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND, JUST GENERAL REVENUE.

SO THEY BASICALLY PLEDGED THAT THEY WOULD INCREASE THE MILLAGE RATE TO PAY FOR THIS.

IF THIS FAILS, IS THAT ACCURATE? THAT'S ACCURATE.

THAT'S ACCURATE. WHICH MEANS A PLEDGE TO RAISE TAXES ON EVERY SINGLE RESIDENCE IN DECATUR.

IF IT CAME DOWN TO IT. SO I JUST IN THE FULL DISCLOSURE I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT.

SORRY, BUT LET'S TALK ABOUT SOMETHING REALLY HAPPY AND GREAT, WHICH IS ACTUALLY GIVING BEACON HILL COMMUNITY THE RECOGNITION THAT LONG HAS DESERVED.

SO ANYHOW, I THINK WE'LL HAVE TIME, PLENTY OF TIME IN OUR COMMENTS TO AGAIN, VOICE OUR DISPLEASURE.

I THINK WE WERE TASKED WITH A VERY DIFFICULT CHALLENGE CONSIDERING WHERE WE WERE IN THE PROCESS.

AND THANK YOU, MISS DE LA TORREE, AND THANK YOU, STAFF, AND THANK YOU TO THE HPC FOR REALLY DOING YEOMAN'S WORK IN UNCHARTED TERRITORY, BUT ALSO RECOGNIZING THAT WE HAVE A HISTORIC COMMUNITY THAT'S BEEN LONG FORGOTTEN.

AND AGAIN, THE REPARATIONS RESOLUTION WAS THE FIRST STEP.

THIS IS ANOTHER STEP, AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO FIND OTHER WAYS AND OTHER STEPS TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU KNOW, YOUR LEGACY AND YOUR STRUGGLES. DON'T JUST GO AWAY, THAT WE MEMORIALIZE THEM.

AND WE ALSO PAY ATTENTION TO, YOU KNOW, WHAT WE CAN DO FROM OUR PERSPECTIVE.

AND THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT WE WON'T STILL CONTINUE TO ADVOCATE WITH THE SCHOOL SYSTEM TO DO THE RIGHT THING.

YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES IT FEELS LIKE IT'S FALLING ON DEAF EARS, BUT I'M ALWAYS VERY PRAGMATIC AND HOPE THAT THEY WILL DO THE RIGHT THING, BUT KNOW THAT WE WILL ALWAYS HAVE YOUR BACK.

AS LONG AS I SIT IN THIS CHAIR. AND MAYOR PRO TEM SITS IN THAT CHAIR.

AND THE OTHER COMMISSIONERS ARE HERE. WE WILL ALWAYS HAVE YOUR BACK, HOWEVER WE CAN HAVE IT.

AND SO WHILE THIS DIDN'T YIELD THE RESULT THAT ULTIMATELY WE WANTED, WE DID GET.

WE WE ARE MOVING TOWARDS A DESIGNATION. AND I THINK I HEARD EARLIER THAT, YOU KNOW, THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY AT SOME POINT DOWN THE ROAD TO RECOGNIZE THE ENTIRETY OF THE FORMER BEACON HILL COMMUNITY.

AND I WOULD HOPE THAT WE WOULD HAVE THAT ABILITY SOMETIME DURING OUR TENURE TO DO THAT.

BUT WITH THAT BEING SAID, COMMISSIONERS, YOU HAVE IN FRONT OF YOU ORDINANCE 0-26-Z-AA.

SECOND MOTION HAS BEEN MADE AND SECONDED. IS THERE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ROLL CALL. VOTE. COMMISSIONER COURT MAYER I COMMISSIONER ARNOLD I COMMISSIONER DUSENBURY I MAYOR PRO TEM FRANK AND THE CHAIR VOTES I AND THE LOCAL DESIGNATION IS PASSED. WE THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR MANY WORDS, YOUR MANY LETTERS, ALL OF THOSE THAT HAVE SPOKEN PASSIONATELY ABOUT WHAT BEACON IS.

[05:25:03]

NEXT ON THE AGENDA WE HAVE THE GLEN LAKE POOL BONDING REPAIR PROJECT.

[VI.B. Glenlake Pool Bonding Repair Project.]

