1
00:00:00,140 --> 00:00:01,460
Dan, will you call the roll please?

2
00:00:06,880 --> 00:00:09,240
Council Member Rebecca Chase Williams is absent.

3
00:00:10,220 --> 00:00:13,260
Council Member Jim Iyer, District 2.

4
00:00:13,720 --> 00:00:13,900
Here.

5
00:00:14,480 --> 00:00:16,440
Council Member Bates Madison, District 3.

6
00:00:16,780 --> 00:00:17,080
Here.

7
00:00:17,780 --> 00:00:19,880
Council Member Joe Gevia, District 4.

8
00:00:20,140 --> 00:00:20,400
Present.

9
00:00:20,980 --> 00:00:22,000
Mayor Davis, we have a quorum.

10
00:00:22,480 --> 00:00:22,840
All right.

11
00:00:25,430 --> 00:00:26,510
No opening remarks.

12
00:00:28,190 --> 00:00:30,830
Agenda meeting agenda review.

13
00:00:30,950 --> 00:00:31,750
Regular meeting agenda review.

14
00:00:43,080 --> 00:00:43,460
Again.

15
00:00:44,080 --> 00:00:44,520
There we go.

16
00:00:44,520 --> 00:00:51,120
All right, Mr. Mayor and council members, on the, I'll

17
00:00:53,520 --> 00:00:54,940
go to the city council agenda

18
00:00:54,940 --> 00:00:56,700
and then we'll swing back around.

19
00:00:57,160 --> 00:00:57,920
Rebecca's here.

20
00:01:08,910 --> 00:01:14,970
We have a very short city council agenda this evening and I'll just run through that

21
00:01:14,970 --> 00:01:15,310
quickly.

22
00:01:15,850 --> 00:01:20,730
You do have meeting minutes from October the 8th, both the work session and of

23
00:01:20,730 --> 00:01:22,090
course the regular council meeting.

24
00:01:22,090 --> 00:01:29,830
The third item on the Consent Agenda is to ask the Council to please authorize the Mayor

25
00:01:29,830 --> 00:01:33,230
to execute the contract for Buford Highway Improvement Plan and Economic Development

26
00:01:33,230 --> 00:01:33,870
Strategy.

27
00:01:34,490 --> 00:01:40,390
That is to enable us to move the project forward so that we can get the public engaged

28
00:01:40,390 --> 00:01:41,690
and have a kickoff meeting.

29
00:01:41,850 --> 00:01:44,450
We're looking at a kickoff meeting in early November.

30
00:01:44,450 --> 00:01:54,490
What I would like to do is I'm negotiating currently the cost for that and I would like to send that back to you all.

31
00:01:55,250 --> 00:02:05,230
Right now we have a budget estimate that is still being negotiated and not agreed to at this point of $121,000 to cover the cost of those services

32
00:02:05,230 --> 00:02:10,270
and that includes three different consulting firms that make up that firm.

33
00:02:10,270 --> 00:02:12,430
So we're working on that.

34
00:02:12,610 --> 00:02:15,210
We're looking at the number of meetings, looking at the deliverables.

35
00:02:15,750 --> 00:02:21,090
So that would be the threshold not to exceed, but working hard to lower that.

36
00:02:21,570 --> 00:02:30,250
So we'll be asking you this evening, just in an effort to be able to launch this plan to move forward,

37
00:02:30,430 --> 00:02:33,070
give the mayor authorization to execute the contract.

38
00:02:33,070 --> 00:02:41,610
I expect that we should be finished with that probably sometime early next week if not by

39
00:02:41,610 --> 00:02:46,250
the end of this week and then once we have that we'll go to contract and that'll be turned

40
00:02:46,250 --> 00:02:48,490
over to the city attorney to prepare the contract.

41
00:02:48,710 --> 00:02:54,150
They are providing to me their customary contract which Tom will be taking a look

42
00:02:54,150 --> 00:03:00,110
at but in the interim there may be some tweaks to that that he may advise us on.

43
00:03:00,110 --> 00:03:06,430
And so this is just to be able to move it along to stay on time with what we're trying

44
00:03:06,430 --> 00:03:10,350
to do to be able to deliver the Buford Highway Improvement Plan in the spring.

45
00:03:11,750 --> 00:03:15,550
And again, we're trying not to get too deep into the holidays either because we'd like

46
00:03:15,550 --> 00:03:17,530
to have the kickoff meeting before that.

47
00:03:17,630 --> 00:03:22,250
And remember, we'll be kicking off the comp plan, the transportation plan, and

48
00:03:22,250 --> 00:03:23,650
the parks and rec plan in December.

49
00:03:26,470 --> 00:03:27,510
So that's that.

50
00:03:27,670 --> 00:03:29,110
The other item on the agenda.

51
00:03:29,110 --> 00:03:31,550
The last item on the agenda is under announcements.

52
00:03:32,790 --> 00:03:37,390
We have a new formation of a group called the Friends of Brookhaven.

53
00:03:37,750 --> 00:03:42,590
Shannon Cameron, who serves on our Planning Commission, has been elected the President there 501c3.

54
00:03:43,630 --> 00:03:49,190
And they really are, I would call them, they almost serve as a booster,

55
00:03:49,790 --> 00:03:54,330
a city booster for the community and are looking for ways to partner with the city.

56
00:03:54,330 --> 00:04:01,010
one initiative that they have agreed with us to partner on is to fundraise within the

57
00:04:01,010 --> 00:04:06,410
community so that we can purchase defibrillators for each of our police officers so they can

58
00:04:06,410 --> 00:04:11,590
have that in their cars as well as additional defibrillators that will be in City Hall and

59
00:04:11,590 --> 00:04:17,430
in the parks buildings. So they are moving forward on this and are very excited to

60
00:04:17,430 --> 00:04:22,830
be a part of it. The program that we put together is that they are expecting to

61
00:04:22,830 --> 00:04:28,890
raise $30,000 and we will fund $30,000 to match that through the city's budget.

62
00:04:29,010 --> 00:04:32,470
You'll be seeing that later on when we get into budget hearings and I'll point that out

63
00:04:32,470 --> 00:04:35,270
to you on where we have some community initiatives.

64
00:04:36,090 --> 00:04:39,590
This is truly a piece of valuable equipment for the police officers.

65
00:04:40,330 --> 00:04:45,730
So we're thrilled that the community is stepping forward and wants to engage in that.

66
00:04:46,330 --> 00:04:49,230
Their participation is only to fundraise.

67
00:04:49,230 --> 00:04:54,530
The chief will be specking out what those defibrillators will be.

68
00:04:55,130 --> 00:04:56,950
They will not be purchasing the defibrillators.

69
00:04:57,050 --> 00:04:58,990
They're not going to be donating any defibrillators.

70
00:04:59,310 --> 00:05:03,010
Their job is just to raise funds, present those to the city.

71
00:05:03,290 --> 00:05:08,710
We're planning on that during the city's one-year celebration week in December,

72
00:05:08,730 --> 00:05:11,470
and it's expected that they will present a check to the city.

73
00:05:11,970 --> 00:05:16,670
So this will be an introduction of Ms. Cameron and what the efforts of her group are.

74
00:05:16,670 --> 00:05:22,170
friends of Brookhaven and discussing the launch of their first initiative in partnership with the city.

75
00:05:27,810 --> 00:05:28,330
Is

76
00:05:30,500 --> 00:05:32,100
the end of the agenda.

77
00:05:33,520 --> 00:05:34,260
All right.

78
00:05:35,080 --> 00:05:38,980
I have a question on the consent, and I guess it's really more a question for council.

79
00:05:40,080 --> 00:05:46,980
Are we prepared to move forward on item number three tonight without, I guess I'd like that.

80
00:05:46,980 --> 00:05:52,440
I was hoping we'd see more of what the scope of work and deliverables were going to be before

81
00:05:52,440 --> 00:05:54,000
we approve this.

82
00:05:54,300 --> 00:05:59,660
And without that, I'm not comfortable with the kind of dollars you're talking about

83
00:05:59,660 --> 00:06:02,100
moving forward with this as a consent agenda item.

84
00:06:02,580 --> 00:06:07,020
Well, I can go over what the mandatory requirements are for the deliverables because

85
00:06:07,020 --> 00:06:12,080
that was part of the request for qualifications and proposals that they had.

86
00:06:12,080 --> 00:06:17,960
I mean, we were very clear on what the plan would include and what is we're calling mandatory.

87
00:06:18,360 --> 00:06:21,860
I mean, we specified that in terms of being mandatory requirements.

88
00:06:22,280 --> 00:06:25,220
So I can go over that list for you right now.

89
00:06:26,460 --> 00:06:30,460
Definitely looking at an economic development strategy developing that,

90
00:06:30,900 --> 00:06:34,280
funding sources to stimulate economic development and economic growth,

91
00:06:34,540 --> 00:06:38,680
business expansion, corporate recruitment, job creation and retention,

92
00:06:38,680 --> 00:06:42,680
housing initiatives and workforce housing and sustainable practices.

93
00:06:43,360 --> 00:06:49,780
What we expect to come out of each of these requirements will be, and in the presentation of the firms,

94
00:06:50,320 --> 00:06:58,880
we're basically this, that there will be a full analysis of the built environment with the infrastructure along Buford Highway.

95
00:06:59,060 --> 00:07:06,060
That will be all of the water, the sewer, what capacities are available and can be expanded upon for new development.

96
00:07:06,060 --> 00:07:13,140
the road improvements along Buford Highway incorporating those design elements that DOT is now installing,

97
00:07:13,260 --> 00:07:21,180
but also to take a look at those core intersections, the nodes themselves, where we have the major arterials

98
00:07:21,180 --> 00:07:25,460
and collector roads that are emptying into and intersecting with Buford Highway,

99
00:07:25,600 --> 00:07:30,900
and to see if there's a way to accept the DOT plans or if there's a way to soften it,

100
00:07:30,900 --> 00:07:38,480
to allow pedestrian traffic to enter into those sidewalks in addition to the vehicles

101
00:07:38,480 --> 00:07:39,620
that are using those areas.

102
00:07:39,800 --> 00:07:45,280
Looking at funding sources, that's going to include a number of grants.

103
00:07:45,620 --> 00:07:51,380
I've talked with you about an enterprise zone, opportunity zone, looking at some tax abatements

104
00:07:51,380 --> 00:07:57,760
to incentivize opportunities for recruitment, especially in the employment-based side.

105
00:07:57,760 --> 00:08:04,540
We also want to take a look at, and this is in conjunction with the apartment inspection program that we're conducting right now,

106
00:08:04,960 --> 00:08:14,740
and that is to look at what is the viability of the current housing that is located along Buford Highway,

107
00:08:15,040 --> 00:08:17,840
and the type of housing, and most importantly the occupant.

108
00:08:18,420 --> 00:08:24,120
We have a very high rental occupants along Buford Highway.

109
00:08:24,120 --> 00:08:32,280
We wanted to take a look at the ability that if there were some tear-downs and taking analysis of what we're finding on our apartment inspections.

110
00:08:33,360 --> 00:08:39,600
From the standpoint is, is there a market and could we support owner-occupied units, whether they're attached or even detached?

111
00:08:40,200 --> 00:08:45,740
So we're looking at a combination of those as well as examining the workforce housing.

112
00:08:45,740 --> 00:08:51,260
As you know, I'm working with DeKalb County and they are providing funds to us and those

113
00:08:51,260 --> 00:08:57,820
funds have been committed to us to look at a further incentive program to our owners

114
00:08:57,820 --> 00:09:03,440
landlords of the apartment so that we can help them accelerate the code issues that

115
00:09:03,440 --> 00:09:06,880
we're finding in the inspections so that they can bring their properties up to code.

116
00:09:08,230 --> 00:09:11,610
Corporate recruitment, there will be an identification of all the businesses that

117
00:09:11,610 --> 00:09:17,550
are currently there. And then a listing of support services and businesses or even the

118
00:09:17,550 --> 00:09:22,950
expansion of businesses related to the core businesses along Buford Highway so that we

119
00:09:22,950 --> 00:09:26,790
have a real recruitment plan. Who are we going to try and go after? The firm that we have

120
00:09:26,790 --> 00:09:31,610
selected has a great history and success rate on identifying even down to the restaurant

121
00:09:31,610 --> 00:09:38,770
type that would be able to be supported locating along Buford Highway. So we're

122
00:09:38,770 --> 00:09:43,910
excited about that. Again, this would relate back to job creation and retention. How do

123
00:09:43,910 --> 00:09:48,710
we retain that? The Department of Community Affairs has a very aggressive job opportunities

124
00:09:48,710 --> 00:09:55,370
program and there's a tiering effect and there's a way that certain employment taxes

125
00:09:55,370 --> 00:10:02,710
can be waived or abated or reduced over time if improvements or expansion of jobs

126
00:10:02,710 --> 00:10:06,830
are created and even those that are retained. So we're going to be examining and investigating

127
00:10:07,610 --> 00:10:14,020
I mentioned already workforce housing, again looking at a stronger partnership with DeKalb County Housing Initiatives.

128
00:10:15,070 --> 00:10:19,230
And this is not all about multi-family attached housing or rent or occupied.

129
00:10:19,630 --> 00:10:22,980
It's how do we mix other types of uses and opportunities.

130
00:10:23,610 --> 00:10:30,590
And we have a number of owner occupied residences that are out that sit behind many of these apartment communities.

131
00:10:30,590 --> 00:10:36,910
So we want to look at that and look at opportunities there for furthering those types of housing

132
00:10:36,910 --> 00:10:37,350
product.

133
00:10:38,610 --> 00:10:39,590
Sustainable practices.

134
00:10:40,430 --> 00:10:44,490
There will be a listing and recommendations and many of the recommendations that will

135
00:10:44,490 --> 00:10:51,190
come out of this will then take us to a next step that will be to enable the plan to

136
00:10:51,190 --> 00:10:51,670
be developed.

137
00:10:51,830 --> 00:10:54,110
That will be codification of our zoning ordinance.

138
00:10:54,110 --> 00:11:01,270
It might be development and creation of standards and practices on streetscape of what we want

139
00:11:01,270 --> 00:11:01,590
to see.

140
00:11:01,690 --> 00:11:06,730
How do we create a theme, if you will, so that it's easily recognizable along Buford

141
00:11:06,730 --> 00:11:12,110
Highway so that there are points of demarcation as you follow along Buford Highway, whether

142
00:11:12,110 --> 00:11:17,430
that's street lights or planters or benches and how do we coordinate and work with

143
00:11:17,430 --> 00:11:22,230
Marta on improving the bus stops that are out there and how do we provide connectivity.

144
00:11:22,230 --> 00:11:27,070
There was a lot of discussion in the interviews, presentations about the connectivity to Buford

145
00:11:27,070 --> 00:11:31,850
Highway back deep into the residential communities, tying in the cross keys initiative, which

146
00:11:31,850 --> 00:11:37,750
is a very strong initiative with DeKalb County, and will enable us to further our participation

147
00:11:37,750 --> 00:11:41,650
with them on this first $500,000 that they're going to be providing to us.

148
00:11:41,770 --> 00:11:45,410
So I'm very confident on the deliverables.

149
00:11:46,010 --> 00:11:47,650
They are listed as mandatory.

150
00:11:47,970 --> 00:11:51,670
They will be part and parcel to the contract that the city attorney is going to prepare

151
00:11:51,670 --> 00:11:55,070
because if they fail to perform, they will not be paid.

152
00:11:55,850 --> 00:12:02,670
So this is going to be a plan that will be shepherd by Susan Cannon in her department

153
00:12:02,670 --> 00:12:06,490
because it will come under the umbrella of community development as a tool,

154
00:12:06,790 --> 00:12:11,330
again, when we get to the point of codifying, but it will be a valuable tool

155
00:12:11,330 --> 00:12:16,570
for the development authority to use as they promote all opportunities

156
00:12:17,270 --> 00:12:20,310
for engagement with our development community along Buford Highway.

