City Council - Regular Meeting

2026. And I call this regularly scheduled Dumby City Council meeting to order. Unless there's an objection, seeing none, this meeting is called to order. Councilman Seconder, can you please lead us in the invocation and the pledge?

Please rise for those who are able at this meeting. Help to help us to make decisions which keep us faithful to our mission and reflect our values. Give us strength to hold to our purpose, wisdom to guide us, and a keen perception to lead us. And above all, keep us charitable as we deliberate. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Chief Groen, I'm not sorry.

Chief, no, I know I'm going backwards in time. Chief Carlson. Yes, ma'am. Okay. Uh, today, um, we're going to swear in our newest, uh, officer. I'd like to call Terrence Kinslow up here to the podium. [clears throat]

So, um, Terrence comes to us from the New York City Police Department. He worked two different stints there. One from 2015 to 2017 and then once from, uh, 2018 to 2025. Uh, in between that little time period, he worked for the Raleigh Police Department. Uh, holds an associates degree in marketing from Nassau Community College and he joined our team back in December 22nd of 25 and he's doing an outstanding job. So at this time mayor if you would like to come down minister of the oath.

Hello. I'm good. How are you? If you'll please raise your right hand and just repeat after me. I I state your name. Terrence Kinslow hereby swear or affirm that I will faithfully hereby swear or affirm that I will faithfully fairly and without malice fairly and without malice or partiality partiality uphold the laws of the state of Georgia uphold the laws of the state of Georgia as well as any ordinances which I am authorized to enforce as well as any ordinances that I'm authorized to enforce to the best of my ability to the best of my ability and support and defend the constitution ution of the United States in support and defend the Constitution of the United States

and the Constitution of Georgia. So help me God. and the Constitution of Georgia. So help me God. Congratulations.

Thank you. How about being Officer Kinslow, we are so grateful that you have chosen Dumby for your professional home. We know that there are lots of places you could have landed, but but I believe and I know that this is the very best community, not just in the state, but probably in the country, maybe the world, um to serve. Um, our community adores our police department. Um, we have a great relationship and we as myself and city council are here for you if you need anything. Um, your colleagues in the back go above and beyond on a daily basis for our city and our residents and our visitors. And so we are thrilled that you have joined our team. And of course, we are incredibly grateful to your family because without support from your family, no public safety official can serve. And so, we're grateful. We thank you. You have beautiful children. Um, and we look forward to um you're very happy and much success here. So, thank you. And to your

colleagues in the back as always, much gratitude and thank you for all you do. May we have no more winter weather or unexpected fires this year. So, thank you. Thank you very much. Okay, public comments. Um, there are public comment cards on what I call the piano music stand in the back. Probably need to know the official name after six years, but I don't. Um, and I'll call your name and you'll have three minutes. just introduce yourself. Um, speak slowly when you introduce yourself and then you'll have three minutes when you get to the um, podium. Rachel Klinsky and Thomas Shanks I think or Shunks. I can't tell if that's an A or an O. Um, come on up. You'll have three minutes together and Oh, pull the microphone down so we can hear you. Speak into the microphone. Thank you. answers.

Hi, I'm Rachel Kislinsky. This is my husband, Thomas Shanks. We've both grown up grown up here in Duny. I'm a graduate of Duny High School. We've earned multiple degrees dealing with computers at at Georgia Tech. And we've been in Silicon Valley for the past decade before returning to our hometown. And I mention all of this to make the point that when we tell you we have concerns about renewing Flux Safety's contract, we're serious about the about this. There have been um multiple concerns with vulnerabilities in their in their systems. The cameras themselves are running a version of Android that is several years behind anything on our smartphones. And

there's plenty of uh YouTube videos that we could can point you to explaining how serious some of this stuff is. You don't even necessarily need a password to get into the system.

Uh Jessica. Okay, just give one. We're going to pause while they leave. Sorry. One more second. One more second. Sorry. Okay. continue. Thank you. uh you know that you know people have found these cameras just live streaming uh unf unfiltered and un footage in in public spaces like parks to the to the internet where anybody could police stations

and policea stations where anybody who was who was trying to stalk somebody or a police officer could could be of concern. And in speaking of stalking, one such incident actually occurred in the state of Georgia. And uh and and additionally uh in in 2025, a Sandy Springs officer was actually charged for misusing it. And um there's been no changes to tighten this down or to prevent uh public safety organizations in other places including ICE uh from accessing it for any reason including to uh monitor protests uh you know and um interfere with people's ability to to uh you know exercise freedom of speech. You know, it's a nice thing to say that this thing is being used against criminals, but the definition of a criminal is obviously changing a lot more rapidly with certain parts of the federal government than anybody here should feel comfortable with. And you know whether or not the city of Dunworthy renews this contract or not, all of that data that has been paid for by the taxpayers will remain in flock safety's possession and could be used by who who knows how whoever else. And this is we strongly urge you to um place restrictions on it or choose another provider. um you know like um including in Dunwy there have been uh nationwide searches talking about access across uh lines that uh did not have a description of why they were occurring other than test.

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you Ali. Saw you somewhere. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you for listening. And thank you. We have we have resources. Thank you Ali. out there. I' have been there, but big big dogs.

Um, thank you, city council. I wanted to make a public comment on three different items that I think you guys are reviewing today for rather discussion or vote and just give you a citizen's perspective. The first one is going to be item 10, which is authorized purchase of a vehicle barricade. So, I've looked into the file for looks like the Duny Police Department are making a recommendation for purchasing some type of equipment used for barricading, I guess, for vehicle. primarily it's it's crowd control. Um, and as a citizen, I 100% uh I'm I'm all on for it. I think it makes sense. Unfortunately, in today's climate, for whatever odd reason, people are using vehicles for for being deadly weapons or whatnot. Um, and I'm not just making a comment to the IC incident um that happened like two, three months ago. Even before then, we're seeing more and more, for whatever odd reason, people are just angry drivers and they're just using their vehicles as battering rams. So, I do think as a citizen, it would be absolutely appropriate to equip the Duny Police Department with anything that they might need to be able to deescalate and leave those situations and do whatever they need to do for crowd control in its simplest format. Um, we don't want to keep them equipped. We want to make sure they have all the right equipment. I think uh the deputy chief looked into this and he's the one who made the recommendation. So, I'd want to say as a citizen, I think it would be the right decision to back them up and pay for something like this. Like I said, nobody nobody wants to see anyone injured or harmed. So, I'd do that. Number two is item 13, which is Brook Run artificial turf repairs. I'm also all on board for this. So, as a soccer player, I can tell you and as a referee instructor that Brook Run has one of the best turfs in in literally like the city or the state, whoever put whenever they set that up, they they did a really good job. The quality there is far superior than other turf fields, but it gets a lot of usage. So, right now, I can guarantee you there are probably high school teams and other teams using it. There are tournaments on there all day long. when we play our soccer games um at at 7 and 8:30, even after we finish at 9:30, there'll be people jumping on that field, people will use

the the medium time to play on it as well. So, there's a lot a lot of usage on that field. So, ongoing repairs and making sure it stays really good is very important. In fact, there's a piece of grass between the two fields and if there's a way to turf that up to give a little bit more area for other people to kind of practice and play, that'd be ideal. But all on board, that's a good use of resources for the Brook Run Park. And then the last item looks like Chief Carlson wants to make a request for additional personnel for the um the I forgot what they're called, the ambassador program. Um that seems to have been very successful. Um as you are well aware, that program kind of helped alleviate some of the non-essential items for the Duny Police Department. Things like road closures, things that are simple tasks that unfortunately for whatever odd reason in today's world, they just stick the police to do them. It'd be easier to use those personnel to do that. Uh it seems to be very successful. One of my friends does it. Everyone knows Paul. he seems to love it. Um, his ability to kind of help the community and and be a good resource is something he loves. He says the rest of the team are the same way. They just absolutely love being able to assist the police department. So, I think that would actually be a very good use of taxpayer funds as well. So, for all three items, I'd show support. Thank you.

Thank you,

Jason. you'll approach the microphone, introduce yourself, please, and you'll have three minutes.

Awesome. Hi guys, Jason Hunar, surprise some tries. I'm back here again. Um, I wanted to first off say thank you for everyone who took the time to meet with me. I really appreciate it. And if I haven't met with you, I'm still would love to meet with you. Um, I want to talk about a serious issue with Flock. ICE currently can access access the location data and travel patterns of every citizen in Dunwy. Um, Flock will deny this. However, you could throw a football if you had a good arm over to Sandy Springs where earlier last year they did thousands of searches for ICE. Sandy Springs still has access to all the data and locations of citizens in Dunwy. Migrants, protesters, everyday citizens, almost 1,800 agencies across the country. Since the last time we talked, we actually added 23 external agencies to this list. This list includes sharing drone footage with 15 external agencies. We've also started sharing video footage with Springdale, Ohio Police Department, Hinckley, Illinois Police Department, and Crowley, Texas Police Department, just to name a few. Um, we have no idea who works there. We have no idea if the people performing the searches are actually who they say they are. We don't have any accountability over them or any oversight. This is all out of our hands. Yet, every day, we choose to apparently grow this risk by adding agencies to this network. Um, Flock is not a private or not a public safety company. It's a $7 half billion dollar private data company um that has repeatedly broken the law and crawls the dark web for information. I don't think that's who you want to partner with for public safety. Um, let me be clear, the terms right now that we're signing with Flock um give loopholes for data to be shared with law enforcement, for federal law enforcement, for other purposes without our consent. Who decides what good faith looks like? that's solely in the hands of Flock. Um, what does Donald Trump call ICE? A law enforcement operation. Doesn't take two and two to put together that they could use this if they wanted

to. Um, just to sum it up, Block has secretly given DHS a pilot of Flock earlier last year without telling any of us. Um, they have slipped in that contractual back door for them to access Dunwy citizens and our location data. And then they've also, more concerningly, changed the terms of their contract. We initially, if you look at the initial contracts, the agency data included raw footage. So that's all of us going around Dunwy. We owned that data. That has changed, which fundamentally changes the product that they are offering to us. Um, you know, the risks that they have when they own this raw data. Anyone can watch this meeting forever. It's on the public record, right? And I'd rather the next headline of the Dunwy Crier any news article not say that less than a month after the shooting of Alex Freddy, we renew our contract with um someone that's used to track ICE or track people who are uh racially being surveiled and has facilitated ICE access to our locations. So, thank you for your time.

Thank you. That concludes public comment. That's all the cards I have. You will have um there'll be another session of public comment at the end of the meeting. So, thank you all. Okay, so next up is a new initiative of the mayor of Dunwy, which is in Dicab County. We are our animal services for animals that are lost or strayed. Strays or turned in by their owners, abandoned are provided by Lifeline Animal Services. And as taxpayers in Dicap County, we are funding this service. But more importantly, um there are hundreds of animals on any given day that need a new home. And so I thought maybe I could do my small part by inviting uh representatives from Lifeline to come and introduce us all to one animal. And it's always going to be a dog because I don't think cats travel that well. And if they've taken in a pig or a horse, it probably won't work. but um and um and also remind our community that these opportunities are out there to adopt. So, I'm pleased to introduce Jessica Davis and Tiana with Griddles and they're going to tell us a little bit about Griddles. Griddles is um has been in the um shelter. Jessica is going to tell us and then a little bit about the work and how you can adopt a new family member. Thank you very much for being here, Jessica.

