[00:00:01] EARLIER, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN LIKE 3:00. GOOD EVENING. [I. Call to Order by Mayor.] EVERYONE WOULD LIKE TO CALL THE JUNE 15TH MEETING OF THE DECATUR CITY COMMISSION TO ORDER COMMISSIONERS YOU HAVE IN FRONT OF YOU THE MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF JUNE 1ST AND [II. Approval of the Minutes.] THE CALL MEETING OF JUNE 8TH. ARE THERE ANY ADDITIONS OR CORRECTIONS? IF SO, MAY I GET A MOTION? SECOND. SECOND. OKAY. AYE. AND THE CHAIR VOTES AYE. WELL, WE HAVE SOME PROCLAMATIONS TODAY AND WE HAVE A REALLY, [III. Proclamations.] REALLY, REALLY, REALLY SPECIAL GUEST. AND PROCLAMATION IS FOR MARY FRANCES EARLY. AND IT READS AS FOLLOWS. WHEREAS MARY FRANCES EARLY WAS BORN ON JUNE 14TH, 1936, IN ATLANTA, GEORGIA, AND GREW UP WITH A DEEP LOVE OF MUSIC AND LEARNING, INSPIRED BY HER PARENTS AND HER TEACHERS. AND WHEREAS IN 1961, MARY FRANCES EARLY MADE THE COURAGEOUS DECISION TO ENROLL IN THE MASTER'S PROGRAM IN MUSIC EDUCATION AT THE UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA, BECOMING ONE OF ONLY THREE AFRICAN AMERICAN STUDENTS AT THE INSTITUTION AT THAT TIME. AND WHEREAS, ON AUGUST 16TH, 1962, MARY FRANCES EARLY MADE HISTORY AS THE FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN TO GRADUATE FROM OUR ALMA MATER, THE UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA, [LAUGHTER] EARNING A MASTER'S DEGREE IN MUSIC EDUCATION AND BREAKING BARRIERS THAT HAD LONG EXCLUDED BLACK STUDENTS FROM THE INSTITUTION. AND WHEREAS MARY FRANCES EARLY DEDICATED NEARLY FIVE DECADES TO MUSIC EDUCATION IN GEORGIA, SERVING STUDENTS AND TEACHERS ACROSS ATLANTA PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND RISING TO BECOME MUSIC DIRECTOR OF THE ENTIRE SCHOOL SYSTEM, SHAPING THE MUSICAL DEVELOPMENT OF COUNTLESS YOUNG PEOPLE. AND WHEREAS IN 1981, MARY FRANCES EARLY BECAME THE FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN ELECTED PRESIDENT OF THE GEORGIA MUSIC EDUCATORS ASSOCIATION, CONTINUING HER LEGACY AS A TRAILBLAZER AND ADVOCATE FOR MUSIC EDUCATION ACROSS THE STATE. AND WHEREAS, AFTER RETIRING FROM PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN 1994, MARY FRANCES EARLY CONTINUED TO INVEST IN FUTURE GENERATIONS OF EDUCATORS AND ARTISTS BY TEACHING AT MOREHOUSE COLLEGE AND SPELMAN COLLEGE AND SERVING AS THE CHAIR OF THE MUSIC DEPARTMENT AT CLARK ATLANTA UNIVERSITY. AND WHEREAS THE UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA HONORED MARY FRANCES EARLY'S ENDURING LEGACY BY NAMING ITS COLLEGE OF EDUCATION IN HER HONOR IN FEBRUARY OF 2020 AND PRESENTING HER WITH A PRESIDENTIAL MEDAL OF FREEDOM IN 2018. RECOGNIZING HER AS A CENTRAL FIGURE IN THE UNIVERSITY'S HISTORY AND IN THE BROADER STRUGGLE FOR CIVIL RIGHTS IN GEORGIA. AND WHEREAS MARY FRANCES EARLY'S COURAGE, PERSEVERANCE AND COMMITMENT TO EDUCATION AND EQUITY HAVE INSPIRED GENERATIONS OF STUDENTS, EDUCATORS AND LEADERS THROUGHOUT GEORGIA AND THE NATION. NOW, I AM HAPPY TO ANNOUNCE THAT TODAY, JUNE 14TH, IS MARY FRANCES EARLY DAY, AND I ENCOURAGE ALL COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO HONOR HER EXTRAORDINARY LIFE, HER HISTORIC CONTRIBUTIONS TO CIVIL RIGHTS AND EDUCATION, AND CELEBRATE WITH ME ON HER 90TH BIRTHDAY. [APPLAUSE] I HAVE NEVER BEEN MORE PROUD AS A BECAUSE YOU DESERVE THAT, AND EVEN MORE BECAUSE YOU MADE IT POSSIBLE FOR PEOPLE LIKE ME TO GO TO THE UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA. THANK YOU. AND I'D LIKE TO PRESENT YOU WITH THIS PROCLAMATION. [APPLAUSE]. OH. IT'S RIGHT. YOU WANT TO DO A PHOTO FIRST? OKAY. THANK YOU. OH, NO. ONE, TWO AND THREE Y'ALL HAVE TO UNDERSTAND, I'M 90 YEARS OF AGE, AND I CAN'T CONTROL THAT PHONE. [LAUGHTER]. I'M 60 AND I CAN'T CONTROL MINE. [LAUGHTER]. OKAY, THIS IS TRULY A SIGNAL HONOR, BECAUSE I'VE BEEN IN DECATUR [00:05:10] SINCE. 1976. AND, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE SAY THAT HOME IS WHERE THE HEART IS. AND MY HEART IS IN DECATUR BECAUSE WHEN I MOVED THERE, I WAS THE ONLY AFRICAN AMERICAN IN THE COMMUNITY. BUT I MOVED THERE BECAUSE ONE OF MY WHITE WELL, COWORKERS WAS THERE. AND SHE SAID THERE WAS A UNIT THAT WAS FOR SALE. AND I HAD A LITTLE PROBLEM BECAUSE THEY CANCELED TWO OF THE CLOSINGS. AND FINALLY I CALLED AND ASKED TO SPEAK WITH THE CEO, THE PRESIDENT. I DIDN'T SPEAK WITH HIM, BUT I SAID TO THEM, YOU KNOW, IT'S EITHER BECAUSE I'M BLACK OR BECAUSE I'M A WOMAN. AND NEITHER ONE OF THOSE WILL STAND UP IN COURT. I DON'T WANT TO HAVE ANOTHER CLOSING THAT IS CANCELED. AND THEN THIS GUY SAID, WELL, HE WAS THE VICE PRESIDENT. WELL, I'LL MEET YOU AT YOUR PROPERTY AFTER WORK BECAUSE I WAS STILL WORKING, OF COURSE. AND I SAID, IT'S NOT MINE YET, BUT IT WILL BE SOON. THAT WAS MY INTRODUCTION TO. BUT I LOVE DECATUR. IN AUGUST I WOULD HAVE BEEN HERE 50 YEARS. AND IT'S A DIVERSE COMMUNITY. IT'S A BEAUTIFUL COMMUNITY AND IT INCLUDES PEOPLE WHO, LIKE ME, LIKE TO LIVE AS HUMAN BEINGS AND LIVE TOGETHER. I BELONG TO THE FIRST CHRISTIAN CHURCH OF DECATUR, WHICH IS ACROSS FROM POST OFFICE. AND ONCE AGAIN, I WAS ONE OF FEW BLACKS WHO JOINED THAT CONGREGATION, BUT I WAS TIRED OF GOING ACROSS TOWN TO A PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH AND FOUND THAT THIS. THIS WAS A LOVING COMMUNITY. SO THIS IS REALLY AN HONOR BECAUSE WHEN YOU ARE RECOGNIZED BY PEOPLE WHO ARE FROM THE SAME PLACE YOU ARE, IT REALLY MEANS SOMETHING. AND I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT AT THE AGE OF 90, I'M AN ANOMALY BECAUSE MY MOTHER AND FATHER AND MY BROTHER, MY ONLY SIBLING, DID NOT LIVE THAT LONG. SO I THINK GOD HAS ME HERE FOR A PURPOSE AND I AM TRULY AN AMERICAN. I WAS BORN ON FLAG DAY THE SAME DAY AS ANOTHER PERSON. [LAUGHTER]. BUT I LOVE DEMOCRACY. DEMOCRACY FOR ALL. AND I HAVE LIVED UNDER THE. WELL, I'VE BEEN SORT OF QUIET BECAUSE I'M NOT THE KIND OF PERSON WHO LIKES TO TO BRING, WELL, ATTENTION TO MYSELF. SO I'VE LIVED UNDER THE RADAR, BUT I AM LOVED BY THE PEOPLE THAT I LIVE WITH IN RICHMOND GREEN CONDOMINIUMS. AND OBVIOUSLY YOU FEEL THE SAME WAY. AND I WANT TO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS WONDERFUL HONOR. THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE]. I THINK I REMARKED AT YOUR CEREMONY AT AGNES SCOTT, IT IS NOT OFTEN THAT YOU GET TO MEET A REAL LIFE HERO, BUT ALSO TO BE RECOGNIZED WHILE THAT PERSON IS STILL ALIVE. AND SO WE ARE GRATEFUL THAT YOU ARE HERE WITH US TONIGHT, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU UP AT WATCH FEST FOR A LITTLE BIT. [LAUGHTER]. COME TO THE VIP AND GET SOME AIR CONDITIONING AND WATCH A MATCH WITH US. SO, WELL, NEXT UP, WE HAVE A PROCLAMATION FOR JUNETEENTH. WHEREAS JUNE 19TH, 1865, MARKS THE DAY THAT MAJOR GENERAL GORDON GRANGER ARRIVED IN GALVESTON, TEXAS, AND ANNOUNCED THE END OF BOTH THE CIVIL WAR AND SLAVERY. AND WHEREAS THE EMANCIPATION PROCLAMATION HAD BEEN SIGNED BY PRESIDENT ABRAHAM LINCOLN ON SEPTEMBER 22ND, 1862, BUT THE SLAVES IN TEXAS WERE UNAWARE OF IT UNTIL BEING TOLD BY GENERAL GRANGER. AND WHEREAS REACTION TO THE NEWS RANGED FROM JUBILATION TO SHOCK, AND THE FREED SLAVES TOOK TO THE STREETS TO CELEBRATE. AND WHEREAS IN THE YEARS THAT FOLLOWED, JUNE 19TH WAS COMMEMORATED BY THE HOLIDAY OF JUNETEENTH, COMBINING THE WORDS JUNE AND 19TH. AND WHEREAS JUNETEENTH OFFICIALLY BECAME THE 11TH FEDERAL HOLIDAY ON JUNE 17TH, 2021, AND JUNETEENTH NATIONAL INDEPENDENCE DAY IS THE FIRST HOLIDAY TO BE ADDED TO THE LIST OF FEDERAL HOLIDAYS SINCE THE RECOGNITION OF REVEREND DOCTOR MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. S BIRTHDAY IN 1983. AND WHEREAS JUNETEENTH IS A DAY OF PROFOUND WEIGHT AND POWER, A DAY IN WHICH WE REMEMBER THE MORAL STAIN AND TERRIBLE TOLL OF SLAVERY ON OUR COUNTRY AND THE LONG LEGACY OF SYSTEMIC RACISM AND [00:10:01] INEQUALITY AND INHUMANITY. AND WHEREAS JUNETEENTH IS A DAY THAT ALSO REMINDS US OF OUR CAPACITY TO HEAL, TO HOPE, AND EMERGE FROM OUR DARKEST MOMENTS WITH PURPOSE AND RESOLVE. AND WHEREAS JUNETEENTH COMMEMORATES THE PAST AND CALLS US TO ACTION TODAY, AND WHEREAS WE, THE CITY OF DECATUR, PLEDGED TO REMAIN COMMITTED TO THE WORK OF ADVANCING EQUITY, EQUALITY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL MEMBERS OF THE DECATUR COMMUNITY. AND WHEREAS A JUNETEENTH FLAG WILL FLY ON THE FRONT OF CITY HALL AND OTHER CITY BUILDINGS FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE MONTH OF JUNE. NOW THEREFORE I TONY POWERS, THE MAYOR OF THE CITY OF DECATUR, THE CITY OF HOMES, SCHOOLS AND PLACES OF WORSHIP DO HEREBY PROCLAIM JUNE 19TH, 2026 AS JUNETEENTH DAY OF OBSERVANCE. AND I URGE ALL COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO OBSERVE THIS DAY WITH ACTIVITIES AND REFLECTIONS THAT CELEBRATE FREEDOM AND JUSTICE FOR ALL PEOPLE. AND WE WILL HAVE A HUGE JUNETEENTH PARTY ON THE SQUARE, BEGINNING WITH JOHN BOY AND SURROUND SOUND AT 6:30, FOLLOWED BY TEAM USA AT 9:00. THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE]. AND NEXT UP, WE DON'T WANT TO LEAVE OUR PUBLIC WORKS PEOPLE OUT. WE ALSO HAVE A PARKS AND RECREATION MONTH PROCLAMATION. WHEREAS PARKS AND RECREATION IS AN INTEGRAL PART OF COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT THIS COUNTRY, INCLUDING THE CITY OF DECATUR. AND WHEREAS, PARKS AND RECREATION PROMOTE HEALTH AND WELLNESS, IMPROVING THE PHYSICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH OF PEOPLE WHO LIVE NEAR PARKS AND. WHEREAS, PARKS AND RECREATION ENCOURAGE PHYSICAL ACTIVITIES BY PROVIDING SPACE FOR POPULAR SPORTS, HIKING TRAILS, SWIMMING POOLS AND MANY OTHER ACTIVITIES DESIGNED TO PROMOTE ACTIVE LIFESTYLES. AND. WHEREAS PARKS AND RECREATION PROGRAMING AND EDUCATION ACTIVITIES SUCH AS OUT OF SCHOOL TIME PROGRAMING, YOUTH SPORTS AND ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION ARE CRITICAL TO CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT. AND WHEREAS, PARKS AND RECREATION INCREASE A COMMUNITY'S ECONOMIC PROSPERITY THROUGH INCREASED PROPERTY VALUES, EXPANSION OF THE LOCAL TAX BASE, INCREASED TOURISM AND THE ATTRACTION, ATTRACTION AND RETENTION OF BUSINESSES AND CRIME REDUCTION. AND WHEREAS, PARKS AND RECREATION IS FUNDAMENTAL