MY NAME IS DOCTOR REMY MS, PARKS AND RECREATION DIRECTOR.

TONIGHT I AM HERE TO REQUEST APPROVAL OF A CONTRACT WITH UNITED POOL MAINTENANCE AND THE AMOUNT OF $65,875.20.

AND TO ESTABLISH A PROJECT BUDGET OF $75,000 FOR SAFETY RELATED REPAIRS AT GLENLAKE POOL.

RECENT TESTING CONDUCTED BY HA ELECTRIC, ALONG WITH THE GROUND PENETRATING RADAR SCAN, INDICATE THAT THE POOL THAT PART OF THE POOL'S BONDING SYSTEM DOES NOT MEET CURRENT STANDARDS. BONDING IS AN IMPORTANT SAFETY COMPONENT DESIGNED TO REDUCE THE RISK OF ELECTRICAL HAZARDS FOR BOTH SWIMMERS AND STAFF.

THE ASSESSMENT DID NOT LOCATE A CONTINUOUS BONDING RING AROUND THE POOL PERIMETER, AND ONLY LIMITED BONDING CONNECTIVITY WAS OBSERVED AT THE PUMP.

GIVEN THE AGE OF THE FACILITY, IT IS POSSIBLE THAT THE ORIGINAL BONDING SYSTEM WAS EITHER NOT INSTALLED TO CURRENT STANDARDS OR HAS BEEN IMPACTED OVER TIME.

TO ADDRESS THESE FINDINGS, THE PROPOSED SCOPE OF THE WORK INCLUDES INSTALLING A NEW CONTINUOUS BONDING AND GROUNDING SYSTEM THAT CONNECTS THE POOL STRUCTURE, SURROUNDING ELEMENTS AND MECHANICAL EQUIPMENT.

THIS WORK WILL REQUIRE LIMITED REMOVAL OF PORTIONS OF THE POOL DECK, FOLLOWED BY INSTALLATION AND FULL RESTORATION OF THE DECK SURFACE.

UNITED POOL MAINTENANCE HAS PROVIDED A QUOTE OF $65,875.20 FOR THIS WORK.

STAFF RECOMMENDS ESTABLISHING A PROJECT OF $75,000 TO ACCOUNT FOR UNFORESEEN CONDITIONS THAT MAY ARISE DURING THE EXCAVATION AND INSTALLATION.

FUNDING IS AVAILABLE FROM THE FUND BALANCE OF THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS FUND. IF APPROVED, THE REPAIR IS ANTICIPATED TO BE COMPLETED WITHIN APPROXIMATELY 7 TO 14 DAYS FROM THE START OF CONSTRUCTION. THIS WORK IS RECOMMENDED TO ENSURE THE POOL MEETS CURRENT SAFETY EXPECTATIONS AND CAN CONTINUE TO OPERATE SAFELY FOR THE COMMUNITY.

THE OPENING TIME FOR THE SUMMER SEASON. KNOCK ON WOOD.

YES. YES. YES YES. AND BEFORE THE WORLD CUP. YES.

SO THIS IS A THIS IS A MAJOR REPAIR THAT WE MEAN BEFORE THE FIFA.

BY. GETTING PUNCHY HERE. ALL RIGHT. ARE THERE OTHER QUESTIONS? I'M JUST CURIOUS. IT'S I NOTICED IT'S IT'S A NO BID.

IS IT BELOW OUR. NO. YES. SO WE HAVE A AN AGREEMENT WITH UNITED POOLS FOR THE MAINTENANCE IN WHICH THEY ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR DOING THEIR SOURCING OF ALL EQUIPMENT IN ANY CONSTRUCTION THAT IS NEEDED REQUIRED FOR ANY OF OUR POOLS.

ARE THERE OTHER QUESTIONS? SO I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION.

SO MOVED. SECOND. SECOND. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AYE. AND CHAIR VOTES. AYE.

THANK YOU. GO GET US A POOL. OPEN. YES. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. ALRIGHT. NEXT UP, WEST AVENUE, WEST HOWARD AVENUE PLANTING MISS ERICKSON.

[VI.C. West Howard Avenue Planting.]