157
00:12:20,310 --> 00:12:24,070
So the cap is 121,000.

158
00:12:24,630 --> 00:12:29,230
I'm working hard to lower that because I think there is some room to trim.

159
00:12:30,030 --> 00:12:33,810
But I don't see us and nor would I recommend that we exceed that amount.

160
00:12:36,150 --> 00:12:44,170
Another question about the, we discussed adding a member of sort of a third member to their team.

161
00:12:45,050 --> 00:12:52,030
the guy, I forget his name, senior fellow at the Brookings Institute, a real thought leader

162
00:12:52,030 --> 00:12:52,630
in urban planning.

163
00:12:52,630 --> 00:12:53,810
Yes, he's part of that.

164
00:12:54,010 --> 00:12:54,230
Yes.

165
00:12:55,070 --> 00:12:56,210
He is part of that.

166
00:12:56,210 --> 00:12:58,310
That will ultimately be part of the same team.

167
00:12:59,550 --> 00:13:03,830
And they're under the umbrella of Prancing Engineering, Urban Partners, and then the

168
00:13:03,830 --> 00:13:04,650
Jaeger group.

169
00:13:04,970 --> 00:13:05,190
Right.

170
00:13:06,010 --> 00:13:06,490
Great.

171
00:13:06,730 --> 00:13:10,690
Because I think it's a really fantastic team, and I can tell you from having sat

172
00:13:10,690 --> 00:13:16,910
in all the interviews for that team that was chosen.

173
00:13:17,450 --> 00:13:22,670
They've got a tremendous wealth of experience and in their proposal,

174
00:13:24,190 --> 00:13:29,390
they have a step-by-step sequence of all of the stages that they'll be going through

175
00:13:29,390 --> 00:13:34,850
in this process of developing essentially a master plan for the Beaverd Highway corridor improvement.

176
00:13:36,510 --> 00:13:42,590
So I don't know if we have that document, their proposal, public on the website yet,

177
00:13:42,830 --> 00:13:44,830
or I don't know if the council has it.

178
00:13:45,710 --> 00:13:47,690
But it may be something that we can do.

179
00:13:48,630 --> 00:13:49,970
I'm happy to provide that.

180
00:13:50,150 --> 00:13:54,890
In those documents, we had nine vendors submit proposals to us,

181
00:13:54,970 --> 00:13:58,490
and some of the council members picked those up, had copies of them and reviewed,

182
00:13:58,730 --> 00:14:00,770
and I got some input from some of you all.

183
00:14:00,770 --> 00:14:07,330
The last thing I do want to say about it is that this is a time sensitive issue and some

184
00:14:07,330 --> 00:14:13,990
of the issues that we face, even on the zoning decisions we make up here, we're flying by

185
00:14:13,990 --> 00:14:19,650
the seat of our pants in some of the decisions and not having a well thought out plan before

186
00:14:19,650 --> 00:14:20,010
us.

187
00:14:20,490 --> 00:14:24,990
This process will take, what, four months to develop the results.

188
00:14:25,710 --> 00:14:31,710
the sooner we can get started on it the better and that's why I'd urge moving

189
00:14:31,710 --> 00:14:37,690
forward and giving authority to the mayor and Maureen to execute this

190
00:14:37,690 --> 00:14:42,470
contract when it's finalized because we are going to have redevelopment

191
00:14:42,470 --> 00:14:46,790
opportunities that we're going to have to deal with on Beaverd Highway as part

192
00:14:46,790 --> 00:14:53,270
of this apartment inspections program and the sooner we have a plan to have

193
00:14:53,270 --> 00:14:58,910
a well thought out vision for what, you know, how we make the best, highest and best use

194
00:14:58,910 --> 00:14:59,790
on Beaver to Hire.

195
00:15:00,000 --> 00:15:00,900
By the way, the better will be.

196
00:15:02,140 --> 00:15:05,540
Jim, do you have any more questions about that or any comment about that?

197
00:15:05,980 --> 00:15:26,280
No, I just, I guess conceptually, and whether it's this or other, I just, I still have a problem approving things that aren't fully feted and fully, the contract hadn't been finalized and for council to approve something that is not full and complete is an issue with me.

198
00:15:26,280 --> 00:15:31,640
Well, I think I guess that we kind of trust our city manager to vet.

199
00:15:32,740 --> 00:15:34,920
I mean, if I'm wrong here, we'll make sure.

200
00:15:35,160 --> 00:15:41,300
But if we kind of give a general instruction and then we trust Marie to do what she does,

201
00:15:42,360 --> 00:15:44,720
I think that's what we should do.

202
00:15:46,780 --> 00:15:50,980
When do you think you will have the final contract?

203
00:15:52,100 --> 00:15:54,280
Well, it's not so much the final contract,

204
00:15:54,280 --> 00:15:56,320
The final contract will rest with our city attorney.

205
00:15:56,620 --> 00:15:57,660
It's the dollar amount.

206
00:15:58,020 --> 00:15:59,540
All of the deliverables are met.

207
00:15:59,840 --> 00:16:01,400
Susan and I have already met with the team

208
00:16:01,400 --> 00:16:04,500
to go over the meetings that they're going to have,

209
00:16:04,780 --> 00:16:06,080
the engagement process,

210
00:16:06,580 --> 00:16:08,800
and what deliverables will be completed

211
00:16:08,800 --> 00:16:10,980
in the 16-week period,

212
00:16:11,080 --> 00:16:13,100
and even leading that to when we'll start holding

213
00:16:13,100 --> 00:16:15,080
public hearings for the Planning Commission,

214
00:16:15,200 --> 00:16:17,000
for the Council, to the point of adoption.

215
00:16:18,660 --> 00:16:20,800
It's really down to the final number.

216
00:16:21,640 --> 00:16:23,380
And once I get to that final number,

217
00:16:23,380 --> 00:16:25,220
which will either be by the end of this week

218
00:16:25,220 --> 00:16:27,560
or Monday or Tuesday, no later than,

219
00:16:27,780 --> 00:16:29,140
because I need to include it in the budget.

220
00:16:29,820 --> 00:16:31,400
And that's my issue.

221
00:16:31,520 --> 00:16:33,640
I have $121,000 in the budget.

222
00:16:33,840 --> 00:16:35,480
I think that we can get it for less.

223
00:16:35,960 --> 00:16:38,980
And I think there are ways to trim down that amount

224
00:16:38,980 --> 00:16:41,020
without diminishing the end product.

225
00:16:41,860 --> 00:16:46,480
Once I get that final number, it's a phone call to Tom

226
00:16:46,480 --> 00:16:49,720
and it's to transmit their customary contract

227
00:16:49,720 --> 00:16:52,020
that they use and for him to take a look at it.

228
00:16:52,020 --> 00:16:57,120
And so, you know, a week, 10 days, maybe at the most, if it's that long, I mean, I'm

229
00:16:57,120 --> 00:17:01,140
certain there would be communication back before between him and their attorney.

230
00:17:01,480 --> 00:17:11,820
If they're proposing their form of agreement, then the review would be within a week and

231
00:17:12,280 --> 00:17:13,440
possibly quicker than that.

232
00:17:13,500 --> 00:17:15,920
So you're just wanting approval so that that can happen quickly.

233
00:17:16,240 --> 00:17:17,700
So 121 is the cap?

234
00:17:17,820 --> 00:17:18,140
It's the cap.

235
00:17:18,320 --> 00:17:19,500
I don't want it to exceed that.

236
00:17:19,600 --> 00:17:20,720
That's what they're at right now.

237
00:17:21,560 --> 00:17:25,700
Susan and I have both looked at it. I do think that there's a way to come down on that.

238
00:17:26,360 --> 00:17:37,740
And frankly, if it's $80,000 or $121,000, the requirements are that they must provide each of those deliverables that I've just reviewed.

239
00:17:38,020 --> 00:17:40,960
There is no out on that, or otherwise we need to go to another firm.

240
00:17:42,060 --> 00:17:44,060
Which is the firm that we're in charge of?

241
00:17:44,060 --> 00:17:50,880
The Yeager Group, who is in partnership with Urban Partners, as well as Cranston Engineering.

242
00:17:51,160 --> 00:17:53,480
Cranston Engineering has a very minor role.

243
00:17:54,500 --> 00:18:02,040
It's examining the Buford Highway improvements, but the Cranston, excuse me, Urban Partners

244
00:18:02,040 --> 00:18:07,000
is really going to be doing the market analysis and the study of who do we get, what should

245
00:18:07,000 --> 00:18:10,000
be the incentives or the listing of the types of incentives.

246
00:18:10,000 --> 00:18:16,400
I mean, ultimately, you all have to make those decisions and recommendations will come from the development authority.

247
00:18:17,040 --> 00:18:20,240
This is just a valuable tool for them to go out and recruit.

248
00:18:20,420 --> 00:18:27,000
And to be able to say when XYZ Corporation comes and looks for bond inducement that this is what we're expecting.

249
00:18:27,320 --> 00:18:29,320
And it's not just what we're giving away.

250
00:18:29,940 --> 00:18:33,620
Part of this plan on our side will be here are the thresholds you have to meet.

251
00:18:33,920 --> 00:18:36,700
You have to create jobs to get this amount of bond inducement.

252
00:18:37,120 --> 00:18:38,900
You have to retain these kind of jobs.

253
00:18:38,900 --> 00:18:43,000
if you, you know, expect to receive any other improvements or assistance.

254
00:18:43,360 --> 00:18:50,700
So it really will be almost like a business plan model for us to use to promote Buford Highway.

255
00:18:50,920 --> 00:18:56,680
And I think it will give us a great step forward as we look at promoting other parts of the city,

256
00:18:56,720 --> 00:19:03,820
because we'll have the outline to do that. We'll just have to tweak it depending on if it's North Jewett Hills

257
00:19:03,820 --> 00:19:06,640
or it's Ashford Dunwoody or it's Peachtree Road.

258
00:19:06,860 --> 00:19:12,260
I mean, we'll have a good exercise in establishing what that framework should be.

259
00:19:12,800 --> 00:19:15,100
The list of deliverables that you just read off.

260
00:19:15,820 --> 00:19:19,840
And you said you've talked about a list of meetings and process.

261
00:19:20,320 --> 00:19:23,520
Is that in writing somewhere that we could get copies of that?

262
00:19:23,580 --> 00:19:26,720
Yes, it's still in a draft form because we're going through that.

263
00:19:26,920 --> 00:19:29,300
I mean, I'm happy to supply it to you.

264
00:19:29,300 --> 00:19:35,360
But until we are really confident of what the meetings are,

265
00:19:35,360 --> 00:19:37,560
because each meeting has a certain price to it.

266
00:19:37,920 --> 00:19:40,900
And I think what we can do is we can collapse some of those meetings

267
00:19:40,900 --> 00:19:42,680
and still achieve the same outcome.

268
00:19:43,860 --> 00:19:47,180
I mean, I share some of Jim's concern of just signing off

269
00:19:47,180 --> 00:19:50,360
on $120,000 without having something more

270
00:19:50,360 --> 00:19:51,640
in writing in front of me.

271
00:19:51,920 --> 00:19:54,800
But I like what I hear.

272
00:19:54,800 --> 00:19:58,780
I hear the need to go forward on this.

273
00:19:59,680 --> 00:20:03,940
I just want to make sure that we've vetted it as much as we possibly can.

274
00:20:05,160 --> 00:20:10,540
We trust you to carry this ball forward, but it's $120,000.

275
00:20:10,840 --> 00:20:16,640
It is, and the budget that I have budgeted is anywhere from $100,000 to $105,000,

276
00:20:16,980 --> 00:20:19,660
so we're looking at ways to trim that.

277
00:20:21,680 --> 00:20:24,680
Did I hear that Chris Leinberg is going to be part of that team?

278
00:20:26,100 --> 00:20:28,380
He is going to be a consultant to them.

279
00:20:28,620 --> 00:20:29,000
To Jager.

280
00:20:29,240 --> 00:20:29,560
Right.

281
00:20:29,760 --> 00:20:31,860
But you're not going to see a lot of him.

282
00:20:32,020 --> 00:20:37,720
It's really internal to their operation of what they'll solicit from him and review

283
00:20:37,720 --> 00:20:38,980
and suggestions.

284
00:20:41,930 --> 00:20:42,410
All right.

285
00:20:43,270 --> 00:20:43,530
Go ahead.

286
00:20:44,690 --> 00:20:50,510
Well, I guess what I'd ask though is if we can, and again this is a question

287
00:20:50,510 --> 00:20:54,410
in the council really procedurally when we get into the meeting, but we can pull this

288
00:20:54,410 --> 00:20:58,830
off the consent agenda and add it to the regular so that we can change and add the cap that

289
00:20:59,370 --> 00:21:03,870
City Manager, so that what we approve does have a price tag attached to it rather than

290
00:21:03,870 --> 00:21:08,370
just a general approval as it's written in the consent agreement.

291
00:21:09,250 --> 00:21:10,530
Yeah, I like that.

292
00:21:10,810 --> 00:21:11,150
That's fine.

293
00:21:11,950 --> 00:21:12,170
Okay.

294
00:21:12,350 --> 00:21:12,810
I like that.

295
00:21:13,150 --> 00:21:14,590
Just make that motion when we get there.

296
00:21:16,870 --> 00:21:17,550
All right, next.

297
00:21:18,350 --> 00:21:18,670
Okay.

298
00:21:18,670 --> 00:21:31,510
That is the council agenda, and then we'll go over to the work session agenda, beginning with item E, an update on sidewalks and council districts.

299
00:21:32,150 --> 00:21:41,890
I will be sending to you a list of sidewalks. Well, first of all, let me back up. You'll remember when we had amended the budget.

300
00:21:41,890 --> 00:21:49,260
I guess six weeks ago now maybe we're in the next budget season so I'm trying to

301
00:21:49,260 --> 00:21:54,120
remember when that was but sometime in the last within the last two months in

302
00:21:54,120 --> 00:22:03,060
that I included funds for sidewalks $400,000 and that includes enough

303
00:22:03,060 --> 00:22:08,580
funding to provide a thousand feet of sidewalk improvements in each of your

304
00:22:08,580 --> 00:22:13,000
districts and then the mayor also has funding that is available to him

305
00:22:13,000 --> 00:22:18,720
whether to provide yet a new connection of sidewalk or to piggyback off of perhaps one

306
00:22:18,720 --> 00:22:19,420
of your projects.

307
00:22:20,280 --> 00:22:25,740
I have been working with the Public Works Director and as you know when we were doing

308
00:22:25,740 --> 00:22:30,460
the laser truck and looking at all street improvements and the conditions of those roads,

309
00:22:30,600 --> 00:22:35,520
he also launched a review of all the sidewalks and the conditions thereof and he has a

310
00:22:35,520 --> 00:22:36,460
grading system.

311
00:22:39,100 --> 00:22:46,920
Many of the sidewalks that are on that list that have, in his opinion, a sense of urgency that we can connect the dots,

312
00:22:46,980 --> 00:22:51,640
or that there's a lot of foot traffic in particular areas that we should create a sidewalk.

313
00:22:52,120 --> 00:23:01,900
He has listed those, and I want to send those out to you all so that it might give you a good idea not to keep you within the bounds of that list

314
00:23:01,900 --> 00:23:07,720
because you know your district's better than anybody as to perhaps there might be a better location for a sidewalk.

315
00:23:08,460 --> 00:23:14,400
What we're looking at, and I'll just give you an example, I went out to Jim's district

316
00:23:14,400 --> 00:23:20,820
and we looked at a segment where it will connect two streets.