Thank you guys for having us. Like she said, my name is Jess. Um I live in Dunwy. I've lived in Dunwy since 2023. My husband is a Dunwy police officer, so I've been in this room quite a few times. So, it's really exciting that I can be here with you guys tonight. Um so, I work for um Dic County Animal Services, which is our local animal shelter. So, like she said, it's a countyun shelter, um, open intake, which means we can never say no to an animal. And it's also managed by, um, Lifeline Animal Project, which is a nonprofit. Um, so I'm here with my friend Tiana and our adoptable friend, Griddles. Um, Griddles is a female. She's been in Dicap County Animal Services for 209 days, um, looking for a home. She is dog friendly. She's estimated to be between 3 and four years old. She loves giving kisses and jumping, as you can see. Um, she has also met children and done well. Um, Griddles is a staff favorite. We love her. We hate that she's been in the shelter for so long. Um, but if Griddles somehow isn't the one for you, um, she has about 462 other doggy siblings at Dicab that are in need of homes. Um, and then an additional 500 dogs that we have in foster homes. So, that's close to a thousand animals, just dogs, that we have in our care, not to mention cats, we get chickens, we get goats. Um, any animal need that you might have, we've probably had in our shelter at some point. Um, if you can't bring a dog home, we have quite a few ways that you can help. Volunteering. Um, we have dog for the day, which is exactly what it sounds. You take a dog out for a couple hours, and this greatly in increases their chances of being adopted. We also have Weekend Warrior, which is a short-term foster program, just two nights. Again, greatly increases their chances of being adopted, as well as long-term fostering, volunteering, donating. There's lots of ways to help out, even if you're not a huge animal person. Um, we do also have some

exciting events coming up. So, um, from, let's see, February 13th through the 15th, if you adopt an animal from our shelter, it's $14 for Valentine's Day. Um, and then we do also have an event called Healthy Pets coming up at the end of this month, February 28th, um, where we offer free vet resources to members of the community. So, if your animal needs vaccines, um, spay or neuter vouchers, basic, um, pet accessories, um, we give all of that out for free to the community. Um, we also have monthly food drives. So, we really try and, um, give to the community as much as we can to try and help keep pets with their owners. Um, so again, thank you guys so much for having us. Um, again, Griddles is available for adoption, as are all of her other friends. Um, and we're so thankful to be here. Thank you for having us, and we look forward to coming back next month with another dog.

Thank you. So, um, the mayor of Shambbley has been doing this for a bit and every dog that they have featured has been adopted. I'm a very competitive person. Done. Woody, step it up, everybody. Um, and so we look forward to sharing Griddles on our social media and um, finding Griddles a permanent home. Um, so thank you very much, Jessica. Thank you. And thank you, Tiana. And thank you, Griddles. Appreciate it. Right.

All right, Eric, you're up.

All right. Thank you, mayor. That's what a great program that is. So, um, okay. Okay. So, under parks, I'm going to start with parks for the city manager monthly report ending February 3rd. Um, homecoming park construction uh solicitation for the bids went out and we it's open from February 2nd through March the 2nd with an onsite pre-bid meeting on February the 13th. So, that's very exciting for our new park. Looking forward to getting some prices in on that and negotiating with the um the final bidder. The um upcoming events the 1st through the 28th is Black History Month mural exhibit at Brook Run Skate Park. We also have our dog park Valentine's photo, very timely for uh what we just had here. And that's on February the 7th. And also the Georgia Arbor Day planning February 20th um in April. I just want to keep mentioning this every every time until the until the date is lemonade days. April 22nd through the 26th of this year. We also um had a review of the extended trail lighting options for Brook Run Park to Pernellaw Park from Georgia Power. We have a design. We're expecting a price from them shortly to put lights along that section of the trail. Also, we've been doing a lot of preventative maintenance over the winter for our parks and playgrounds, exercise equipment, elevators, and other items uh within the city. We have our MLK volunteers. They planted 84 trees at the Dunwy Nature Center and 5,000 daffodils at Brook Run Park um over the um day of service that we have here in Dunwy. 87 responses we had for we received for holiday lighting survey. Uh the feedback includes the desire for additional or expanded areas along the trail. Um, also we got a lot of positives about the un

untraditional holiday theme of space and also the um the appeal of having more attractions during the daylight hours. This goes back to our display we had during for the month of December and into early January talking about the uh holiday lights. So, we wanted to share that comment with the public. Any other comments, we we welcome those. But as as y'all know, that is an expanding program, huge response from the public. So this was unique to find out uh what the people really think it overwhelmingly positive. We can always expand uh into other areas of the park. We have uh the police department, the officers will participate and staff will be uh participating in the 2026 Special Olympics Polar Plunge that's coming up. Um there is a link within your report for that. We also have the February 24th 8 to 10:00 a.m. we have coffee with a cop event to take place at Lucky Goat. That's on Dumby Park Plaza. Um, and here again, just so everybody knows, that's just come and meet the police. There's no agenda. I welcome the public to come out and meet them. We have our uh K9 deployment. We had that which was at two at 200 uh Transport Boulevard. Uh Hank responded to that location assisting the police with a task force on a package search. It the the dog came up with a um identification of 4.34 kilos of cocaine. So quite a big um apprehension there. So that was great to have with the dogs helped safety of our officers as well. We did have a big structure fire and apartment complex at Duny Crossing. Um Duny police were some of the first to arrive on the scene. We heard about the call and also the flock system helped with that to identify where the where the problem was. Officers were called out uh to help clear out the apartments uh early on um as the flames are visible from the roof

and that building was a total loss uh of eight units there. Be [clears throat] on the lookout for package thieves. We do have that issue. Uh some people dress up as Amazon drivers and come to steal the packages. Um, and also be on the lookout for shoplifting as well. We did have a an issue where somebody had shoplifting and property damage to the point of a felony where they not only were trying to steal information, steal product, but also were ruining product within the store. So, that was unfortunate that we have that going on in the community. We did have another um traffic stop on 285. uh somebody was trafficking heroin on the road and here again uh our police were able to stop that and uh bring the person in in for into custody. Um within the report is a link that goes into the crime stats. So please take a look at that. That of course is available online for any citizen or anybody in the has access to the web to look at that. Public works, we have our Brookr run maintenance facility. The slab has been poured for both buildings. the warehouse building, the steel has been erected and uh the work has begun on the interior walls. There's a picture of that within your within your report. Um I'm glad that building is underway. Um it's desperately needed for to house our equipment. Also, we have the sidewalk ramps upgrades were completed on Peeler Road, Tilly Mill Road, and Winter's Chapel Road and our old springhouse path. Most of the path has been completed there. So, they've been quite busy there within public works. We do have a couple of meetings coming up. We have on the 12th of this week um from 5 to 7 the Winter's Chapel phase 2 public meeting will be at Winter's Chapel United Methodist Church. And also on March the 3, we have the Village Crossings Project public meeting is scheduled from 5:00 to 7:00 at Vintage Pizza. One of the other initiatives the council wanted to do was do some more street lighting on Meadow Lane. Uh Georgia Powers installed four of the eight pedestrian lights and five of the

15 roadway lights. So that project here again is underway. As you all know, the city is very uh concerned with pedestrian safety. We want to do all the improvements we can with especially within the perimeter area and other areas of the city that need more lighting. Communications. We have the budget book that's been completed. I want to thank again Kathy Florence working closely with the finance team to get that budget book out. There is an excerpt within your report showing that. Also, we had the two weather events for the past two weekends, not including this past weekend, but the weekends before. Um, where we had a special website, graphics, social media post, and videos. The city was ready for those events each time. Fortunately, they were very minor, but I did want to clue y'all into the the uh website that's created and the work that goes in from our communication staff to keep everybody informed. We also have Google Google Fiber is coming to Dunwy. Uh we've been coordinating with public works and messaging on that for the citywide project. That's something we're going all have to be patient with as they go through the neighborhoods to install the infrastructure for highspeed internet. Um community development perimeter mall has submitted plans to relocate the food court uh to the entrance adjacent to the Macy's store. The existing food court will be turned into a concourse and retail space. Um that that food court has been there as long as I can remember. So it's going to be interesting to move that down the hall, so to speak. Um, the department also uh had an open house event for the Georgetown small area plan. We had about 100 residents come and share their thoughts on future developments in that neighborhood. For the 14th year in a row, the city has received the Tree City USA honor. So, congratulations to the city for that. Um, just down the street here, we have Kimo has submitted plans for a new freestanding restaurant on the surface parking lot between Jay Alexander and the Olive Garden restaurant. I'm excited to see what that's going to be. Also, the electronics recycling event will take place April 11th and we have the

household hazardous waste on September the 19th. So, mark your calendars. Those are I know very popular for our residents to get rid of um unwanted stuff, I'll call it from that standpoint. We do have outside um the ATM machine from Truis Bank was installed at the front of our lobby that will help uh citizens that need to have cash for court payments. You can always use credit cards and other methods of payments, but there is a search charge on that. This allows them to have cash from their bank and just to bring that to the payment window. So, we put that there as a convenience for anyone visiting city hall. Also, we have our uh we have held today actually our first quarter audit report meeting. Um, and we had our internal auditor come to the meeting. He did a great job explaining to the uh committee uh what his task have been in the past and what his new task will be in the future for internal audit purposes. Everything from gas cards to credit cards to any other type of items. And one thing he really focused on today were were risk I'll call them and other ways we can ex lower our exposure to any kind of risk that are out there. And that works hand inand with our uh new risk manager as well to keep all those things uh safe. and the finance department does an excellent job on working with it with the auditors both internal and external. There are several things within the department items I'm not going to read each one of those but several notice to proceeds um and other items that we are working on within that department. The final thing I'm going to mention today um after I mentioned court uh court of course meets here in this room. They disposed of 655 cases uh during the quarter and uh reset 16 cases. So very efficient getting cases moved through that through our courtroom. Final piece is the city filled the following positions. Prisoner, transport officer, public safety ambassador and purchasing coordinator um for the city. And also today we did have one more filled which was a new person in human resources

which will help them as well. So that's been filled as well. That will you'll see an email on that that came out today. So that's what I have for the report. I'm glad to answer any questions y'all may have. Uh questions anybody? Stacy um just [clears throat] couple of three different things. Um first up Rachel um the adaptive soccer with unique individual ranch. Can you um explain a little bit more like what he does when where like what I mean I think it's really cool we have the program. So

yeah for the for the grant we received. Yes. So, we started partnering um with them last year. Um they've they've really helped us um expand our adaptive programming. So, adaptive soccer, he does what we call the Peach Field over at Burke Run, which is behind the community garden kind of like if you're at the amphitheater to the right, kind of on the hill. So, that's where soccer will be. Um so, most of the funding will go towards expanding that program. Like I said, 20 families will benefit from that. Um which then helps him offer more like adaptive movie nights and parents night out and and things like that. Um, but they've been they've been a great partner and we're we're thrilled to be able to help them out. So, what does his adoptive soccer program look like? I mean, ages like is it a buddy system or like just

Yeah, buddy system is a good way to explain it. Um, and they go up to ages 18. Um, so it it really depends on So, when you when you register for their program, there's a questionnaire that goes out to the family about what sort of needs or maybe assistance you would need um for the for the program. Um, and then he works with the the individual and his staff to kind of pair up. So, it's like a buddy system so they have exactly what they need to to run the program. And this is at no cost um for the participants now. Correct. Correct. This is Yeah, this will cover the cost for 20 families. Yeah. Great. Thank you. Sure. Um, my next question is about the apartment fire and in in the report from the police, it said there were some issues with the water pressure.