TO THE ENVIRONMENTAL WELL-BEING OF OUR COMMUNITY, AND. WHEREAS, OUR PARKS AND NATURAL RECREATION AREAS ENSURE THE ECOLOGICAL BEAUTY OF OUR COMMUNITY, AND PROVIDE A PLACE FOR CHILDREN AND ADULTS TO CONNECT WITH NATURE AND RECREATE OUTDOORS. AND WHEREAS, THE US HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES HAS DESIGNATED JULY'S PARKS AND RECREATION MONTH. NOW THEREFORE, I TONY POWERS, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF DECATUR, THE CITY OF HOMES, SCHOOLS AND PLACES OF WORSHIP AND PARKS DO HEREBY PROCLAIM, PROCLAIM THE MONTH OF JULY AS PARKS AND RECREATION MONTH, AND I URGE ALL COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND ORGANIZATIONS TO RECOGNIZE THIS OBSERVANCE. [APPLAUSE]. AND YOUR TEAM HERE. THANK YOU. TAKING THE PICTURE OKAY. [LAUGHTER] THANK YOU. THANK YOU. WE HAVE ONE WALK ON [Additional Item] AGENDA ITEM. IT'S AN ABL FOR A BUSINESS. IT IS FOR. THANK YOU, MS. THREADGILL. YES. I'M HERE. ALL RIGHT. GOOD EVENING, MAYOR, MAYOR PRO TEM AND COMMISSIONERS. I'M ANGELA THREADGILL, ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER, COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. I'M BEFORE YOU TONIGHT WITH A WALK ON ITEM RELATED TO A REQUEST FOR ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE LICENSE FOR A RESTAURANT NOODLE. THEY'RE AT 205 EAST PONCE DE LEON AVENUE. THEY ARE LOOKING TO SERVE BEER AND WINE FOR CONSUMPTION ON PREMISES. I THINK WE ALL KNOW THAT NOODLE HAS PROBABLY BEEN THERE FOR CLOSE TO A COUPLE OF DECADES. THE LAST TIME THAT THEY HELD A LICENSE OF ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE LICENSE WAS IN 2018. IT WAS AROUND THAT TIME THAT THERE WAS THE FIRE. THEY DID NOT SEEK A LICENSE AFTER THAT. AND THEN ALSO THEY HAVE A CHANGE IN OWNERSHIP. BUT DUE TO THE LAPSE IN TIME AND NEW OWNERSHIP, THEY ARE SEEKING ESSENTIALLY A NEW ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE LICENSE. A CERTIFICATE OF OCCUPANCY HAS BEEN ISSUED. THEY'VE PAID ALL THEIR FEES. [00:15:04] AND SO AT THIS TIME WE ARE REQUESTING THAT THE LICENSE BE ISSUED. THANK YOU. ARE THEY SUBJECT TO THE OPEN CONTAINER POLICY? SO ONCE THEY HAVE AN ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE LICENSE THEY CAN ALSO APPLY FOR THE OPEN CONTAINER OR RESTAURANT DISTRICT. THAT'S AN ADDITIONAL FEE. BUT THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF, YOU KNOW, THE SPECIAL TO GO CUPS DURING WATCH FEST AS WELL, AS WELL AS FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE YEAR. BUT THEY DON'T HAVE TO COME BACK TO US? NO, NO. OTHER QUESTIONS? ENTERTAIN A MOTION. SO MOVED. SECOND? SECOND. MOTION HAS BEEN MADE AND SECONDED. IS THERE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AYE. AND THE CHAIR VOTES AYE. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WE'LL BRING THEM BACK INTO THE FOLD. NEXT UP WE WILL HAVE PUBLIC COMMENT ON THE. [IV. Public Hearing.] THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR THE 2025 AND 2026 REVISED BUDGET ESTIMATES. THE 2026-27 PROPOSED BUDGET ESTIMATES AND THE 2026 MILLAGE RATES. MS. ARNOLD, WE HAVE HAD A SERIES OF HEARINGS. WE'VE INVITED THE PUBLIC IN AND WE'VE TAKEN A FEW QUESTIONS, BUT BASICALLY MET OUR RESPONSIBILITY FOR HOLDING THREE HEARINGS. THIS IS THE LAST OF THE THREE HEARINGS, AS WE WILL TAKE ACTION ON THE MILLAGE RATES AND THE BUDGETS AT THIS MEETING. SO IF THERE ARE THOSE IN THE AUDIENCE THAT WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A COMMENT ABOUT THE BUDGET OR THE MILLAGE RATES, NOW IS YOUR TIME TO COME FORWARD AND DO SO. SEEING NONE, WE WILL OPEN IT UP TO OUR ZOOM AUDIENCE. FOR A SHOW OF HANDS OTHER THAN THE TWO CITY EMPLOYEES. I SEE A NEW PERSON. SHERRY. [LAUGHTER]. SHERRY. SEEING NONE, WE WILL CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT ON THE PUBLIC HEARING. NEXT UP, THE PUBLIC IS INVITED TO COME IN ON AGENDA ACTION ITEMS OTHER THAN REQUESTS AND PETITIONS AND REPORTS AND OTHER BUSINESS. PUBLIC COMMENTS THAT RELATE TO REQUESTS AND PETITIONS WILL BE HEARD LATER IN THE MEETING. OUR AGENDA ACTION ITEMS TONIGHT ARE THE ORDINANCES ADOPTING THE MILLAGE RATES, THE GENERAL FUND RATE, THE BOND FUND RATE, THE ADOPTION OF THE FEE SCHEDULES, AND THE CONSOLIDATED SCHEDULES. THE RESOLUTION ESTABLISHING THE VARIOUS FUND BUDGETS, THE RESOLUTION AMENDING THE PAY AND CLASSIFICATION PLAN, AND A TEMPORARY REGULATION FOR THE USE OF DRONES DURING WATCH FEST 2026. SO IF THERE ARE MEMBERS OF THE AUDIENCE THAT WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A COMMENT ON ANY OF THESE AGENDA ACTION ITEMS, YOU'RE INVITED TO DO SO NOW. ANY OTHER COMMENTS WILL BE HELD FOR REQUESTS AND PETITIONS. SEEING NONE AND ALSO SEEING NONE ON ZOOM, WE WILL START OFF WITH AGENDA ACTION ITEM A. [VI.A. Ordinances Adopting Millage Rates.] ORDINANCES ADOPTING THE MILLAGE RATES. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MAYOR, COMMISSIONERS, THIS AGENDA ITEM IS YOUR CONSIDERATION OF THE FINAL ADOPTION OF THE 2026 MILLAGE RATES. AT THE MAY 18TH, 2026 MEETING, THE CITY COMMISSION TENTATIVELY ADOPTED A 2026 COMBINED MILLAGE RATE OF 12.97 MILLS. THAT'S THE SAME RATE AS 2025, AND IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT THAT TENTATIVE MILLAGE RATE BE ADOPTED AS THE FINAL MILLAGE RATE FOR 2026. I WILL NOTE THAT THAT MILLAGE RATE DOES SUPPORT THE BUDGET THAT IS BEING PRESENTED ALSO FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION THIS EVENING. JUST ONE ITEM TO POINT OUT ABOUT THE MILLAGE RATE. WHILE THE BOTTOM LINE THE COMBINED MILLAGE RATE DOES NOT CHANGE, THE DEBT SERVICE MILLAGE RATE DECREASED BY 0.05 MILLS, AND THAT WAS MOVED OR SHIFTED OVER TO THE GENERAL FUND OPERATING MILLAGE. IT ADDED 0.05 MILLS. AS THE MAYOR SAID EARLIER THE CITY COMMISSION HELD THREE HEARINGS ON THE BUDGET AND MILLAGE RATES. THAT WAS JUNE 1ST. WE HAD THE SPECIAL CALLED HEARING ON JUNE 8TH. AND THEN AGAIN MOMENTS AGO AT OUR MEETING THIS EVENING. AND SO IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT THE CITY COMMISSION ADOPT THE ORDINANCES 0-26-02, 03, 04 THAT WILL ESTABLISH THE FINAL 2026 [00:20:06] MILLAGE RATES. AND WHEN THE TAX BILLS ARE SENT IN THE FALL THESE ARE THE MILLAGE RATES THAT WILL BE REFLECTED ON THOSE BILLS. I'LL BE HAPPY TO ANSWER QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE, AND I APPRECIATE YOUR CONSIDERATION. COMMISSIONERS ARE THERE QUESTIONS ON THE THREE DIFFERENT MILLAGE RATES? THESE ARE THREE SEPARATE ORDINANCES. SO THERE WILL BE THREE MOTIONS AND THREE SECONDS ON EACH ONE OF THEM. I JUST WANT TO KIND OF SHARE THE RESPONSE I GOT FROM THE CITY MANAGER, AND THAT WAS REGARDING THE SHIFT OF THE MILLAGE RATE FROM THE BOND FUND, BECAUSE AS OUR TAX DIGEST CONTINUES TO INCREASE OUR BOND FUND PAYMENTS AS THEIR MILLAGE RATE SHOULD CONTINUE TO GO DOWN. AND SO FOR THE LAST FEW YEARS, WE HAD SHIFTED. IT'S A SMALL AMOUNT OF MONEY. I WAS JUST CURIOUS ABOUT IT. AND THERE'S A LONGER ANSWER TO THIS. BUT IN GENERAL, THERE HAS NOT BEEN A SIGNIFICANT SHIFT OF GENERAL BOND REVENUE TO GENERAL FUND REVENUE OVER THE LAST TEN YEARS. AND SO I JUST WANTED TO SHARE THAT, REQUESTED THAT. AND I GOT THE RESPONSE FROM IT. AND I WAS JUST CONCERNED ABOUT A LONG TERM TRANSIT, AND THERE ARE NONE IN THAT REGARD THANK YOU. I JUST WANT TO SHARE THAT. THANK YOU MILLAGE RATE. I THINK THIS IS THE FIRST YEAR I'VE ACTUALLY HAD NO EMAILS THAT WERE SIGNIFICANT ABOUT THE CHANGE IN THE MILLAGE RATE. IN FACT, OUR MILLAGE RATE STAYING THE SAME. SO KUDOS TO US FOR BEING ABLE TO YOU KNOW, I STILL WOULD LIKE TO FIND WAYS TO PROVIDE RELIEF FOR OUR TAXPAYERS. SO I KNOW THAT ANYTHING THAT WE DO, YOU KNOW, WHILE IT MAY SEEM INSIGNIFICANT TO OUR TAXPAYERS, DOES COME AT A FAIRLY SIGNIFICANT COST TO THE BOTTOM LINE. SO I KNOW THAT ANYTHING WE DO IS ALWAYS APPRECIATED. THANK YOU. AND IN THE FACT THAT THE INCREASE IN THE TAX DIGEST AS WE SAW EARLIER. MOST OF THAT CAN BE ATTRIBUTED TO AN INCREASE IN COMMERCIAL PROPERTY VALUE. AND SO THE BURDEN ON RESIDENTIAL HOMEOWNERS SHOULD BE MINIMAL. BUT OF COURSE IT'S GOING TO VARY VARY BY HOUSEHOLD HOUSEHOLD. SO I WANT TO BE CAREFUL ABOUT THAT BECAUSE THERE I'M SURE THERE IS A HOMEOWNER OUT THERE WHO MAY WHO'S GOING TO SEE. I MEAN, IT COULD BE A 5%, 10% INCREASE IN THEIR PROPERTY VALUE, BUT BY AND LARGE, THE VALUES FOR RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY STAY FLAT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MOVED. SECOND? SECOND. MOTION HAS BEEN MADE AND SECOND. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? THIS IS A ROLL CALL VOTE. COMMISSIONER KORTEMEIER. AYE. COMMISSIONER ARNOLD. AYE. COMMISSIONER DUSENBURY. AYE. MAYOR PRO TEM FRONK. AYE. AND THE CHAIR VOTES AYE AND THE ORDINANCE IS PASSED. NEXT UP, ORDINANCE O-26-03. ESTABLISHING THE BOND FUND TAX RATE AT 1.77. A MOTION TO APPROVE THAT TAX RATE PLEASE. MOVE APPROVAL IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND MOTION HAS BEEN MADE AND SECONDED. AGAIN THIS IS A ROLL CALL VOTE. COMMISSIONER KORTEMEIER. AYE. COMMISSIONER ARNOLD. AYE. COMMISSIONER DUSENBURY. AYE. MAYOR PRO TEM FRONK. AYE. AND THE CHAIR VOTES AYE. AND THE ORDINANCE IS PASSED. NEXT UP, ORDINANCE -O 26-04. ESTABLISHING THE FUND TAX RATE FOR THE DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY AT 0.35. CAN I GET A MOTION FOR THAT ORDINANCE, PLEASE? SO MOVED. SECOND. MOTION HAS BEEN MADE AND SECONDED AGAIN. THIS IS A ROLL CALL VOTE. COMMISSIONER KORTEMEIER. AYE. COMMISSIONER ARNOLD. AYE. COMMISSIONER DUSENBURY. AYE. MAYOR PRO TEM FRONK AND THE CHAIR VOTES AYE AND WE NOW HAVE ADOPTED OUR MILLAGE RATES FOR FISCAL YEAR 26-27. THANK YOU, MS. ARNOLD. NEXT UP WE HAVE THE ADOPTION OF THE FEE SCHEDULE, MS. [VI.B. Adoption of Fee Schedule.] ROARK. GOOD EVENING. YOU TALKED ABOUT MILLAGE RATES. NOW WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT ANOTHER FUNDING MECHANISM FOR OUR BUDGET, THE FEES. SO BEFORE YOU TONIGHT TO CONSIDER AND ADOPT IS AN UPDATE TO THE CONSOLIDATED FEE SCHEDULE ADOPTED ON JUNE 16TH OF 2025 AS OUR CITY'S CODE OF ORDINANCES REFERENCES THE FEE SCHEDULE, IT IS APPROPRIATE TO KEEP THE FEES UP TO DATE AND COMPARABLE TO FEES CHARGED BY OTHER [00:25:05] METRO ATLANTA