317
00:23:21,840 --> 00:23:31,000
And this particular sidewalk because of the shoulders that are there will require very little work from the standpoint of engineering.

318
00:23:31,000 --> 00:23:37,120
It can almost just be, you know, footings dug out and, you know, bring the concrete and pour it and go.

319
00:23:37,620 --> 00:23:44,160
So that's what we're looking for because we don't want to get into a lot of heavy design because that will hold up the project.

320
00:23:44,500 --> 00:23:50,020
The reason behind the funding in the amended budget was to allow you to have some visible impact this year.

321
00:23:50,400 --> 00:23:54,860
We'd like to make it before Christmas. At least it's going to be well underway at Christmas.

322
00:23:55,740 --> 00:24:04,800
And so when you see the rankings of this list that I'll send to you for just your review and consideration,

323
00:24:05,620 --> 00:24:11,420
it will show, you know, how many feet are there and what the estimated cost is.

324
00:24:12,160 --> 00:24:12,900
Is this a new sidewalk?

325
00:24:13,540 --> 00:24:15,260
This would be like a new sidewalk.

326
00:24:15,500 --> 00:24:16,220
It could be repairs.

327
00:24:16,320 --> 00:24:20,240
Again, it's up to each of you on what you would like to do, but what you're finding.

328
00:24:20,240 --> 00:24:25,620
So what makes this, is there already a separate budget for repair of sidewalks?

329
00:24:25,680 --> 00:24:26,480
Yes, we have that.

330
00:24:26,680 --> 00:24:29,900
And we're adding to that also for the 2014.

331
00:24:30,220 --> 00:24:36,200
This is just a one-time deal that we wanted to do something to give something back to

332
00:24:36,200 --> 00:24:41,700
the public through the host tax dollars, and it is permissible under the requirements

333
00:24:41,700 --> 00:24:43,980
of host and its infrastructures improvement.

334
00:24:43,980 --> 00:24:51,680
So we thought we could get out very quick, very early, and have some demonstration of work being done.

335
00:24:51,860 --> 00:24:56,920
And to be able to provide you a way to answer, I know, the calls and requests that you get from your constituents

336
00:24:56,920 --> 00:25:00,400
on what about this missing gap? It doesn't have to be a missing gap.

337
00:25:00,540 --> 00:25:03,260
It could be an extension of what's already there.

338
00:25:03,640 --> 00:25:08,600
And maybe we create yet a missing, you know, another gap by the extension of a sidewalk,

339
00:25:08,780 --> 00:25:12,480
but that's good too because it'll fit into our plan for improvements.

340
00:25:12,480 --> 00:25:18,280
I'd like to see this as, and you'll see it in the 2014 budget, I'd like to see this as

341
00:25:18,280 --> 00:25:24,360
a customary budgeted item that gives you the ability to do something in your particular

342
00:25:24,360 --> 00:25:27,500
districts as we do something, you know, city-wide.

343
00:25:27,760 --> 00:25:29,440
So we're really excited about it.

344
00:25:29,760 --> 00:25:35,780
What we're going to do is have a bid process that will be on a per-unit basis.

345
00:25:36,040 --> 00:25:40,620
We were looking at a lump sum, you know, just X thousand a feet of sidewalk.

346
00:25:40,760 --> 00:25:41,140
What width?

347
00:25:42,140 --> 00:25:47,920
We're looking at a minimum of five feet, but again, it just depends on where your sidewalk improvement will be.

348
00:25:48,680 --> 00:25:55,580
In Jim's district, and he and I have not talked about this, but when I went down the hill looking at it more closely,

349
00:25:55,700 --> 00:26:00,760
we've got a catch base in top that we've got to address, but good news is that's just the top.

350
00:26:00,880 --> 00:26:02,960
We don't have to fool around with the basin itself.

351
00:26:03,340 --> 00:26:05,080
But it might be a few of those things.

352
00:26:05,340 --> 00:26:10,740
Another example in his area, there is a very short stretch where we'll probably have to put a retaining wall in

353
00:26:10,740 --> 00:26:16,260
in some handrails, but the majority of that area, and just again to give you an example,

354
00:26:16,360 --> 00:26:22,160
it doesn't have to fit within your guidelines for your particular district, but his is literally

355
00:26:22,720 --> 00:26:31,480
digging out six inches, forming it and pouring, I mean, and that is a few days project, I

356
00:26:31,480 --> 00:26:31,660
mean.

357
00:26:31,880 --> 00:26:35,420
Which is why I drugged you over there to look at it, and thank you for taking the

358
00:26:35,420 --> 00:26:35,640
time.

359
00:26:35,880 --> 00:26:35,900
Yeah.

360
00:26:36,080 --> 00:26:37,100
Have we already bid it?

361
00:26:37,100 --> 00:26:40,860
I mean, so that once the list is approved, we can begin construction, or are we going to?

362
00:26:41,000 --> 00:26:41,940
Where are we with the contractor?

363
00:26:41,940 --> 00:26:44,100
Well, what we're trying to do, Richard is just waiting.

364
00:26:45,120 --> 00:26:45,740
Is he here?

365
00:26:45,920 --> 00:26:46,200
I'm here.

366
00:26:46,340 --> 00:26:47,140
There you go.

367
00:26:47,900 --> 00:26:52,060
As any engineer, he's very eager to get started,

368
00:26:52,140 --> 00:26:57,240
and he has his priority listing, but he understands that this is your priority.

369
00:26:57,520 --> 00:26:59,560
And we will bid these out.

370
00:26:59,680 --> 00:27:01,700
How we package them depends on the sections,

371
00:27:02,340 --> 00:27:06,280
and whether we are going to need some level of plans or details,

372
00:27:06,280 --> 00:27:14,540
but also, you know, the preference would be to unicost bitum, you know, per cubic yard of concrete,

373
00:27:14,680 --> 00:27:17,220
or square yard of concrete, linear foot of handrail.

374
00:27:17,700 --> 00:27:23,300
So, curb and gutter, those kind of things we have to look at to see when we, in each of these sections,

375
00:27:24,260 --> 00:27:29,120
you know, like in the section she's talking about with yours, we don't need to do curb and gutter,

376
00:27:29,320 --> 00:27:31,100
but we probably need to do handrail.

377
00:27:31,100 --> 00:27:36,340
You know, erosion control items are a thing we still have to follow erosion control guidelines,

378
00:27:36,880 --> 00:27:41,700
you know, grassing, even just the cost for grassing afterwards, things like that.

379
00:27:42,160 --> 00:27:45,240
There's lots of free pines for author. You can reuse some of that.

380
00:27:45,400 --> 00:27:50,140
Yeah. So those are things, you know, the ideal would be to do more of a unit cost,

381
00:27:50,300 --> 00:27:56,560
that way if we're only paying for what we actually put in and do some estimates.

382
00:27:56,560 --> 00:28:00,000
Do you have your list up and can you meet with Council beginning when?

383
00:28:00,800 --> 00:28:05,760
I'm available. I've been, I think Marie has asked you all to get with me,

384
00:28:05,980 --> 00:28:11,780
and so I know my calendar, both tomorrow and Thursday, is pretty wide open as far as if,

385
00:28:12,180 --> 00:28:16,200
you know, and I think she's directed that it's okay to meet with me on this issue.

386
00:28:17,400 --> 00:28:20,400
Council, I would strongly encourage you to meet as soon as you can,

387
00:28:20,440 --> 00:28:24,780
because it's November, weather changes, and it's going to take a little bit of time,

388
00:28:24,780 --> 00:28:29,360
So we want this in by the end of the year, which I do, you know, I'd like to see this

389
00:28:30,140 --> 00:28:33,520
White new concrete in throughout the city by the end of the year

390
00:28:34,460 --> 00:28:40,160
Please take it the time this week or early next week to get with Richard so that we can come up with a final

391
00:28:40,160 --> 00:28:44,940
List and he can do what he needs to get it installed because it it's a relatively easy project

392
00:28:44,940 --> 00:28:48,840
But it's not going to happen overnight just simply because of the hoops that we have to jump through to get it done

393
00:28:48,840 --> 00:28:59,280
Richard, your report on the sidewalks just to clarify, it shows the status of the condition as they stand today plus where the gaps are.

394
00:28:59,400 --> 00:29:10,640
Mainly this list that she has is mainly the gaps. I mean, there's a couple on them where when we did it, we just kind of listed like Dresden and Northford are the two where we just said general sidewalk repairs.

395
00:29:10,640 --> 00:29:16,740
but I was focusing more on new sidewalks, so most of the detailed ones on the list

396
00:29:16,740 --> 00:29:21,960
are where there's gaps in the sidewalk anywhere from 400 to 1,000 foot.

397
00:29:22,860 --> 00:29:27,620
Try to pick ones that were things that could be relatively easy to build,

398
00:29:27,700 --> 00:29:32,640
although there are some really difficult ones that are going to need some real detailed

399
00:29:32,640 --> 00:29:35,500
survey and engineering in order to build those segments.

400
00:29:37,920 --> 00:29:40,640
But in those are reflected somewhat in the cost too.

401
00:29:40,780 --> 00:29:44,740
When you see the costs, I kind of took a stab as,

402
00:29:44,840 --> 00:29:46,540
okay, this one's going to need a little bit more work,

403
00:29:46,620 --> 00:29:48,880
so I'm going to bump the cost up a little bit on that.

404
00:29:49,380 --> 00:29:53,520
So when you divide it out on a cost per foot or cost per 1,000 foot,

405
00:29:53,780 --> 00:29:57,040
you're going to get a higher cost per foot for some of those.

406
00:29:57,320 --> 00:29:58,780
So this list is where?

407
00:29:58,780 --> 00:29:58,840
Thank you.

408
00:29:59,640 --> 00:29:59,960
Thank you.

409
00:30:00,000 --> 00:30:00,780
I have it. I'm going to send it.

410
00:30:00,860 --> 00:30:02,340
The city manager will send that to you.

411
00:30:02,980 --> 00:30:03,300
Tonight.

412
00:30:03,640 --> 00:30:04,680
Tonight. Okay, great. Thanks.

413
00:30:05,540 --> 00:30:13,020
Richard, is there a standard for the entire city that we can look at for what the handrails

414
00:30:13,020 --> 00:30:20,000
would look like, and sometimes concrete has a gray shade to it, or is there some more

415
00:30:20,000 --> 00:30:20,460
we can…

416
00:30:20,460 --> 00:30:27,040
The simple detail would be used, what a Georgia DOT detail for a handrail is, which is a kind

417
00:30:27,040 --> 00:30:29,760
of a, I guess, steel.

418
00:30:30,100 --> 00:30:31,480
It's an inch and a half, two line pipe rail.

419
00:30:32,880 --> 00:30:38,200
It's basically pipe rail, which I guess is about four foot high, and it's got a pipe rail

420
00:30:38,200 --> 00:30:41,940
in the middle, and it's got, I think, I can't remember, it's like four to five foot

421
00:30:41,940 --> 00:30:43,500
post every four to five feet.

422
00:30:43,840 --> 00:30:47,100
That's kind of the standard for just a kind of standard generic hand rail,

423
00:30:47,180 --> 00:30:49,620
and that's usually like aluminum.

424
00:30:50,100 --> 00:30:52,920
The kind of aluminum steel, the gray coating of it.

425
00:30:52,920 --> 00:30:57,160
I mean, if we wanted, there are other places that get, and of course it gets into a cost

426
00:30:57,160 --> 00:31:04,360
thing where you get into, you can spec that if you wanted green or black instead of the,

427
00:31:05,000 --> 00:31:08,760
you know, where they can do that, obviously there's going to be a more expensive cost.

428
00:31:09,040 --> 00:31:10,360
We haven't developed a standard.

429
00:31:10,600 --> 00:31:17,060
I mean, you know, some of this is going to depend on what the costs we can adhere

430
00:31:17,060 --> 00:31:17,380
to.

431
00:31:17,640 --> 00:31:21,520
And we only have to put handrail in where the slope drops off right behind the sidewalk.

432
00:31:21,520 --> 00:31:24,140
We do have to put the handrail in that is going to be a requirement.

433
00:31:24,880 --> 00:31:27,480
I don't think there's going to be a lot of handrail or Brooklyn,

434
00:31:27,560 --> 00:31:31,260
but I'd like to see what the options are.

435
00:31:31,620 --> 00:31:32,820
If there's something that's a little better,

436
00:31:32,960 --> 00:31:34,620
or they're nicer looking and more aesthetically pleasing

437
00:31:34,620 --> 00:31:36,400
just to see what the cost benefit would be.

438
00:31:37,920 --> 00:31:39,380
We could do that.

439
00:31:39,960 --> 00:31:41,800
I knew we had to put handrail in.

440
00:31:41,940 --> 00:31:45,180
I hadn't gotten into some of those details yet as far as that goes.

441
00:31:45,860 --> 00:31:49,760
We want to be sensitive too as to where the sidewalk is.

442
00:31:49,760 --> 00:31:54,920
if there's already some kind of decorative finishes or we want to mimic that and repeat

443
00:31:54,920 --> 00:31:57,300
that we don't want to come in with something that's so different.

444
00:31:58,000 --> 00:32:05,560
Where Jim is on his project, that railing will be perfect, it'll fit perfectly in the environment

445
00:32:05,560 --> 00:32:09,000
and what's so nice there we're not going to have to ask for slope easements from anybody

446
00:32:09,000 --> 00:32:09,860
because it's ours.

447
00:32:11,520 --> 00:32:12,620
It's cheap and easy.

448
00:32:13,040 --> 00:32:13,760
What road is it?

449
00:32:14,180 --> 00:32:14,920
Byrdwood Way.

450
00:32:17,700 --> 00:32:23,340
Richard, do I understand that the sidewalk survey map is in fact on our GIS system?

451
00:32:23,760 --> 00:32:29,440
The existing sidewalk, there is a layer where all the existing sidewalk is shown on our GIS.

452
00:32:29,900 --> 00:32:34,840
And so you can pull that up and look at, it will tell you where there's existing sidewalks.

453
00:32:35,000 --> 00:32:38,420
And that was how one of the ways we used to identify where the gaps are,

454
00:32:38,460 --> 00:32:40,560
because you can easily see if you're going along.

455
00:32:40,560 --> 00:32:45,140
And mainly I looked at the more, obviously more major roads in the city,

456
00:32:46,120 --> 00:32:50,920
not getting into the neighborhoods that much with that list

457
00:32:50,920 --> 00:32:53,860
and to kind of fill the gaps on the main roads of the city.

458
00:32:54,580 --> 00:33:00,440
But where that is shown, there is a layer that you can pull into the GIS map that is the sidewalks.

459
00:33:00,640 --> 00:33:02,340
And that covers from your survey?

460
00:33:03,060 --> 00:33:04,680
Yes, from our surveys, yes.

461
00:33:04,680 --> 00:33:14,250
Is there a weather aspect to, is there a temperature cutoff of how we can pork?

462
00:33:14,670 --> 00:33:15,370
What temperature?

463
00:33:15,370 --> 00:33:18,410
For concrete, you got a lot more leeway with concrete.

464
00:33:19,130 --> 00:33:23,120
You know, yes, if we had, if our highs were only getting into the 30s,

465
00:33:23,750 --> 00:33:26,110
it would be, which is not that common here.

466
00:33:26,610 --> 00:33:34,030
We can do sidewalk construction in the wintertime because it's the,

467
00:33:34,030 --> 00:33:38,330
Stained rain periods makes it difficult with the cutting grating or I think but sporadic

468
00:33:38,330 --> 00:33:38,610
rain.

469
00:33:38,750 --> 00:33:41,810
You can even pour concrete relatively easily in the rain too.

470
00:33:41,990 --> 00:33:48,330
So we're not as sensitive to weather in the wintertime with sidewalks as we are with, say,

471
00:33:48,490 --> 00:33:49,150
resurfacing.