Are we and they may come up. But we did have an issue with that. I mean, that sounds a little worrisome,

right? And um after we did have a an after meeting with um the county and they're looking into it in more detail of why the water pressure was deficient in that area. Um it's bizarre to me why why it doesn't work within the complex. And so we had a problem there I think about five years ago as well. And so I know chief has it as a top priority of his and also working with um Richard Mloud his department the building official to find out you know where's the deficiency is there a problem with the valve is it water pressure that's low coming in from the pumps there is they had to run additional hose which as y'all know delays more time I think it was about 15 degrees that night so water's freezing there you know we had to send public works over there to help put down salt different things but all that adds to the stress of the fire for the residents that in there and of course you know that like I said that building was a total loss. We're looking at we still don't know the exact cause of the fire. I know it was a little bit windy that night which flame which and you know increased the flames as well. So those those are some of the issues and I don't know chief if you have anything else to add.

I don't it was a similar issue um for some reason that the the pressure out front and so um about five years ago we had one that was all the way in the back. Um it just creates more of an issue especially for people ingress and egress out of there especially the residents. Um even our staff got gets trapped the mayor there as well. Um you [clears throat] know so it causes an issue. So no, I mean it's internally don't know if it's pipes going down to smaller ones. I have no idea. But um where the issue

I I guess Eric like I would like to know that that you all have found the source of the problem and that I mean to to read that like that it was so delayed because of water pressure like let's let's make sure that I've been in communication with the DICEP chiefs.

Okay. and the CEO and um and you know I'm going to stay on it. You know the question is is is where is well first of all there's the issue of the temperature that you know in the end of the and the last one five years ago was also in the dead of winter as well. Um, but it doesn't matter because fires can happen any time of the year and and um and so I have sent emails and I'm asking for meetings and a report and they're on it. Then it becomes how we get it fixed is the next challenge. How we make the responsible parties fix it. So um Okay. Go ahead.

I have I have another question. This one's for Richard. um the food court at the mall. Can you just kind of like since they've submitted the plans like I'm trying to picture that it's the blank entrance by Macy's, the one that a deer walked into. Um do you remember that? Okay. Yeah, it's the back entrance right next to the parking deck. Oh, okay. So, they're going So, they're staying on that level just bumping out that way. Gotcha. Wait, where is it? the it's right next to Macy's on that ground level on the rear parking lot entrance.

So, it's not in the hallway in front of Macy's. It's going to be like an addition to the they're repurposing outdoor space. No. Well, they're are doing some spaces outdoors, but it's mainly indoors. The the shops are going out right there. Oh, okay. Okay. So, yeah. So it's on the same it's on the lower level where the it's on the lower level where the food court is now and they're just Okay, that's correct. So it's not it's not the Ashford Dwey side. It's it's the where your parking lot side. Gotcha. Okay, that makes more sense. Yeah.

Okay. Oh, Rachel or Richard um Plato, I have one more question. So I'm I'm doing this in order of how it was in the it's the notice to proceed for the sport court work at Peachree Middle. What are we doing?

It's coming. Notice to proceed for issued for sport court work, crack and asphalt removal for Peach Tree Middle. I will have to get back to you on that. Okay. Rachel. Oh, here comes Rachel.

No mercy for which one? sport court work, crack fill, and asphalt removal and replacement services for Peach Tree Middle School. Yes, for the for this is the track repair. Um there's a bunch of like where weeds are growing up where there's we're going to fill in what we can for the cracks and then put a sealant on it, I think is the one that Yeah, that's all I just wanted to know. Thank you. John, do you have anything? Yeah, I'll jump in. Uh thank you, Stacy, for talking. Can you talk a tiny bit louder? Sorry.

I'm trying. Um I'm talking about the fire hydrant issue at uh the apartment complex. Many years ago we had an audit that was done and it's done on a regular basis by Dicab fire u making sure that they test all the fire hydrants throughout the city. That needs to be done on a regular basis and I'd like to know when Dicab County did that last and provide us a report as to when they last tested fire hydrants in the entire city of Dunwood. Okay, we'll get that. Thank you. Um they were ironically or maybe not out testing fire hydrants a couple days ago. Um Joe

um hey Eric. Um first off hats off to the communications department. Um especially the advertising for the Winter's Chapel openhouse. Um bilingual flyers, yard signs are up along the corridor. Um it's it's great outreach for that. Thank you. Um, regarding the Tilly Mill upcoming project, the notice to you're going to start the the RFP will go out for construction on Tilly Mill Mount Vernon intersection and I'd like to knowly now we don't have insight to the RFP and what's in that, but what kind of uh mitigation we're going to do? How are we going to do things differently than we did on on Georgetown and Shambley Dunwhaty regarding construction disruption during the rush hour? What is the plan and what are we going to do differently? Do we have that addressed proactively in advance?

I know that Michael Smith and his department have been working on some stuff. He's going to come up and explain it in more detail.

Um, well, as you know, with any project, there's there's going to be some traffic disruptions. There are going to be times where they have to to close a lane and and take it down to one lane of traffic that, you know, our we um that'll be limited between 9:00 a.m. and 400 pm on weekdays. And then so basically they're not allowed to close a lane during rush hour. Um the other thing is because of the amount of water mane that the cab is going to I mean they're going to put in two water manes that we've set it up to where the contractor will have to build a temporary shoulder. And so while they're working on uh the water lines in the on the south side of the road, there will be a temporary lane on the north side so that you can maintain two lanes of traffic through there for a for a longer period of the construction uh than you would I mean if they if we didn't do that there would be one lane of traffic every day for for months and months. So, um that's that's part of the bid documents is to provide that temporary lane.

Okay. And we also there's we also have a if we need to um because you have Mount Vern in place in Tilly Mill there, there is a way in some not for the whole project, but at times we can use that as a temporary detour if we need to. So, that will help relieve some of the pressure.

Great. Thanks. Um, you might want to stay up here, but I'll address the question to Eric. Um, if you go around Sandy Springs, you'll see these uh T-splashed project signs. They're funded by T-Splash, your penny at work, and the name of the project in both directions, a beginning and end. I I go on Spalding Drive and it'll be years before they put in a sidewalk, but it'll show you this is a Teslas funded project. Um, I know that back on the Shamley Dunway Georgetown area, we did have some illustrations that were made on a board, which if someone was stopped or just walking, they could read it. Um, but I' I'd like to see if we're going to be, you know, we could probably go around a ton of places if we had things that are just programmed and put them around the city. It's it's I think it's important to let people know what we're doing and before it's planned and they see the sign and it's upcoming and it just gives another recognition and then it does it's more accountability to say well this is your penny sales tax at work and here's our splass website or something. Um is there any uh are we going to be putting any signage informing the community about that project on site?

Yes. Yeah. But we did the Spalding uh Shamley Dwey project had one of those a splice sign out there during construction. So yes, we will do that. All right. And we do we'll work closer I mean with our communications department. We can have more online as well. It's all you know some communities they put tons of those up. I know Dunley historically has just not you know done as many of those type of signs. We can certainly do whatever is pleasure of the council and but I'll get with Jennifer and Michael. We'll come up with a with a plan along with Jay. He's got that on his list. I know. So, we'll work on that. Thank you.

Thanks. Thanks. Um and then thanks. This is more of a just a higher level conversation. I think it's great all the momentum that's moving forward, the discussion items. Um we have a lot of work on the public works team. They have a lot of workload um with all these capital projects, let alone ongoing maintenance, let alone reacting to storms and so on and our storm water and paving and everything else. And um I know over the years we have expanded headcount in public works uh and moving people from contract to employee and I appreciate all that. Um I would just want to say although we're not at a retreat not right now we're not looking at staffing overall but I want to I would like to make sure that look it's great that we're doing these projects and we're building these capital projects out. Um, I'd also want to make sure that our safe streets uh is not forgotten that we did uh choose not to renew that safe street position last year and and it could be more of a hybrid that we kind of keep that moving forward. Right. We've got things that Jonathan DeJoy had presented in June of last year that I thought were going to be done by the end of last year. just some small lowhanging fruit things. But um I would I would just again this is more of a conversation for future, but I'd appreciate that consideration to look at that role in more of an outreach and a and a a two-way flow for between the city and the citizens. But um anyway, um thank you, Eric. Thank you.

Thank you. Anybody else? So um John, was that all you had? You're finished, right? Yeah.

Yes, that was it. Thank you. Okay. So, I wanted to start by commending our police department for their response on last Saturday night's uh fire at Dumy Village. Our officers were the first on the scene. They were the ones knocking on doors. I got a note today from one of the residents. The fire started at one corner of the building and the people at the other corner would have not at all been aware that something was happening had someone not knocked on the door. And I commend um our team and they also got trapped there right along with me. Um my husband and I came over I don't know like a few minutes after I heard um the conditions that the cab fire was working in were pretty horrific. It was I mean it could have been much worse but it was cold really cold. The water was freezing on contact. Um there's a picture out there if you haven't seen it. I think WSB has it of an office a fireman whose helmet is encased in ice with icicles hanging down. It was very cold and it was not a little wind. It was a huge amount of wind when this fire started. Um we are like I said I've already been in communication with Dicap County. We need to get to the root of this water issue. um again and uh but I will say that as bad as it was and how tragic it is those families lost everything there are two things one most importantly there were no injuries uh there was no loss of life even the pets got out and um and it's because of the rapid response of our police department and the firemen who went in the building and made sure everybody was out and Then also the community response

to these families losing everything has been such a glimmer of bright light. Um many thousands of dollars has been raised. Uh we asked people to email the management of the apartment complex if they had donations of items people would need and she stopped counting at 75 emails. Um, I think that I know from speaking to the victims that they have been overwhelmed by our community's generosity and for that I am incredibly grateful. I also want to shout out our public safety people, our police department and our communications team for the great efforts around the storms that were not in terms of communication and uh readiness. we were ready. Um, public works, too. And I we got a great compliment um for how quickly one of our public works crews responded to a tree down. Now, it was the only tree down and two storms, but it was a great response and the neighbors were so grateful to not get trapped on their street. Um, and it's always nice to get uh good praise and so good job everyone and we will stay on this situation at Dumoody Village. Michael Smith, can you do us a favor please? It sounds like something is going very wrong where they're doing the utility project and the water replacement project on Dely Club and today the directions had people going into onto Bent Creek. Is that the name of a street that that was also that also was closed? Yes. And so could you please reach out to the cab county? You can CC me if you need to because I can go to the CEO, but something's got to change. Thank you.

Can I address this with the city staff earlier [clears throat] in the week Monday when it Well, it's still happening I guess today. Well, the other day is Monday. Monday. A week ago. Well, Thursday the project started to close in down club. The other problem I think today from what I saw on social media was um Spalding um Bolton County was doing work too. So it was double whammy or is it Georgia Power? I don't know. It was it was it was it was in Fulton County,

right? It was on Sandy Spring side. So, if we could just see if we could use our GPS potentially to help the cab figure out and and also I think it's maybe Georgia Power because they're doing a big utility replacement on Spalding in that area. So, thank you, Michael. With that, we are done with that. Eric, we're done. Okay, everybody else, excuse me. This be a child. Um, now we are on to the consent agenda. We have two board appointees. I don't know if they're here. Is John Howland here or Michael Mendoza? Okay. Well, they um would recognize them if they were here. Does anybody have any questions? It's an action item.