AND I'M HERE TO RECOMMEND ESTABLISHING A PROJECT BUDGET, AN AWARD OF CONTRACTUAL SERVICE AGREEMENT TO RUPERT LANDSCAPE FOR THE INSTALLATION PLANTINGS IN THE 52 PLANTED AREAS ALONG WEST HOWARD AVENUE FROM PADEN CIRCLE TO COMMERCE DRIVE, IN THE AMOUNT OF $141,343 AND ESTABLISH A PROJECT BUDGET OF $155,000. THE LANDSCAPE PLAN FOR WEST HOWARD AVENUE PLANTING PROJECT IS TO USE NATIVE TREES, PLANTS AS WELL. AND AS WELL AS THEM BEING LOW MAINTENANCE.

ON APRIL 15TH, WE RECEIVED TWO BIDS FOR THE PURCHASE AND INSTALLATION OF THE PLANTS IN THE 52 CURBED ISLAND ALONG WEST HOWARD AVENUE.

AND WHO'S THE LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT FIRM THAT WE WORKED WITH CALLED THE TWO THE TWO COMPANIES TO ASK TO GET CLARIFICATION ABOUT AVAILABILITY OF THE PLANTS, WHICH IS REALLY RIGHT NOW BECAUSE OF THE TIMING OF NEEDING TO GET THESE PLANTS IN.

IT'S A LITTLE BIT LATER THAN WE WOULD HAVE WANTED IT TO.

AND ALSO IF THEY HAD ALL THE, THE PLANTS AVAILABLE AND THE SPECIFIC HOURS THAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR,

[05:30:03]

WE'RE TRYING TO KEEP UNDER THREE FEET SAFETY.

AND SO ONE OF THE, THE LOW BID WAS GOING TO MAKE A LOT OF SUBSTITUTIONS AND DIDN'T HAVE ACCESS TO THE SPECIFIC.

AND THEN THE NEXT BID HAD. HAD ALREADY CONFIRMED THAT THEY HAVE THE AVAILABILITY AND THAT THEY HAD THE PLANTS.

OUR RECOMMENDATION IS TO GO WITH RUPERT LANDSCAPING FOR THIS PROJECT.

THEY WANT TO GO AHEAD. COMMISSIONER. I JUST WONDERED WITH THE CURRENT DROUGHT, IF THE LABOR IS GOING TO CONTINUE TO BE AT THIS RATE OR IF WE MIGHT HAVE TO ADD ADDITIONAL WATERING. YEAH. SO RIGHT NOW THE WATERING THAT WE WOULD THAT THEY'RE PROPOSING IS THREE TIMES A WEEK.

AND IF IT'S BAD, THEN WE WOULD ADD THAT FOURTH DAY TO THAT, BUT NO WATER.

THAT WAS MY QUESTION. ONE OF MY QUESTIONS. SO TIMES A WEEK UNTIL LIKE OCTOBER.

CORRECT. IT WOULD START FROM MAY ACTUALLY THROUGH SEPTEMBER.

SO IT'S A LOT, BUT THEN IT WOULD BE ADJUSTED, YOU KNOW, IF WE HAVE HEAVY RAIN ONE WEEK THEY WOULDN'T I KNOW.

PLEASE. THEY WOULDN'T COME OUT TO WATER IT. SO IT WOULD BE PER OCCURRENCE THAT WE WOULD BE PAYING.

BUT THE IDEA IS YOU KNOW, I KNOW WE'RE LOOKING AT WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE FOR THE NEXT YEAR.

ONCE WE GET THESE REALLY ESTABLISHED, THEN THESE PLANTS ARE NATIVES AND AGAIN ARE EXTREMELY TOLERANT.

SO WE'RE HOPING THEN WE WON'T HAVE TO HAVE THAT MAINTENANCE.

MAINTENANCE IN TERMS OF WATERING, YOU HAVE A HISTORY OF DEAD PLANTS ON HOWARD AVENUE.

OH. OH, I'M AND THIS IS YOUR POINT. I MEAN, IT WAS 90 LAST WEEKEND.

IT'S JUST HOTTER THAN HADES. CONCRETE AROUND IT.

YEAH, THERE'S A LOT OF CONCRETE AROUND IT. I MEAN, THE PLANTING SEASON EVEN BEFORE.