472
00:33:49,710 --> 00:33:49,830
Great.

473
00:33:51,950 --> 00:33:54,650
What about crosswalks as a part of this?

474
00:33:55,050 --> 00:33:56,210
Is that not a part of this?

475
00:33:56,410 --> 00:34:05,350
My intent is to include where the sidewalk segments touch existing roads and crosswalks

476
00:34:05,350 --> 00:34:12,110
crossings is to also include ADA upgrades on all the corners that affected and crosswalk

477
00:34:12,110 --> 00:34:17,210
striping, upgraded crosswalk striping on all the crosswalks for all the corners, all the

478
00:34:17,210 --> 00:34:18,810
legs that touched you.

479
00:34:18,950 --> 00:34:24,790
So if we did an intersection, for example, one of the ones on the list that I have is

480
00:34:24,790 --> 00:34:26,750
North Druid Hills in front of Crosskeys High School.

481
00:34:26,990 --> 00:34:31,610
That touches the intersection with North Druid in Curtis and North Druid with North

482
00:34:31,610 --> 00:34:32,250
Cliff Valley.

483
00:34:32,250 --> 00:34:37,170
the intent would be on all four corners of those intersections to upgrade the ADA

484
00:34:37,170 --> 00:34:40,050
and upgrade the crosswalks while we're doing this.

485
00:34:41,110 --> 00:34:48,010
What about a little bit out of the purview of this, but my intent has come back to you on the Woodward Elementary School,

486
00:34:48,570 --> 00:34:54,250
and we also need flashing lights for notification of crosswalks right by the sidewalks,

487
00:34:54,930 --> 00:35:00,630
and as well as maybe a ribbed road around the curb to alert drivers,

488
00:35:00,630 --> 00:35:02,030
you know, there's a dangerous curve.

489
00:35:02,870 --> 00:35:06,690
That's kind of what I was interested in, you know, enhancing the crosswalks we have,

490
00:35:06,730 --> 00:35:09,930
or, you know, where is that? Is this in the same?

491
00:35:10,010 --> 00:35:13,630
How about if we just use these funds to maybe do a project that if the cross is over?

492
00:35:13,830 --> 00:35:14,110
Correct.

493
00:35:14,270 --> 00:35:15,710
Yeah, we could look at...

494
00:35:15,710 --> 00:35:21,510
I'm sorry, you're allotted a certain amount per year district, so if it can capture

495
00:35:21,510 --> 00:35:24,010
that, then absolutely we can do that turnkey.

496
00:35:25,190 --> 00:35:38,410
The mayor also has funds, and he is going to select an area for himself, but if there's any money left over, those monies then could be made available to, you know, in working together.

497
00:35:38,510 --> 00:35:48,990
We're hoping that perhaps where your district ends or sidewalk ends, that maybe there is cooperation to pick it up and continue it on so it becomes a longer segment.

498
00:35:48,990 --> 00:35:52,970
And there are some opportunities on the list to do that,

499
00:35:53,050 --> 00:35:54,410
especially where you share borders.

500
00:35:55,730 --> 00:36:00,010
You know, the road, you might be able to get a lot of bang out of the buck there.

501
00:36:00,030 --> 00:36:03,470
So that's why we'd like to sit down with you and go over that

502
00:36:03,470 --> 00:36:06,930
and happy to go out and walk it and take a look at it.

503
00:36:07,010 --> 00:36:10,230
Well, the mayor's already told me I'm his favorite councilman,

504
00:36:10,350 --> 00:36:11,850
so I'm putting my jibbies on that money.

505
00:36:17,030 --> 00:36:20,470
What about the park funds?

506
00:36:21,490 --> 00:36:29,710
The park funds are also, that was part of the amended budget, so there's a difference between that and what we're doing for 2014.

507
00:36:30,390 --> 00:36:40,690
There's $200,000 in that, and that is set up so that you and I will review any request for funding.

508
00:36:40,690 --> 00:36:46,390
And I'll give you a little bit of history of why that's being set up that way.

509
00:36:46,690 --> 00:36:51,550
In talking with a couple of the friends of certain parks in the community in the past,

510
00:36:51,650 --> 00:36:57,990
they've been accustomed to filing park pride applications or filing to the county for assistance.

511
00:36:58,790 --> 00:37:03,550
And there was a gate fee to be able to belong to park pride,

512
00:37:03,690 --> 00:37:09,170
but there's no guarantee if you pay that fee that you will even be considered for an application.

513
00:37:09,170 --> 00:37:16,970
And I felt that going through that exercise for the community and not having assurances

514
00:37:16,970 --> 00:37:21,510
that they would even receive anything, and of course the gate fee would have to be paid by the city,

515
00:37:21,910 --> 00:37:27,590
which I think was $15,000, wouldn't that money be better served in making an improvement

516
00:37:27,590 --> 00:37:30,350
in a park that the community could enjoy?

517
00:37:30,910 --> 00:37:37,410
So in talking with these, there's a couple of different friends groups that were preparing themselves to make applications.

518
00:37:37,410 --> 00:37:46,110
They have continued that and are readying that to submit to the city, along with your suggestions as well of what you want to do.

519
00:37:46,250 --> 00:37:53,730
And then we'll review that and then make a determination on where we can not only afford that improvement,

520
00:37:54,090 --> 00:37:57,930
but how quickly can we see it come out of the ground so that the community can enjoy it.

521
00:37:58,730 --> 00:38:04,430
And that's another recurring fee that I hope the finance director is listening that I want to build on each year

522
00:38:04,430 --> 00:38:08,970
so that we'll have our own park improvements, our own capital improvement plan that will

523
00:38:08,970 --> 00:38:12,950
get out of the Parks and Recreation Master Plan, but I still want to set up a separate

524
00:38:12,950 --> 00:38:15,490
fund where we can launch quick projects.

525
00:38:15,910 --> 00:38:19,890
The community can see them quickly and be able to enjoy them in a short order.

526
00:38:20,290 --> 00:38:27,150
Well, we need to know from some of the friends groups or what areas in their parks they'd

527
00:38:27,150 --> 00:38:27,490
like to see.

528
00:38:27,590 --> 00:38:29,150
I know some of us have been looking at parks.

529
00:38:29,290 --> 00:38:32,670
I've been asking around and Murphy-Kammer for both the athletic and the natural

530
00:38:32,670 --> 00:38:37,010
side and I've gotten a few ideas and I know there's obviously a lot of activity at Broward

531
00:38:37,010 --> 00:38:37,330
Park.

532
00:38:37,810 --> 00:38:40,710
I'm sure there's some stuff at Ashford Park and Blackburn, but we need to know.

533
00:38:41,510 --> 00:38:45,210
So we've got a council that's got to start asking around too.

534
00:38:45,350 --> 00:38:49,070
Have you been asking anybody about just the $10,000 or $15,000 project that we can

535
00:38:50,210 --> 00:38:54,830
The concern I have is there has been discussion among some of the friends groups or just

536
00:38:54,830 --> 00:38:59,830
park people of like painting a pavilion or repairing some things and it seems to

537
00:38:59,830 --> 00:39:04,310
That's the kind of thing the city really ought to be doing or might come on you know

538
00:39:04,310 --> 00:39:08,990
We'll eventually we might even replace some of those pavilions that are rotten and whatever

539
00:39:08,990 --> 00:39:13,190
So I almost hate to encourage them to spend their money on something like that

540
00:39:13,190 --> 00:39:16,790
So I would hope that we would well what I've been asking is

541
00:39:17,370 --> 00:39:22,270
identify a project that we can match funds with y'all on and

542
00:39:23,190 --> 00:39:25,610
Then we'll see if we can move forward

543
00:39:25,610 --> 00:39:28,110
but I just don't want to make an improvement to a park

544
00:39:28,110 --> 00:39:29,610
that really nobody cares about or wants.

545
00:39:29,770 --> 00:39:32,110
And I want the neighbors to kind of tell us

546
00:39:32,110 --> 00:39:34,190
what they want to see or what project they can,

547
00:39:34,330 --> 00:39:36,710
and it doesn't have to be a master plan.

548
00:39:36,710 --> 00:39:38,550
I was just going to say, we've got to be careful

549
00:39:38,550 --> 00:39:41,970
that we don't do something that's going to be

550
00:39:42,470 --> 00:39:45,570
in contradiction to what that master plan

551
00:39:45,570 --> 00:39:47,950
is going to show and what those capital improvements are.

552
00:39:48,050 --> 00:39:49,610
Well, this money's got to be spent this year though,

553
00:39:49,670 --> 00:39:49,830
right?

554
00:39:50,010 --> 00:39:50,210
Right.

555
00:39:50,590 --> 00:39:52,030
I don't want to carry that over.

556
00:39:52,170 --> 00:39:53,890
I'd like to see some improvements this year.

557
00:39:54,310 --> 00:39:55,170
And again, the whole thing.

558
00:39:55,170 --> 00:39:56,810
So if we don't have a master plan yet,

559
00:39:57,510 --> 00:39:58,850
I mean, there gotta be some things

560
00:39:58,850 --> 00:40:01,470
that can improve the parks in a basic manner that people.

561
00:40:02,050 --> 00:40:06,630
Well, you know, there's some examples of taking down

562
00:40:07,230 --> 00:40:11,230
the razor wire on a fence and making some improvements

563
00:40:11,230 --> 00:40:15,230
or creating more of an improved gateway or an entrance.

564
00:40:15,870 --> 00:40:19,390
It could also be, you know, dressing up

565
00:40:19,390 --> 00:40:21,450
some of the playground equipment that, you know,

566
00:40:21,470 --> 00:40:23,630
something that's already there that needs to be replaced

567
00:40:23,630 --> 00:40:30,310
that would not be out of character to what could come about through the engagement of the community

568
00:40:30,310 --> 00:40:33,810
and creating this master plan. So it's those sorts of things.

569
00:40:34,890 --> 00:40:39,210
Rebecca's right. You don't want to go in and fix a pavilion that really should be torn down,

570
00:40:39,290 --> 00:40:40,490
but you might want to replace it.

571
00:40:40,890 --> 00:40:42,750
Or you could use some of Prasidwax in a park.

572
00:40:42,870 --> 00:40:45,790
You could use Prasidwax. Or replacing batting cages.

573
00:40:46,210 --> 00:40:46,510
Or trails.

574
00:40:46,810 --> 00:40:49,850
There are lots of things that can be done with the funds,

575
00:40:49,850 --> 00:40:56,710
And it doesn't necessarily have to be depending on I guess of course on the project size and again. This is limited money

576
00:40:56,710 --> 00:41:01,910
So it's not a lot, but it doesn't necessarily have to be a project that requires a match

577
00:41:01,910 --> 00:41:08,270
It could be a $15,000 project and we could handle that what what amount of money are we talking about I have

578
00:41:08,270 --> 00:41:12,170
200,000 I wonder if it would be helpful if we would

579
00:41:12,170 --> 00:41:16,650
identify just like you said the razor wire or some other projects that

580
00:41:17,330 --> 00:41:22,530
we can suggest to them because they may not be thinking along the same lines as we are

581
00:41:22,530 --> 00:41:26,030
so that we don't do all the things we just talked about.

582
00:41:26,030 --> 00:41:30,230
Right, exactly. And I'd like to solicit that from you all.

583
00:41:30,590 --> 00:41:35,730
Mr. Gebbia doesn't have a park in his district, but there are some efforts.

584
00:41:35,810 --> 00:41:40,430
Maybe there's a derelict house that's for sale for $15,000 that can tear down and make an acre park.

585
00:41:40,430 --> 00:41:41,390
We know a lot that we'd like to get.

586
00:41:42,290 --> 00:41:43,870
How much is it? Let's see how much it is.

587
00:41:43,870 --> 00:41:45,710
Well, it begs the question.

588
00:41:48,290 --> 00:41:53,730
Can you give me any update on where we stand with the Cap County School Board in trying to do a land grant and share?

589
00:41:54,430 --> 00:41:58,290
Because once that's done, I'm not going to have any trouble spending any of that money.

590
00:41:58,590 --> 00:42:05,130
I will tell you, I did have a meeting with them last week and they were not as cooperative as I had hoped.

591
00:42:09,440 --> 00:42:16,940
They basically requested that they get a full plan on what exactly we intend to do.

592
00:42:17,420 --> 00:42:21,160
When I asked for copies of the site plan they said they were available down the hall

593
00:42:21,160 --> 00:42:24,180
but they didn't know if the guy was available to provide them.

594
00:42:26,480 --> 00:42:31,920
So where I am right now is they said that this would have to travel all the way

595
00:42:31,920 --> 00:42:33,960
to the school board for final approval.

596
00:42:34,640 --> 00:42:39,060
What I want to be careful of, especially in your district, there was mention made that

597
00:42:39,060 --> 00:42:41,860
there are splaus funds that they're intending to use.

598
00:42:42,060 --> 00:42:45,560
And I said, well, I'd like the list of the capital improvements that you're planning

599
00:42:45,560 --> 00:42:45,940
to make.

600
00:42:45,980 --> 00:42:50,000
And they suggested that we visit the website to look at that.

601
00:42:50,360 --> 00:42:53,640
So what really needs to happen is you and I need to sit down with the principals

602
00:42:54,160 --> 00:42:56,200
and find out what's going on there.

603
00:42:57,620 --> 00:43:04,870
The school, according to them, is heavily used, but there was no familiarity with

604
00:43:04,870 --> 00:43:14,570
where it was. So there's a lot of opportunity there. I think what we need to do is I do want to

605
00:43:15,810 --> 00:43:21,950
contact Mr. Thurman's office so that he understands that there's a level of seriousness from us

606
00:43:21,950 --> 00:43:26,530
that we'd like to do something, but there needs to be a conversation with the principals.

607
00:43:27,090 --> 00:43:28,710
I'd like to get Marshall involved in this too.

608
00:43:29,390 --> 00:43:29,990
We can do that.

609
00:43:29,990 --> 00:43:31,190
You all know what we're talking about here?

610
00:43:31,370 --> 00:43:31,630
No.

611
00:43:31,630 --> 00:43:39,510
Well, the idea is to do a land share agreement between City of Brookhaven and DeKalb County

612
00:43:39,510 --> 00:43:44,610
School where the city would have the right to use the land on Cross Keys High School

613
00:43:44,610 --> 00:43:46,030
as a park during the weekends.

614
00:43:46,650 --> 00:43:53,450
And then that would allow us to make necessary improvements in the park for a situation that

615
00:43:53,450 --> 00:43:53,870
you're talking about.

616
00:43:54,030 --> 00:43:55,950
You're talking about the athletic fields behind the screen.

617
00:43:56,270 --> 00:43:57,530
I'm talking about the athletic field.

618
00:43:58,010 --> 00:43:59,050
We're talking about everything.

619
00:43:59,050 --> 00:44:10,530
Lighting, track, putting in, you know, preparing the field for soccer play, things that, you know, for weekend use.

620
00:44:10,730 --> 00:44:14,490
Is the why not participating? Didn't they have a program where they were...

621
00:44:14,490 --> 00:44:16,730
No, I think that was turned over to Crossfire, wasn't it?

622
00:44:17,250 --> 00:44:19,590
Crossfire? Was it at a concord?

623
00:44:19,710 --> 00:44:20,410
A concord, yeah.

624
00:44:20,870 --> 00:44:26,690
A concord. And they were actually handed the baseball field if I'm not mistaken, which was down the road from Woodward off of Curtis.

625
00:44:28,070 --> 00:44:34,390
But, you know, we're in a dire situation with no funding at all being put into that school for the most part.

626
00:44:34,770 --> 00:44:39,750
So this was a good way to not only bring it to the community and allow it to be used as a park,

627
00:44:39,910 --> 00:44:41,930
which would be the first park in the fourth district.