Move to approve. Moved by John. Second. Second by Rob. Any questions? Just want to say thank you. I Great great resumes you're getting. Thank you, mayor. You're welcome. Um, seeing no discussion, further discussion, I call the question. All in favor of approving the consent agenda to say I. I. Opposed? Hearing? None. That passes unanimously. Thank you. One quick com. Will somebody be reaching out to Michael Mendoza?

Yes, they'll both be reached out. Oh, yeah. Somebody probably ought to let them know quickly there's a meeting on Thursday. The next item on the agenda is an ordinance to amend chapter 22 of the city of Dunwy code of ordinances to prohibit burning of yard waste. Um good evening mayor, good evening council. Uh this is second read uh for this ordinance. First read was two weeks ago. Um you all had uh plenty of comments and uh we we heard you. Um the ordinance changed pretty substantially. The scope was reduced um as you all have it in in front of you and it's it's up on the screen. So like um instead of having this longer uh text amendment that you all had seen, it's now a much shorter one. just a sentence that says burning of yard waste is prohibited and then an explainer what's included as part of this and then uh a second item I think uh council second had mentioned it um to give us time to communicate this change uh effective date of May 1st. So uh on May 1st the general uh the Georgia EPD burn ban starts anyway. So, this gets us through that season uh and gives us time through the summer to communicate this change with the residents of the city to make sure that we're not uh entrapping anyone. Um but this if you all have any questions I can I can answer those.

I have questions. Katherine Paul I wasn't here at the last meeting. What are the other cities doing around us with regard to yard waste? So this is generally prohibited in most cities. Um we looked at several other ones including Sandy Springs, Roswell, uh Alpharetta, Brook Haven, and it is uh prohibited in most of those. I think it's prohibited in Decap County now as well. Oh, thank you. Just so you know, it when we became a city, it was not prohibited in Dicap County. So therefore, when they changed it, we didn't change it. Anybody else? This is an action item. Move to approve. Moved by Joe. Second.

Second by John. Any further discussion? Seeing none, I call the question. All in favor say I. I. Any opposed? Uh, so that passes 61. Uh, Sharon, I don't if it was Councilwoman Harris who voted against it. Thank you. Thank.

The next item under business is the 2026 paving contract with Blunt Construction. Michael Smith.

Good evening. The only update from the last meeting is we added the the 26 through 28 map. Um that's the the last bit of um the recommended streets from the last time we did a survey. You can fairly well assume that any street that's not shown as previously paved or paved being paved in 26 through 28 would be in the last year of the 2020 or the 20-year plan. um maybe with a few exceptions, but so that the map should show you what's what we're planning the next three years plus what's left after that. So I'll answer any questions you have.

Uh Katherine, I'm looking for something. Michael, for jet ferry, I thought we talked about taking it off this plan and then I don't understand from what you've written if you're going to put in the bike lanes. Is that what this going to happen? Yes. Yeah. It uh jet ferry was moved from 25 to 26 and then we talked at the last meeting about go that we can put a climbing lane on the southbound side of jet ferry. Okay. And then for Shanley Delany there is a bike lane. Are you going to keep the bike lane? You just talked about uh having a separated bike lane.

Yeah. Well, there there's not a bike lane on that section now. And based on the discussion at the last meeting, we talked about just uh narrowing the lanes and whatever's left outside of the white lines. It won't be marked as a bike lane, but they'll in some places there'll be more space than others as far as um you know being a ridable shoulder, I guess. Okay. I'm I misunderstood where I was thinking of. I was thinking of Roberts, but Right. I think that Shambly Delwan going up. Yeah. Just the white line I think is much better than nothing. Right. Right. All right. Thank you.

Um I'll just make a comment. You know, last was it just last week we were talking about the North Peach Tree sidewalks as well. We have we these we have we have a lot of we have unlimited uh uh priorities and limited funds and um I'll just say I mean look I've got a little less than two years of my current term but um we we got to kind of come up with this idea that it's it's not I'm not afraid to say it's a mode shift where we can say if we make it safer for people to walk or ride their bikes um and build that out then we can have less traffic on our streets by just a 3 or 4% reduction in traffic in the morning substantially reduces congestion. And so for me, I'm going to just take give a mulligan and I apologize for years past, but I I'm the next year around 2027 budget, we have to change the way it is. If we've we did a promise in 2008 that XYZ and guess what? We have demands now and every 10 years we have a turnover of our citizens about 40%. And we need to make sure we're reflected of those people that have moved here as well as the people that have lived here since 1970. But um I I really am sitting in the back end saying, "Yeah, we're going to spend this from penny sales tax and we're going to elme funding to do this and this is what we've been doing." But for me, I'm just preempting here for 2027 for getting paving for the um if it's sidewalks, I will I'll say I'm sorry. We can defer a few streets uh because it's safety and we're going to put in some sidewalks and reallocate that. That's I'm just one of seven, but I'm just going to keep that out there so people understand when we start talking for the 27 and 28 budgets to make sure that we're not cutting out any projects that are already in the CIP. Uh we're still moving forward with that, but you know, funding is limited and that's just that's just what I'm saying. and I'm just one of seven. Thank you.

Go ahead, Rob. Given that it's only been two weeks, I doubt anything has happened, but uh [clears throat] there was some talk in the last meeting about trying to coordinate with the county because they're going to be working on Shambly Dunwy and paving part of that road to make sure we get a Dunwy quality paving job instead of a Decap County quality paving job. Um any progress? I'm guessing it's nothing's happened because it's been two weeks, but I just want to bring that up is that ideally we figure out a way to make sure that that's paved nicely to match our needs. And that also to your to the question about bike lanes because there's a lot of uncertainty with that. It's very difficult to do anything with bike lanes beyond

keeping the crown and just trying to narrow the lane. So I'm talking I I believe we're talking about P white south. So there had been some talk if you shift the center line you could put actual bike lanes in but without knowing what the county is going to do. It's too difficult to try to figure out what the county is going to do with the water project. Well because they're going to be paving and so we would have to repave their pave work to shift the center line of the road if to try to put in an actual bike lane instead of just narrowing the road. So since you're right at the last meeting, that was a site probably a sight. Anyway, I just wanted to know if you heard anything from the county.

Oh, not yet. But I mean, even if they if they end up paving it for whatever reason, we will make sure to have somebody out there inspecting it. I have a question about the streets that are not in 26 that I'm hearing are not in very good shape. Um, I won't. Uh, what is are we maintaining like are we going down the streets that have not been paved and checking regularly for issues and repairing them or what's our plan like on Happy Hollow?

Um, I mean, we do drive it occasionally. I know it is, you know, it does need to be paved as soon as we can pave it. Um the reason right now it's that one specifically is in 28 is because we're trying to get the sidewalk project done before we pave because we're putting in new curb. But um yes, I mean we're we're aware of the conditions of the streets that Is there anything we can do? I just getting a lot of complaints on that one. Is there anything we can do in the meantime? Can we do big patching or something? We can do some patching. I I actually drove it last week, at least part of it, and

I I'm not aware of any potholes out there, but it it does it is kind of rough riding, but I'm not aware of any potholes out there, but we can take a look at it and see if there's any patching that needs to be done. And when does the sidewalk project start? As soon as we can get all the easements we're working on now. Okay. And that's just a sidewalk, right? That's not what we're putting there. Yeah. Okay. Great. And I know people are waiting for that, too. So, I get it. All right. Anybody else? Lynn? Yes, John. Sorry.

Yeah, it's all right. Two questions if I may. Michael, can you confirm the 2028 when we're done with what's planned? Will that then close out the entire paving list from incorporation?

No. Um the the 20th year is actually 2029. We only are showing it through 2028 because that's based when we did the last ratings it projected out five years which was 2028. So right now we're just showing that. But um you know next year when we present it we'll we'll add the 20 20th year to show what we're planning in that year. But if you look at the map the the ones that are I think it's kind of a gray color or there's no color to it at all. Those are the ones that have not been paved yet. I know like Glint Happy Hollow. Well, Happy Hollow's on the list. Glen Rich Drive I think is one of them. Um,

Village Creek.

Right. Right. So, I mean, I think it's safe to assume that a lot of those will be in 2029. There may, you know, there's a newer neighborhood on Vermach that the streets uh are only probably 10 or 12 years old. So, we'll probably look at the condition of those in a couple of years and see if they really need to be paved, but most everything else on there will be in the 20th year. All right, one final question. Uh, looking at North Georgia Way, which actually is inside Brook Run Park. Um, is that a public street that's open to access or is that part of the the ziplining? Am I allowed to drive on that or what's the status of that? Are we paving that? And I know at the end of that there used to be storage heaps that uh for maintenance facility stuff, but now that we have a maintenance facility, what's happening in North Georgia way that we're paving it? What's changing?

Uh I think you can drive on that all the way to where the the fenced in area is at at the end of that road. Um and so, you know, a few years ago, we paved the other I think South Georgia way through the park. And so those the cab drive and North Georgia Way I think are the only two areas of the park left that haven't been paved. So we we just put those on the list um because we'll be doing some other paving in that area that year. But it is it is public access down to um the gate. Yeah. I just remember there was maintenance. Sorry, John.

Go ahead. We couldn't hear Rachel to the gate of what? At the end of the road where we have some material stored past treetop. Okay. Pass. But Treetop I thought they'd block the road. I thought their ticket admission booth blocks the road, but maybe I'm thinking of a different road. Yes, there's the um the no through access sign right before you get to their what we call the trailer, right? That is is only open to like operations staff and treetop. So, it's not a public road after that. That little bit [clears throat] that goes back to our storage. No. Okay. All right. What year was that in, Michael? Uh, I think it's showing in 27.

It feels like something that could maybe go to 28 and you could move something around, but we don't have to decide that tonight. Yeah, it's in pretty rough shape. That and the cab drive. Okay. All right. Any further questions? This is an action item. Move to approve. Moved by Stacy. Second. Second by Tom. Any further discussion? Hearing none, I call the question. All in favor say I. I. Any opposed? Hearing? None. That passes unanimously. Thank you.

When Oh, sorry, Chief. Whenever you're ready.

Okay. um um requesting uh the purchase of vehicle barricades. Um due to um the growth of our events um both public uh and private events um I think it's important that um we get barricades to block off certain routes um to prevent vehicles from what Ali said earlier becoming a weapon. Um the cost is $132,385. Uh they are portable. uh you can deploy them by yourself um and uh it'll stop vehicles. So um with lemonade days coming up, Fourth of July, um these events keep getting bigger and bigger and we want to make sure we control the access in and out of these parks or in and out of these events.

Go ahead. So I have questions. $132,000 and the biggest events aren't run by the city. We don't manage them. Was there any thought to asking the people the the private events to contribute. We haven't, but that's a great idea.

I I mean, it's and I I agree that, you know, we want to keep our citizens safe, but these are not cityrun events. They're and in the case of the arts festival on Mother's Day, it's it's a private entity. right, that it's a for-profit company. Um, just

right. And and one thing we've looked at, if I may speak on it on these barricades, it's something that I'd ask the police to look into. And the main purpose of them is to use it for lemonade days. And if y'all notice, and we try to keep it low-key, but it becomes more and more apparent every year. You're like, Fourth of July, you know, we use police cars. What's sitting out there? The cars aren't there to wave to everybody. there to there to block somebody from raiding into the parade or ramming with their cars. Same we do with trucks, we bring other things in. It's the reality of today's world. That's why we did it. Now, you're 100% spot on on the fact that they are private events and they they've done that. But from the standpoint of where I sit as city manager, I feel we need them for protection for the residents. if there's some way to research or or relook at our um the way we do permitting for these events and stuff and put like a public safety search charge on there may be the way to go. But as far as these these particular barricades, we were trying to order them in time for lemonade days to help with that. But I think that you you've uncovered a a separate issue that's very valid point on, you know, how we structure events.