CLIMATE CHANGE, SO JUST KEEP IT ALIVE. YEAH, I THINK AND I THINK THAT FUTURE BUDGETS, WE'RE JUST GOING TO HAVE TO I MEAN, THIS BODY WILL HAVE TO KIND OF KNOW WHAT WE'RE COMMITTING OURSELVES TO IS THAT, YOU KNOW, JUST ASSUME THE WORST CASE SCENARIO IN TERMS OF THE NEED FOR THE WATERING.

WE PROBABLY WANT TO PLANT IN OCTOBER OR NOVEMBER.

NOT NOW. SO YEAH, THIS, THIS WAS A LITTLE THIS IS LATER THAN WE LIKE BECAUSE OF THE PROJECT WHERE WE DIDN'T WANT TO JUST EMPTY.

YOU WILL KEEP THEM ALIVE. WILL THEY OFFER ANY TYPE OF WARRANTY? IF WE GO SOME OF THEM WILL OFFER LIKE A SIX MONTH WARRANTY.

IF YOU HAVE, IF YOU HIRED THEM TO DO THE WATERING.

SO IT'S GOING TO DEPEND IT, THEY WON'T WARRANTY LIKE ACTS OF GOD OR IF SOMEONE RUNS OVER THEM WHICH HAS ALREADY HAPPENED, WE'LL RUN INTO THAT. OF COURSE IT HAS. YES, OKAY.

ARE WE GLAD THERE'S NO VARIETY IN HERE? SO THAT I WAS HAPPY TO SEE THAT I TRIED TO CITY MANAGER BY THIS.

I WOULD LIKE TO, IF POSSIBLE, YOU KNOW, A BIG TREE PERSON, BUT JUST REVIEW OPPORTUNITY TO PERHAPS PUT SOME MORE TREES IN THIS AND WE WOULD NOT PLANT THEM UNTIL THE FALL, BUT JUST. AND STEVE SANCHEZ WHO'S THE LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT, I THINK I MENTIONED BEFORE WHEN WE WHEN I CAME BEFORE YOU GUYS TO GET THE APPROVAL TO HIRE THIS FIRM, HE'S, HE SPECIALIZES IN NATIVES AND COMMERCIAL SETTINGS.

AND I'M REALLY PLEASED WITH A PLAN. AND, YOU KNOW, HE'S FOCUSED ON WHAT IT'S GOING TO READ LIKE WHEN YOU'RE IN A CAR OR A BICYCLE. SO YOU'LL SEE SOME OF THE MASS PLANTINGS.

AND SO I'M, I'M REALLY HAPPY WITH WHAT HE PUT FORTH.

AND AS HE SAID, THE REAL FOCUS ON THESE BEING SUPER HEARTY.

SO I HAVE A LOT OF FAITH THAT THIS IS GOING TO BE SUCCESSFUL AND IT'S GOING TO BE A BEAUTIFUL ADDITION.

OTHER QUESTIONS, THOUGHTS, CONCERNS. DOES ANYBODY LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION? SO MOVED. BEEN MADE AND SECONDED. IS THERE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AYE. THE CHAIR VOTES AYE.

THANK YOU MA'AM. ALRIGHT. THANK YOU. NEXT WE'LL MOVE TO REQUESTS AND PETITIONS.

[05:35:03]

SEEING THAT THERE'S ONLY STAFF HERE AND THERE'S NO ZOOM, I WILL CONSIDER REQUESTING PETITIONS NULL AND VOID FOR THE NIGHT.

MISS ARNOLD. I HAVE NO REPORTS NOR OTHER BUSINESS.

[VIII. Reports and Other Business.]

WELL, GOSH, WHAT A MEETING THAT WAS. SOMETHING ELSE.

BUT AS ALWAYS, I JUST WANT. I'LL TALK TO YOU ALL BECAUSE EMPTY CHAIRS.

AS ALWAYS, I'M SO GRATEFUL FOR THE INVOLVEMENT OF OUR CITIZENS AND FOR EVERYONE WHO SHOWED UP TO SHARE HOW THEY FELT ABOUT ALL THE DIFFERENT MATTERS ON OUR AGENDA TONIGHT. I ALSO JUST, I WAS VERY MOVED BY THE CONSTANT, VERY POSITIVE ATTITUDE OF THOSE BEACON HILL ELDERS WHO SHARED THEIR STORIES AND THEIR WISHES WITH US.

DESPITE ALL THE UPS AND DOWNS, THEY HAVE COME.