628
00:44:42,070 --> 00:44:45,830
But at the same time, we could be making some very valuable improvements

629
00:44:45,830 --> 00:44:48,550
that would not only benefit the residents from a park standpoint,

630
00:44:48,590 --> 00:44:50,490
but also the students from a school standpoint.

631
00:44:50,890 --> 00:44:52,790
They'd have a double whammy.

632
00:44:53,450 --> 00:44:58,310
Is it just the sacrophil, the athletic field behind cross keys that you're talking about?

633
00:45:00,000 --> 00:45:05,460
As I envision it right now, it could also include that I need to get a further understanding of what's going on with that baseball field.

634
00:45:07,100 --> 00:45:09,840
Because that could be a key area for activity.

635
00:45:11,400 --> 00:45:17,440
But Murray, we will talk on this. I would like to work with you putting that proposal together, finalizing it,

636
00:45:18,020 --> 00:45:22,200
and also working with the school to find out what kind of commitment they have for those on weekends.

637
00:45:22,880 --> 00:45:25,040
I don't see anything ever really going on there when I go by.

638
00:45:25,040 --> 00:45:27,700
I need to get superintendent Thurman.

639
00:45:28,260 --> 00:45:30,580
I wouldn't, I would, I'd go, like, have a marshal,

640
00:45:30,780 --> 00:45:31,700
but I don't have the superintendent.

641
00:45:32,080 --> 00:45:33,980
Yeah, and that's, well, that's where I started

642
00:45:33,980 --> 00:45:36,100
and then was directed from his office.

643
00:45:36,120 --> 00:45:36,900
Yeah, go back up.

644
00:45:37,000 --> 00:45:39,140
Exactly, that's what I was just telling the city attorney.

645
00:45:39,520 --> 00:45:40,560
It was a courtesy call.

646
00:45:40,840 --> 00:45:43,100
And so I'll go back to that.

647
00:45:43,260 --> 00:45:47,540
But just for the record, you know,

648
00:45:48,140 --> 00:45:50,040
what we're talking about is a joint use agreement,

649
00:45:50,040 --> 00:45:53,240
but it is not for a fixed term.

650
00:45:53,240 --> 00:45:58,940
It is for in perpetuity is what we're talking about city of Roswell does a great job doing that with their schools

651
00:45:59,500 --> 00:46:01,600
In fact, they do a fabulous job

652
00:46:02,300 --> 00:46:07,200
With that and really have set the example and I explained that to this group that I was talking to that

653
00:46:07,200 --> 00:46:10,280
That's what we're trying to do is to enhance and be able to use

654
00:46:10,780 --> 00:46:14,300
They're more accustomed to dealing with the YMCA on a one-year

655
00:46:14,900 --> 00:46:15,760
fixed-term

656
00:46:16,780 --> 00:46:22,940
Agreement that you come in and you provide soccer and that's just what they understand learning curve for everybody

657
00:46:23,240 --> 00:46:27,880
So, you know, in fairness to them, we want to give them an opportunity to benefit from

658
00:46:27,880 --> 00:46:30,340
our interest in doing something there.

659
00:46:30,380 --> 00:46:36,580
But we do need to be wise to what their splossed intentions are because we don't want to provide

660
00:46:36,580 --> 00:46:40,360
something that the citizens are already paying for, that they need to perform and where

661
00:46:40,360 --> 00:46:41,300
we can enhance that.

662
00:46:41,440 --> 00:46:46,660
We certainly can and how we can make improvements that everybody can benefit from.

663
00:46:48,060 --> 00:46:57,320
I saw a post on the Brookhaven Post about basketball leagues at Linnwood Park.

664
00:46:57,640 --> 00:46:59,280
Is that something that Eric knows about?

665
00:46:59,500 --> 00:46:59,640
Yes.

666
00:46:59,840 --> 00:47:00,320
It is, okay.

667
00:47:00,500 --> 00:47:00,740
Yes.

668
00:47:02,000 --> 00:47:02,600
All right.

669
00:47:02,960 --> 00:47:08,820
And I guess I'd like to get with Eric about maybe some things he sees that I'd like to do in concert with him.

670
00:47:10,180 --> 00:47:15,380
Because we have $200,000 and although it's not a lot of money, it's more than they've been having in the past.

671
00:47:15,780 --> 00:47:20,380
and you know with 11 parks you know we could probably do something in every park

672
00:47:20,380 --> 00:47:22,880
or a little bit more than some of the bigger ones I just think that they all

673
00:47:22,880 --> 00:47:28,280
need to be addressed and there's got to be some desire some ideas from some of

674
00:47:28,280 --> 00:47:31,820
the communities that surround these parks hey we'd like a water fountain or

675
00:47:31,820 --> 00:47:37,300
like a bathroom or we'd like a you know a fence something I just but we have to

676
00:47:37,300 --> 00:47:39,580
know that now we need to know it quickly just like the sidewalk program

677
00:47:39,580 --> 00:47:45,200
right so I can tell you that the Murphy Candler Conservancy one of

678
00:47:45,200 --> 00:47:51,540
the first things they did was put out a poll and asked people what they thought was needed

679
00:47:51,540 --> 00:47:52,520
in Murphy Candler.

680
00:47:52,720 --> 00:47:55,260
And so they've actually collected some pretty good numbers.

681
00:47:55,520 --> 00:48:00,840
And I was interested in the fact that, besides the erosion on the lake, which is a constant

682
00:48:00,840 --> 00:48:05,720
concern probably way outside the purview of this, there's no bathrooms on the west

683
00:48:05,720 --> 00:48:06,460
side of the lake.

684
00:48:06,940 --> 00:48:10,560
And in fact, if you have an event over in one of those pavilions, you have to

685
00:48:10,560 --> 00:48:12,620
agree to rent a Porta John or something.

686
00:48:13,800 --> 00:48:17,160
So it could be that maybe even something like that.

687
00:48:17,280 --> 00:48:22,740
Of course that might be more expensive than we can afford when she gets into plumbing and sewers and stuff.

688
00:48:22,900 --> 00:48:26,160
But I know for sure that they've done an assessment.

689
00:48:26,580 --> 00:48:27,500
Yeah, I'd love to see that.

690
00:48:28,340 --> 00:48:28,560
Definitely.

691
00:48:29,780 --> 00:48:31,680
Because time is of the essence here.

692
00:48:32,640 --> 00:48:33,620
Do you have anything?

693
00:48:34,080 --> 00:48:34,180
Yeah.

694
00:48:34,340 --> 00:48:40,140
Do we have an electronic PDF copy of the Governors' Commission report on parks and recreation?

695
00:48:44,370 --> 00:48:45,910
I don't think so.

696
00:48:46,930 --> 00:48:49,070
I've emailed one of there.

697
00:48:51,590 --> 00:48:54,050
You've got the report on your website?

698
00:48:54,770 --> 00:48:55,250
Great.

699
00:48:55,330 --> 00:48:55,850
On your website?

700
00:48:56,030 --> 00:48:56,190
Great.

701
00:48:58,090 --> 00:49:01,770
I think that the way to go would be on the spot.

702
00:49:03,690 --> 00:49:04,950
The reason is that I...

703
00:49:04,950 --> 00:49:06,090
Trace, speak into the mic, please.

704
00:49:08,910 --> 00:49:15,530
The reason is that I know a lot of those things were part of the discussions and that you've

705
00:49:15,530 --> 00:49:21,130
got a lot of active citizens who thought and got very engaged in that process while we

706
00:49:21,130 --> 00:49:22,870
were all knocking on doors.

707
00:49:23,730 --> 00:49:28,330
These particular, you know, and that reports all the parts of REC people putting forth

708
00:49:28,330 --> 00:49:28,990
their ideas.

709
00:49:29,430 --> 00:49:31,650
So it'd be a good starting point for us to look at.

710
00:49:31,650 --> 00:49:40,870
And the second thing is that as we as we move down the path as a city to get to this point where we're, you know,

711
00:49:40,870 --> 00:49:47,670
reinvesting into the taxpayers money into their own city and choosing the areas for sidewalks and parks improvements,

712
00:49:48,370 --> 00:49:55,350
I'd like the communications department to consider as the website's redeveloped.

713
00:49:55,350 --> 00:50:01,430
Just one of the things that we've talked about is figuring out a way that we can have an electronic

714
00:50:01,430 --> 00:50:09,710
dashboard through our website that actually provides an opportunity for citizens to sort

715
00:50:09,710 --> 00:50:16,290
of give those opinion polls, you know, how do you think we're doing as a city, what, you

716
00:50:16,290 --> 00:50:23,630
know, maybe we pop up different surveys that we can sort of train our citizens that

717
00:50:23,630 --> 00:50:29,850
This is a good, easy point to go to for our city to provide feedback to us that allows

718
00:50:29,850 --> 00:50:31,230
us to make better decisions.

719
00:50:32,050 --> 00:50:38,790
Just I know in the website redevelopment I think it would be nice for them to have that

720
00:50:38,790 --> 00:50:39,810
consideration back there.

721
00:50:39,990 --> 00:50:44,830
I think that's a good idea and something that we'll want to solicit.

722
00:50:45,570 --> 00:50:52,050
We need to provide all sorts of venues for the community to make comment and we're

723
00:50:52,050 --> 00:50:57,010
We're getting ready to launch now four plans, and we're going to be engaging the community.

724
00:50:57,410 --> 00:51:00,970
But it needs to be more of an outreach than just come to this meeting.

725
00:51:01,130 --> 00:51:05,450
If you can't, we still want to hear from you, and maybe that is the vehicle that they

726
00:51:05,450 --> 00:51:06,230
do it through.

727
00:51:06,650 --> 00:51:06,850
Right.

728
00:51:07,110 --> 00:51:09,770
Here's where we are, almost like chapters, if you will.

729
00:51:09,890 --> 00:51:13,450
This is the chapter we're on and what we're doing now in the comp plan or the

730
00:51:13,450 --> 00:51:18,350
rec plan or the transportation plan and get some of that input.

731
00:51:18,350 --> 00:51:25,090
But my biggest concern is, and it's not a lot of money, $200,000, I think the criteria

732
00:51:25,090 --> 00:51:31,070
should be what is the quickest and most visible impact and usage that the community can receive

733
00:51:31,070 --> 00:51:36,790
out of this improvement without taking away from the efforts of the committees that launched

734
00:51:36,790 --> 00:51:43,010
the survey of recreational needs and be able to engage the public again.

735
00:51:43,010 --> 00:51:49,510
And now that they're here a year with us too as city residents, and what do they see and

736
00:51:49,510 --> 00:51:50,410
what would they like?

737
00:51:50,730 --> 00:51:55,850
So, you know, the goal is, I think, you know, and if we can just be a little bit patient

738
00:51:55,850 --> 00:52:01,750
on this, I think what we can see is you'll see a quicker launch of the sidewalks.

739
00:52:01,830 --> 00:52:06,750
But we, and completing those sidewalks, we have the ability to complete many of,

740
00:52:06,910 --> 00:52:10,870
you know, the sidewalks that you'll be coming up with, hopefully we'll be able

741
00:52:10,870 --> 00:52:13,690
to complete some of the park improvements.

742
00:52:14,130 --> 00:52:16,310
But the goal is to have every one of them

743
00:52:16,310 --> 00:52:18,770
under construction in some way or form

744
00:52:18,770 --> 00:52:19,770
so that we can see that.

745
00:52:20,250 --> 00:52:21,910
And hopefully if we make it to the end of the year

746
00:52:21,910 --> 00:52:24,430
with all of them, that's certainly

747
00:52:24,430 --> 00:52:25,590
that's going to be the priority.

748
00:52:25,930 --> 00:52:27,670
But some of them may be a little bit larger

749
00:52:27,670 --> 00:52:30,050
and they may carry over a few more months,

750
00:52:30,150 --> 00:52:33,030
but they'll be funded out of the 2013 budget.

751
00:52:34,050 --> 00:52:35,090
So that's it.

752
00:52:35,150 --> 00:52:36,770
So speaking of visible improvements,

753
00:52:36,770 --> 00:52:40,190
Where are we on signage for the city?

754
00:52:41,210 --> 00:52:45,670
Signage on the city is being worked on between communications and public works.

755
00:52:46,730 --> 00:52:50,950
The roadworks group is, is it roadworks that's doing it or who's the fabricator?

756
00:52:51,030 --> 00:52:54,810
Roadworks we're in the fabricator but we're still working on designs.

757
00:52:56,310 --> 00:53:00,030
And those designs are going to come back before the council to take a look at

758
00:53:00,030 --> 00:53:04,250
and we'll bring those back in a work session so you all can see what's the time frame on that.

759
00:53:06,510 --> 00:53:09,130
Are we talking about in the next Council meeting or when?

760
00:53:09,150 --> 00:53:10,250
You should be about the next Council meeting.

761
00:53:10,250 --> 00:53:10,530
Okay.

762
00:53:10,710 --> 00:53:10,890
Okay.

763
00:53:12,770 --> 00:53:13,210
Okay.

764
00:53:13,550 --> 00:53:13,730
Okay.

765
00:53:14,230 --> 00:53:14,270
Great.

766
00:53:15,030 --> 00:53:15,510
All right.

767
00:53:15,610 --> 00:53:16,010
Thank you.

768
00:53:16,670 --> 00:53:17,030
Next.

769
00:53:17,310 --> 00:53:17,650
Okay.

770
00:53:17,850 --> 00:53:19,150
Update on the budget process.

771
00:53:19,470 --> 00:53:22,690
You all are going to be experts by the end of this year.

772
00:53:22,910 --> 00:53:23,250
All right.

773
00:53:23,430 --> 00:53:23,850
Okay.

774
00:53:24,070 --> 00:53:25,750
This is your third go at it.

775
00:53:26,530 --> 00:53:31,530
And I'm excited about what the 2014 numbers are looking like.

776
00:53:32,810 --> 00:53:38,170
This report is not to go into the details of the numbers right now, but just to go through the process for you.

777
00:53:38,590 --> 00:53:46,570
I would like to set up many times with each of you if you could plan from 45 minutes to an hour so that I can sit down, go over the budget.

778
00:53:46,810 --> 00:53:48,530
It is still a work in progress.

779
00:53:49,210 --> 00:53:56,150
I do want to come back to you all, and I haven't even discussed it yet with our city attorney.

780
00:53:56,150 --> 00:54:00,130
early on in the formation of the city there were a number of policies and

781
00:54:00,130 --> 00:54:04,950
ordinances that were being presented, many in bulk.

782
00:54:05,730 --> 00:54:12,230
And one of them was the requirement that the budget be provided

783
00:54:12,230 --> 00:54:15,690
and made available to the public 60 days prior to the adoption date.

784
00:54:16,530 --> 00:54:20,650
Well that makes it a little difficult, especially our fiscal year is

785
00:54:20,650 --> 00:54:24,510
January to December, you know revenues are starting to come in

786
00:54:24,510 --> 00:54:29,310
with tax dollars, host is always a moving target and so we're trying to get our numbers

787
00:54:29,310 --> 00:54:35,090
on that and we also have vendors and their contracts parallel the city's fiscal year

788
00:54:35,090 --> 00:54:38,990
and so that requires negotiating or rebidding.

789
00:54:39,970 --> 00:54:45,430
So with all that said I'd like to come back very soon with an ordinance because it was

790
00:54:45,430 --> 00:54:45,850
adopted.

791
00:54:45,970 --> 00:54:50,070
I thought it was a policy but it was an ordinance that requires a 60-day notice

792
00:54:50,790 --> 00:54:52,670
and that is in conflict with your charter.

793
00:54:52,670 --> 00:54:56,090
The Charter says it has to be presented 30 days prior to the adoption.