MUNICIPALITIES AND OR TO MEET STRATEGIC GOALS DETERMINED BY YOU. BY ESTABLISHING FEES FOR SERVICE, THE CITY IS DOING ITS PART TO REDUCE THE NUMBER OF SERVICES AND ACTIVITIES SUBSIDIZED BY ALL TAXPAYERS, YET UTILIZED BY ONLY A FEW. A DRAFT OF THIS YEAR'S FEE SCHEDULE WAS SHARED DURING A WORK SESSION WITH THE CITY COMMISSION ON APRIL 20TH, 2026. THE ATTACHED SCHEDULE TODAY SHOWS THE RECOMMENDED NEW FEES OR CHANGES IN EXISTING FEES, AS HIGHLIGHTED, AND THE RECOMMENDATIONS HAVE NOT CHANGED SINCE THE DRAFT WAS PUBLISHED AND SHOWN TO YOU IN APRIL. SO WE'LL GO OVER A FEW THINGS AND THE DEVELOPMENT AND PLANNING AND ZONING AREAS. WE'RE ADJUSTING THE FEES FOR MAP PRINTING, ADJUSTING THE FEES FOR PLAN REVIEW AND ADJUSTING THE FEES FOR ISSUANCE OF MISCELLANEOUS PERMITS. AND THIS IS DUE TO THE PLANNING AND ZONING DIVISION STAFF HAVING CONDUCTED A REVIEW OF ITS FEES THIS SPRING, AND DETERMINING THAT MANY DID NOT ACCOUNT FOR THE ACTUAL COST TO PROVIDE THE SERVICE BASED ON CRITERIA SUCH AS STAFF TIME, SITE INSPECTIONS, NEWSPAPER ADVERTISEMENT REQUIREMENTS. PRINTING AND OTHER CITY RESOURCES. AND THEY PLAN TO MAKE THESE ADJUSTMENTS OVER SEVERAL YEARS. THEY DID NOT GO AS HIGH AS THEY BELIEVE IT ACTUALLY COST TO PROVIDE THAT SERVICE. A MUNICIPAL COURT. THE INTRODUCTION OF A TECHNOLOGY FEE OF $10 PER CITATION IS RECOMMENDED. SENATE BILL 618 WAS ADOPTED BY THE GEORGIA GENERAL ASSEMBLY IN APRIL, AND IT AUTHORIZED OUR DECATUR MUNICIPAL COURT TO ASSESS A TECHNOLOGY FEE OF UP TO $15 PER CITATION. THE MUNICIPAL COURT STAFF IS RECOMMENDING THE FEE BE ESTABLISHED AT $10 THIS YEAR, AND THE FEES COLLECTED WILL BE USED TO SUPPORT TECHNOLOGY RELATED EXPENDITURES MANAGED BY THE COURT. PARKING. RECOMMENDATION TO ADJUST THE FEES FOR ON STREET PARKING VIOLATIONS. OUR COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT STAFF CONDUCTED A DOWNTOWN PARKING STUDY AND DETERMINED THAT 94% OF ALL CITATIONS WERE ISSUED FOR AN EXPIRED METER. TO CURB THIS BEHAVIOR, STAFF IS RECOMMENDING INCREASING THE FINES FOR THE VARIOUS ON STREET PARKING VIOLATIONS BY AT LEAST $5, WITH THE FINE FOR AN EXPIRED MEETING. METER EXCUSE ME, DOUBLING FROM $15 TO $30 PER OCCURRENCE. AND IN THE PUBLIC SAFETY AREA. IT'S AN ADJUSTMENT OF THE FEE FOR REPEAT FALSE ALARMS AND ADJUSTING THE FEE FOR FIRE INSPECTIONS AND RE-INSPECTIONS. OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT STAFF PROPOSED REPLACING THE CURRENT FLAT FEE STRUCTURE WITH A PROGRESSIVE FEE STRUCTURE FOR RESPONDING TO FALSE ALARMS TO PROMOTE COMPLIANCE, REDUCE NUISANCE ALARMS, AND RECOVER A PORTION OF THE PERSONNEL COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH MAKING AN EMERGENCY RESPONSE. STAFF ARE ALSO RECOMMENDING CHANGING THE LANGUAGE THAT'S BEEN PUBLISHED IN THE FEE SCHEDULE FOR SEVERAL YEARS RELATED TO FIRE INSPECTION AND REINSPECTION TO CLARIFY THAT RE INSPECTIONS MAY BE MADE FOR ALL TYPES OF FIRE INSPECTIONS, SUCH AS ANNUAL INSPECTIONS, NOT JUST FAILED ONES. THE PROPOSED LANGUAGE SEPARATES THE FEE INTO FIRE INSPECTION, PROPOSED TO BE SET AT $150, AND FIRE RE INSPECTION PROPOSED TO BE SET AT $50 FOR EACH SUBSEQUENT INSPECTION. AND I REALIZED AS I WAS PREPARING, I LEFT OFF ONE THING AND IT WAS IN THE FINANCE AREA. IT'S AN INCREASE OF THE [INAUDIBLE] FEE FROM $145 TO $160. AND THAT'S A PASS THROUGH BASED ON THE COMPANY THAT WE USE. SO ADOPTION OF THE CONSOLIDATED FEE SCHEDULE INCORPORATING THESE NEW CHANGES WOULD BE EFFECTIVE JULY 1ST IF ADOPTED I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER QUESTIONS. JUST THE TYPO FOR EXPIRED MEETING. [LAUGHTER] I WILL YES. HOPEFULLY WE DON'T HAVE EXPIRED MEETINGS. JUST. SEE ABOUT THAT. COMMISSIONERS DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? YEAH. I HAD ASKED A QUESTION ABOUT HOW OUR FEES COMPARED TO OTHER METRO AREA MUNICIPALITIES. I DON'T RECALL GETTING A RESPONSE, BUT IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU HAVE AN ANSWER. YES, SIR. FOR MOST YEARS, AS STAFF ARE PREPARING THEIR RECOMMENDATIONS, THEY ARE DOING THEIR OWN WORK TO REVIEW DIFFERENT AREAS. BUT NEXT YEAR WILL BE TIME FOR A COMPREHENSIVE TRUE SURVEY OF THE FEE. SO IF THERE ARE FEES IN THIS SCHEDULE THAT YOU THINK WE REALLY NEED TO LOOK AT, IF YOU WILL LET ME KNOW. JUST COMES DOWN TO WE LET OUR STAFF DO THEIR. [00:30:01] THEY KNOW IT BEST AND. I MEAN, I WOULDN'T KNOW, BUT I. PRETTY MUCH EACH DEPARTMENT DOES THEIR OWN RESEARCH. SO. SO WHAT MUNICIPALITIES DO WE? HAVE WE COMPARED TO? SO, SO I'M NOT SURE. SO HOW EXTENSIVE IS THIS. HOW RIGOROUS IS IT. I MEAN, I'M JUST. I THINK IT DEPENDS ON THE DEPARTMENT. BUT THEY'RE GOING TO LOOK AT OUR COMPARABLES. SO THEY ARE LOOKING AT ATLANTA. WHAT THE COMMUNITIES IN DEKALB COUNTY ARE DOING, BUT THEY CAN GO OUT AS FAR AS MARIETTA AND. SO WE CAN'T SAY DEFINITIVELY WHERE THEY'VE LOOKED. NO. WE DON'T KNOW. OR YOU DON'T KNOW. I DO NOT. FOR EXAMPLE, I CAN TELL YOU I MEAN, I COULD PULL UP THE SURVEY THAT WAS PERFORMED, SAY, FOR OUR COURT FINES. AND, AND THERE ARE A NUMBER OF CITIES THAT HAVE COURTS THAT THEY HAVE TO HAVE MUNICIPAL COURT. THEY MIGHT THAT MIGHT NOT BE THE SAME CITIES THAT WE SURVEY FOR PARKS AND REC DEPARTMENT BECAUSE THEY MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE A PARKS AND REC DEPARTMENT. AND SO DEPENDS ON THE SERVICE THAT THAT COMMUNITY PROVIDES. BUT NORMALLY NORMALLY WE'RE LOOKING AT, AGAIN, IT DEPENDS ON WHETHER WE CONSIDER THEM TO BE, YOU KNOW, IN OUR MARKET. AND WHETHER WE GO SAY, BEYOND DEKALB COUNTY, CERTAINLY WITH THE COURT FINES AND FEES, WE WENT BEYOND DEKALB COUNTY JUST TO FIND OTHER COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE THEIR OWN COURTS. SO I THINK METRO ATLANTA IS BEYOND DEKALB COUNTY. SO, SO IT SOUNDS LIKE IT'S AN AD HOC PROCESS OF COMPARING OUR FEE SCHEDULES TO OTHER COMMUNITIES BECAUSE, WELL, IT'S, YOU KNOW, IT'S LOOKED AT DEKALB COUNTY FOR THIS, BUT YOU KNOW, THAT OTHER STUFF, IT'S WE DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHICH MUNICIPALITIES WERE LOOKED AT. SO THAT, THAT FEELS AND SOUNDS AD HOC. AND IF THAT'S WHAT IT IS, THAT'S WHAT IT IS. I THINK WE CAN AND SHOULD DO BETTER. I MEAN, I THINK WE SHOULD HAVE A REAL PROCESS GOING FORWARD. BUT OKAY, I GOT MY ANSWER. THANK YOU I RECALL WHEN WE DID PARKS AND RECREATION, DID WE HIRE SOMEBODY TO HELP US WITH THOSE FEES? THAT'S RIGHT. IF THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE TALKED TO THE COMMISSION BEFORE, WE DID HAVE A WORK SESSION ON THIS IN APRIL. I KNOW THERE ARE A LOT OF QUESTIONS AND CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THAT HERE. SO I THINK THAT COMMISSIONER ARNOLD RAISES SOME ISSUE THAT WE ADDRESS AS PART OF THAT WORK SESSION NEXT YEAR. I'M CURIOUS ALSO, I'M LOOKING AT THE FEES I FEEL THAT LIKE THE VAST MAJORITY OF OUR FEES ARE FOR PARKS AND RECREATION. IS THAT ACCURATE? THAT'S CORRECT. IN TERMS OF THE NUMBERS OF FEES AND THE REVENUE GENERATED BY THOSE FEES. THAT'S GOING TO BE THE MAJORITY OF THAT IS GOING TO BE IN THE PARKS AND REC DEPARTMENT AND [INAUDIBLE] WITH THE MATERIALS THAT I SENT, I THINK ON SUNDAY, I INCLUDED THAT COST RECOVERY REPORT. SO THERE WOULD BE INFORMATION IN THERE THAT WAS PREPARED BY THE PRIVATE CONSULTING FIRM. THAT ALSO DID THE, THE FEE, THE FEE SURVEY, NOT ONLY DOING THE FEE SURVEY, BUT, BUT DEVELOPING A STRATEGY AND RATIONALE FOR DETERMINING YOU KNOW, THE, HOW THOSE FEES SHOULD BE STRUCTURED. AND SO THAT WAS NOT AN AD HOC PROCESS. THAT WAS A PROCESS. WELL, YOU MAY RECALL EVEN THE CONSULTANTS MET WITH EVERY COMMISSIONER AS PART OF THAT PROCESS. AND SO AGAIN, IT WAS METHODICAL, STRATEGIC AND A PROCESS THAT HAS BEEN USED IN OTHER JURISDICTIONS ACROSS THE COUNTRY. I DON'T KNOW HOW IT APPLIES FOR OTHER. BUT I PUT MY PARTS OUT. I CAN ALWAYS PULL OUT OR WHEN SOMEONE PUT IT ON IT SEEMS LIKE I RECALL THAT THAT WAS, YOU KNOW, A FAIR CHANGE FROM OUR PREVIOUS. BECAUSE THERE WAS SOME CONCERN IN THE COMMUNITY ABOUT THE ADJUSTMENT IN OUR PARKS AND REC FEES, BECAUSE IT WAS A PRETTY SIGNIFICANT GROWTH YEAR OVER YEAR IN TERMS OF THE FEE STRUCTURE. BUT YOU KNOW, WHAT WE REALIZED, YOU KNOW, BY HAVING A CONSULTANT THAT WE WERE NOT RECOVERING ALL OF OUR ASSOCIATED COSTS THROUGH OUR FEE PROGRAMING. SO, YOU KNOW, THAT LESSON WAS LEARNED A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO. AND SO WE KNOW THAT AT LEAST FOR PARKS AND REC, THAT HAS BEEN DONE. SO TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, AND I AGREE THAT HOPEFULLY NEXT YEAR WE'LL HAVE A MORE ROBUST SORT OF CONVERSATION AROUND FEE STRUCTURE IN THE METRO ATLANTA. AT LEAST THAT'LL GIVE US A PLACE TO HAVE A CONVERSATION SO. IT DOES SOUND LIKE THERE'S NOT ANOTHER APPLE TO COMPARE TO DECATUR, THOUGH, THAT MAYBE ONE DEPARTMENT MIGHT LOOK AT ANOTHER CITY AND OTHER DEPARTMENTS LOOKING IN ANOTHER CITY TO GET SOME DIFFERENT COMMENTS. SO THAT'S INTERESTING. [00:35:04] AND AGAIN, I THINK THE MUNICIPAL COURT EXAMPLE IS A PRIME EXAMPLE. I MEAN, WE'RE ONLY GOING TO REACH OUT TO THOSE CITIES THAT HAVE MUNICIPAL COURTS TO COMPARE THE FEES AND FINES WITH THEIR MUNICIPAL COURTS. AND AGAIN, AGAIN, THAT COULD VERY WELL BE A DIFFERENT GROUP OF CITIES THAT ARE INCLUDED FOR THE PARKS AND REC OR OTHER OPERATIONS. I WILL SAY TO COMMISSIONER ARNOLD'S POINT, THOUGH, IT WOULD BE GOOD TO HAVE SOME TRANSPARENCY IN TERMS OF WHAT CITIES WE ARE LOOKING AT. THERE'S NO DEFINED PROCESS. THERE'S NO TRANSPARENCY. IT'S LIKE, I MEAN, I TRUST YOU, BUT THAT'S NOT THE WAY THIS SHOULD BE DONE. WELL, TO OUR KNOWLEDGE, THERE'S NOT BUT I HAVEN'T HAVE YOU SEEN IT? NO. OKAY. I JUST KNOW THAT WHEN WE DID THE PARKS, THAT THAT WAS A DEFINED PROCESS. YEAH. OTHER QUESTIONS? THERE'S NO FURTHER DISCUSSION. CAN I GET A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSOLIDATED FEE SCHEDULE? SO MOVED. IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND. MOTION HAS BEEN MADE AND SECONDED. IS THERE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AYE. AND THE CHAIR? NAY. OKAY. AND THE CHAIR VOTES AYE. AND THE MOTION IS PASSED 4 TO 1. ALL RIGHT. NEXT UP A RESOLUTION TO ESTABLISH THE VARIOUS FUND BUDGETS. [VI.C. Resolution Establishing Various Fund Budgets.] YES. THANK YOU, MAYOR, COMMISSIONERS. SO YOU