AND JUST, JUST THE ENERGY THEY BRING AROUND THE BEACON HILL DISTRICT AND THAT DESIRE TO HAVE THAT HONORED IS REALLY INSPIRING.

SO IT IS ALSO NATIONAL VOLUNTEER WEEK. AND I WANTED TO SAY THAT LAST WEEK DECATUR CELEBRATED ITS VOLUNTEERS AND YOU KNOW, WE HAD ANOTHER VOLUNTEER IN HERE TONIGHT, AN ARCHEOLOGIST OFFERING THEIR SERVICES.

SO I JUST THINK DECATUR REALLY HAS IT GOING ON WHEN IT COMES TO VOLUNTEERS.

SO I'M VERY PROUD OF THAT. AND LAST YEAR WE HAD 565 UNIQUE VOLUNTEERS HELPING MAKE DECATUR GO.

AND A TOTAL OF 2,718.75 TOTAL VOLUNTEER HOURS.

AND WHEN YOU VALUE THAT AT $34.79 AN HOUR, WHICH IS THE NATIONAL AVERAGE.

THAT WAS A VALUE OF $94,585.31 TO THE CITY OF DECATUR.

SO AS WE THINK ABOUT VOLUNTEERING AND HOW IT MAKES US FEEL GOOD AND IT HELPS CONNECT US, IT ALSO HAS TRUE VALUE FOR OUR CITY.

SO I JUST WANTED TO CELEBRATE THAT. AND WITH THAT.

I THANK YOU FOR THE TIME. THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER.

COMMISSIONER ARNOLD. I ACTUALLY HAD TWO LOVELY PREPARED STATEMENTS WRITTEN.

I DON'T KNOW IF YOU WOULD FIND THEM LOVELY, BUT BUT I JUST DON'T THINK TONIGHT'S THE NIGHT.

ONE DEALING WITH THE UDO, THE OTHER DEALING WITH MATTERS OF CUSTOMER SERVICE.

THEY'RE HERE. THEY'RE NOT GOING ANYWHERE. I WILL BE BACK AT THE NEXT MEETING WITH MAY THE 4TH BE WITH YOU.

ALL RIGHT. MAYBE THE MEETING AFTER THAT. I'M LOOKING FOR THE MAYOR.

I, YOU KNOW, I, I FIND MYSELF WITH MY HEAD FULL, WITH CONFLICTING TIME, AND WE'D HAVE NOTHING MUCH TO SAY BEYOND THAT.

YEAH, THOSE ARE MY COMMENTS. LOOKING FORWARD TO A MORE EBULLIENT MEETING ON MAY.

THE COMMISSIONER DUSENBURY. MAYOR PRO TEM.

DIRECTLY CHALLENGING CARL TO MAKE SURE THAT SCHOOLS WERE DESEGREGATED.

IMPRESSIVE THING THAT SHE DID.

I. I HOPE THE MEMBERS OF OUR ELECTED SCHOOL BOARD TAKE THE TIME TO WATCH THIS MEETING AND ALL THE OTHERS IN THEIR ENTIRETY. THIS IS. YOU ALL HAVE DONE AN AMAZING JOB, INCLUDING STAFF OF HANDLING SOMETHING THAT IS VERY NEAR AND DEAR TO ALL OF US BECAUSE WE'VE ALL RAISED OUR KIDS HERE, AND WE ALL BELIEVE THERE'S A LEVEL OF ENGAGEMENT THAT WE SHOULD ALL HAVE. AND I FEEL THAT THEY CONTINUE TO FALL SHORT OF THAT LEVEL OF ENGAGEMENT AND THAT LEVEL OF TRANSPARENCY.

AND I HOPE AND I HOPE THAT THEY WILL DO THE RIGHT THING, BECAUSE I THINK THE PUBLIC SENTIMENT IS LEANING TOWARDS THE OTHER WAY, AND IT'S FRUSTRATING.

ON ONE HAND, WE CREATED SOMETHING THAT WE WERE ASKED FOR, BUT ON THE OTHER HAND, WHAT DID WE REALLY DO? AND I'LL JUST LEAVE IT AT THAT. I THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR HARD WORK AND YOUR EFFORTS.

[05:40:02]

WE WILL SEE.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.