794
00:54:56,730 --> 00:55:00,990
So I would like to go back and not during this process because we're going to follow

795
00:55:00,990 --> 00:55:02,690
the process that we've established.

796
00:55:03,150 --> 00:55:08,170
But for next year, I want to be sure we've got more time to be able to look at some

797
00:55:08,170 --> 00:55:09,810
of the numbers that have been moving targets.

798
00:55:10,390 --> 00:55:14,550
So we'll be coming back, I hope that we can do that in November.

799
00:55:14,830 --> 00:55:19,810
That's my plan and that will be for the 2015 budget cycle.

800
00:55:19,810 --> 00:55:23,370
However, getting back to where we are right now for 2014.

801
00:55:23,930 --> 00:55:28,290
We have scheduled November the 12th and the 26th as public hearings.

802
00:55:29,250 --> 00:55:32,710
That will be your council dates, your regular scheduled council meeting,

803
00:55:32,770 --> 00:55:35,650
so we'll have a separate public hearing to go over the budget.

804
00:55:36,450 --> 00:55:37,970
We are looking very good.

805
00:55:38,150 --> 00:55:39,550
In fact, we're just a little bit higher.

806
00:55:39,690 --> 00:55:44,610
We've exceeded what the Carl Vinson Institute expected and projected for funds coming in.

807
00:55:44,790 --> 00:55:46,290
We have a lot of expenses too.

808
00:55:48,010 --> 00:55:57,730
So we will hear that twice in public hearings, and then on December the 10th will be your decision date,

809
00:55:57,830 --> 00:56:01,070
and that is also a council hearing date, so we'll have that as an agenda item.

810
00:56:01,250 --> 00:56:09,290
If you feel like we need a third public hearing, we can do it on that night and then move forward to adopt the budget.

811
00:56:09,870 --> 00:56:14,290
So I will be reaching out to you all to sit down and meet with you.

812
00:56:14,290 --> 00:56:18,390
you all have Bonnie with me so that we can go through the numbers, tell you the origin

813
00:56:18,390 --> 00:56:24,430
of the numbers, what our expectations are. I will, and if you will be patient with me,

814
00:56:24,950 --> 00:56:31,510
the number on administrative services, which are the vendors, that's still a number that's

815
00:56:31,510 --> 00:56:36,470
being refined. I'm negotiating with the vendors now. I have one more, one left to

816
00:56:36,470 --> 00:56:42,130
do tomorrow. And then there's another round of meetings that I will have with

817
00:56:42,130 --> 00:56:50,070
them to fine-tune those numbers and hopefully we'll be able to do that in a negotiated setting

818
00:56:50,070 --> 00:56:55,090
versus bidding them out, but I am prepared to bid them out as well.

819
00:56:55,350 --> 00:56:58,450
So I'll go over in great detail what that is.

820
00:56:58,530 --> 00:57:04,530
I'll be talking to you about some of the expenditures that we're expecting in each

821
00:57:04,530 --> 00:57:05,150
of the departments.

822
00:57:05,590 --> 00:57:09,790
Some of the departments are growing and I'll explain to you why and what the

823
00:57:09,790 --> 00:57:15,910
reason behind that is and why the need is to have certain revenues in those departments.

824
00:57:16,410 --> 00:57:23,950
We're going to go over where your actual revenues are coming from and what we think for 2014,

825
00:57:24,410 --> 00:57:26,290
these are very conservative estimates.

826
00:57:26,490 --> 00:57:27,130
They could change.

827
00:57:27,270 --> 00:57:31,190
We're hoping they'll go up, but we're trying to at least come in with a figure.

828
00:57:31,370 --> 00:57:37,230
We have some confidence and so that's where we are and like I said, I'll be getting

829
00:57:37,230 --> 00:57:44,490
with you very soon to go over that, and you'll be getting updates as this gets refined so

830
00:57:44,490 --> 00:57:48,390
that one, you can have some input where you see some adjustments.

831
00:57:48,590 --> 00:57:55,930
I want to hear what that is, and then continue having some dialogue as we move through the

832
00:57:55,930 --> 00:57:57,630
process of these vendor agreements.

833
00:57:58,690 --> 00:58:03,710
That's one of the biggest matters that has to be addressed, and then finalized.

834
00:58:03,710 --> 00:58:10,830
I'm hopeful that within the next two weeks we'll have that finalized or I will inform

835
00:58:10,830 --> 00:58:15,250
you that we're bidding it out, whatever service that might be.

836
00:58:17,360 --> 00:58:20,920
Let me see if there's anything else I wanted to go over.

837
00:58:20,920 --> 00:58:24,000
So in two weeks you'll know if you're going to bid it out and then if you bid it out

838
00:58:24,000 --> 00:58:25,120
it's another 30-day process?

839
00:58:25,460 --> 00:58:25,840
Correct.

840
00:58:26,380 --> 00:58:29,740
Okay, so we'll be into December, minimally.

841
00:58:30,160 --> 00:58:30,440
Right.

842
00:58:32,760 --> 00:58:34,920
And that number will still be a floating number.

843
00:58:35,360 --> 00:58:37,180
Right, but I do know the worst case scenario.

844
00:58:37,600 --> 00:58:40,700
And that's what I've put in there, so it only can be improved upon.

845
00:58:41,080 --> 00:58:44,740
Is the worst case scenario based upon with the previous holder of that?

846
00:58:44,740 --> 00:58:50,160
Yes, with escalation numbers in it, which I'm not recommending approval on at all.

847
00:58:50,380 --> 00:58:56,880
So just as a guidance here, what is your drop-dead date for hopefully coming to a conclusion with all of the vendors?

848
00:58:56,880 --> 00:59:00,380
Well, I'm glad the vendors are here because they can hear this too.

849
00:59:01,280 --> 00:59:02,920
So we're all on the same page.

850
00:59:03,840 --> 00:59:07,560
My drop-dead date will

851
00:59:15,400 --> 00:59:18,260
be probably October the 30th.

852
00:59:27,080 --> 00:59:31,500
So let me make clear, when do you want to start meeting with us this next week?

853
00:59:31,560 --> 00:59:32,540
I would like to next week.

854
00:59:32,540 --> 00:59:32,740
Okay.

855
00:59:32,900 --> 00:59:36,900
I really would because there's a lot in here because as these numbers change I want

856
00:59:36,900 --> 00:59:37,960
you to recognize.

857
00:59:38,460 --> 00:59:38,620
I don't want the other stuff.

858
00:59:38,740 --> 00:59:39,140
Exactly.

859
00:59:39,420 --> 00:59:40,540
I want you to recognize that.

860
00:59:40,540 --> 00:59:48,840
So it might be, you know, we'll have our first initial meeting next week, but if you could be available to me during this process,

861
00:59:48,980 --> 00:59:51,960
because as these numbers change, I want to give you full explanations.

862
00:59:52,240 --> 00:59:56,740
So as your constituents ask, you have a full understanding of what that is.

863
00:59:56,780 --> 00:59:59,960
And there may be opportunities for yourself too, as we...

864
01:00:00,000 --> 01:00:04,500
Get through this a couple of times that maybe there are still a few questions and you certainly

865
01:00:04,500 --> 01:00:09,700
meet with Bonnie on that so that you can get some better answers. But, you know, the goal

866
01:00:09,700 --> 01:00:15,400
is for she and I to be sure you understand the origin of the revenues and the reason for

867
01:00:15,400 --> 01:00:20,840
the expenditures. And, you know, we're looking at creating a capital improvement plan. And

868
01:00:20,840 --> 01:00:27,280
remember, we're going to have for 2014 just thinking ahead when we get to mid-year

869
01:00:27,280 --> 01:00:32,820
budget adjustment, which we will do that early. We're going to do that in month six.

870
01:00:33,460 --> 01:00:40,120
So that way we can see a six-month history of activity and what we see moving forward

871
01:00:40,120 --> 01:00:45,900
to the end of the fiscal year. And then we're also going to be looking at, in that mid-year

872
01:00:45,900 --> 01:00:50,780
budget adjustment, creating a more firm and confident capital improvement plan because

873
01:00:50,780 --> 01:00:54,760
we'll have three of our plans completed by then. We'll have the Buford Highway

874
01:00:54,760 --> 01:00:59,520
improvement plan, the transportation plan, and the parks and recreation plan, all of

875
01:00:59,520 --> 01:01:04,040
which will have capital improvement elements to it in a short-term version as well as

876
01:01:04,040 --> 01:01:06,400
long-term planning purposes.

877
01:01:08,000 --> 01:01:14,300
As part of that budgeting cycle to get to the amendment to the mid-year budget adjustment,

878
01:01:14,440 --> 01:01:20,640
I want us to have a retreat before that time period so that you can hear from the

879
01:01:20,640 --> 01:01:24,260
the department has what's going on in their department so that you'll have some familiarity

880
01:01:24,800 --> 01:01:27,260
with some of the adjustments that we'll be proposing.

881
01:01:30,540 --> 01:01:38,780
So we adopt a budget once a year but we work on it every day constantly with certain demarcation

882
01:01:38,780 --> 01:01:39,420
points.

883
01:01:41,670 --> 01:01:43,570
Certainly it's nice to see a full year's budget.

884
01:01:43,950 --> 01:01:44,130
Yeah.

885
01:01:44,370 --> 01:01:45,750
Well, I tell you that number is asleep.

886
01:01:46,190 --> 01:01:47,430
With some predictability.

887
01:01:47,550 --> 01:01:47,890
Yeah, really.

888
01:01:48,110 --> 01:01:51,210
And I'm glad to hear that that's a conservative estimate on your part.

889
01:01:52,430 --> 01:01:56,330
How much is in this rough budget and for contingency?

890
01:01:58,400 --> 01:02:02,800
Currently we're at, we have a million in contingency reserve for this one.

891
01:02:03,340 --> 01:02:03,720
Two million.

892
01:02:03,940 --> 01:02:04,040
Okay.

893
01:02:04,820 --> 01:02:07,380
Does that include the million dollars put aside for this year?

894
01:02:07,780 --> 01:02:07,980
No.

895
01:02:08,200 --> 01:02:08,600
Okay, great.

896
01:02:09,400 --> 01:02:10,780
We want to build on that.

897
01:02:10,940 --> 01:02:11,060
Yes.

898
01:02:11,140 --> 01:02:14,080
And that's what I, when I sit down with you individually I want to talk to you about

899
01:02:14,740 --> 01:02:17,160
opportunities of how I think I can grow that for you.

900
01:02:17,300 --> 01:02:20,660
Since we're talking about that I'd just like to make a recommendation that we minimally set

901
01:02:20,660 --> 01:02:26,680
side a minimum of four months up to six months max as a guideline and I'd like

902
01:02:26,680 --> 01:02:33,360
to open that up to conversation here yes operating costs are you talking about

903
01:02:33,360 --> 01:02:37,500
correct yeah that's I think that's a good measure mm-hmm I think we need to

904
01:02:37,500 --> 01:02:41,380
set a goal we need to have an objective that we want to achieve and it is

905
01:02:41,380 --> 01:02:45,020
achievable and I think it's nice to have a million dollars but I think we

906
01:02:45,020 --> 01:02:47,220
need to have that comfort level that's really going to make sure that we

907
01:02:47,220 --> 01:02:51,780
are protected as a city. Right and the other thing that we're looking at too is

908
01:02:51,780 --> 01:02:57,040
we never know what kind of inclement weather we're going to have and what

909
01:02:57,040 --> 01:03:00,740
kind of storms are going to come through and you know we have to plan you

910
01:03:00,740 --> 01:03:05,580
know for worst-case scenarios and so we have some dollars set aside for storm

911
01:03:05,580 --> 01:03:11,780
cleanup or who knows what maybe there's a recall on some of our police

912
01:03:11,780 --> 01:03:18,080
cars and they may have to be completely replaced. So, you know, I want to have that in there

913
01:03:18,560 --> 01:03:25,140
as well and looking for those kind of opportunities. The idea of rolling funds over that are unspent,

914
01:03:25,280 --> 01:03:28,760
I'd like to tuck those into our reserve. You know, if we haven't spent it, that's

915
01:03:28,760 --> 01:03:32,400
where I'd like it to go. And when a big project comes up, we have a source in which to

916
01:03:32,900 --> 01:03:37,480
go to. So you'll hear all of that when we sit down and go over this.

917
01:03:37,480 --> 01:03:44,660
Is there a – I was just – I'm not trying to quiz you on the budget because it's not official or yet, right?

918
01:03:45,460 --> 01:03:46,220
Here she is.

919
01:03:47,540 --> 01:03:52,920
For Parks and Rec, is there a capital improvement portion for the Parks and Rec or no?

920
01:03:53,300 --> 01:03:54,720
Not really, at this point.

921
01:03:55,060 --> 01:03:59,980
Yeah, I mean, but not to the point of what we are expecting in our Parks and Rec plan.

922
01:04:00,220 --> 01:04:00,480
Okay.

923
01:04:03,080 --> 01:04:05,600
That's part of what we're doing, so we know.

924
01:04:06,540 --> 01:04:06,620
Right.

925
01:04:07,140 --> 01:04:08,280
The second to the last page.

926
01:04:08,400 --> 01:04:08,700
Okay.

927
01:04:09,300 --> 01:04:10,180
What's it on there again?

928
01:04:10,560 --> 01:04:10,820
Capital.

929
01:04:11,160 --> 01:04:11,860
Capital button.

930
01:04:12,460 --> 01:04:12,900
Right.

931
01:04:13,000 --> 01:04:13,640
Okay, thank you.

932
01:04:14,560 --> 01:04:16,640
But remember, don't get stuck on that.

933
01:04:16,980 --> 01:04:18,280
Not getting stuck on it this morning.

934
01:04:18,500 --> 01:04:18,600
Okay.

935
01:04:18,800 --> 01:04:19,800
Just got to start thinking.

936
01:04:20,160 --> 01:04:20,460
Okay.

937
01:04:20,720 --> 01:04:20,860
All right.

938
01:04:21,080 --> 01:04:25,060
I also want to go back to Councilman Gebbia's comment about the four months.

939
01:04:25,320 --> 01:04:28,300
I think we need to also remember that those are two separate funds.

940
01:04:28,620 --> 01:04:28,740
Yes.

941
01:04:28,740 --> 01:04:32,360
The city manager mentioned reserves versus contingency.

942
01:04:32,720 --> 01:04:37,080
I agree with you that the contingency is four to six months of operating costs,

943
01:04:37,220 --> 01:04:41,700
but we also have our reserves that are in addition to that, so we don't need...

944
01:04:41,700 --> 01:04:45,540
Thank you for bringing that up. One's a savings account and one's an emergency account.

945
01:04:45,580 --> 01:04:50,460
Exactly. And we need to build the savings account for long-term capital projects,

946
01:04:50,580 --> 01:04:55,020
or also if and when we do decide we need some bonding capacity,

947
01:04:55,020 --> 01:04:59,960
that money will be very valuable when it comes to establishing ratings and those types of things.

948
01:05:00,240 --> 01:05:06,380
So let's make sure we have our funds straight and that, yeah, I agree that four to six months for contingency,

949
01:05:06,380 --> 01:05:12,180
but we also have reserves that we need to continue to build as quickly and as strongly as we can.

950
01:05:12,400 --> 01:05:17,720
And I'm so glad you brought that up because, again, and we've talked about this before,

951
01:05:17,900 --> 01:05:20,700
but this really is a tool in preparation.

952
01:05:20,700 --> 01:05:24,880
And hopefully by year three or four, we'll ask for a bond rating.

953
01:05:25,480 --> 01:05:30,060
And I think we'll be in very good stead to secure a very good rating.

954
01:05:30,960 --> 01:05:32,660
But Jim is correct.

955
01:05:33,340 --> 01:05:39,720
And we'll be reviewing that and going over what the difference is and how important that is to what we're doing.