HAVE BEFORE YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION, THE 2025-2026 REVISED AND THE 2026-2027 PROPOSED BUDGETS. AND IT IS MY HONOR TO PRESENT THESE TO YOU THIS EVENING. THESE BUDGETS DIRECT RESOURCES TOWARDS THE GOALS OF THE COMMUNITY AND THE CITY COMMISSION. THOSE GOALS THAT HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED AS HIGH PRIORITIES, SUCH AS INCREASING AFFORDABLE HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES, ADDRESSING HOMELESSNESS, ADVANCING PEDESTRIAN AND ROAD SAFETY, PROMOTING ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY, SUPPORTING ECONOMIC GROWTH. AND ALL OF THESE EFFORTS ARE GUIDED BY OUR PRINCIPLES OF EQUITY AND RACIAL JUSTICE. IN THE PROPOSED BUDGET WAS DEVELOPED WITH NO RECOMMENDED CHANGES TO THE MILLAGE, TO THE OVERALL MILLAGE RATE. AND THERE WERE, AS YOU SAW EARLIER, NOMINAL FEE ADJUSTMENTS. THESE ARE AMBITIOUS POLICY GOALS. THAT WE ARE SEEKING THESE AMBITIOUS POLICY GOALS WHILE ALSO MAINTAINING HIGH QUALITY PUBLIC SERVICES. THE BUDGET INCREASES 5.57% OVER THE REVISED BUDGET, OR ABOUT $2.5 MILLION. THAT'S A TOTAL BUDGET OF $47,541,160. THIS BUDGET INCLUDES A 2.5% COST OF LIVING ADJUSTMENT, EFFECTIVE JULY 1ST OF THIS YEAR, AND A 2.5% MERIT BASED PAY INCREASE EFFECTIVE JANUARY 1ST, 2027. AND THAT'S FOR OUR FULL TIME EMPLOYEES. THERE'S ALSO A RECOMMENDATION TO ADD ONE FULL TIME FIREFIGHTER POSITION FOR EACH OF THE THREE SCHEDULED SHIFTS. SO THREE FIREFIGHTERS IN AN EFFORT TO MEET MINIMUM OPERATIONAL REQUIREMENTS OR MINIMUM STAFFING REQUIREMENTS. OTHER PERSONNEL CHANGES INCLUDES SEVERAL RECLASSIFICATIONS BASED OFF OF SALARY SURVEY DATA, WHICH IS INCLUDED IN THE APPENDIX OF THE BUDGET. AN INDEPENDENT JOB DESCRIPTION ANALYSIS AND IN SOME CASES, CHANGES TO JOB RESPONSIBILITIES. THERE IS A BUDGETED USE OF FUND BALANCE OF ABOUT $3.4 MILLION THAT WILL LEAVE A FUND BALANCE OF $11,183,006. THAT WOULD PUT US AT IF WE USED ALL OF THAT FUND BALANCE, BUT PUT US AT 24% OF THE 26-27 GENERAL FUND BUDGET, RIGHT WITHIN OUR FINANCIAL POLICY, WHICH IS 20% TO 30% OF THE OPERATING BUDGET. IN THIS BUDGET. I STRONGLY BELIEVE THAT THIS BUDGET THAT'S BEEN DEVELOPED WITH YOUR INPUT, THE COMMUNITY'S INPUT, WITH THE WORK OF THE STAFF. IT HONORS OUR CONTINUED COMMITMENT TO THE STRATEGIC PLAN. THIS CONTINUES TO BE GUIDED BY THE 2020 STRATEGIC PLAN DOES PROVIDE A MEANS AND SUPPORT FOR [00:40:06] OUR ENGAGED AND PRETTY AMAZING WORKFORCE. IT ELEVATES EQUITY IN OUR DECISION MAKING AND IT MAKES A POSITIVE DIFFERENCE IN PEOPLE'S LIVES. THAT'S WHY WE'RE HERE TO MAKE A POSITIVE DIFFERENCE IN PEOPLE'S LIVES. AND, YOU KNOW, I THINK IT SHOWS THAT OUR SMALL CITY CAN DO BIG THINGS OR OUR SMALL CITY CAN MAKE A GREAT IMPACT. AND SO I APPRECIATE THE CONSIDERATION OF THE BUDGET THIS EVENING FOR ADOPTION. I ALSO APPRECIATE THE QUESTIONS FROM, FROM THIS BODY AND APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT YOU ALL PUT A LOT OF TIME INTO OVER THE LAST MONTH, SINCE YOU'VE HAD THIS, PUT A LOT OF TIME INTO WORKING WITH ME, LEARNING REALLY, YOU KNOW WHAT, WHAT ALL IS IN HERE? AND BUT I APPRECIATE YOUR CONSIDERATION TONIGHT FOR A BUDGET THAT WILL BE EFFECTIVE ON JULY 1ST OF THIS YEAR. COMMISSIONERS QUESTIONS. IF NO ONE ELSE HAS ANY QUESTIONS. I DO HAVE A FEW. I HAD SUBMITTED SOME WRITTEN QUESTIONS, SOME OF WHICH HAVE BEEN ANSWERED, SOME OF WHICH HAVE NOT. SO I'M JUST TRYING TO GAUGE. I'M LOOKING FOR THE LIST ON MY PHONE. I'M JUST TRYING TO GAUGE. WHERE EXACTLY WE ARE IN TERMS OF RESPONSES TO THOSE QUESTIONS. THEY'VE BEEN EMAILED. I'M ASSUMING. SO MAYBE I'VE MISSED THE EMAIL THIS AFTERNOON, BUT THEY WERE UPDATED YESTERDAY AND THEY WERE UPDATED AGAIN TODAY. SO LET ME GO THROUGH THIS LIST BECAUSE MAYBE I MISSED IT. I BELIEVE THAT EVERY QUESTION THAT WAS ASKED THROUGH SATURDAY HAS BEEN ANSWERED. SO ALL RIGHT. IT'S QUITE POSSIBLE I'VE MISSED BECAUSE I HAVE ANOTHER JOB IN ADDITION TO THIS. [LAUGHTER] SO GENERAL GOVERNMENT REQUESTS 7.7. THAT WAS, THAT WAS THAT WAS AN EMAIL. THERE'S AN EMAIL THAT ANSWERED THAT. I THINK SO. OKAY. I THINK I SAW THAT MARK AND IT'S CALLED LIKE CCC, CAUSE NOTICED I ASKED SOME QUESTIONS AND THEN IT SEEMED TO TRANSITION TO QUESTIONS THAT YOU ASKED. MAYBE IT'S LIKE EXPENDITURE. IS THIS WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING FOR HERE? I SAW 7.7 I RECOGNIZED. YEAH. I HOPE THAT ANSWERS YOUR QUESTION. YEAH, I HAVEN'T SEEN IT, BUT. OKAY. THERE WAS A RESPONSE. OKAY. COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. DO YOU HAVE A RESPONSE FOR THAT ONE? YOU JUST [LAUGHTER] I SORRY, I'LL HAND IT TO YOU HERE. THERE IS SOMETHING. WHY DON'T YOU TAKE MY [LAUGHTER] IPAD OUT AND THEN I'M NOT GOING TO READ IT. I JUST WANT TO IF THERE'S A RESPONSE THAT'S A. THE BRIDGES WERE IN ANOTHER DOCUMENT. THEY WERE SENT THIS AFTERNOON AS WELL. BRIDGES ARE THERE. ARE YOU LOOKING. THE ONE THING I WILL SAY IS THAT, YOU KNOW, MS. ARNOLD AND STAFF ARE REALLY THOROUGH IN MAKING SURE THEY PROVIDE RESPONSES. I WILL SAY THAT THIS YEAR HAS BEEN A LITTLE DIFFERENT, BECAUSE THERE'S THIS LITTLE FESTIVAL GOING ON OUTSIDE THAT [LAUGHTER] HAS BROUGHT THE WORLD TO ATLANTA. AND SO THERE'S BEEN A LITTLE BIT OF. WELL, THIS HAS BEEN OUR PRIORITY. THAT'S OKAY. REALLY GOOD. BUT SO I THINK THERE'S AN OBLIGATION THAT GOES ALONG WITH THAT REQUEST. AND THERE IS AN OBLIGATION THAT'S USUALLY MET. YEAH. SO THAT. I APPRECIATED YOUR ANSWERING MY LAST MINUTE QUESTIONS TODAY. AND YET THE ONES THAT I ASKED WEREN'T. AND HOW ABOUT THE KEGGER? HOW ABOUT THE QUESTION ON TRANSFER OF THE GROWTH AND TRANSFER OF FUND BALANCE OVER THE. THERE ARE MULTIPLE RESPONSES TO. NARRATIVE FORMAT. I JUST. DON'T SEE IT ANYMORE. IS THERE ANOTHER EMAIL? THAT ONE CONCERNS ME JUST BECAUSE. FUND BALANCE IS A RAINY DAY FUND. AND YOU KNOW, LIKE ANY RAINY DAY FUND, YOU USE IT WHEN YOU HAVE TO. BUT THE INCREASE IN FUND BALANCE OVER TIME MEANS YOUR REVENUES CANNOT COVER YOUR EXPENSES. [00:45:07] THAT'S LIKE YOU'RE USING A CREDIT CARD AT THE END OF THE MONTH. YOU'RE SHY ON REVENUE TO PAY YOUR BILLS. SO YOU PULL OUT YOUR CREDIT CARD AND YOU CLOSE THE, YOU CLOSE THE GAP. AND THAT'S GROWN QUITE A BIT. AND I'M JUST, YOU KNOW, IT'S GROWN FROM 11.4% OVER THE LAST FIVE YEARS. IT'S GROWN FROM, I GUESS. I GOT THE WRONG LINE ITEM, BUT IT'S HAD A LOT, IT'S HAD A NO, IT'S GROWN 25.2%. YEAH, WE'VE ADDED TO IT. WE'VE USED IT AND I EXPLAINED THE NARRATIVE THERE. THERE ARE SOME OF THOSE YEARS WHERE WE ACTUALLY THIS BODY VOTED TO MAKE TRANSFERS TO THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS FUND AND TO DRAW DOWN ON THE FUND BALANCE FOR THAT PURPOSE. THAT'S FINE, BUT I JUST HAVEN'T SEEN THE EXPLANATION. THAT'S I MEAN, THAT'S A SERIOUS THING. AND IT'S. IF THAT TREND CONTINUES. RIGHT? SO, SO I'M. YES. THESE ARE THINGS THAT I THINK SHOULD BE ANSWERED FULLY. AND IF THEY WERE AND I HAVEN'T SEEN THEM, THAT'S FINE. BUT, YOU KNOW. THE NARRATIVE RESPONSE WAS SENT ON SUNDAY AFTERNOON AND THEN THE BRIDGE WAS SENT THIS AFTERNOON. YEAH. I FOUND THAT NARRATIVE. I MEAN, I HAD A FOLLOW UP IN THE EMAIL I SENT THIS AFTERNOON THAT SAID IT WASN'T CLEAR. SO IF WE'RE YOU KNOW, I JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND THIS PROCESS. IF WE'RE SUPPOSED TO BE GIVEN TIME TO EXPLORE, INTERROGATE AND RECEIVE RESPONSES, THEN GIVE US THE TIME. SO I'LL JUMP IN. WHEN I BECAME COMMISSIONER, I WAS, I HAD A LOT OF QUESTIONS AND I STILL DO, IN CASE YOU HAVEN'T NOTICED AND SKEPTICISM ABOUT THIS AND IT IS A DIFFICULT PROCESS. AND I WAS GONE FOR TWO WEEKS. I TOOK A VACATION RIGHT AFTER THE BUDGET ARRIVED, WHICH ACTUALLY IS ON ME. NO, IT IS ON ME BECAUSE DURING THOSE TWO WEEKS I DID NOT LOOK AT THE BUDGET. I DIDN'T ASK QUESTIONS. I MISSED THE BUDGET HEARINGS. AND, YOU KNOW, I DID MY BEST TO COME AND DO THIS. SO I THINK TO A CERTAIN EXTENT. COMMISSIONER ARNOLD THERE IS A PROCESS OF LEARNING THIS AND WE BASICALLY HAVE A WAS IT FOUR WEEKS OR A MONTH BETWEEN WE GET THE BUDGET AND WE APPROVE IT BY STATE LAW. SO. BE KIND OF YEAH. AND, YOU KNOW, AND, AND YOU, LIKE ME, ARE A BIT OF A GEEK AND YOU'RE GOING TO DIVE INTO THE NUMBERS AND YOU'RE GOING TO DO STUFF AND TRY TO UNDERSTAND IT. AND SO THERE IS A LITTLE BIT ON US TO DO THAT. AND SO I DO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT. AND YOU HAVE A VERY STRONG GRASP OF NUMBERS, I THINK IS VERY IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND. I HAVE QUESTIONS TOO ABOUT THE BUDGET, WHICH I'M GOING TO ACTUALLY ASK AFTER I MAKE MY STATEMENT HERE. SO WHAT I WILL SAY IS THAT WE HAVE HAD THE BUDGET FOR A MONTH AND IT REALLY IS, IT'S, THERE'S A LOT IN HERE. AND, AND ONE THING THAT I HAVE APPRECIATED IS JUST HOW MUCH THERE IS IN HERE. AND IT GENERATES QUESTIONS AND JUST, YOU REALLY GOT TO JUMP ON IT BECAUSE IT SEEMS LIKE A MONTH IS A LONG TIME, BUT IT'S NOT IT'S HARD. YOU SEE THE BACK AND FORTH THAT TAKES PLACE ON THIS. SO I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT I COME FROM A PLACE TO WHERE I WAS SKEPTICAL. I REMEMBER I GOT ON EVERY BAD SIDE BY NOTICING THAT WE HAD A NEGATIVE BUDGET FOR THE SAME REASON YOU ARE IN TERMS OF THE FUND BALANCE GOING NEGATIVE. OUR FUND BALANCE HAS BEEN WARPED BECAUSE OF COVID WHERE WE WERE JUST CUTTING FEARING THAT THE BOTTOM WAS GOING TO DROP OUT. I THINK WE END UP HAVING A FUND BALANCE OF 40%, 40%. 45. 