Summary of Decatur [GA] City Commission Meeting 10/6/2008

Here's a brief, unofficial summary of business conducted in Monday night's meeting:

1. Call to Order

The Commission welcomed back Commissioner Fred Boykin, who suffered a minor stroke. He said his only restriction was not being able to drive for a month due to any eye problem. He expressed gratitude for the outpouring of concern from the community, and for the first responders.

2. Approval of minutes from 9/15.

No corrections

3. Presentation of Oakhurst Arts and Music Festival (Sat. 10/11, 10-7PM)

Brought by Decatur Arts Alliance. 50 local artists, 5K run at 8AM, pumpkin painting 12-4PM, parade 2PM, no admission fee, no alcohol (but can buy it at local establishments. 8 groups furnish live entertainment all day long.  Free T-shirt on day of festival. About 24 merchants and organizations support. See website.

Angie Macon, the new director of the DAA, was introduced.

inDECATUR will post on later in the week.

4. Presentation of Great Decatur Beer Tasting Festival.

Tickets were reduced from 5K to 4K. Only 86 were left last night. [UPDATE: Nick @ Decatur Metro checked around noon and reports they are now SOLD OUT.]

5. Public comment on Agenda Items

One gentleman encouraged optimal restroom design.

6. Homestead Tax Relief Grant

City will include homestead tax relief in bills to be mailed soon. If the state does not pay, an adjustment billing might be needed later.

7. Rec Center Master Plan

$44K contract awarded to LP3 Architecture. Now that Decatur High will have a new gym, the focus of the Rec Center will shift to Active Living activities for all age groups.

8. Bridge into Glenn Creek Nature Preserve

$22K contract awarded to Woodwind Construction, which had the lowest bid by far. This is a footbridge. There is no access into this area by mechanized equipment.

9. Cemetary Wooland Restoration

$146K over 5 years approved. Contract for first year awarded to Trees Atlanta, which doesn't use goats to clear kudzu. The mayor urged the City to "keep an open mind" on goats, which are a "green" solution. Hugh Saxon said chemicals are still needed even when using goats.

10. Service Delivery Strategy

The agreement between Decatur and DeKalb County, required by state law and originally approved 8/31/1999, was extended until 4/30/2009

11. Request for School Zone for Friends School

School zone approved, but crossing guards left in discussion. The Commissioners didn't seem inclined to provide crossing guards for a private school for free.

12. Reports and Other Business

Mayor read out zoning requests to be considered by Zonning Board of Appeals (ZBA) next Monday night.

City Commission adopted Rules of Procedure for the ZBA, which codifed the unofficial  rules it's been operating under since the 50s.

Mayor asked City to set up a committee (including citizens) to working on biking, something which was tried a while back, but didn't last.

The Mayor mentioned he gave Sen. Adelman and two Representatives [Younger & Parker?] a tour of Decatur, and enjoyed their compliments on how well the city was run.

Andrea Arnold has been nominated to the ITMA Executive Board, and is expected to serve 3 years beginning in October.

The Mayor expressed appreciation to the staff, especially Andrea, for helping the new city of Dunwoody, as he had offered.

The Mayor mentioned he tapped a wood keg with a mallet for Octoberfest at the Brick Store and there was smoking out back, Peggy, the City Manager, quickly clarified he meant smoking of meat.

The 315 W. Ponce facilitated meeting is scheduled for 6:30PM on 10/15 in City Hall. Otis White will be the facilitator. UPDATE: Decatur Metro posts about his credentials.

Some of these items are covered in more detail in later posts.

The official minutes will be posted at the city's website later in the week.

Corrections, clarifications, or elaborations via comments are welcome.

Comments

[Andrea]

Thanks for doing this. For people like me who often can't get to the meetings, this helps me keep up with what's happening at the Commission meetings.

[nick]

Ditto...many thanks for this David.

[Steve]

If you have Comcast, you can watch the City Commission meeting live.

[Carl]

Thanks for taking such great notes, David! Just to clarify: Andrea Arnold (not to be confused with Amanda Thompson, also present at the meeting) was nominated.

[Decatur Native]

Thanks for the thanks, Andrea and Nick.

Nick knows just a little appreciation gives a blogger energy to carry on.

Thanks to Steve for pointing out it can be seen on Comcast, but many of us don't have it.

Thanks to Carl for the correction.