956
01:05:42,120 --> 01:05:43,140
All right. Well, thank you.

957
01:05:43,440 --> 01:05:46,020
One last point on the budgeting.

958
01:05:47,480 --> 01:05:50,000
As you reviewed the vendor contracts,

959
01:05:51,940 --> 01:05:58,720
We've talked about it in the past, if we can find ways to create a mutually beneficial

960
01:05:58,720 --> 01:06:04,460
incentive for these vendors so that if they come in under budget they get some kind of

961
01:06:04,460 --> 01:06:13,500
incentive and a bonus in building that, creating an incentive for them to be more

962
01:06:13,500 --> 01:06:18,300
cost-conscious within the cost that they build to the city or so.

963
01:06:18,300 --> 01:06:26,000
So I don't know how you do that, but it loves to have that built in so that they don't go

964
01:06:26,000 --> 01:06:27,960
all the way up to their contract amounts.

965
01:06:28,160 --> 01:06:32,740
They really do have an incentive to try and find efficiencies within their own operations.

966
01:06:33,180 --> 01:06:37,160
And I am looking forward to having that conversation with each of you.

967
01:06:39,830 --> 01:06:40,970
Looking forward to it.

968
01:06:41,510 --> 01:06:45,770
Is that part of it now, or is this something that will be novel with the new contracts?

969
01:06:45,770 --> 01:06:58,890
We're going to be making some changes on how the contract is established and what the parameters are.

970
01:07:02,380 --> 01:07:12,500
Right now we have a lump sum contract and I am moving towards a time and materials contract so that we can be...

971
01:07:12,500 --> 01:07:21,000
We have more predictability and we have a better delivery of service for what you all are agreeing to pay for.

972
01:07:23,720 --> 01:07:28,840
I'd just like to make one more suggestion. It was a conversation pretty much spurred by Councilman Iyer.

973
01:07:29,980 --> 01:07:36,100
Jim, this is in relationship to the – we were talking about the three plans that are coming down the pike here,

974
01:07:36,100 --> 01:07:40,680
on the Buford Highway, the transportation in the parks, and the suggestion that Jim

975
01:07:40,680 --> 01:07:46,200
that you came up with for creating a fourth plan, which would be probably just taking

976
01:07:46,200 --> 01:07:51,120
the Marta Station, and have that be as a separate plan, a PDF plan, not a PDF plan.

977
01:07:52,540 --> 01:07:59,260
Or I get, Joe and I were talking about, you know, how do we as a council better

978
01:07:59,260 --> 01:08:02,920
understand what water opportunities are, and obviously we're going to end that conversation

979
01:08:02,920 --> 01:08:08,580
but there might be an opportunity, and in my mind,

980
01:08:08,860 --> 01:08:10,980
and you may have a better idea, there might be an opportunity

981
01:08:11,460 --> 01:08:15,480
to include as a component of the comprehensive master plan

982
01:08:18,220 --> 01:08:21,380
a component that more closely looks at the Martyr Station,

983
01:08:21,480 --> 01:08:22,900
what's happening in a meeting around it,

984
01:08:22,920 --> 01:08:25,820
so that we're not adding, you know, obviously the shred,

985
01:08:26,120 --> 01:08:27,980
you know, basically it builds on what's happening with the shred,

986
01:08:27,980 --> 01:08:38,040
But it becomes something that is better tailored to what Brookhaven, what the council, what the citizens want.

987
01:08:38,800 --> 01:08:41,520
And we're trying to figure out do we do it now, do we do it later.

988
01:08:41,720 --> 01:08:47,400
My suggestion was that may be a specific component of the comprehensive master plan,

989
01:08:47,480 --> 01:08:56,200
not adding another plan per se, but just making sure that that character area is looked at even a little more closely

990
01:08:56,200 --> 01:09:00,340
than the other areas that we're going to be looking at through the process.

991
01:09:00,340 --> 01:09:05,960
I think that's a very good idea and I think, and we'll be talking about that in just a

992
01:09:05,960 --> 01:09:12,880
moment, but at least take the opportunity now to make mention of one of the most important

993
01:09:12,880 --> 01:09:19,940
ingredients in that plan is to have an established, identified, and committed relationship with

994
01:09:19,940 --> 01:09:20,360
Marta.

995
01:09:22,980 --> 01:09:28,780
We've seen and heard different commentary coming out of the charrette and who's representing

996
01:09:28,780 --> 01:09:36,880
who and who truly is not. I don't want there to be any kind of false sense of an expectation

997
01:09:36,880 --> 01:09:44,520
that can't be delivered upon by a group who's not authorized. So the idea of focusing

998
01:09:44,520 --> 01:09:50,460
seeing on that as a character area all by itself, and what does that mean as part of

999
01:09:50,460 --> 01:09:56,800
the overlay, part of the city, how does that drive the bus, if you will, and no pun intended

1000
01:09:56,800 --> 01:10:04,540
that it's marra, but truly, you know, that whatever happens there is going to have

1001
01:10:04,540 --> 01:10:08,800
a ripple effect, and we need to understand how far out that ripple goes and what that

1002
01:10:08,800 --> 01:10:16,820
means and what that determines for many. And I think that's an excellent idea. And we can

1003
01:10:16,820 --> 01:10:22,660
include that in our conversations when we start interviewing the different firms, absolutely.

1004
01:10:23,340 --> 01:10:25,060
I would like to get on board with that one.

1005
01:10:25,060 --> 01:10:30,500
From a timing standpoint, well, first of all, let me just say I'm in favor of this for

1006
01:10:30,500 --> 01:10:33,580
a couple of reasons. One is because what happens over at the modern station is probably

1007
01:10:33,580 --> 01:10:38,960
probably going to be a defining statement from all of us on what we think and what happens

1008
01:10:38,960 --> 01:10:44,920
here in the city of Brookhaven. I think what we really want to make sure that we're doing

1009
01:10:44,920 --> 01:10:51,300
is that we're working in concert with the folks from MOTOR and we want to do it loudly

1010
01:10:52,260 --> 01:10:57,560
with commitment, with purpose, with performance. I think by separating or having this be

1011
01:10:57,560 --> 01:11:01,720
a part of the master plan, it allows us to really identify that, to be able to

1012
01:11:01,720 --> 01:11:05,440
speak very, very specifically towards that concept.

1013
01:11:06,760 --> 01:11:09,740
You had mentioned something before about people making

1014
01:11:09,740 --> 01:11:13,780
expectations that can't be fulfilled. One of the concerns I have is having

1015
01:11:13,780 --> 01:11:17,440
expectations that are too low. So it's the other side of the coin.

1016
01:11:17,960 --> 01:11:22,220
We have one time to do this right and I would very much

1017
01:11:22,220 --> 01:11:27,260
encourage us as a city to step out on our own

1018
01:11:27,260 --> 01:11:30,940
and compliment any other work that's being done out there and take the best

1019
01:11:30,940 --> 01:11:38,800
for both ideas. So from a timing standpoint, I think the shreds due to the finish in six

1020
01:11:38,800 --> 01:11:44,500
months, which probably takes it March, April, maybe May at the latest, and I think we'd want

1021
01:11:44,500 --> 01:11:45,460
to be timed accordingly.

1022
01:11:48,530 --> 01:11:52,630
Well, you know, I mean, that's probably too soon. But because

1023
01:11:52,630 --> 01:11:58,010
it's a clock ticking, if this is something that we agree on, and we probably want

1024
01:11:58,010 --> 01:12:00,150
to be moving ahead in full earnest?

1025
01:12:00,810 --> 01:12:05,530
Well, I mean, there's a lot of moving parts to all of this

1026
01:12:05,530 --> 01:12:07,890
and to the shred that's occurring right now.

1027
01:12:09,250 --> 01:12:13,990
Jim's idea of focusing on the mortar station

1028
01:12:13,990 --> 01:12:18,290
and how that affects and impacts the rest of the area.

1029
01:12:18,570 --> 01:12:20,670
And we need to identify what that area is.

1030
01:12:20,870 --> 01:12:23,330
I mean, how far out does the ripple effect occur?

1031
01:12:24,070 --> 01:12:25,610
But what is going to be critical,

1032
01:12:25,610 --> 01:12:31,650
what is going to be absolutely critical to the success of whatever happens there at the Marta Station

1033
01:12:31,650 --> 01:12:35,840
is to come to an agreement and an understanding on both sides.

1034
01:12:36,430 --> 01:12:41,890
We have a quasi-government that's Marta that receives federal funds that owns the station,

1035
01:12:42,150 --> 01:12:46,150
that owns the land surrounding it, and that they have certain desires.

1036
01:12:46,590 --> 01:12:49,610
My understanding is they don't want to sell it, but they will do a land lease

1037
01:12:49,610 --> 01:12:52,730
and that they have certain expectations on their own.

1038
01:12:52,730 --> 01:12:56,990
But I think we need to be clear with them, too, that we want to partner with them,

1039
01:12:57,030 --> 01:13:02,910
but that whatever their desires are have to be enabled by this body through zoning,

1040
01:13:03,310 --> 01:13:05,730
through site plans, through density entitlements.

1041
01:13:06,830 --> 01:13:12,690
All of that has to be because at the end of the day, your job and my job in working with you all

1042
01:13:12,690 --> 01:13:19,650
is to ensure that we can afford delivering services at the same level this citizenry has come to expect

1043
01:13:19,650 --> 01:13:25,050
and demand of you all and we've got to be assured that whatever is being

1044
01:13:25,050 --> 01:13:31,210
entitled and agreed upon can be paid for because it's not Marta's job to police

1045
01:13:31,210 --> 01:13:35,870
it. It will be the city of Brookhaven's job to police it. It's not Marta's job

1046
01:13:35,870 --> 01:13:44,070
to address, protect, or prevent precedents that are setting. It will

1047
01:13:44,070 --> 01:13:48,830
be your job to do that so that whatever is coming out of whether it's

1048
01:13:48,830 --> 01:13:53,350
this charrette or whether it's Marta doing something, they can't do it in a

1049
01:13:53,350 --> 01:13:58,390
vacuum. They have to do it in partnership because you are the authority by

1050
01:13:58,390 --> 01:14:03,630
charter and creation of the city that you have the police powers over planning

1051
01:14:03,630 --> 01:14:11,150
and zoning. And that's where it rests. And so it is just imperative to the

1052
01:14:11,150 --> 01:14:16,430
success of any property owner, whether they're Marta or their Mr. Developer in

1053
01:14:16,430 --> 01:14:17,570
and some other part of the city,

1054
01:14:17,730 --> 01:14:20,950
they can't do anything unless the park is so entitled

1055
01:14:20,950 --> 01:14:23,450
and that entitlement is delivered by the elected body.

1056
01:14:24,670 --> 01:14:29,190
So I love the idea of focusing on that

1057
01:14:29,190 --> 01:14:30,610
and making it part of the comp plan.

1058
01:14:30,770 --> 01:14:32,170
I think it needs to be a focus too

1059
01:14:32,170 --> 01:14:34,110
when we do the transportation plan as well.

1060
01:14:34,730 --> 01:14:37,010
And yet another focus when we do the parks and rec plan

1061
01:14:37,010 --> 01:14:38,690
because if we've got people living there,

1062
01:14:38,750 --> 01:14:39,770
they're gonna wanna recreate.

1063
01:14:40,010 --> 01:14:41,550
And the closest park is Brookhaven.

1064
01:14:42,050 --> 01:14:44,230
How much capacity can that park take?

1065
01:14:44,230 --> 01:14:47,970
What is its capacity? What's its bandwidth? So we're going to have to look at all of that.

1066
01:14:48,010 --> 01:14:54,190
So I'm saying I like the idea and I'd love to take that focus all the way through all the plans

1067
01:14:54,190 --> 01:14:59,890
because we can't look at it with blinders. We have to be open to how that's going to affect

1068
01:15:00,000 --> 01:15:04,820
All services and impact, all the cost of delivering services for the city.

1069
01:15:06,420 --> 01:15:11,260
This may be premature because I think we're going to talk about the charrette.

1070
01:15:11,460 --> 01:15:14,580
Bates and I were just at a charrette before we came here.

1071
01:15:15,040 --> 01:15:19,640
And the gal who's the staff person for the city of Decatur for the

1072
01:15:19,640 --> 01:15:22,460
Downtown Development Authority was speaking to the group,

1073
01:15:22,600 --> 01:15:27,520
to the development authority folks about how they operate.

1074
01:15:27,520 --> 01:15:31,880
And she kept saying, you know, we have a plan and every day we work the plan.

1075
01:15:32,200 --> 01:15:33,720
We said, well, what plan is that?

1076
01:15:33,880 --> 01:15:35,440
And she said, it's a strategic plan.

1077
01:15:36,140 --> 01:15:38,020
We do, you know, we update it every five years.

1078
01:15:38,580 --> 01:15:42,720
And it's the result of a vision of the community that's come together.

1079
01:15:44,740 --> 01:15:48,740
And I guess that's been my concern on this charrette thing,

1080
01:15:48,880 --> 01:15:51,380
is that the comp plan hasn't been done yet.

1081
01:15:51,720 --> 01:15:54,800
And the comp plan is really going to be our strategic vision.

1082
01:15:54,800 --> 01:16:02,100
And that's why if you're suggesting that the two need to mesh, absolutely, because I have

1083
01:16:02,100 --> 01:16:07,440
a little bit of a fear that there's one train going down this track right now, and it's a

1084
01:16:07,440 --> 01:16:08,520
little bit ahead of us.

1085
01:16:08,620 --> 01:16:09,000
I agree.

1086
01:16:09,240 --> 01:16:10,780
And people are making decisions.

1087
01:16:11,760 --> 01:16:17,420
I mean, the one group I sat in today was deciding on terminology to use in the RFQ.

1088
01:16:18,180 --> 01:16:22,060
Right, and that authority does not rest with them.

1089
01:16:24,400 --> 01:16:29,540
This is just a charrette that was brought to us and funded by another part of the city

1090
01:16:29,540 --> 01:16:30,860
is not paying for it.

1091
01:16:31,100 --> 01:16:32,300
Yes, but I have to ask.

1092
01:16:32,600 --> 01:16:38,620
It's good ideas, maybe, and we'll, I will tell you that they, they have, I heard it

1093
01:16:38,620 --> 01:16:39,380
again today.

1094
01:16:39,660 --> 01:16:45,000
They said we have partnered with the city and we are working for the city and we

1095
01:16:45,000 --> 01:16:46,280
Who's, who's saying this?

1096
01:16:46,520 --> 01:16:46,980
Robert Reed.

1097
01:16:48,360 --> 01:16:49,100
Well, that's Robert.

1098
01:16:49,240 --> 01:16:49,940
He's South Face.

1099
01:16:50,540 --> 01:16:50,940
But you know.

1100
01:16:51,960 --> 01:16:55,320
Yeah, but that's not who's going to be taking advantage of it or making use of it.

1101
01:16:55,520 --> 01:16:56,980
Those are the ones you want to partner with.

1102
01:16:59,430 --> 01:17:07,330
Going back to the RFQ, I mean, ultimately, I think what they were discussing was Marta's RFQ for developers for the property.

1103
01:17:07,770 --> 01:17:12,710
And I don't know that we as a city right now have much say in that.

1104
01:17:13,410 --> 01:17:15,610
We can see it after the fact.

1105
01:17:15,830 --> 01:17:20,330
I mean, once they've selected their developer, then obviously we've got a regulatory role.

1106
01:17:20,330 --> 01:17:33,010
But, you know, as I understand it, Decatur has done sort of an IGA, which I don't know how – I think it's beginning to fall apart a little bit, just simply because Marnay is taking a little bit different direction.