So, oh, somebody else. So, go ahead, Rob. So, one of the things is is that we should be looking at our fee structure for events, but for lemonade days and even the arts festival, I think, although this could be changed, and I think Katherine did some work around this a while ago, Councilman Lenbucker, and you and you, Councilwoman Harris, is we need to look at what we're charging and how we're charging. Um, security comes as a benefit of some of these large events like that's our partnership with these organizations. Um, how your memo doesn't tell us where this money is coming from. What fund is it coming from? Fund balance.

Fund balance. Okay. And um, so I think we can look at the whole picture whether we think we understand how these events are put on. Our community believes we are putting them all on. They absolutely think we are. Each of those events are are city events that the city's putting on. and um in the world we live in, I'm okay with this. I think Eric, we can look at our fee structures um and what we're charging these groups and how we're charging them. And I think we've talked offline in the past about what our security agreements are. And we can probably go back and revisit that. Go ahead,

Chief. Did did you look into borrowing these? I imagine not everybody has an event the same day. Is it something that could be borrowed? the trailer just Yeah, absolutely. Yeah, completely portable. Um, how many rows did this 132,000 block? I'll have to break down. There's 48 modules that are in there. I I'll have to Yeah, I'll have to do a little research, see how many roads we could uh use. All right. Or block with those uh modules. So, if somebody's going, let's say, 60 m an hour, are these going to stop them? Supposed to. Larger vehicles, tractor trailers, no, it's not. But the uh passenger vehicles, yes. Okay. Thanks.

And and one thing I want to add too when uh if you visit other cities, you'll see these. They're pretty discreet in a way. The way they're you'll put them up in different areas. A lot of cities have a grid system. Of course, they work very well in a grid system city where you can put them up in a block intersection where they have the streets uh roped off for pedestrian activities. We wanted to use these um our you know, in these different events. they are somewhat um our streets are more complicated because of the nature of the terrain and different things of that nature but we do feel that it's it's an element it wouldn't eliminate just having the cars out there that's part of the security but it also you can put them in different areas um Chief and Oliver have done a tremendous job researching these and Oliver has been in touch with many of the uh ter uh terroristic organizations that he deals with or anti-terroristic I should say not the [laughter] let me back up back that one up chief But uh but with those with those folks and and they've done a lot of research on these barricades and how they work and we do feel they work pretty well uh from that standpoint. And so because y'all seen stuff on TV in other countries where you have people have rent rented a U-Haul type truck or rented a a larger truck in other countries and they'll drive it through into these things. We're trying to prevent some of that. That's what it is. It is an expense. It's a tremendous expense. Frankly, it's unfortunate we have to spend our money in this fashion, but um it is something we wanted to bring forward and as he mentioned, it would come out of fund balance for this for this amount.

So there are at the height of lemonade days on that there are 40,000 people at lemonade days. We aren't worried about I mean we there's lots of things to worry about. I spend I'm thrilled when lemonade starts and I'm ecstatic when it opens the the level of concerns and issues are increasing but there the park doesn't totally shut down and it's not necessarily someone doing this on purpose though that could happen it's also someone doing it by accident um I see it I mean here all the time people are going the wrong way on this little road that leads to city hall and that has few consequences this is someone making the mistake and driving into a crowd even without violent intentions. Um it's it's you know I'm sorry they cost so much but you know I happen to think it's a and and they don't go bad. It's not like we have to buy them every year. So and we have multiple events. Um so anyway that's my take. Um Rob, go ahead. I just was going to piggyback on the discussion that um Stacy and Eric were having, which my thought is get them now and then rent them out or attach fees. Like see if we can recoup some of our cost over the years. I don't know what the life span of these is, but a little safety sir charge on permits especially for private events. Maybe it's a little lower for nonprofits or we we comp it. We can decide that. But um I'm I certainly think it's fine to try to recoup it. If we need it now, we need it now and let's worry about um you know the uh trying to recoup some of the cost as a separate discussion as well.

Tom, sorry.

Yeah, chief. Yeah, I so I did a little looking into this and what I like about this is that it's easy for storage, right? It all fits on the trailer. The one officer can deploy these, which is you rather than like concrete barriers, you need [clears throat] heavy equipment and where the heck you going to store all that stuff. Um, when I watched some of the videos of like the them in action and stopping things, I did notice like if a vehicle's going full speed, unlike a concrete barrier, it's not gonna like there's a a cushion, you know, an absorption zone where it's going to go an extra maybe 30, 40, 50 feet. So is there going to is that going to be factored into how they're set up at events whereas unfort whether it's intentional or not someone's coming full speed that the vehicle will stop before it gets to an area where there's there's people.

That's a great point sir. Um so if this is approved um they actually will bring it down here to us. Uh they're going to train us. Um it's it's like an all day event. They're going to show us how to deploy them. And I'm those are, you know, great points and I'm sure we'll uh we'll bring those up to uh them because I'm sure there's different speed or vehicles at different speeds if it is going to push it back, you know, 60 mph opposed to 20 miles an hour. So those are great points that I can ask when they come down and train us. Thank you. Yes, sir. All right. This is an action item. John move to approve. Second.

Second by Tom. Any further discussion? I call seeing none. I'll call the question. All in favor say I. I. Any opposed? Hearing none. That passes unanimously. Sharon.

The next item on the the agenda. I will read the caption of the resolution. A resolution for temporary moratorum on the acceptance of new applications for business licenses or special use approval, permitted use approval or building land disturbance site plan and design review or other permits and licenses for vape shops. Okay, go ahead Paul.

Yep. This item is tempor temporary moratorum on uh all sorts of applications for vape shops and smoke shops um at the request of council member seconder. Um, it's for 90 days to expire on May 11th, 2026. 90 days is just enough time to allow us to advertise for a public hearing in front of the planning commission and public hearing in front of city council. So, it's the minimum that we need to uh to create code language for this. And again, this is for all types of uh applications, whether it's a business license application, um a building permit application for um users that are uh defined as vape shops, um engaged predominantly in the selling of vaping products, putting vapes, vaporizers, e-liquids, and or cartridge batteries.

Uh any questions, discussions? This is a action item. Paul, does this also include the hookah lounge or hookah bars that would we refer to? No, it does not. This is just for uh for retail businesses. Okay, go ahead, Katherine. Why is this just because Joe wanted this? That's that's um I mean that there's partially I mean a council member proposed this. So we're proposing this for discussion uh for for the full city council discussion um business introduc so it's it's the idea for

it's the idea of do we want to set aside some type of parameters around it like we do for liquor stores for example uh is that the analogy Paul you could say potentially that's right and and sort of where it comes from uh council member Lenbucker is think hold on a second let them finish and finish sorry go ahead have the analogy all over Paul so they what you're asking I'm mentioning

yeah and where this where this comes from I mean the analogy is sort of like that there some users that have externalities um you know we're concerned about um about alcohol users we're concerned about smoking users um we have the the staff always keeps an open ear you know when we hear we may hear about certain uh certain users wanting to come into town and then We uh provide this up uh up the chain pretty much. Um and then um city as a whole can make a decision on if they want to to to do something about this. This is how this came up too. You know that there's uh the staff learned about a business wanting to to come into town. Um so we provided this for consideration of the city council. So what's going to be the end result in May then? I guess I'm unclear with that,

right? That that that depends on I mean this is like the starting point of a conversation to have that conversation. It could be potentially could be distance requirements. It could be um restrictions on on signage on advertising. It could be a restriction to certain zoning districts. We we don't know yet, but we would propose something to to you all.

This is just to allow a pause in case our ordinances have not kept up with the current reality of the industry. And so we're just asking for 90 days to get it through an ordinance through. You'll get to have multiple reads. It'll go through a public vetting process. Just to clarify, a business item, right? Right. Because a mortorium is a business item in our current code today by right if it's zon there's certain zone then they can just could go in. Correct.

That that's correct. So if it's zoned for commercial users, if it's zoned for retail users, these uh businesses could could occupy these spots as of right. Go ahead, Rob. Um, without knowing what we'll be doing, 90 days is awfully short. I don't really mind pausing things for three months to figure out if we want to do something, if we don't want to do something, if we do want to do something, what that is. I'm willing to entertain a three-month pause. Okay, we need a motion, Madame Mayor. Yeah. Oh, sorry, John. Kind of forgot you were there.

It's okay. Um Paul, can you tell me how many vape shops we currently have in existence in the city of the lines? Um to my knowledge, we have zero vape shops. There's one there's one at Winter's Chapel and Taylor in that shopping center. Okay. The one Yeah. And and Paul, everything that they sell at a vape shop, can they also sell that same exact stuff at any gas station or convenience store currently? That that that is generally happening. Yes. Are we going to be outlawing everything that they're currently allowed to sell at gas stations and convenience stores as part of this mortorium?

No, the the mortorium has a exemption because we uh thought of this that exact problem. So it shall the moratorium shall not apply to business selling vaping. It's an accessory use at a convenience store. and the any rule. So any rule that we put in place wouldn't also wouldn't outlaw or change anything for the convenience stores or the gas stations. That's correct. So in reality Oh, go ahead. Sorry. Go ahead, John. I think so. We're just really putting a moratorum on just for vape shops that do nothing but vape or have a large large percentage of vaping, whatever can be defined as a vape shop. Yes.

Yeah. This is for predominantly poor uh poor vape shops. Yeah. Right. All right. I'm not sure of the extent of the problem that we're trying to uh fix here, but I'm happy to hear more. We're we're not stopping anybody right now. We're everything can still be happening. I do question sometimes what they sell at convenience stores and gas stations behind the counter. Um, but that being said, um, I'm I'm happy to hear more what happens with this discussion moving forward. Okay. Go ahead. Aren't we in the middle of rewriting the ordinances as is? I mean, all of them,

I guess. I mean, I don't know. I I would outlaw vapes, period, if I was in charge of everything. So I probably make people mad by saying that but we the more and more we learn the less less I see a reason for those to exist. Um so we are but sometimes there are things that come up and some processes move faster uh than others. Did we have a motion yet or no? Okay. We're still talking about it. Okay. All right. This is an action item. It needs a motion. Move to approve. Move by Joe. I'll second.

Second by Rob. Any further discussion or questions? Seeing none, I call the question. All in favor say I. Any opposed? Uh Sharon, that passes 61. Was that the end of my agenda? All right. Now we're on to discussion items. Rachel Good evening. Um so we're here for our um annual renewal of our athletic agreements. Um just a brief background. So each year um my rec department um speaks to every organization just to see um maybe what can be done um with the agreement and that's this is what's coming to you tonight. Um brief history. Um Dunw senior baseball was our first partner for athletics in 2012. Um since then we've added rest united soccer, the high school programs, um wildcat soccer, um and we're just we're thrilled that um these groups are able to really extend um our parks and wreck reach and and reach the groups that we wouldn't be able to otherwise. Um just two little changes this year. Um both with Doody Senior Baseball. um the fundraising tournaments um with the new agreement would able to be conducted between May to October 31st. Previously, this was May through July. It just helps expand so all of the tournaments aren't just in the summer. Helps let them let the park breathe a little bit. Um and then again, a minor change with free play. Um so free play would now take place on the west field every third weekend in June and July. This is what this is the same rotating um closure we do at our pavilions at Brook Run, Ponos, Windwood Hollow. again just to let the park breathe. Um so what that would mean is is every Saturday in June and July

and then each Sunday until noon. Um and then in addition we would also have every Monday in June and July as uh what we call free play days. Um and free play as you know is no no scheduled programming. This is when the community can come out use the space um and that's it. So, we've um recommendation is to um approve our seven agreements for again this year with um the two changes noted. Um and I'm happy to answer any questions you may have. Questions? Uh Tom?