45%. AND SO WHAT YOU'RE SEEING IS KIND OF THE TAIL END OF A DRAWING BACK DOWN TO OUR POLICIES BETWEEN 20% AND 30%. IT ISN'T SUSTAINABLE. YOU'RE 100% CORRECT. WE ALSO HAVE A TENDENCY BECAUSE WE BUDGET AS IF EVERY POSITION IS GOING TO BE FILLED EVERY SINGLE DAY, AND THAT JUST DOESN'T HAPPEN. AND SO WE ALWAYS BUDGET FUND BALANCES FUND, SORRY, NEGATIVE IMPACTS TO THE FUND BALANCE. AND THEN THEY COME IF THIS IF IT'S MINUS TWO AND MINUS THREE, IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN. BUT AS YOU SEE, SOMETIMES WE BALANCE SPENDING $1 MILLION OF FUND BALANCE. AND THEN WE ACTUALLY ENDED UP ADDING $1 MILLION TO FUND BALANCE. SO IT'S AN IMPRECISE PART OF THIS PROJECT SLIP. BUT THE STAFF IS VERY DILIGENT WITH THIS. I'M NOT QUESTIONING ANYTHING. I GET IT. I'M TRYING TO SHARE. IT'S NOT A QUESTION OF ANYONE'S DILIGENCE WHATSOEVER. BUT I SAY IS THAT IT IS A PROCESS AND THERE IS SOME BACK AND FORTH. [00:50:07] AND THERE'S A LOT HERE. BUT IT'S, IT'S AMAZING HOW MUCH INFORMATION IS ACTUALLY IN THIS BUDGET. IT DOES RAISE SOME OF THE QUESTIONS YOU DID. I JUST WANTED TO SHARE THAT FROM MY EXPERIENCE, AND I UNDERSTAND BECAUSE WHEN YOU LOOK AT THOSE TRENDS OF FUND BALANCE, THAT'S, THAT'S A SCARY TREND. YOU'RE 100% RIGHT. BUT I ALSO THINK THAT OUR STAFF, IT'S INTENTIONAL. WE GOT TO 45%. WE NEED TO GET BACK INTO THE 20%. I'M A LITTLE NERVOUS GETTING ON 23% 24% MYSELF, I MUST ADMIT, BUT I'M ALSO NOT SURE WE ACTUALLY WILL GET DOWN TO 23% 24% BASED ON MY SIX YEARS OF EXPERIENCE. SO I JUST WANT TO SHARE THAT. WAS THAT? WAS THAT IN THE EMAIL OR THE RESPONSE THAT WAS SENT? I DIDN'T. [LAUGHTER] I DIDN'T. I DON'T KNOW, I READ WHAT WAS SENT. WHY IS IT LET COMMISSIONER ARNOLD FINISH? I JUST WANTED TO JUMP IN AND ACKNOWLEDGE THAT. I APPRECIATE. I APPRECIATE YOUR RESPONSE. I HAVE SOME SPECIFIC QUESTIONS. IF YOU WANT TO YIELD THE FLOOR FOR A LITTLE. I WILL YIELD THE FLOOR HAPPILY. COMMISSIONER DUSENBURY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU FOR THOSE. OKAY LET'S START. I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE DDA MANAGEMENT FEE BECAUSE I NOTICED THAT THAT HAD INCREASED. I HAPPENED TO ATTEND TO DECATUR DEVELOP. I'M SORRY. DDA YEAH, THE DDA MEETING. COULD YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE REVENUE FROM PARKING, THE CONFERENCE CENTER AND HOW THAT IS NEGATIVELY IMPACTING THAT BUDGET. IT WAS WEIRD BECAUSE ALSO LIKE THE EXPLANATION, THERE WAS NO EXPLANATION REALLY AT THE DDA ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON THERE, BUT IT SEEMED LIKE WE WENT FROM PROJECTED 650,000 TO 200. AM I GETTING THIS RIGHT? THAT'S THE THAT'S THE PARKING DECK IS A COMPLETELY SEPARATE. THAT'S IN THE CONFERENCE CENTER BUDGET. THAT'S SO WE DON'T TALK ABOUT THIS HERE, BUT IT MANIFESTS IN THE DDA MANAGEMENT. IT DOES NOT. THE CONFERENCE CENTER PARKING REVENUES ARE NOT PART OF THE REVENUE THAT IS IN THE MANAGEMENT FEE CALCULATION. THAT'S FOR THE. THAT. THIS IS JUST GENERAL FUND. OKAY. SO STAFF AND OTHER RESOURCES TO THE DDA AND SO YEAH. SO THEN WE BUILD A DDA FOR THOSE SOME OF THOSE EXPENDITURES. YES. AND THEN BUT THEN THEY GET A CREDIT ESSENTIALLY FOR CERTAIN REVENUES THAT ARE CAN BE ATTRIBUTED OR INFLUENCED BY DDA INCLUDING DOWNTOWN. DOWNTOWN PARKING. DOES NOT INCLUDE THE PARKING DECK, AND YOU RECALL DURING THE DDA MEETING, WE TALKED ABOUT THE LOSS OF REVENUE WHEN THE STREETS AND THE STREET HAS BEEN CLOSED AND CONSTRUCTION. AND SO THAT DID THE CREDIT TOOK A HIT. IN ADDITION TO THERE BEING EXPENDITURE INCREASES. GOT IT. SO I'LL MOVE ON FROM THERE. YEAH. SO TAX ALLOCATION DISTRICT. SO LOOKING AT THAT WE HAVE ONE TAX ALLOCATION DISTRICT. IT IS FOR EAST DECATUR STATION. AND 4 OR 5 YEARS AGO WE VOTED TO ALLOCATE $5.4 MILLION FROM THAT, I THINK, FOR. THE NORTHWOOD RAVIN HALO FOR PUBLIC IMPROVEMENTS. AND WE HAVE ABOUT A. WE HAVE FOUR PLUS MILLION DOLLARS IN THAT FUND? RIGHT NOW. AND WE'RE GENERATING $1 MILLION A YEAR. WE JUST STARTED. WE JUST HIT. WE'RE WE'LL BE WE'LL BE GENERATING ABOUT $1 MILLION AND MORE GOING FORWARD. AND DOES THAT INCLUDE NORTHWOOD RAVIN? SO IT DOES NOT INCLUDE NORTHWOOD RAVIN. IT DOES NOT. NOT YET. SO FROM A POLICY PERSPECTIVE, AND I BROUGHT THIS UP BEFORE. BUT I THINK THAT WHEN WE'RE LOOKING AT I MEAN, THAT'S $1 MILLION THAT REALLY IS NOT GOING TO THE GENERAL FUND THAT IS BEING, YOU KNOW, KEPT IN THAT GEOGRAPHIC DISTRICT FOR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS. AND IT SEEMS THAT WE'RE AT A POINT NOW, I DON'T KNOW WHAT OTHER COMMITMENTS. I DON'T THINK ANY OTHER SIGNIFICANT COMMITMENTS, CAPITAL WISE, WHERE YOU HAVE ALREADY $1 MILLION BEFORE NORTHWOOD RAVIN COMES ON BOARD. SO THAT'S SIGNIFICANT REVENUE THAT I THINK WE SHOULD PERHAPS LOOK AT? IN TERMS OF NOT CONSTRAINING WITHIN THE TAD AND LOOKING. YOU COULD DO, YOU KNOW, ALLOCATE IT ELSEWHERE. JUST A POLICY PERSPECTIVE. I THINK WE SHOULD TAKE A LOOK AT THAT TAD. RIGHT. AND I, I'M WORKING ON GETTING A MEETING SCHEDULED WITH OUR, OUR ATTORNEY, SHE KNOWS THAT THIS IS I HAVE, I HAVE LET HER KNOW ABOUT THE SIMILAR INQUIRY. SO ONCE SHE'S PREPARED TO SPEAK TO IT, WE'RE GOING TO BE MEETING ABOUT WHAT OUR OPTIONS ARE. [00:55:01] OKAY. WITH THE TAD. SO YES. BUT WE'RE AT A POINT WHERE THE CASH FLOW IS PRETTY SIGNIFICANTLY POSITIVE. I THINK THERE'S SOME. YEAH, THERE'S, I MEAN, NOW IS THE TIME TO BE TALKING ABOUT THIS. AND WE'VE TALKED ABOUT YOU KNOW, WE'RE LOOKING AT A DATE LATER THIS YEAR TO HAVE A WORK SESSION TO TALK ABOUT THIS. BUT YES, NOW IS, I THINK, THE TIME TO BE TALKING ABOUT HOW SOME OF THOSE FUNDS CAN BE INVESTED, REINVESTED BACK INTO THE TAD, BUT ALSO WHAT OUR LEGAL OPTIONS ARE, PERHAPS OUTSIDE OF THE TAD. GOT IT. I KNOW YOU CAN CLOSE TAD DOWN EARLY BECAUSE THE CITY DID IT EARLY FOR THE PLAY STATION ONE SO. I WANT TO TALK A LITTLE BIT FROM A TRANSPARENCY. SO FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO SAY WATCH FEST. OBVIOUSLY IT'S BEEN A HUGE SUCCESS. I THINK THAT THE FINANCIALS ARE ON WATCH FEST EVOLVED A BIT. I WANTED TO JUST TALK A LITTLE BIT. THIS IS REALLY I'M SUPPORTIVE OF THE DECISIONS WE MADE. I'M SUPPORTIVE OF WHAT WE'RE DOING HERE. BUT IT LOOKS LIKE WE DID NOT GET THE REVENUE WE EXPECTED FROM SPONSORSHIPS. AND WE SAW A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN PUBLIC SAFETY EXPENSES AND PERHAPS SOME OTHER EXPENSES. AND SO WE HAD TO MAKE THAT UP ELSEWHERE. AND SO SOME DECISIONS WERE MADE. I JUST WANTED TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THESE DECISIONS JUST IN TRANSPARENCY. SO IT LOOKS LIKE $650,000 OUT OF THE SCHOOL ZONE CAMERA FUND AND USING THAT AND LEGITIMATELY USING THAT TO PAY FOR. AND THEN WE ALSO, WE, THE TOURISM BUREAU AND THE DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY ALSO ARE BASICALLY CHIPPING IN ANOTHER $150,000. CORRECT. OKAY. GO AHEAD. DO YOU WANT TO SAY MORE? OKAY. AND I DON'T BELIEVE THAT TOURISM, THE TOURISM BUDGET IS IN A PLACE WHERE WE WOULD ASK FOR ADDITIONAL. RIGHT? GOT IT. SO THOSE HOTELS COME UP. I DON'T REMEMBER TOURISM CONTRIBUTING YEAH. IN THE CURRENT IN THE CURRENT FISCAL YEAR BUT NOT IN NEXT YEAR. I THINK WE SIGNED AN MOU WITH. ALL THREE OF US SIGNED AN MOU BEFORE YOU GUYS JOINED. IS THAT RIGHT? YEAH. IT WOULD HAVE BEEN. YEAH. TO CHIP IN AND DO THIS. SO THAT'S WHY I WAS ASSUMING. THAT GOT DISPERSED TO ONE MUNICIPALITY AND DIDN'T TRICKLE THE WAY THEY WERE REQUESTED. RIGHT. THE HOST CITIES RECEIVED THE FEDERAL FUNDS AND DIDN'T DID NOT GO BEYOND HOST THE HOST CITY. OKAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I JUST WANTED TO HAVE THIS CONVERSATION. SO BASICALLY, WE'RE LOOKING AT A $900,000 ALLOCATION REALLOCATION OF MONEY. RIGHT. BUT THE 650 CAME OUT OF THE SCHOOL ZONE CAMERAS. YES IT DID. YEAH. BUT JUST I, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF IT'S FUNGIBLE AND JUST WE HAVEN'T TALKED ABOUT THIS AND IT'S JUST SOMETHING THAT JUMPED OUT AT ME WAS GOING THROUGH THERE. SO I THOUGHT IT WAS IMPORTANT TO TALK. I AGREE IT'S IMPORTANT FOR ME TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT MESSAGE IS CLEAR ABOUT HOW WATCH FEST IS BEING FUNDED. OKAY. SO AND THEN SOME SMALLER THINGS. BUT THIS IS SOMETHING GOOD. IF YOU LOOK AT IT WITHIN THE BUDGET. ON PAGE 129, WE START LISTING EVERY CAPITAL ITEM WE CAN DO WITH THE IMPACT AND OPERATING BUDGET. AND SO WHEN I LOOK AT THE PARKS ON PAGE 132, IT HAS PARKS AND RECREATION DECATUR CENTER SOLAR ARRAY. AND THE IMPACT ON THE OPERATING BUDGET IS ONGOING PROGRAM RECURRING IMPACT ON OPERATING BUDGET DUE TO ANNUAL UTILITY SERVICE FEE, BUT WILL RESULT IN INCREASED CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION STRATEGIES. AND SO IT SOUNDS LIKE IT'S A NET NEGATIVE NET TO OUR CASH FLOW. LIKE SOMEHOW IT'D BE MORE EXPENSIVE YET. AND THIS IS I ASKED A QUESTION ABOUT THIS, BUT IT SEEMS LIKE WE WOULD BE REDUCING OUR UTILITY BILLS AND WE SHOULD BE KIND OF TOOTING MY OWN HORN THAT I KNOW I'M IN THE WEEDS HERE AND BEAR WITH ME. BUT JUST LIKE THERE ARE A FEW WAYS WE'RE DOING THESE INVESTMENTS THAT ACTUALLY WILL REDUCE THE LONG TERM OPERATING COSTS OF THE CITY. SO I THINK WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE IMPACT ON OPERATING BUDGET, IT SHOULD BE REFLECTED. I THINK THERE'S A CLEARER WAY TO SAY THAT, AND I BELIEVE ALSO NEXT YEAR THIS TIME BASED OFF OF THE EXPERIENCE AT PUBLIC WORKS, WE'LL HAVE MORE SPECIFIC DATA ON, ON EVEN WHAT THAT COULD LOOK LIKE IN TERMS OF THOSE REDUCED UTILITY COSTS. YEAH, WE CAN DEFINITELY, BUT THIS IS JUST MORE GENERAL WE CAN PROJECT THAT WE'LL BE TOOTING THE HORN CROPS WHEN YOU PLANT SEEDS. YEAH, THAT'S FAIR ENOUGH. [LAUGHTER]. AND THEN LET ME SEE IF THERE'S ANYTHING ELSE JUST ONE THING. I DID ALSO ASK FOR INFORMATION. AND THIS IS A, YOU KNOW, I'M GOING TO MAKE THE POINT HERE ABOUT COTTAGE COURTS AND HOW MUCH MONEY. SORRY. COTTAGES IN LEGACY AND HOW MUCH WE SPEND ON THEM. [01:00:04] AND JUST IN GENERAL, WE'RE SPENDING $122,000 A YEAR FIXING UP COTTAGES IN LEGACY. JUST WANT TO POINT THAT OUT THAT, THAT THOSE ARE FUNDS THAT WE'RE CHOOSING TO INVEST IN FIXING UP OLD BUILDINGS. I ALSO POINT OUT THAT THAT'S PART OF A STRATEGIC PLAN THAT OUR COMMUNITY VOTED FOR, AND WE APPROVED SO WELL, AND I APPRECIATE THAT, MAYOR. I ALSO KNOW THAT WHEN WE'RE DOING THAT STRATEGIC PLANNING, IT STARTED WITH THE PREMISE THAT WE'RE KEEPING THE BUILDINGS. AND SO THERE WAS NOT A CONVERSATION ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT TO KEEP THE BUILDINGS. SO JUST ACKNOWLEDGED. AND THEN THE LAST THING I WANT TO TALK ABOUT WAS JUST PUBLIC WORKS. I WAS LOOKING AT THE TREND IN TERMS OF THE FUND BALANCE IN PUBLIC WORKS. AND WE'VE HAD A POSITIVE WE'RE DRAWING IT DOWN SIMILAR TO WHAT COMMISSIONER ARNOLD WAS SAYING IN TERMS OF IF YOU IF YOU LOOK IF YOU LOOK AT THE PUBLIC WORKS, SANITATION FEES BASICALLY ARE NOT KEEPING UP WITH OUR EXPENSES SOLID WASTE SPEAKERS]. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, SIR. SOLID WASTE ARE NOT KEEPING UP WITH OUR FEES. I JUST WANT TO FLAG THAT. I KNOW THAT HISTORICALLY WE HAD A CONVERSATION DURING THE WORK SESSION THAT WE ACTUALLY HAVE HAD MINIMAL IMPACTS TO OUR SANITATION FEES. BUT IT IS A NEGATIVE TREND. I JUST WANT TO FLAG THAT SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO PAY ATTENTION TO, BECAUSE WE ALSO, I THINK, HAVE TO HAVE A $53,000 FUND BALANCE OR SOMETHING WHERE ABOUT. SO JUST I THINK WE IT IS AN ENTERPRISE FUND. SO I THINK WE HAVE TO. AND THAT'S WHY I'M SAYING WE'RE PROBABLY GONNA HAVE TO RAISE OUR SANITATION. YEAH. LIKELY. BUT WE ALSO, I DON'T, WE DON'T WANT TO START THERE. WE'RE ALSO LOOKING AT WHERE WE CAN CONTROL COSTS, BUT WE ALSO KNOW THAT THAT INCREASE IN TIPPING FEES IT'S, IT'S LOOMING. WELL, THIS WAS EVEN WITHOUT, WE'RE SPENDING MORE. SO JUST, YOU KNOW, AND, BUT IF YOU LOOK HISTORICALLY, BECAUSE I ASKED THIS QUESTION EARLIER, ARE INCREASES IN SANITATION FEES HAVE BEEN WELL BELOW THE RATE OF INFLATION FOR LIKE THE LAST FIVE, TEN YEARS. BUT JUST SO IS IT. SORRY. THANK YOU FOR BEARING WITH I APPRECIATE YOUR REVIEW OF THE BUDGET. WELL, THAT E 911 IS A LOSS LEADER ANYHOW. SO I GUESS THAT'S THE THE QUESTIONS HAVE BEEN ASKED AND ANSWERED ALL RIGHT. I DO WANT TO POINT OUT THAT I DID GET A RESPONSE TO THE QUESTION ON ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES, AND I THOUGHT THAT WAS COMPLETE. IT WAS THOROUGH. IT WAS WELL DONE. AND IF THERE ARE ANSWERS IN MY EMAIL LIKE THAT FOR ALL THE OTHER QUESTIONS, THEN I DON'T HAVE ANY, YOU KNOW. IF THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE TELLING ME, THEN, YOU KNOW, BUT THAT ONE IN PARTICULAR, I DID SEE IT WAS VERY WELL DONE. IT WAS VERY COMPLETE. ANSWERED ALL THE QUESTIONS. SO IF THE REST ARE LIKE THAT, THEN WE'RE FINE. I JUST NEED TO SEE THEM. I ASSURE YOU THAT I KNOW A LOT OF TIMES THE CITY MANAGER WILL SEND ME A NOTE ON A SUNDAY AND APOLOGIZE FOR IT, BUT SHE IS. SHE AND STAFF DO A EXCELLENT JOB AND HAVE DONE SO. MY 11 YEARS ON THE CITY COMMISSION OF MAKING SURE. BEFORE WE GET TO THIS POINT, YOU KNOW, ALL THE QUESTIONS HAVE BEEN THOROUGHLY VETTED. THERE MAY BE SOME THAT SORT OF SLIPPED THROUGH, BUT THEY HAVE BEEN THOROUGHLY VETTED. AND SO I, I HAVE NEVER GONE INTO A BUDGET VOTE DAY FEELING LESS THAN ADEQUATELY PREPARED. AND SO AND THAT'S A COMPLIMENT TO MS. ARNOLD AND THE ENTIRE STAFF SO. I WISH I COULD SAY THE SAME, BUT NOT THIS YEAR. MAYBE NEXT YEAR. THERE'S ALSO MITIGATING CIRCUMSTANCES. MAYBE NEXT YEAR. OKAY. ARE THERE OTHER QUESTIONS? TO MAKE A MOTION ON ESTABLISHING VARIOUS FUND BUDGETS THROUGH RESOLUTION R-26-XX. MOVE TO APPROVE MOTION HAS BEEN MADE AND SECONDED. THANK YOU FOR THE THOROUGH DISCUSSION. ARE THERE OTHER QUESTIONS? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF APPROVING RESOLUTION R26-Y. EXCUSE ME. R-26-XX SIGNIFY BY AYE. AYE. NAY. AND THE CHAIR VOTES AYE AND THE BUDGET IS PASSED 4 TO 1. THANK YOU FOR ALL THE GREAT QUESTIONS. NEXT UP, RESOLUTION R-26-YY. AMENDING THE PAY IN CLASSIFICATION SCALE OR PLAN. [VI.D. Resolution Amending the Pay and Classification Plan.] EXCUSE ME. WELCOME BACK AGAIN. I'M HERE BEFORE YOU TO ASK FOR [01:05:05] ADOPTION OF RESOLUTION R-26-YY THAT AMENDS THE PAY AND CLASSIFICATION PLAN. THE AMENDMENTS REFLECT CHANGES IN JOB DUTIES AND ORGANIZATIONAL NEEDS, AS WELL AS RECOGNIZE EFFORTS TO CREATE OPPORTUNITIES FOR PROFESSIONAL ADVANCEMENT WITHIN OUR DEPARTMENTS. THERE ARE 44 CHANGES IN THIS RESOLUTION, AND IF YOU WOULD LIKE ME TO GO THROUGH ALL 44, I WILL. BUT IF NOT, I WILL START WITH THE SUMMARY THAT 37 OF THE CHANGES ARE RELATED TO THE JOB DESCRIPTION, ANALYSIS, AND THE SALARY SURVEY THAT WE DID. THE CITY MANAGER SPOKE ABOUT JUST A MINUTE AGO, AND THEN 7 ARE BASED ON REQUESTS MADE BY DEPARTMENTS FOR OPERATIONAL OR ORGANIZATIONAL NEEDS, PLUS THE THREE NEW FIREFIGHTER POSITIONS. SO THAT WOULD TAKE OUR POSITION COUNT FROM 259 FULL TIME POSITIONS TO 262. AN AMENDED SCHEDULE OF ASSIGNMENT OF CLASSES TO SALARY RANGES IS ATTACHED TO THE RESOLUTION AND, IF ADOPTED, WILL SUPERSEDE THE SCHEDULE THAT IS CURRENTLY IN PLACE AND I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. OTHER QUESTIONS OF THIS COMMISSION? YEAH, I DO HAVE A QUESTION, BUT I'LL DEFER IF ANYONE ELSE HAS A QUESTION. WHAT WAS YOURS? SO FAIR TO SAY LABOR IS THE BIGGEST COMPONENT OF OUR COST BASE. AND I DID ASK A QUESTION ABOUT THIS. AND IF A RESPONSE WAS SENT, I HAVEN'T SEEN IT, BUT I THINK GIVEN THIS IS THE BIGGEST LINE ITEM IN OUR EXPENSES IT SHOULD BE THOROUGHLY VETTED. AND LIKE I SAID, I ASKED IF IT WAS SENT AND I DIDN'T SEE IT. THAT'S FINE, BUT I HAVE NOT SEEN THE END. THE RESPONSE TO THAT QUESTION I HAD ON THIS PARTICULAR ITEM. WHAT WAS THE. FOR THE AMENDMENT? YOU WANT ME TO READ THE QUESTION I SENT IN? FOR THE AMENDMENT TO PAY AND CLASSIFICATION PLAN FOR EACH ITEM CAN YOU PROVIDE THE BEFORE AND AFTER FOR THE FULLY LOADED SALARY PLUS BENEFITS COST COMPARISON FOR EACH POSITION LISTED 1 THROUGH 44 AND A BRIEF SUMMARY OF HOW EACH PROPOSED CHANGE BENEFITS THE CITIZENS OF THE CITY OF DECATUR. THE ITEM REQUIRES A CONVERSATION AND SUPPORTING ANALYSIS ON OBJECTIVES, EXPECTED BENEFITS, AND FINANCIAL IMPACTS. STAFF ARE STILL WORKING THROUGH THAT BECAUSE THERE ARE 44 POSITIONS AND WE ARE STILL WORKING THROUGH THAT, AND WE WILL HAVE AN ANSWER. BUT WE'RE GOING TO VOTE ON IT TODAY, IS THAT CORRECT? THIS BODY. I'M JUST I'M JUST. YES GOING TO VOTE ON IT. OKAY. THOSE ARE THE PRACTICE THAT WE VOTE ON THINGS WITHOUT HAVING? IF YOUR QUESTIONS UNREASONABLE, YES. THE AMOUNT OF LABOR THAT A QUESTION LIKE THAT REQUIRES SUPERSEDES THE AMOUNT OF TIME THAT WE HAVE TO PREPARE FOR THE MEETING. SO YES, IN THIS CASE YOU'D HAVE. COMMISSIONER. YEAH. NOT AS UNREASONABLE AS MINE. YOU DON'T KNOW THAT, SIR. I'M WILLING TO BET. I MEAN, IT'S NOT A MATTER. THEY HAVE NOT REPLIED, I THINK THAT IT IS FAIR FOR ME TO SAY THAT I THINK THAT THE ASK IS UNREASONABLE. AND SO WE'RE GOING TO VOTE. THAT'S YOUR PREROGATIVE. YES, IT IS. AND SO. AS IT IS MY PREROGATIVE TO ASK THE QUESTION. YOU ABSOLUTELY CAN. YOU ABSOLUTELY CAN. AND IF YOU DON'T FEEL LIKE YOU'VE GOTTEN A SUFFICIENT ANSWER. I DO NOT COMMISSIONER DUSENBURY. YES, IT'S INTERESTING WITH THIS BECAUSE I THINK THIS IS SOMETHING WHERE I STILL STRUGGLE WITH KIND OF WHERE THE ROLE THE COMMISSIONER ENDS AND THE ROLE OF STAFF BEGINS. AND SO WITHIN THE ORGANIZATION, WE HAVE ONE STAFF PERSON WHO REPORTS TO THE COMMISSION AND IT IS UP TO US TO MANAGE THAT PERSON, WHICH IS OUR CITY MANAGER, AND THEN DEFER TO HER AS SHE MAKES THE DECISIONS AND MANAGES OTHER PEOPLE. AND THEN ULTIMATELY, IS OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO HOLD THE CITY MANAGER ACCOUNTABLE FOR HER PERFORMANCE. WHICH I THINK WE DO, YOU KNOW, AND I GET IT BECAUSE WE ALL WANT TO SEE LOWER TAXES FOR THE RESIDENTS OF DECATUR. AND WE'RE, WE LOOK AT THIS BUDGET AND WE SIT THERE AND THINK TO MYSELF, WHAT CAN WE DO TO DO THAT? AND WE SEE COSTS INCREASING AND DECISIONS BEING MADE THAT WILL INCREASE COST. MY INITIAL REACTION IS TO QUESTION THOSE DECISIONS JUST BECAUSE I'M LIKE, WELL, DO WE REALLY NEED TO DO THAT BECAUSE PEOPLE'S TAXES ARE STILL HIGH? BUT I RECOGNIZE THAT THIS IS KIND OF A BIGGER POSITION FROM A POLICY PERSPECTIVE. [01:10:04] IF WE DON'T WANT THESE THINGS TO HAPPEN, THEN WE NEED TO BE GIVING DIRECTION TO MS. ARNOLD SAY, LOOK, MS. ARNOLD SAYING THIS IN JANUARY, YOU NEED TO REDUCE THE BUDGET AND THEN GIVE HER THAT PREROGATIVE. IT MAY BE SOMETHING. WELL, I'M NOT. IT'S NOT A YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT A I STARTED OUT OPPOSED. IT'S JUST TELL ME THE STORY. WE SAID WE'RE COMFORTABLE WITH THIS. THE MILLAGE RATE STAYING THE WAY THE MILLAGE RATE IS STAYING. IT IS YOUR JOB TO PUT TOGETHER A BUDGET THAT IS BALANCED AND DOES THE MOST, YOU KNOW, IS THE MOST COST EFFECTIVE WAY TO DO THAT. AND SO TO A CERTAIN EXTENT, WE CAN'T JUST DIG INTO THE WEEDS ON STAFF. AS TEMPTING AS IT IS BECAUSE WE NEED TO LET THE CITY MANAGER DO HER JOB. BUT THEN IF WE'RE. WE WANT HER TO DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT, THEN WE NEED TO TELL HER. JANUARY, FEBRUARY. WELL, YOU KNOW, LOOK, WE'RE TAKING A MILL OUT. CUT A MILL OUT. GIVE ME A BUDGET. THAT'S WHAT YOU WANT. BUT WE CAN'T BASICALLY SAY, LOOK, WE'RE FINE WITH THE MILLAGE RATE. BALANCE THE BUDGET. AND THEN, LIKE, IT'D BE ONE THING IF, YOU KNOW, SHE SAYS, WE'RE JUST GOING TO SPEND ALL OUR MONEY ON LOLLIPOPS. WE GO, WHOA, WHOA, WHOA. THAT'S NOT WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO. BUT YOU KNOW, THERE, YOU KNOW, I DON'T THINK ANYTHING JUMPS OUT AS UNREASONABLE TO ME IN THIS. AND TO A CERTAIN EXTENT, WE NEED TO LET GO AND LET PEOPLE DO THEIR JOBS AND NOT MICROMANAGE THEM. AND SO I THINK THAT'S THE IMPORTANT PERSPECTIVE. SO I THINK WE ALL WOULD. I MEAN, HECK, IT'S UNANIMOUS. YOU AND LESA MAY NOT AGREE WITH EVERYTHING. WE CERTAINLY AGREE THAT YOUR TAXES ARE TOO HIGH. SO, YOU KNOW, WHAT CAN WE DO ABOUT IT? AND I THINK THAT THAT IS SOMETHING WHERE IF WE WANT THE TAXES TO GO DOWN, WE NEED TO TELL THE CITY MANAGER AHEAD OF TIME. I ALSO PUT A POINT OUT JUST RIGHT NOW THAT TWO THIRDS OF YOUR TAXES ARE TO THE SCHOOLS ARE NOT THE CITY. YEAH. JUST I THINK THAT THAT IS THE MORE APPROPRIATE WAY TO KIND OF ADDRESS IT. AND THEN THAT'S WHY I KEEP BRINGING UP THE TAD LOOKING FOR KIND OF A HIGH LEVEL POLICY PERSPECTIVE WHERE THE LEVERS WE CAN DO THAT COULD PERHAPS REDUCE TAXES. THAT BEING SAID, WE WERE HAVING A POISONOUS CONVERSATION AT THE STATE LEVEL AND THE FEDERAL LEVEL WHERE PEOPLE JUST TALK ABOUT CUTTING TAXES, CUTTING TAXES, CUTTING TAXES, AND THEY'RE DOING IT IN A WAY WHERE THEY'RE DISCONNECTING THE CUTTING OF TAXES FROM THE SERVICES THAT THEY'RE PROVIDING. AND I WILL TELL YOU, OUR NEIGHBORING STATE OF FLORIDA, JUST FROM MY JOB, IS DOING A HORRIBLE JOB WHERE BASICALLY THE STATE SAYS, WE'RE CUTTING TAXES, MUNICIPALITIES, YOU CUT SERVICES, WHICH IS THIS HORRIBLE DYNAMIC. IT'S SOMETHING I TALK ABOUT A BIT, IS THAT BY AND LARGE, I MEAN, WE HAVE BY AND LARGE, I DON'T WANT TO UNDERSELL IT, BUT DECATUR, WHEN YOU LOOK AROUND IS A IS A WELL-RUN CITY DOES A GOOD JOB. IS IT COMPLETELY EFFICIENT? NO. ARE THE PEOPLE WHO DO A BETTER JOB? YES. DO WE MAKE MISTAKES? YES, BUT IT'S A PRETTY GOOD RETURN ON INVESTMENT. IT'S A SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENT, LARGELY BECAUSE WE HAVE OUR OWN SCHOOL SYSTEM. SO I GET THE IMPULSE. I FEEL LIKE I'M JUST SPEECHIFYING. I'M GOING TO APOLOGIZE FOR THAT. BUT, YOU KNOW, ABSENT SOME BIG POLICY DECISIONS, I DON'T THINK THAT OUR, THAT IF WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A $47 MILLION BUDGET, TALKING ABOUT $1,000 INCREASE IN SOMEBODY'S SALARY IS JUST PROBABLY NOT THE BEST USE OF OUR TIME. SO ANYHOW, I'LL GET OFF MY SOAPBOX. WELL, I WAS JUST GOING TO ADD TO THAT. YOU KNOW, IF YOU LOOK AT, YOU KNOW, COMPARABLE MUNICIPALITIES, WE OFFER POLICE, FIRE, PUBLIC WORKS AND PARKS AND REC. MOST CITIES WILL PICK TWO. THEY'LL PICK THE EASIEST TWO. AND SO WE OFFER A FULL SERVICE. AND IT'S NOT WE HAVE, YOU KNOW, THE WORST OF. I THINK WE HAVE THE BEST POLICE AND FIRE AND PUBLIC WORKS AND, AND PARKS AND REC DEPARTMENT OF ANY COMPARABLE CITY IN THE METRO ATLANTA AREA. AND I THINK WE'RE DOING IT UNDER $50 MILLION. AGAIN, IF WE LOOK AT, YOU KNOW, OUR TOTAL TAX BILLS, AS COMMISSIONER DUSENBURY SAID, TWO THIRDS OF IT ARE GOING TO OF US OPERATING OUR OWN SCHOOL SYSTEM. AND SO THAT MAKES IT KIND OF A JADED CONVERSATION. I MEAN, WE'RE PROBABLY HAVING A CONVERSATION THAT WE NEED TO BE HAVING WITH OUR COUNTERPARTS. I THINK WE'RE VERY I THINK WE GET A LOT OF BANG FOR OUR BUCK HERE. AND I'VE SEEN THAT OVER THE YEARS. AND I AGAIN, BACK TO IF WE WANT TO GET INTO THE WEEDS, WE NEED TO GET IN THE WEEDS AFTER THIS BUDGET'S PASSED AND SAY, OKAY, WHAT CAN WE DO? HOW DO WE, YOU KNOW, WHICH WAY DO WE WANT TO GO? BUT ALSO KNOWING THAT OUR COMMUNITY HAS TOLD US WHAT WE WANT TO DO BECAUSE WE HAVE A STRATEGIC ROADMAP. AND SO ALL THOSE BUDGETED ITEMS GO TO ADVANCING THE REASONS THAT THE PEOPLE WANT TO LIVE IN A CITY OF DECATUR. I JUST ALSO WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THERE IS SOME ADDITIONAL NARRATIVE IN THE BUDGET ABOUT THE ROLES AND THE NUMBER OF ROLES IN EACH DEPARTMENT. AND AS I WAS READING THAT FOR THE FIRST TIME, BECAUSE THIS IS MY FIRST BUDGET SEASON, I WAS COMFORTED TO SEE THAT THERE MIGHT BE AN [01:15:07] INCREASE IN ONE DEPARTMENT. AND THEN PEOPLE WERE MOVED OVER FROM ANOTHER DEPARTMENT. THERE WAS OBVIOUSLY SOME EFFORT TO MINIMIZE EXPENSE, AND NOTHING IS MORE EXPENSIVE THAN TURNOVER. SO THE MORE WE CAN DO TO ATTRACT AND RETAIN PEOPLE AND KEEP THEM HAPPY AND IN PLACE AT A REASONABLE SALARY THAT FELT COMFORTING TO ME TO READ THAT. AND IF I MAY ADD, I MEAN, WE HAVE FIVE HEADS OF DEPARTMENTS HERE. THEY ARE THE EXPERTS IN KNOWING WHAT STAFFING AND RESOURCES THEY NEED. I AM NOT AN EXPERT. NONE OF US SITTING AT THIS TABLE IS AN EXPERT IN TELLING A POLICE CHIEF HOW MANY OFFICERS HE'S SUPPOSED TO HAVE, OR A FIRE CHIEF, AND HOW MANY INDIVIDUALS AND HOW MANY FIREFIGHTERS, HOW MANY APPARATUS OFFICERS THAT SHE NEEDS TO BE ABLE TO SUFFICIENTLY STAFF HER DEPARTMENT. THAT IS WHAT THEY DO. THAT IS THEIR PROFESSION. AND I NOT ONLY RESPECT THEIR JUDGMENT, BUT I ALSO EXPECT THEIR FISCAL STEWARDSHIP BECAUSE THEY HAVE NEVER COME BEFORE US WITH AN UNREASONABLE REQUEST. I THINK THAT WHEN IT COMES TO MATTERS OF THE HUMAN RESOURCES OF THE DEPARTMENT, IT IS VERY AUDACIOUS OF US TO THINK THAT WE WOULD KNOW BETTER THAN THEY DO ABOUT WHAT THEY NEED TO SUFFICIENTLY STAFF THEIR BUDGETS. IF I CAN PIGGYBACK ON THAT, COMMISSIONER, YOU WERE NOT HERE FOR THE LAST MEETING, BUT THE REQUEST I MADE LAST YEAR, AND I REITERATED THIS YEAR, IS THAT ACTUALLY WOULD LIKE TO MAKE THAT REQUEST OF THE PEOPLE IN CHARGE OF THE DEPARTMENTS. IF YOU HAD TO CUT SOMETHING, WHAT'S THE FIRST THING YOU WOULD CUT IF YOU HAD MORE MONEY TO ADD SOMETHING? WHAT IS IT YOU WOULD ADD? I THINK THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL FOR US IN TERMS OF HAVING THAT CONVERSATION. I THINK THAT YOU'RE LOOKING TO HAVE. SO I'LL REITERATE THAT AND HOPE THAT WE CAN ACTUALLY GET THOSE ANSWERS. FOR THE RECORD, I NEVER SAID CUT THIS, CUT THAT. PARTICULAR ITEM I OPPOSED OR WAS EITHER FOR OR AGAINST. IT WAS JUST WHAT'S THE CONVERSATION? RIGHT. I THINK A LOT OF WHAT YOU'LL LEARN DURING THIS JOB IS THE COMMUNITY WILL HELP US DRIVE THE CONVERSATION AND THE. AND I WON'T SAY IT'S THE LACK OF ENGAGEMENT AROUND THE BUDGET, BUT THE FACT THAT THERE IS. WE'VE BUILT A LEVEL OF TRUST WITH OUR COMMUNITY, WITH OUR BUDGET. AND SO YOU DON'T SEE THE BIG SWINGS. YOU KNOW, I THINK PEOPLE TRUST US TO DO THE JOB THAT WE WERE ELECTED TO DO. YEAH. THEY DO. AND SO I WILL TELL YOU, YOU KNOW, MY 11 YEARS. I THINK THAT'S BEEN LARGELY REFLECTED BY, YOU KNOW, I CAN COUNT THE NUMBER OF EMAILS, YOU KNOW, IN A GIVEN YEAR ON TWO HANDS ABOUT OUR BUDGET AND ABOUT HOW WE USE OUR FUNDS. SO I THINK WHAT I'M HEARING IS YOU WANT TO YOU WANT A DEEPER DIVE INTO THINGS IN WHICH MAYBE ON A DEPARTMENT LEVEL, INSTEAD OF ON A MACRO SCALE, ON A MICRO SCALE. I JUST WANT TO UNDERSTAND WHY. I WANT TO UNDERSTAND WHY. I THINK IT'S NOT UNREASONABLE TO UNDERSTAND WHY. IT'S NOT. AND I WILL TELL YOU, MY FIRST YEAR AS A COMMISSIONER, I MET WITH EVERY SINGLE HEAD OF DEPARTMENT AND HAD A HOUR ACTUALLY WITH THE POLICE CHIEF. IT WAS A THREE HOUR LONG MEETING AND WENT THROUGH EVERY SINGLE LINE ITEM IN THE BUDGET. AND YOU HAVE YOU HAVE AN ABSOLUTE RIGHT TO DO THAT, BUT YOU NEED TO GIVE THEM ENOUGH TIME TO BE ABLE TO HAVE THOSE CONVERSATIONS WITH YOU AND SENDING AN EMAIL ASKING FOR 40 DIFFERENT RESPONSES AS TO HOW THIS IS BENEFICIAL TO THE COMMUNITY. I MEAN, THAT'S WHEN WE CAN TRUST THEM. WE CAN TRUST THAT THIS IS BENEFICIAL TO THE COMMUNITY. AND I'LL SAY ALSO, NOT EVERY COMMUNITY DOES TRUST US. I REALLY DOES TRUST THE BUDGET. AND SO THAT'S WHY IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO ASK QUESTIONS AND HAVE THESE KIND OF CONVERSATIONS. IT'S ALWAYS ABOUT BUILDING MORE TRUST AND TRYING TO BE BETTER. MEREDITH AND ANDREA DO THE BEVERAGES AND BUDGET BOOK CLUB AGAIN NEXT YEAR. I'M GOING TO MAKE SURE TO MAKE A POINT TO ATTEND, GET AN EARLIER START ON THE BUDGET. [LAUGHTER]. DISCUSSION AS ALWAYS. ARE THERE OTHER QUESTIONS THOUGHTS, CONCERNS AS WE MOVE FORWARD? I JUST WANT TO I. COMMISSIONER ARNOLD I WAS NOT TRYING TO IMPLY YOU WERE ACTUALLY AGITATING FOR SPECIFIC DECISIONS. I DO WANT TO SAY THAT RESOLUTION R. MOVE APPROVAL. SURE? ABSOLUTELY. SECOND. A MOTION HAS BEEN MADE AND SECONDED. IS THERE A FURTHER DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AYE. NAY. CHAIR VOTES AYE. THE MOTION PASSES 4 TO 1. THANK YOU FOR THE DISCUSSION. THANK YOU FOR THE COMMENTS. HOPEFULLY THESE ARE THINGS GOING FORWARD THAT WE ALL GET WHAT WE WANT AND ASK WHAT WE WANT IN ADVANCE. [01:20:02] ALL RIGHT. NEXT UP, THE TEMPORARY REGULATION FOR THE USE OF DRONES DURING WATCH FEST. [VI.E. Temporary Regulation for the Use of Drones during Decatur WatchFest’26.] CHIEF, ARE YOU SURE YOU'RE GOING TO MAKE IT? WOULD YOU LIKE US TO SEND A DRONE UP IN YOUR PLACE? [LAUGHTER]. ALL RIGHT. GOOD EVENING. I'M SCOTT RICHARDS, I'M THE POLICE CHIEF. THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE HERE THIS EVENING BEFORE YOU. I'M HERE THIS EVENING TO REQUEST THE CITY COMMISSION CONSIDER THE ADOPTION. A PROPOSED ORDINANCE TO TEMPORARILY REGULATE THE USE OF UNMANNED AIRCRAFT SYSTEMS WITHIN THE CITY OF DECATUR DURING THE PERIOD OF DECATUR WATCH FEST 26TH JUNE 11TH, 2026 TO JULY 19TH, 2026. CURRENTLY, THERE ARE NO SYSTEMS IN PLACE IN THE CITY LEVEL TO ENFORCE RULES REGULATING THE USE OF DRONES. HOWEVER, THERE ARE STATE LAWS AND ALSO FAA REGULATIONS AS IT PERTAINS TO DRONES. UNREGULATED DRONE OPERATIONS CAN POSE A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY RISK TO THE PUBLIC. REGULATING THE USE OF UNMANNED AIRCRAFT WITHIN THE CITY LIMITS WILL PROMOTE SAFETY, ORDER, SECURITY AND GENERAL WELFARE OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND VISITORS TO THE CITY DURING THE ENTIRETY OF THE EVENT. THERE IS A STATE LAW THAT DOES PERTAIN TO DRONES, AND THAT'S OCGA 6-1-4. IT STATES THAT IT SHALL BE UNLAWFUL TO OPERATE AN UNMANNED AIRCRAFT WITHIN 400FT OF OR ABOVE A TICKETED ENTERTAINMENT EVENT, UNLESS AUTHORIZATION IS GIVEN. STATE LAW WILL APPLY TO THE THREE TICKETED EVENTS OF DECATUR WATCH FEST, ONE THAT HAS ALREADY OCCURRED AND IT WILL APPLY TO THE OTHER TWO. HOWEVER, IT WILL NOT APPLY TO THE NON-TICKETED EVENTS THAT WE HAVE HAD AND WILL CONTINUE TO HAVE THROUGH JULY. ALSO, FOR THE SAME CODE, SECTION 6-1-4, IT STATES THE MUNICIPALITY MAY ADOPT AN ORDINANCE THAT ENFORCES THE UAS RESTRICTIONS OF THE FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION FAA. THE MUNICIPALITY MAY ALSO ENACT REGULATIONS TO PROHIBIT THE LAUNCHING AND LANDING OF USAS FROM OR ON ANY CITY PROPERTY WITH. PUBLIC SAFETY IS THE PRIMARY CONSIDERATION. IT IS RECOMMENDED TO AUTHORIZE THE REGULATION OF UNMANNED AIRCRAFT SYSTEMS THROUGH THE ADOPTION OF ORDINANCE 0-26-XX. SO, CHIEF, IT'S YOUR INTENT THAT THIS IS A TEMPORARY POLICY? DO YOU SEE ANY NEED TO MAKE IT A PERMANENT POLICY? I THINK ONCE WE REACH THE END OF WATCH FEST THEN WE WOULD REEVALUATE IT. BUT I DO BELIEVE IT COULD BE A PERMANENT POLICY YES, SIR. CHIEF, HOW WILL YOU ENFORCE THIS? ARE YOU GOING TO HAVE PEOPLE LOOKING OUT AND. YES. WELL, I MEAN, CURRENTLY DURING WATCH FEST, OBVIOUSLY EVERY EVENT WE DO HAVE OFFICERS THAT, THAT ARE, ARE THERE. SO THERE ARE, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, THE FFA RESTRICTIONS THAT THIS ORDINANCE WOULD ALLOW US TO BE ABLE TO, TO ENFORCE LIGHT FLYING OVER CROWDS FLYING ABOVE 400FT, FLYING DRONES WITHOUT, WITHOUT LIGHTS OR BEING UNREGISTERED. NOW THE, THE ORDINANCE ITSELF, YOU KNOW, PERTAINS TO TAKING OFF OR LANDING ON CITY PROPERTY. SO THANK YOU. [LAUGHTER]. YOU CAN TELL I'M NOT USED TO THAT THING YET. AND SO YEAH, CERTAINLY YOU KNOW, THE OFFICERS WOULD BE AWARE OF IT. WE HAVE USED DRONES, WE USE DRONES ON JUNE 11TH FOR THE DEKALB SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT. AND ALSO MARTA WAS GRACIOUSLY AVAILABLE TO, TO HELP US OUT WITH, WITH THOSE. SO IF, IF THEY ARE ALLOWED TO BE THERE, THEN THEY'RE ALLOWED TO FLY OR OBVIOUSLY IF THEY'RE LAW ENFORCEMENT, THEN THEY WOULD BE ALLOWED TO FLY. BUT YES, TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, THE OFFICERS WOULD BE. ANYTHING LIKE THAT? NO, THERE'D BE NO SIGNAGE. I MEAN, WE WOULD DO A MAKE THE PUBLIC AWARE OF, OF THE ORDINANCE THROUGH WORKING WITH OUR COMMUNICATIONS TEAM AND CERTAINLY OUR WEBSITE AT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT. OKAY. SOUNDS GOOD. THANK YOU. ARE THERE OTHER QUESTIONS? I HAVE ONE QUICK QUESTION. SO DOES WATCH FEST HAVE THE NEED TO FILM ANYTHING? DO THEY HAVE ANY APPROVED DRONES THAT WOULD BE USED THAT WE'RE AWARE OF? IF ANY OF OUR SOCIAL MEDIA FOLKS, IF THEY NEED TO USE THE DRONE, THEN WE'LL, WE'LL I'LL JUST SPEAK TO THE CHIEF. OKAY. RIGHT. OKAY. I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT. BUT AGAIN, THAT'S WE WOULD DO THAT AND WE WOULD WE WOULD COORDINATE. [01:25:04] SO THERE WOULD BE NO SURPRISES WITH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT. OKAY. THANKS. OTHER QUESTIONS. SO CAN I GET A MOTION FOR ORDINANCE 0-26-XX. SO MOVED. SECOND. MOTION AND SECOND. IS THERE FURTHER DISCUSSION? THIS IS A ROLL CALL VOTE, COMMISSIONER KORTEMEIER. AYE. COMMISSIONER ARNOLD. AYE. COMMISSIONER DUSENBURY. AYE. MAYOR PRO TEM FRONK. AYE. AND CHAIR VOTES AYE. