Board of Mayor & Commissioners - Regular Meeting

Wednesday, August 26, 2026Official site

The Board approved a 2026 budget amendment, adopted a civility pledge, and approved a project framework agreement for downtown multi-modal improvements. Public comment and a work session discussion focused heavily on the city's Flock camera system, with residents raising privacy concerns and the Chief of Police presenting on its use and safeguards.

About this meeting

Government Body
Board of Mayor & Commissioners
Meeting Type
Board Of Mayor & Commissioners
Location
Avondale Estates, GA
Meeting Date
August 26, 2026

Published excerpts

Only published remarks appear here. The full transcript is not published.

35 sections (from 36 segments)

3:29 – 3:40•Lyda Steadman

Well, just welcome all of you to this evening's meeting. And I hope you learned something and get to express your, you know, your comments to us. So I'll hang out.

35:16•Lyda Steadman

How much was that estimate that they gave us?

35:37•Lyda Steadman

What projects do we, out of this list, do we think we're actually going to get done before the end of the year?

36:56 – 37:40•Lyda Steadman

Well, I would just like to make a comment. I feel like that we need a more cash flow basis for our capital projects reporting so that we do see, you know, most places do three to five years out where we kind of project. And then, you know, a more specific kind of information about where the revenue is coming from to pay those projects. Some of it's kind of wrapped into the balance. And so to me, it's not, Yeah, it's just not clear enough as to what we are going to get done and when we're going to do it. And I would like to see that expanded.

38:11 – 38:23•Lyda Steadman

Nay. And that is because there are some projects on there that I don't approve of and also that I don't feel like I have a clear enough idea of the revenues coming through to support them. Okay.

39:09 – 39:55•Lyda Steadman

pass the one that includes the final comment that the board recognizes that these principles are intended to establish the standards of professional conduct respective of city officials. Conduct inconsistent with these principles may be addressed by the board through its existing authority under the chartered city ordinance personnel policies employment agreements and other ethical laws that's what i'd like nation to have to approve okay that's version two so commissioner stevens made a motion is there a second is there is there a way to get clarification on the because that's like i apologize

42:48 – 43:13•Lyda Steadman

Yes. I don't feel like that statement at all was a stick. It was simply a statement that we acknowledge that this is important and that we're assuring our residents that we take it seriously. I don't think there's anything there that would suggest that we are imposing anything on anybody.

48:31 – 48:45•Lyda Steadman

I've got something on another matter with this. So, I see where it says the city's responsible for accomplishing the preliminary engineering work. Is that part of that $100,000 or is that additional funds?

49:05 – 49:32•Lyda Steadman

That wasn't what I asked. Basically, it's saying here, and I don't know if it's kind of separating. It says that the city is responsible for accomplishing the preliminary engineering work. That's the $500,000. That's correct. Okay. And then our part of it is $100,000, which the DDA is paying for. And what happens if we go over on that $500,000?

51:58 – 52:28•Lyda Steadman

I have to agree with Louis. I'm very disappointed that that's in the contract. But at the same time, you know, we need state contracts to get things done in this city and it's just unfortunate that we have to sign on to something that includes um you know something that we may not support in order to get money to improve our city and i agree as well um well uh

1:12:08•Lyda Steadman

That's okay. I just wanted... Are these items that were highlighted in yellow, are those the only changes? Are those the exact changes that we're making?

1:12:38•Lyda Steadman

It says here that only 18 years of age or older may register the vehicle.

1:14:07•Lyda Steadman

Oh, it's 35 on South Avenue? Yeah. Yeah, it has to go.

1:14:38•Lyda Steadman

So we have to go through a study before we can lower it to 30? Or could we just lower it to 30?

1:15:45•Lyda Steadman

35. South Avondale is the residential side. And it's 35 as well?

1:20:35•Lyda Steadman

When they register now, do they get a decal or something to put on their vehicle? And are we having problems with people registering? I mean, or do we?

1:22:27 – 1:22:50•Lyda Steadman

Well, I don't know if I have any trouble with the 18-year-old requirement because I wish they changed that driver's license. My granddaughter is going to be 16 next June and I'm horrified. The thought of her driving around in Atlanta.

1:26:44•Lyda Steadman

But you can go right into Laredo, too, where Center Street curves are.

1:27:27•Lyda Steadman

There were lots of constraints around crossings that that intersection did not.

1:28:38•Lyda Steadman

That is not, but there is a pocket of homes back there, the Windsor area. Okay. Yeah.

1:31:17•Lyda Steadman

next to um we have it announcing the pact oh yeah it was in its view number four is right next to

1:32:32•Lyda Steadman

In this case, have the people that own that building been told about it?

1:33:30•Lyda Steadman

I understand. I was just talking about, you know, being aware that it's going to happen sometimes.

1:48:59•Lyda Steadman

And they can't search anything with that case, I think.

1:56:31•Lyda Steadman

You have to put a case number in. Yes. So if you don't put a case number in.

1:56:57•Lyda Steadman

But do you have a... So the cab, when they send their alert, they would send you... their case number or C80 number.

1:58:12•Lyda Steadman

So you actually give them access to search our data?

1:58:49•Lyda Steadman

Is it turned off or terminated? They always have access.

2:00:08•Lyda Steadman

So would you grant that access to one user or the whole agency?

2:14:41•Lyda Steadman

You said it's 3K per camera. Do we have any software maintenance expense or data storage?

2:15:09•Lyda Steadman

So in my understanding that this is not video, this is like it's taking pictures.

2:15:39•Lyda Steadman

And we have a specific vendor that we work for.

2:15:46•Lyda Steadman

Okay. Just one last question. Sure. How many agencies would you say have access to our system?

2:17:29 – 2:17:40•Lyda Steadman

I'm a little confused on that. You have to have a case, but if somebody's coming in from another place, they're not going to have a case number. I don't understand that.

2:48:57•Lyda Steadman

I thought public comment was more dialogue.

These excerpts are remarks by officials whose identity a person confirmed, from a transcript generated automatically from the official public meeting video and presented unedited. Accuracy may vary; view the original recording for reference.