Uh excuse [clears throat] me. Yeah. Thank you, Rachel. Uh I talked about this earlier, but I just want to officially put on the record for tonight. Uh so that before we um vote on this that paragraph J that deals with the um the free weekends uh the free play on the weekends um it it clearly it currently says states the weekend until Sunday at noon. What I'd like to that to be clarified to state when it begins as well. So every weekend beginning whatever that is 8 a.m. on Saturday 7 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Yeah. Okay. adding that ju just so that the start of what defines a week because some people might consider Friday part of the weekend and so just so it's clearly defined that this is what we're talking about when free play is open. Sure. Thank you.

Yeah, Stacy.

Um so I know the um time period for um do senior to have uh tournaments extended by two months. It was um I'm I disagree. Um that means that they can have a tournament on Labor Day weekend um all through September. Um those are city fields and they're using them for to fundra. Um and talking with the new president of Demi senior baseball, he said that they really just want a tournament on um Columbus weekend in October, I find they can have that weekend and that's it. Other than that, I June and July for me. I just I'm tired of hearing the complaints that our citizens don't have access to the fields because of pay for play that and they reap 100% of the profit. So that's where I am.

Joe,

um I I would echo what Stacy says. I I haven't met with the new DSP person, but I had uh my my opening saying hello, being very politely and nice, was we were to start from scratch and we were brand new city today and we had nothing at all. Would we be putting that in as a number one priority for our citizens right now? Would we have built that out right now? And I just have to think that it's there because it was built in the 1970s. It's a legacy from Dicab County and it was just there and they were grandfathered in and they've got this lovely awesome place and yeah, it's really sad because when I grew up I I'm this I'm the oldest guy in council now and we could play free play. I could get my cousins out there, my friends from the neighborhood and we can go out to the some place that had you brought your own you brought your own um what do you call them?

Bases. See, I haven't played that long. brought your own bases and you just played a pickup game and the grass was barely there but so what? You had a great time and I got the lights the turf all this crap. I'm you know I know we have first world problems but yeah I want to I'd like to see a metrics of everybody how many people there are done with your residents using it on a daily basis you know. Yeah I'm sorry. So I'd be going back to like I'd be starting from zero and nobody has any any agreement. I got an email from another individual that uh he's at as risk at at risk students looking for a soccer place right at uh Baptist church and lost the field use. I said well 2023 we had opportunity for parks bond but it failed and if it passed we'd been putting in another new multi-use field over on uh Wildcat Park on Roberts. It's too bad that 1,200 people difference said no. If we had 1300 people more show up, we would have had money to build that, right? So again, I know we have limited funds, but is that a priority of having an exclusive use of a private group? When I thought Dumby seniors, I literally thought it was senior citizens. I really did. I thought it was a pickup game for for just adults and not just these. All right, so there I'm off my soap box, but there you go. Thank you,

Catherine. Katherine Rachel, this is the starting January 1 agreement for all these agencies and it is certainly February. Yes. Why is that? Um there's always a lot of um discussion um each year with these to balance the community need, the recreation need, and then the organization need. Um it took a little bit longer this year. I apologize for that. I would love to see January one contracts before January 1 if if possible. It is understood. Uh anybody else? Yeah.

When you say there's a lot of discussion about the organizations, none of the other organization except Dewy Senior had any changes. Correct. Correct. So really it's Dewey Senior that has been holding up this process. John Woody Senior was the only group that that had requested changes. So, and again, I go back to we extended their tournament time by three months, August, September, October. So, they can run perfect game tournaments all those in all those three months. I just

So, what you're asking Rachel to do is to leave it as is and open and allow Columbus Day if I'm hearing you correctly. Correct. So you can either we can either give consensus or we can wait and amend it when we vote on it because this is just a discussion item, right? The DSB president is here. He wanted to to say I think it's it's worth getting input. Okay. So we'll do it.

Okay. So we'll do it in two weeks. We'll get them everybody has two weeks to get input. Um my concern with every field we have so that nobody takes it personally is that we are potentially overscheduling them and um I love I think it's fine that adults are playing soccer at 9:00 at night. I think that's fine. I think a lot of adults have to get kids to bed and may work late or have long commutes and I think that's fine. I don't quite understand why there's only free play in June and July. Am I missing something? I mean, I'm sure we've talked about it, but am I missing something? Why is there no free play in April when the weather's good?

So, this this was something um we started talking about last year. Um again, to just Currently, free play is sort of hit and miss, if you will, whereas this it really follows what we do at the pavilions. So, at Burk Run, the fields and the pavilion are open. We don't that's once a month year round. So, with those 12 months a year, pavilions are are every month, right? That's what I'm saying. Started this. Yeah. So summer is primarily when we see our our tournaments. So it gives the chance park to breathe without having tournaments every single weekend is where this came from. Okay. So but does that mean there's no free play in April? There is. It's just not just not as ma'am.

All right. So my my concern is multifaceted on the use of all our facilities. And Eric, I think that maybe because I've got two years left, that maybe 26 is our year of analysis on how much our fields are used, what cost it long-term is it costing so that we can make sure that the fees we're charging, that we're not undercharging. Um, and then in terms of the tournaments, we can gather more information and talk about it in two weeks. I'm not a big fan of tying. So, it used to be, and I'll I have my meeting with the new president later this week, but as I understand it,

the company that puts on the tournaments, someone help me with their name, Perfect Game.

Perfect game. That they used to be people that really traveled, but from what I understand about Metro Atlanta, it is people that travel, but they travel from within metro Atlanta. And I don't know that they're creating the number of hotel nights and I'm not sure they ever created the number of hotel hotel nights in Dunwy that led to any significant revenue but you know so I am friends with mayors across well the country but in the state of Georgia and that are in places where everyone has to travel to the tournaments and they have built unbelievable athletic facilities with their hotel motel tax dollars because it everyone has to spend the night and I'm not 100% sure that's what's happening with perfect gain. tournaments in metro Atlanta and so it's just another thing to think about but we'll talk about it.

Okay, I think you're next. Madam Mayor, if I may. Oh, John. Sorry. It's all right. One quick question. Rachel just mentioned that the pavilions and fields have free play and I want to make sure that I understand what's happening for free play on the turf fields, the soccer fields. Uh are they also free play as well currently or are they do do they not have free play? explain the difference if you may. Sure. Um so yes, so the the free play on the the multi-use fields are not as scheduled um only because we have more openings um just based on the programming use out there.

Okay. So there's open free play an awful lot and we just people but people don't know when that is. Is there a way to schedule it so that they're so it's a so we can have people all go out there and use it? I'm just trying to understand how we're scheduling Brook runs baseball fields, but we're not scheduling the soccer fields. So, with with both the baseball and the multi-use, um a weekly schedule is posted both online and at the kiosks at the field. Um so, somebody coming up to the field can see what's scheduled and and what's not.

Great. I thought that last year when we went to the third weekend to match for the baseball fields to match the the pavilions that we also matched the multi-use fields so that the third weekend there was nothing scheduled in the park. There usually isn't any it's probably in writing now. There usually isn't because Rush Union is done, right? Yeah. But I mean the I the idea was that everything was that was going to be the same that multi-use fields were third week third weekend the pavilion third weekend like the park is breathing in happy and and free roaming children.

Is there any reason why we shouldn't put that same agreement that we're putting in the Dunwy senior baseball for free play into the let's say the Rush Union or others that use the soccer or the multi-use? I'll I'll look at the language. if it's not. I believe we added that last year, so I apologize I don't have that memorized, but I'll I'll double check. Make sure. Great. Thank you. I appreciate it. Sure. Thank you.

All right, you're up again. All right. So, on the note of usage at the fields, um so we we um we contracted Advanced Sports Group. Um they're a a partner with Shaw Turf, who was uh put our turf in at Brookron initially, very familiar with with our projects. Um because we're we're we're getting on in years with both fields, we just wanted to kind of do a touch base, make sure we're in line. um any any big maintenance repairs. Um we want to catch them now uh versus having a a big overhaul on the fields um in the future. Um so what they did, [clears throat] excuse me, they came out, they assessed all the fields. Um they were able to identify a few areas um mostly um infill um kind of wear and tear on your hight traffic areas. So your batter boxes, catchers boxes, um seam repairs, um everything they identified as is normal wear and tear um based on our our programming use and the types of group that we have using the field. Um they're um they're excuse me sorry my throat. Um so what they've um suggested we have for a list of repairs again is mostly infill. Um they did what's called a GMAX report which checks the the like shock shock absorption um of the turf and the infill. Um they've given us um an estimate. Um it's about $79,000. Of course, we're going to add some contingency um in there because there were a couple additional things I wanted to look at. Um but funding between the two fields would be about $88,000. This does cover both multi-use fields and both baseball fields um for

the repairs um to help extend the life um of these these fields that we use all the time. Um and we would be paying for this um out of SPLS 2 which is that new park green space recreation um jail that that we've been using. [clears throat] Sorry. Hi. Is that any questions or comments concerns?

Go ahead. So, I know when we started back when we started the athletic usage agreements and started, you know, having the organizations pay, we always um put it into what we said was a scing fund to in my mind there's like a little pot somewhere that there's [laughter] there's money in. So, but we don't have to use it. Does that pot really exist? It does. I forget actually asked Richard this. Um it's used might have to help me retro forget what you told me. um for minor repairs like this it would be used this is the right way to use it whereas the syncing fund is for a large overhaul is my understanding he's nodding yes okay um also the third weekend is in the rest union agreement

all right anybody else have questions can this go on consent okay consent all right you're still here

last Okay. So, again, and looking at maintenance, um, currently we we lay pine straw a couple times a year. Um, the company we were using uses a proprietary blend of, um, almost like a spray, I would call it, to maintain the color. Um over the years we've slowly added locations. Um our price has gone up. So we worked with purchasing. Um we put out a a formal solicitation just to make sure we were um in line. Um we actually got um a different group back. Mariana Premier Group um DBA Ed Castro who's done some other projects with us. Um excuse [clears throat] me. Uh they were the the low bid um for the locations we have identified. There's 11 in total, mostly parks. There's a couple um with public works. Um the the cost that Ed Castro gave us is um significantly lower than what we were spending, which is great. Um so what we've um what we've recommended is that we move forward um with the Ed Castro Mariana Premier Group um a multi-year contract, three-year contract with an option of a 12-month extension um not to exceed $38,826 per year. Again, substantially lower than what we were spending. Um but I would like to note that this is just our long leaf um traditional pine straw. This will not have the colorant added to it. Um because that's what was um giving us the increased cost. Um with that I'll answer any questions. [clears throat]

Uh Katherine, have we used Mariani before? We have. Um Ed Castro has worked with us um over the years on public works projects. Um called the references are we've they've all checked out. Okay. And I I don't understand maintenance requirements. Uh stall pine straw should be maintained to ensure full coverage. Relication or use of color spray permitted. Are they telling us what to do? Is that what that is?