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU ALL. THANK YOU FOR PICKING THAT UP. YES, SIR. ALL RIGHT. THIS IS YOUR LAST TIME IN THIS MEETING THAT YOU MAY DO SO. IF YOU HAVE A REQUEST OR PETITION, NOW'S YOUR TIME TO COME FORWARD AND BRING YOUR STATEMENT TO THE CITY COMMISSION. SEEING NONE AND LOOKING ONLINE AND RECOGNIZING ALL THE NAMES. I WILL CLOSE REQUESTS AND PETITIONS AND MOVE TO REPORTS AND OTHER BUSINESS UNDER REPORTS AND OTHER BUSINESS. [VIII. Reports and Other Business.] MS. ARNOLD, WHAT DO YOU HAVE? I BELIEVE THAT MS. SCHARER HAS A AN ANNOUNCEMENT FROM STAFF. GOOD EVENING, CARA SCHARER ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER, PUBLIC WORKS. I HAVE TWO MEETING ANNOUNCEMENTS. PLEASE JOIN US THIS THURSDAY, JUNE 18TH AT LEGACY PARK HAWKINS HALL FOR THE FIRST OF FOUR SESSIONS IN THE KNOW YOUR FLOW WORKSHOP SERIES HOSTED BY DECATUR'S ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY BOARD AND THE CLIMATE RESILIENCE TASK FORCE. IT'LL BE FOCUSED ON WHAT HOMEOWNERS CAN DO TO ADDRESS STORMWATER ISSUES ON THEIR PROPERTY, AND LEARN MORE ABOUT THE CITY'S OWN STORMWATER INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS. IT'LL BE LED BY SENIOR ENGINEER ERIC BYRNE AND CHRISTY BIBLE, A STORMWATER COMMITTEE MEMBER. AND WHAT TIME IS IT? IT'LL BE 6:00 TO 7:30 WITH A PRESENTATION AT 6:30. AND THAT'S AT HAWKINS? HAWKINS HALL THIS THURSDAY. THANK YOU. ADDITIONALLY, PLEASE JOIN US WEDNESDAY, JUNE 24TH AT 5:30 P.M. FOR COMMUNITY INPUT ON WEST PONCE DE LEON AVENUE SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS. IT'LL BE AT SAINT THOMAS MORE SCHOOL AT 6:30 WEST PONCE DE LEON AVENUE, STARTING AT 5:30. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. WHAT IS THE JURISDICTION OF THE WEST PONCE TRAFFIC? YES. THE CORRIDOR WILL BE FROM THE CITY LIMITS ON WEST PONCE DE LEON AVENUE AT NEAR EAST PARKWOOD TO PINE TREE. THANK YOU. AND, MS. ARNOLD. MR. DOWNS, YOU'RE UP, SIR. THANK YOU. BRYAN DOWNS HERE ON BEHALF OF THE CITY ATTORNEY. WE HAD A SETTLEMENT THAT HAS BEEN REPORTED TO THE CITY COMMISSION IN EXECUTIVE SESSION AND WAS APPROVED IN EXECUTIVE SESSION. BUT BECAUSE OF THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF THIS PARTICULAR SETTLEMENT THE COMMISSION NEEDS TO HAVE A MOTION AND APPROVE THIS SETTLEMENT IN AN OPEN MEETING. THIS IS AN OUTGROWTH OF THE CITY'S ACQUISITION OF THE GREEN, THE DEARBORN GREEN SPACE DOWN BETWEEN CHEVELLE LANE AND DEARBORN PARK. IT WAS ACTUALLY ACQUIRED BACK IN 2018, 2019, AND THEN THE RESULT OF A VALUATION OF THAT PROPERTY AND MONIES THAT WERE OWED BY BOTH TO THE CITY, BY THE DEVELOPER THAT HAVE BEEN PURSUED. SO I, WITH YOUR PERMISSION, WILL JUST REVIEW, ACTUALLY READ THE MOTION AND THEN ONE OF YOU WILL MOVE, MOVE IT AND SECOND IT AND WE'LL BE DONE. IS A MOTION TO APPROVE SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT REACHED WITH NEIL HIGHTOWER AND THE K STYLED CITY OF DECATUR VERSUS NEALON K HIGHTOWER, PENDING IN THE UNITED STATES BANKRUPTCY COURT FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF GEORGIA. UPON THE FOLLOWING PRINCIPAL TERMS, A CONSENT JUDGMENT WILL BE ENTERED AGAINST NEALON HIGHTOWER INDIVIDUALLY IN THE AMOUNT OF $1,250,000, WHICH SHALL INCLUDE A DETERMINATION THAT THE JUDGMENT DEBT IS NOT DISCHARGEABLE. HIGHTOWER WILL HAVE THE RIGHT TO SATISFY THE CONSENT JUDGMENT FOR THE DISCOUNTED SUM OF $1,100,000 BY MAKING INSTALLMENT PAYMENTS IN THE FOLLOWING AMOUNTS ON OR BEFORE THE FOLLOWING SCHEDULED DATES BY DECEMBER 31ST, 2026. $10,000 BY JULY 31ST, 2027. $20,000 BY JULY 31ST, 2028. $40,000 BY JULY 31ST, 2029 $80,000 BY JULY 31ST, 2030 $120,000 AND BY JULY 31ST, 2031, $830,000. THIS IS PROVIDED THAT HIGHTOWER. [01:30:10] I'M SORRY, PROVIDED THAT HIGHTOWER COMPLIES WITH THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THE SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT AND TIMELY MAKES THE SCHEDULED PAYMENTS. THE CITY WILL FORBEAR FROM TAKING ANY ACTION TO RECORD, EXECUTE, LEVY OR COLLECT ON THE CONSENT JUDGMENT. IN THE EVENT HIGHTOWER FAILS TO MAKE ANY SCHEDULED PAYMENT IN FULL WHEN DUE OR IF HIGHTOWER BREACHES ANY OTHER TERM OR CONDITION OF THE SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT, THE CITY WILL BE ENTITLED TO IMMEDIATELY ENFORCE THE CONSENT JUDGMENT IN FULL. UNLESS ANY PAYMENTS MADE BY HIGHTOWER TO THE CITY UNDER THE SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT AND TO TAKE ALL ACTIONS TO RECORD, EXECUTE, LEVY OR COLLECT ON THE CONSENT JUDGMENT WITHOUT FURTHER NOTICE OR DEMAND. UPON THE BANKRUPTCY COURT'S APPROVAL AN ENTRY OF THE CONSENT JUDGMENT, THE CITY WILL DISMISS THE RELATED DEKALB SUPERIOR COURT LAWSUIT WITH PREJUDICE. EACH OF THE PARTIES WILL RELEASE THE OTHER FROM CLAIMS ASSERTED, OR THAT COULD HAVE BEEN ASSERTED IN THE BANKRUPTCY PROCEEDING OR IN THE DEKALB LAWSUIT. THE SETTLEMENT OF THE BANKRUPTCY ADVERSARY PROCEEDING IS EXPRESSLY CONDITIONED UPON THE BANKRUPTCY COURT'S APPROVAL AND ENTRY OF THE CONSENT JUDGMENT. FURTHER, THE CITY MANAGER IS AUTHORIZED TO EXECUTE ON BEHALF OF THE CITY THE FINAL VERSION OF THE SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT, AS WELL AS THE CONSENT JUDGMENT AND ANY RELATED DOCUMENTS THAT ARE NEEDED TO EFFECTUATE THE SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT, WHICH DETERMINATION SHALL BE MADE BY THE CITY MANAGER IN CONSULTATION WITH THE CITY ATTORNEY AND TRIAL COUNSEL. THAT'S THE FORM OF THE MOTION. THANK YOU, MR. DOWNS. I MOVE TO APPROVE. SECOND. MOTION MADE AND SECONDED. THANK YOU. IS THERE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AYE. CHAIR VOTES AYE. THANK YOU, MR. DOWNS. THANK YOU. FOR YOUR DILIGENCE DURING THAT PROCESS. THANK YOU, SIR. DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING ELSE FOR US TONIGHT? WELL, I'D LIKE TO START BY SAYING HAPPY MARY FRANCES EARLY DAY, BECAUSE THAT IS TODAY. AND MS. EARLY, YOU INSPIRE ME WITH YOUR MANY CONTRIBUTIONS AND JUST ALL THE WONDERFUL THINGS THAT WE'VE HEARD ABOUT YOU THIS EVENING AND THAT YOU'VE ACCOMPLISHED THROUGHOUT YOUR LIFE AND CONTINUE TO ACCOMPLISH. SO THANK YOU. I ALSO WANT TO THANK THE STAFF. I KNOW YOU ALL ARE CARRYING ON WITH YOUR DAY JOBS AND ALL THE MANY RESPONSIBILITIES THAT YOU HAVE, IN ADDITION TO PUTTING ON A WORLD CLASS EVENT EVERY DAY FOR 34 DAYS. SO THAT'S QUITE AN UNDERTAKING. AS MAYOR WOULD SAY IT'S A MARATHON, NOT A SPRINT. RIGHT? SO WE'RE PACING OURSELVES, WE'RE HAVING A GOOD TIME AND WE'RE GOING TO KEEP SHOWING UP. SO WATCH I ALSO JUST WANTED TO GIVE A QUICK SHOUT OUT TO PARKS AND REC BECAUSE WHILE THE REST OF US ARE GOING ABOUT OUR DAYS WE ALSO KNOW THAT THEY ARE DELIVERING QUALITY CAMP EXPERIENCES FOR OUR YOUTH IN DECATUR. AND THAT IS NO, NO SMALL FEAT. [LAUGHTER] THERE'S A LOT HAPPENING AT ONCE. BUT THAT'S IT FOR ME. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE TIME. COMMISSIONER DUSENBURY. YEAH, I JUST I VERY BRIEFLY I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, OUR ROLE OF COMMISSION IS TO ASK QUESTIONS AND TO, YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES TOUGH QUESTIONS OR PUSH THINGS. I THOUGHT IT WAS A GOOD CONVERSATION TODAY. I WANT TO THANK THE STAFF AND MY FELLOW COMMISSIONERS FOR THE TIME AND EFFORT THAT WE PUT INTO THIS BUDGET AND LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING TO, TO WORK FOR THE GOOD OF THE FOLKS HERE IN DECATUR. SO THANK YOU. MAYOR PRO TEM FRONK. I WILL SECOND BE HAPPY, MARY FRANCES EARLY DAY, PART OF OUR COMMUNITY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. AGAIN, THANK YOU ALL. THANK YOU FOR THE TIME THAT YOU PUT IN WITH THE BUDGET. I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO THE STAFF WHO DELIVERED A HIGH QUALITY PROJECT ON THE SQUARE ON TIME AND MOSTLY ON BUDGET, SO. [APPLAUSE]. I'VE BEEN UP HERE EVERY DAY. ALSO LET'S RECOGNIZE YESTERDAY WAS HER BIRTHDAY THAT. WE WILL. DO Y'ALL WANT TO SING TO MS. EARLY? DO Y'ALL WANT TO SING? Y'ALL WANT TO SING? HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DEAR MARY FRANCES, HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU [SINGING]. [APPLAUSE]. CITY COUNCIL TO SING HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME. [01:35:03] SO THAT'S THE FIRST. [LAUGHTER] I TRY TO BE QUIET. LASTLY, I'D LIKE TO SAY, ON BEHALF OF THE CITY COMMISSION, TODAY IS ZOE TYLER'S LAST MEETING, AS SHE'S TAKEN A JOB AND SHE'S GOING BACK HOME. WE HAVE A CARD FOR YOU, BALLOONS AND CUPCAKES. SO YOU'VE BEEN A GREAT PART OF OUR LITTLE FAMILY. [APPLAUSE]. I APPRECIATE ALL THAT YOU'VE DONE FAIRLY AND HONESTLY. AND THAT'S ALL WE COULD ASK FROM JOURNALISTS IS TO TELL THE STORY FAIRLY. AND SO THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU'VE DONE. WE'RE GOING TO MISS YOU. WE WISH YOU THE BEST OF LUCK. AND DON'T BE A STRANGER. COME BACK WHENEVER YOU HAPPEN TO COME BACK AND VISIT. GREAT JOB ZOE. [APPLAUSE]. AND WITHOUT ANY FURTHER ADO, [LAUGHTER] BECAUSE IT'S TIME FOR THE STEWS. THIS MEETING IS NOW ADJOURNED. IF THERE'S NO FURTHER BUSINESS AT 9:08. * This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.