We specify that based on what we're currently using. That way everything um is laid properly. Um what we don't want is for someone to dump a bunch of pine have it on the sidewalk or where where it's not supposed to be. So just very specific parameters around aesthetic when it once it's complete and what they can and can't use. Okay. Thank you, Len. Hey Rachel. Um I think that um I've been having we you know we had this meeting in December and Councilman Price was there and uh one of the reps from the sustainability committee to talk about a lot of different things

uh native landscaping, landscape policy, you know, partnering with C. Um, I had uh reviewed back in 2011 we have this landscape policy that was adopted. There's a 2011 landscaping policy that was done for the green cities ARC communities checklist. And in there, one of the things, Eric, it refers to the director of sustainability and it says that they're supposed to be looking for department working with department heads, making sure they're aware and educated about the landscaping policy. Um, I don't know who that is. I'd be curious to know if we can have a follow-up and identify and know who that is and that they're doing that. Um, one of the things it talks about in the landscaping policy, it talks about um, strive to produce and install mulch and compost from plant debris located on site. Have we ever done that in in your tenure with the city that you are aware of?

In lie of pine straw. uh don't know if it would be in lie of but just you know what are the options right so yeah do we do that are we keeping mulch and trying to do you know stuff let everything kind of do that instead of having to buy the pine straw so primarily um in terms of like m like compost and things like that we always um bulk up whenever we have a planting again just to let the new plants take root um we've worked with the Deny community garden periodically because they're they have a little bit of composting are able to do and that's what they use um across the garden plots, but that's a much smaller scale. Yeah.

Right. Fine. Um and I I appreciate not having some kind of a coloring spray because who know what's if it's proprietary chemical, who knows what's really in that chemical, you know? So, okay. Um, just as an aside, right, we're still having these background conversations leading through sustainability committee and stuff about, you know, looking at some things to work with PC and looking at some selected areas of doing some little pilot areas for some native things and pollinators and all that good stuff. Okay, thank you. Anybody else in this cons? Oh, John, sorry, I saw your hand go up this time.

That's okay. Uh Rachel, a few months back, uh there was a action item or something put on the agenda regarding the spray that would go on pine straw. Um I believe it might have been not colorant, but a glue. [snorts] Have we ever sprayed the pine straw with a glue like a watered down Elmer's glue that locks the pine straw in place? It's still water permeable. it dries clear and therefore we don't have to re pine straw areas that get blown with a blower or get trampled. Have we looked at a glue aspect, not colorant, but a glue to lock the pine straw in place? So, my understanding is um the proprietary solution that that has the colorant in it acts as a um I don't want to say glue, but it helps kind of keep every binder. Thank you. Um keep everything together. It's not um like a separate glue that they're spraying on.

Okay. There are glues out there. There are other binders that dry clear. That's why I'm trying to understand if we were doing it previously for just the colorant or if we've looked at increasing if we used that spray would it reduce our costs when it comes to replacement uh pine straw for the second round that you know for the year for the maintenance. So, the group that was doing it um that has has the solution when when we've added up all of the locations we were um reaching about $100,000, but they're they're the only ones that um have that, you know, proprietary blend. That's the only um company we've ever had performed that.

All right. So, it sounds like come out twice a year, spring and fall. So it sounds like it was more expensive than just doing the pine straw alone and doing the maintenance and doing replace of the pine straw. Yes. Okay. So you've decided against it. Thank you. I just wondered if what was the final option or decision for staff recommendation. So thank you. Sure. Um go ahead Stacy. I I guess Eric I have a procedural question since this contract is less than 50,000 like because it's multi-year because it's multi-year. Uh got three year. Okay. Um, there you are. Take a look. Right. Consent. Okay. Oh, go ahead.

Rachel, is there a different I mean, he says mulch and pine straw or is it just is it like is pine straw? Because mulch is different. You know, when I go to Ace, it's bag bulge, chips, and stuff, right? I want to say only one or two of the locations are are mulch. So, um, like the the playground at Wildcat Park, that's mulch. Um, there's there's only a few locations that are mulch. There's a little bit at Georgetown, whereas everything else is predominantly pine straw. Those we've included both. Yep. Okay. Consent. Okay. Thank you. Thank you. All right. Thank you, Rachel. Michelle.

Good evening. Um so I'm here to present a resolution for a commitment to provide local funding for um a federal request for funding for Wonders Chapel phase 2. So, um the regional um the Atlanta Regional Commission ARC um had an open um solicitation for applications um where we um did apply for additional funding for to support the project. So, we um um requested $800,000 in rideway for federal funding and um 1.7 million for construction. Happy to answer any questions. So, we haven't gotten this money yet. No, this is this is just the application.

Is this how we always do applications? We always appro We always vote on me signing them before I don't know. This is just a resolution to say that the city is committed to Okay. the funding match. Okay. All right. Any questions? Michelle, was the match what you just mentioned or was there something else? Was the Explain to me the grant versus the match. which which one is which.

So the the grant would be um $800,000 for the um ride ofway is what the federal money would be. And so then there is a match of 200,000. So it's a 8020 split. Um the construction is 1.7 million in federal with a $425,000 uh local match. So that's already um money that's been budgeted um because we were funding the full thing with local dollars. Okay. So there's no new funds. We're not talking about any new funds. Any further discussion or questions?

I somehow thought we were funding it with 2.2 million of federal funds based on a document that I was looking at. that is the request would be total um it comes out to be about for construction I think about 2.2 um we already have like 1.1 million um already programmed but the ask would be around um 2.2 with 1.7 in federal and 425 in the local match.

Do we have the money set aside to build this project already? Because the way it reads is any federal funds received will replace city funds that are currently needed to complete the project. Are those projected city funds or there's a line item where that money has been stored? There is money that has been budgeted for construction and for rideway that is part of the local dollars and so any federal dollars we get would replace those local dollars. So, if we get no federal money, we have $2.5 million, if I'm adding these up correctly, set aside already for this project. Like, it's funded. Yes. Like,

if we wanted to build it tomorrow, we could start. Well, we would have to I mean, it's funded in future years. So, that's what So, there's no cash in a bank account right now. Yeah. So, it's a line item on a budget. Okay. I don't mean to quiz you, but I'm just trying to understand. Sorry, John. Was that what you were asking?

Yes and no. So I'm looking at a document for G dot that was on our schedule our agenda December 1st which shows a 300 I'm sorry 3.5 million total which shows some federal some federal matching and then our local and I'm just trying to understand how is some this is new and on top of what's changed Michelle or is that document from December 1st to G dot still relevant? So that was part of probably the is that a supplemental PFA that you're looking at from December? I am scrolling up. It is supplemental agreement number one with the Georgia Department of Transportation for phase two for the Winter's Chapel path from Sharemont to

So that's for preliminary design money. So that was um federal money that we received for design. So this is we are requesting additional dollars for ride ofway and construction. Okay. I just it's it seems like a lot of money. Thank you. I'm end of the day. Michelle, we're asking for some some money and if we get it, awesome. Yes. And if we don't, we move on. We continue on. Thanks. Any further questions or comments? All right, next Michelle.

Speaking of money. So, um the next one is a supplemental agreement um for a uh project framework um with the Georgia Department of Transportation for Northshop Road. So, this is for design money. Um the original PFA was executed in August of 22. So, that kind of outlines that $560,000 for federal, the $140,000 local match. Um, back in January 25, we received $400,000 additional federal money, which required a $100,000 match. And now we have received another $400,000 in federal money, which requires um another $100,000 match. Now, I know it shows 350 here, but that um is because of the if you see the little aster um it was originally programmed in for the 350, but we will only need to do the $100,000 match on it. So, this is approval for that supplemental PFA.

Okay. Any questions? Um consent. Is that okay? Yeah. and on this project because I don't know were we keeping up with G dot and the top end stuff and North Shallford and what it may mean like if it they're going to close off North Shallford or whatever. We're paying attention and also under the bridge at North Peach Tree. We're working on all that. Okay. Yes. Thank you. All right. Okay. One, two, three. Next you again.

Yes. So um it's similar to the north shaller but this is for village crossing. Um it's a supplemental agreement for the project framework agreement. So this PFA was originally executed in September of 24 for $250,000 with a $250,000 match um back in October. Um, I don't know if you remember, I came in um with a $600,000 um uh federal money that we were awarded um with $150,000 match and we got another million. I think I said at that meeting that we had just found out that we had been awarded another million. And so this is the um due to some contracting delays, Judas decided to take these two um awards and combine them to one. So, um it would be a total of 1.6 million um with the match, the 20% match.

Anybody have any questions? Rob?

Um just I guess a a procedural question, a design question. So, um, looking at the village crossing project and kind of the design as it is today and then thinking about, for example, we had that meeting um, in the village last fall with suggestions on how to kind of revitalize um, you know, I've talked to residents. I' I've looked at the site. We may there's some trees we want to avoid. Now, there's some concerns with encroachment with the two turn lanes into some buildings. we still have flexibility to change the design of this project or what kind of flexibility do we have to change the design of this project I guess maybe is my question. So we still have some flexibility. Um I mean we can't I mean well you know it would be a lot of effort and redesign if we were to completely you know start fresh. Obviously we are um a little bit past 30% plans right now. Um so this would be the time for us to u make any minor changes. Um and that's why also we're going to the public meeting and to hear from um get public feedback. Um, so this is would be the the time

I could just share public feedback I've gotten, which is concerns. I mean, there's some really nice mature trees in front of um the uh the fresh market there. Uh, you know, I wonder if the the traffic study that led to needing the double turn lane on Mount Vernon, if the traffic flows still justify that or not. Um, and I know that the folks in those um condos there are worried. They don't I think as long as you don't have to move the fence, they're probably okay, but if we have to move the fence, there's probably going to be a lot of concerns. Um, so just and then there was also some discussion of maybe closing some entrances or or adjusting some entrances um into the shopping plazas based on that fall meeting. So I guess I just

it may be worth some discussions about we've got the meeting coming up, but I I sense that there are some tweaks and changes we're going to make that to that design. And I just want to make sure we're factoring that in when we're requesting this money. Joe, go ahead. Yeah. So, um, do interrupt. So, after that public open house, you'll come back to us and kind of pre represent the what is in the plan. Will that be on an agenda for the feedback for council?

If there is a huge change or a huge shift, we we would probably bring back the a concept at that point. We would have to take it back to that stage. But if not, then we would move forward and then you wouldn't see anything until a construction agreement was presented. So, it sounds to me like um and I'll defer to the mayor and others that potentially we need to interject ourselves into the process and ask for it to be presented to council for feedback if necessary. We're going to talk about it at the retreat, Eric. Is that right? Cross project.

I think that that's on the list of things I want to talk about. But also do want to pause and give a big thanks for going out and seeking these grants and thank you so much to staff for coming out there additional million dollar 400,000 looking for more. So again, thank you so much. Thank you so much for for doing that. Absolutely. Thank you. Uh John,

yes. Thank you. Um Michelle, again, you sent a document to council back on October 14th. I'm sure we voted on it. It was the supplemental agreement for the Georgia Department of Transportation, the village crossing project. At that time, the uh funds that were shown show the total project cost being somewhere around 9.7 million with uh federal matching of 6 million and our share being close to 3 million. Again, what you're presenting today is that different included explain the differences if you can. So that was probably maybe the complete project and this was just for design. I'm just showing you the design numbers.

Okay. And as far as federal money in that original document, have we gotten confirmation that that federal money is a go? So right now we have federal dollars. Um we have in our design money we have federal dollars and then we also have another 6 million in construction in federal dollars. So total we'll have in federal in design is 1.85 million and then we have another 6 million of federal in construction currently. Yeah. With our batch of about three million. [snorts] Yes. For construction. Yes. For construction.

Yes. and and we also did request additional funds for this project, federal funds to for right away and construction also. [snorts] Okay, thank you. Any further questions? Okay, thank you. Thank you,

Chief. I think you're next. Good evening, mayor and council. [clears throat]

Uh, as you know, the Baredone study that came back recommended uh for us to hire our public safety ambassadors. Um, as you know, um, for a while now, they've been up and running. We are actually been, uh, we're now currently fully staffed training the last individual um, uh, to go out on the road uh, and, um, help out the other three. [clears throat]

So, just to recap, I want to let you know what they do. Um, a lot of neighborhood patrols. U, we're getting a lot of positive feedback that we're seeing them in the neighborhood so they can um, uh, you know, they're the they're the extra eyes and ears for our officers out there. So, while we're out there being proactive, um, in uh, reducing crime, they can direct traffic anytime we have an intersection down. [clears throat] Uh, they can close roads. Uh, very instrumental, especially during our weather events because they're in there with us. Uh, and take in reports. Reports are timely. Um, sometimes, you know, just people need a basic report for lost or found property. Um, any type of thefts, shoplifting, rashing phone calls, anything non-critical. Um, they're able to do that to keep our officers out on the road. They can respond to crashes, um, get there quicker. Um, and uh, they've been uh, very helpful in our real-time crime center as well. So, if they're if they're not active um, events that they can respond to, they can get into the real-time crime center if needed to assist our officers that are on the road. And lastly, um, uh, our special events. Um, whether it's Lemonade Days, Fourth of July, um, they've been doing a great job just being that force multiplier, being that extra vehicle, being that extra radio, eyes and ears for us out there. Um, I apologize. I meant to, but 2025 statistics. Um, but they handled 532 incidents, um, 160 crashes, and they attended 10 of the, uh, city events. Um, and I tell you, we've we've hired a really good crew with these four. Um, whether we're short-handed on the road, you know, we've had two officers in K9 training, so our staffing has been down. They've been able to come in and help and once again, um, you know, pick up those non-critical incidents to keep our officers out on the road. Basic cost, uh, I'm asking for two additional public safety ambassadors. Um, so for salary and benefits, uh, comes out to, uh, 241,500. Um, I spoke with the city manager. There

is an extra vehicle that's here in the city fleet um that we can use um and to outfit that would be around 23,500. That's lights, stickers, um excuse me, graphics, um radio, uh the equipment necessary for what you see. We got two of them out there now. That's Paul Jasine. He is um he was a longtime volunteer when this position came up. Um he definitely wanted to uh put in for it and he has been doing an outstanding job. Absolutely. He's got a smile on his face all the time. Um and uh you know like I said this is also an additional tool to help us um staff officers. We've already taken one of the public safety ambassadors and uh she is now on the sworn side helping out. [clears throat] And this is just our organizational chart just showing um they fall under day um uh the night watch lieutenant but they serve both day and night shift. So, they've been overlapping. Um, but I think these two additional um positions would drastically help. Um, you know, and those stats for 2025, that was just mainly two, maybe three because it took us a while to get fully staffed. Now that we're fully staffed, I guarantee those uh statistics are going to arise. At this time, I'll take any questions you may have.

Um, can you talk a little bit about shoplifting? And so I learned recently from you that some stores will call two days after something has been stolen or a shoplifting incident. So are those the kind of things that the ambassadors answer like they go to those calls? Yes, ma'am. And I saw in the city manager's report that one of your ambassadors when it was a package theft is like went through the videos. Correct. So they're doing lots of police work. Yeah. a lot of, you know, active. Yeah. A lot of act, you know,

those are the calls that our officers get tied up on because they get there, they're off the road, you know, any critical instance they've got to respond from usually inside the loss prevention room. Um, but the ambassadors are able to do that. They're able to collect that evidence, get the video, download it into our Axon, um, take the report. You know, there's no suspects there. We do not put them in front of anything critical or where if a suspect could return, we don't we don't endanger them in any way. Um, they are highly visible. We try to make sure that they do not look like police officers. Um, and so yeah, th those that is just one of the many. And what kind of feedback are you getting from uh your officers, from your people in the field?

Very positive feedback. Um, you know, and they're listening. You know, at the same time, we're trying not to overload the ambassadors, but that's what they that's what they do. And and um very very positive feedback. You know, just helping them. Like I said, it lets us be a little more proactive. that lets us um you know the pe the suspects are going to see uh or people that are coming in here to uh you know to commit crimes. They're going to see our officers more visible out on the road stopping cars uh stopping the crime. But not only that, these public safety ambassador vehicles, people know, they know they're not cops, but they know they got a radio. So when they see something, they can say something to us to get us to respond. So it's just like I said, another set of two sets of eyes and ears out on the road to help us out.

Okay. Anybody have other questions? job.

So, um I I really appreciate this. I think it's a very great uh cause. Um and that's what the citizens want to hear about going in the neighborhoods and so on as well. Um by the way, when we have new new businesses come in, I even though we're doing resoning and stuff like, okay, how are you going to redesign your building to eliminate to to help reduce shoplifting? I don't know how you can add that as a a condition, but seriously, I mean, whatever. Um I don't know Eric at our retreat whether we're going to have a higher level conversation of all departments staffing uh citizen outreach and so you know what are we looking at from a higher perspective as well um potentially on the retreat if we could just maybe get an update on the whole Barry Dunn

report where are we at

to date um staffing across all the departments and and whatnot or whether it's an or special call work session whatever um from staff And then if you have opportunity for council in advance if we had ideas as well so we can have a two-way conversation about that. Um um so as far as budgeting goes and I kind of I said this uh the last time we added added some headcount to the police um which was looking at unmet headcount. They were trying to say, okay, and I'm like, well, a perfect world is that we have everybody's full, right? But do we have this uh what is the budget coming from for now? And then do we because I thought we were super super lean on this current year 2026 budget and there was no wiggle room at all to do anything else. Um and here's you know earlier today we're taken from this general fund uh reserve for the the barriers. Um now we're looking at the payroll and ongoing. So what are we looking at from the funding for this? Uh

existing vacancies. Existing vacancies. Okay. So it looks like again 2027 are we just again we're lucky with this the businesses uh being so successful to help fund these new things. So I I don't know if we're going to we're going to watch what the legislature does and then we're going to talk about public safety funding come this summer. Right. Okay. Um and as I'll I'll keep on harping on eventually. I'd still like to have a conversation for that uh safe streets position that they can help uh advocate for safety for for streets in conjunction with public works, community development, and the police department. So, thank you, Stacy.

Um [clears throat] I know one of the goals when we did the real time crime center was eventually that we hit the 24-hour monitoring. How close are we getting and would would we get with with the additional just out of curiosity. So, um, we do have someone in there that's, uh, in there at least 40 hours a week. Um, uh, I definitely want to, this will assist with staffing that. Um, uh, all all of the ambassadors are going to be part 107 training, which means they can fly our drone. Um, they're not all trained yet, but they're on the list for our next class. Um, so I want all of them to be able to fly the drones for us. Uh, critical instance, they can go in um, to the real-time crime center. So, they're going to be working most. So yeah, these two additional um positions um will help with that. Um these positions were pretty easy to hire. There's a lot of people uh a lot of citizens that look for this kind of this kind of work where they're helping their community, but they don't um you know have the dangers of wearing one of these uh wearing a vest every day. So these were pretty and when we filled this last one, we actually had to pick, you know, and uh not a bad problem to have. and um we had an influx of applications right before we closed it because we became fully staffed. So um they've been a great help. I'm I'm glad it was recommended by Barry Down and I appreciate y'all approving uh the first four. Uh they've been a great asset to the police department.

John, yes. Thank you, Chief. Uh can you tell me how the addition of these two uh employees would change our service delivery structure when it comes to taking reports? Back in the day, we were uh I wouldn't say we were the gold standard when it comes to taking reports. We would force citizens to come to police, you know, headquarters and file your report. Now, it looks to be a little bit different. What are we doing in the sense of our service delivery, in the sense of everyday police reports, um in regards to what's changed?

Um so, the majority of the reports that we do take are here at um headquarters at the police department here at city hall. that is where the majority of uh the reports that we take. So, it's nice having the ambassadors here um at the police department if they're at the real time crime center. We do have a sworn officer that's in the real time crime center. She can also take the reports as well. A lot of reports co changed a lot with taking them over the phone and um so we we see a lot of that. Um but with additional staffing that's out on the roads um so right now we only have you know two out on the road at any given time. Now we'll have three. um which means I would just be a quicker response time so they can get out there and handle the call uh efficiently.

So one of the reasons I was a big fan of this position was is when I talked to the people that worked at the officers that worked our police department, one of the things they liked they found the most frustrating was having to come in off the road to take a report not to minimize people's problems about a lost wallet for example because some Right. So um We could have. Yeah. So, anyway, I I see them people come in to make reports here all the time. Um, yeah, I like to have our mark vehicles out there. Yeah. Not in our parking lot. Go ahead, John. I'm sorry I interrupted you.

No, I'm just trying to understand it. I was wondering if the ambassadors would now go to the house to take the report for the lost wallet or what the delivery of our services. Again, we've we've had a model in place for a while and it sounded like it was changing based on the addition of the ambassadors and the new tasks that they were going to be doing. No, they they will respond to the residences um businesses, anybody that needs that non-critical report taken. So, yes, sir, they do go out there. Thank you, sir.

I've always been uh about customer service. Um there's many things that we can change. You know, we don't have to take private property action reports, but you know what? When you get out there face to face, you take their information down, put it on official documents. It's about customer service, about serving our citizens and making sure that they have the, you know, that's just one one example. So, you know, if they ask, if they want a report, that's in our policy. You want a report, we're going to give you a report. Uh, regardless if a crime was committed or not, it's it's about serving the public. So, um, like I said, this is greater. Um, this is a a great asset. Uh, we'll have better response times because obviously we'll have more people uh more staffing out on the roads and, uh, just better overall, and it's just more eyes and ears for us here at the PD. You all right? Consent. Everybody okay with that? Thank you.

Thank you. All right. That concludes the business and the discussion. Um public comment. Nope. Nobody's here. Zach's here, but he he left a card, but he couldn't. The person left. They left. Um city manager comments. Uh yes, ma'am. We do need an executive session for real estate and for litigation. Okay. Council comments. I just again want to John, do you have anything? I No, I'm good. Thank you.

Um I again want to thank the community for their outstanding uh response to our neighbors in need. And with that, I need a motion for executive session for legal and real estate. Move to adjourn to executive session for purposes of litigation and real estate. Second. Any further discussion? Hearing none. I call the question. All in favor say I. Any opposed? John, you want us to call you or something? Sure. You can call me or I can call Eric. One or the other. Just Yeah. Give us a few minutes and well, somebody will call you or call Eric. Thank you. All right. We will be back.

We have four here. Five. All right, let's make a motion. Well, when Sharon, are we good? I got move to adjourn. Second, Joe. Yep. All right, we have a motion in a second. All in favor say I. I. Meetings adjourned.