1107
01:17:33,290 --> 01:17:49,990
So, you know, I guess at the end of the day, where our – what my concern is and where I believe our preparation needs to be is on the regulatory side to make sure that we are prepared to ask for and fully review whatever it is that we feel is necessary.

1108
01:17:49,990 --> 01:17:52,510
to get a full picture of what's happening out there.

1109
01:17:52,670 --> 01:17:55,070
At the end of the day, when they come back in for rezoning,

1110
01:17:55,670 --> 01:18:00,850
that's going to be our first and best chance to make all of this happen.

1111
01:18:00,970 --> 01:18:03,430
Obviously, there's going to be, as things are developed along the way,

1112
01:18:03,610 --> 01:18:06,190
but we've got to be prepared as a council.

1113
01:18:06,410 --> 01:18:11,210
We've got to be prepared as a city to accept those plans

1114
01:18:11,210 --> 01:18:14,050
and understand what it is that we want those plans to look like

1115
01:18:14,050 --> 01:18:17,070
so that we can then deliver back to them our vision

1116
01:18:17,070 --> 01:18:19,890
and then make sure that we're in sync from that standpoint

1117
01:18:19,890 --> 01:18:23,450
because the rezoning is going to be where we get to see

1118
01:18:23,450 --> 01:18:25,050
and where we get to exert any.

1119
01:18:25,650 --> 01:18:29,730
Murray, do you want to discuss what we talked about

1120
01:18:29,730 --> 01:18:32,190
and are you're reaching out to Marta?

1121
01:18:32,350 --> 01:18:33,690
Yes, I was just, thank you.

1122
01:18:34,550 --> 01:18:36,910
I have, I shared with all of you last week

1123
01:18:36,910 --> 01:18:41,030
the letter I received from Marta giving everybody notice

1124
01:18:41,030 --> 01:18:43,250
that others will not plan for them,

1125
01:18:43,370 --> 01:18:44,390
they will plan for themselves

1126
01:18:44,390 --> 01:18:48,750
and that the authority rests with them on what they're going to do with their own property.

1127
01:18:49,610 --> 01:18:54,430
You know, as a result of what I'm hearing from the public too,

1128
01:18:54,750 --> 01:18:58,350
that South Face is saying they're partnering with the city and they're representing us.

1129
01:19:00,470 --> 01:19:04,490
There's a whole host of concerns that get conjured up with that.

1130
01:19:04,690 --> 01:19:10,330
You know, we don't want the community to be misled that certain things are going to occur when we don't know what those are yet.

1131
01:19:10,330 --> 01:19:17,370
But I have contacted Marta and I've left a message asking for a meeting and Bates and

1132
01:19:17,370 --> 01:19:21,990
I were talking about it today that, you know, to even get with the general manager of Marta

1133
01:19:21,990 --> 01:19:25,790
and just say, look, you know, we want to partner with you and just describe exactly

1134
01:19:25,790 --> 01:19:33,190
what I just went over with you all that there has to be an acceptance that Marta and the

1135
01:19:33,190 --> 01:19:41,070
city need each other. Like it or not, good or bad, they need each other to help enable

1136
01:19:41,070 --> 01:19:48,750
what they'd like to do and help prepare the city for how they serve. And so that call

1137
01:19:48,750 --> 01:19:53,370
has been made and a request has been made because I think, you know, at this point,

1138
01:19:53,810 --> 01:19:57,390
obviously there was some frustration on Margaret's part, otherwise they wouldn't have written

1139
01:19:57,390 --> 01:20:01,090
that letter to set the ground rules of who's in charge. And that's basically what

1140
01:20:01,090 --> 01:20:06,230
It was a who's in charge letter and they said they were in charge of the property they own.

1141
01:20:07,150 --> 01:20:12,570
So I think that that is a supreme opportunity on our part to say we'd like to sit down.

1142
01:20:12,690 --> 01:20:14,710
We want to partner with you. We want to work with you.

1143
01:20:15,210 --> 01:20:20,290
They're going to need us at some point in time and I think going to where Jim was headed with his comments.

1144
01:20:20,930 --> 01:20:28,210
Let's make that early rather than later because I really don't want you to be engaged at the time that they've prepared their plans and you're reacting.

1145
01:20:28,210 --> 01:20:33,830
I want you to be in a proactive role that you're part of in the term to determine what

1146
01:20:33,830 --> 01:20:40,850
is best for the city and what complements their needs and their desires because you've

1147
01:20:40,850 --> 01:20:46,410
got a whole lot of overlay left over with the community and there's properties that

1148
01:20:46,410 --> 01:20:52,230
are only under contract that I've been informed of that have a desire to do something similar

1149
01:20:52,230 --> 01:20:58,690
to what Marta's talking about and the question now is begged and asking

1150
01:20:59,190 --> 01:21:03,750
is there enough capacity do we need that do we how much do we have of multi

1151
01:21:03,750 --> 01:21:09,950
family in the city you know so it's a perfect time right now to have that

1152
01:21:10,470 --> 01:21:15,410
that engagement with them and and to be able to walk together because I'd like

1153
01:21:15,410 --> 01:21:18,570
to see them as a part of our overall plan I mean I want them involved in

1154
01:21:18,570 --> 01:21:21,230
the Buford Highway plan let's take a look at the bus stops that are along

1155
01:21:22,230 --> 01:21:25,990
How do we get them to the Marta Station? How do we get them, how do we, if we're going

1156
01:21:25,990 --> 01:21:30,030
to talk about workforce housing and we're going to try and get corporate America to locate,

1157
01:21:30,710 --> 01:21:36,250
how do we transport the employees if their first choice is not going to be by car? How

1158
01:21:36,250 --> 01:21:40,970
do we do that? So they've got to be a part of all of this. So that's part of my offering

1159
01:21:40,970 --> 01:21:44,150
to them is, we need your help and you need ours.

1160
01:21:44,510 --> 01:21:49,650
Yeah, and that was part of Jager's proposal on view of Marta Station.

1161
01:21:51,210 --> 01:21:58,450
I just want to reiterate that every indication from martyrs so far, all of their officials,

1162
01:21:58,650 --> 01:22:03,830
has been that they are very much looking to partner with the city of Brookhaven and work

1163
01:22:03,830 --> 01:22:11,210
in a cooperative fashion to get our input in how we make the best use for that site.

1164
01:22:11,570 --> 01:22:16,730
Well, one of the things that we talked about in the charrette today was that we had a number

1165
01:22:16,730 --> 01:22:18,590
of members of our development authority.

1166
01:22:18,590 --> 01:22:34,090
And I reminded them that development authority, not MARTA, has tools for bond inducement, tax abatements, some things that would be great incentives to attract developers.

1167
01:22:34,490 --> 01:22:43,830
And so in the same way that Invest Atlanta has been vital in the whole stadium developments, we have some things that they don't have.

1168
01:22:43,830 --> 01:22:49,830
And so we thought all along that our development authority was needed to be stood up in order

1169
01:22:49,830 --> 01:22:52,070
to be ready for this opportunity.

1170
01:22:52,610 --> 01:22:58,470
Now as you know they've asked to present to us their final findings on Thursday morning

1171
01:22:58,470 --> 01:23:02,270
and I know there's a conflict with some other things going on.

1172
01:23:02,710 --> 01:23:09,090
Can we find another time or should we just – what do we want to do about this?

1173
01:23:09,550 --> 01:23:16,030
I would hope that we could keep that time. I'm not sure if we need to talk about this further.

1174
01:23:16,370 --> 01:23:25,090
I think it's important for us to hear, from what I understand, they've brought all the consultants together for that time.

1175
01:23:25,870 --> 01:23:33,930
If not all of these, there will be representatives from each of the groups or each of the study groups making presentations to us

1176
01:23:33,930 --> 01:23:37,370
so that we as a council can have a better understanding of what's going on.

1177
01:23:37,370 --> 01:23:43,930
And I think it would be important for us to have that opportunity to not only see what

1178
01:23:43,930 --> 01:23:47,850
they've presented, but also have a frank and open discussion about it.

1179
01:23:48,830 --> 01:23:53,230
Later that evening, Thursday evening, they're obviously doing the public presentation, which,

1180
01:23:53,510 --> 01:23:58,810
you know, while that's going to be some of the same information, I think it, for me,

1181
01:23:59,090 --> 01:24:03,990
I think it's very important for us to see that prior to the public presentation so

1182
01:24:03,990 --> 01:24:09,410
that if there are some expectations that maybe may need some adjustments or if there are some

1183
01:24:09,410 --> 01:24:14,810
things that may need to be realigned, then we have that opportunity to do that.

1184
01:24:14,930 --> 01:24:19,310
Also, we have an opportunity to see what's going on and what will, in fact, be presented.

1185
01:24:19,670 --> 01:24:27,170
So, you know, I hope that that Thursday morning we are or can be available because I think

1186
01:24:27,170 --> 01:24:27,850
this is important.

1187
01:24:28,830 --> 01:24:33,210
It's an important first step for us to understand what's going on and also provide

1188
01:24:33,210 --> 01:24:37,650
into the process before the final presentation is made that evening.

1189
01:24:38,650 --> 01:24:45,970
Well, there is a conflict for that morning and I would just say that, you know,

1190
01:24:46,130 --> 01:24:50,050
this is what you want to do and schedule a special call.

1191
01:24:50,930 --> 01:24:51,750
Right, I was going to say that.

1192
01:24:51,870 --> 01:24:53,650
Is the charrette open in the afternoon?

1193
01:24:53,890 --> 01:24:58,450
I mean, could we carry this over because the conflict can't last all day?

1194
01:24:58,850 --> 01:24:59,790
No, it's in the morning.

1195
01:24:59,790 --> 01:25:03,530
It's in the morning, so by the charrettes there, I think, till 3 o'clock.

1196
01:25:03,890 --> 01:25:07,330
What if we worked with Robert Reed to see if we could do it for the afternoon?

1197
01:25:09,740 --> 01:25:14,960
Let's try that just for clarification purposes for people who are not really sure what we're talking about.

1198
01:25:15,940 --> 01:25:22,180
There was the second court case on the Century Center taking place at Superior Court on Thursday morning.

1199
01:25:23,380 --> 01:25:29,860
And it's going to involve city staff, which was important that they also be a part of the city council meeting here.

1200
01:25:29,860 --> 01:25:36,300
Trey, are you going to be filming at the courthouse? Do you have the ability to also film at the same time?

1201
01:25:36,300 --> 01:25:37,080
Do you get permission for that?

1202
01:25:37,700 --> 01:25:38,840
Yeah, he did last time.

1203
01:25:39,080 --> 01:25:44,780
Do you also have the ability to film a city council meeting at the same time, personnel and equipment-wise?

1204
01:25:47,130 --> 01:25:49,110
Well, you know, two different people, two different cameras.

1205
01:25:50,130 --> 01:25:51,290
We never own.

1206
01:25:52,350 --> 01:25:53,770
Okay, great. Okay, good.

1207
01:25:55,850 --> 01:25:56,550
Okay, thanks.

1208
01:25:56,550 --> 01:26:01,950
Do we know if that's just the court calendar at 9 o'clock, or do we think that our arguments

1209
01:26:01,950 --> 01:26:03,270
are actually scheduled for 9 o'clock?

1210
01:26:03,470 --> 01:26:04,150
9.30.

1211
01:26:04,550 --> 01:26:06,210
I've been told it's been 9.30.

1212
01:26:06,510 --> 01:26:06,630
Okay.

1213
01:26:06,810 --> 01:26:08,190
Do they say specially set?

1214
01:26:09,570 --> 01:26:15,850
In talking with Lenny, I asked him specifically what time, and he said 9.30.

1215
01:26:16,110 --> 01:26:16,370
Okay.

1216
01:26:17,330 --> 01:26:19,960
Because you can go down the floor.

1217
01:26:20,480 --> 01:26:21,300
Yeah, right.

1218
01:26:22,520 --> 01:26:24,640
Are any of us going to testify or anything?

1219
01:26:24,800 --> 01:26:25,820
Well, I ask about that.

1220
01:26:25,820 --> 01:26:33,040
You know they're not planning on it, but they they could and so I'm planning to bring the boards and everything just in case

1221
01:26:37,380 --> 01:26:39,440
Okay, so who is gonna talk to Robert?

1222
01:26:40,760 --> 01:26:41,680
about rescheduling

1223
01:26:42,300 --> 01:26:44,600
okay, calm and

1224
01:26:45,120 --> 01:26:49,360
Early afternoon is good for the count. Excuse me. It's good for the council if they scheduled it say

1225
01:26:49,360 --> 01:26:54,280
One one thirty thirties afternoon. Is that I think that'd be good. Is that good for council?

1226
01:26:56,380 --> 01:26:56,840
24th

1227
01:27:00,340 --> 01:27:01,420
It's fine for me.

1228
01:27:04,480 --> 01:27:07,400
Marie was yesterday or Sunday?

1229
01:27:08,180 --> 01:27:08,560
For me.

1230
01:27:08,680 --> 01:27:09,240
When was your birthday?

1231
01:27:10,640 --> 01:27:11,120
Sunday.

1232
01:27:11,540 --> 01:27:11,780
Saturday.

1233
01:27:12,340 --> 01:27:12,720
Sunday.

1234
01:27:13,020 --> 01:27:13,180
Sunday.

1235
01:27:13,600 --> 01:27:13,980
Does it pass?

1236
01:27:14,360 --> 01:27:14,480
Happy birthday.

1237
01:27:15,620 --> 01:27:16,440
Is it passed or coming?

1238
01:27:16,840 --> 01:27:17,120
Past.

1239
01:27:17,660 --> 01:27:18,080
Birthday.

1240
01:27:18,560 --> 01:27:19,400
We all missed it.

1241
01:27:19,800 --> 01:27:20,480
Everyone of us.

1242
01:27:22,480 --> 01:27:25,420
That's why we need to have all those birthdays on our outlet.

1243
01:27:25,420 --> 01:27:25,600
They are.

1244
01:27:25,900 --> 01:27:26,560
Our Brookhaven calendar.

1245
01:27:26,620 --> 01:27:28,120
I think we do have it.

1246
01:27:28,320 --> 01:27:29,480
They did give us a list.

1247
01:27:29,860 --> 01:27:32,760
It's on the list, but it's not on our calendar calendar.

1248
01:27:34,840 --> 01:27:39,860
I'm good. So, you know, Daniel, if you want to try, say, 1.30, 30th afternoon, we'll...

1249
01:27:41,040 --> 01:27:46,800
I'm going to just say it. I have a conflict at 2 o'clock. I will try and move that.

1250
01:27:47,480 --> 01:27:48,640
Well, let's say 1 o'clock, then.

1251
01:27:49,820 --> 01:27:54,860
Yeah, I mean, 1 o'clock would be perfect as long as I can leave and get there for the 2 o'clock.

1252
01:27:55,240 --> 01:27:57,120
It's an on-site meeting.

1253
01:28:00,100 --> 01:28:01,000
Let's see what we can do.

1254
01:28:07,020 --> 01:28:10,280
Well, check the various times. It may even be later than that, that it could be available

1255
01:28:10,280 --> 01:28:12,280
like 3 o'clock work for you if you could do it.

1256
01:28:12,280 --> 01:28:15,460
Yeah, that would work. I'm going to try and move the meeting if I can.

1257
01:28:16,620 --> 01:28:20,240
Basically, we're all available all day if we have to be on Thursday for this.

1258
01:28:20,540 --> 01:28:24,760
Okay. Are you looking at just one hour? Is that what you're looking at as a presentation

1259
01:28:24,760 --> 01:28:25,720
of their findings?

1260
01:28:25,720 --> 01:28:30,820
They had a two hour block but whatever, I mean an hour and a half.

1261
01:28:33,180 --> 01:28:34,820
All right, next?

1262
01:28:38,480 --> 01:28:42,120
I wanted to just give you an update to our apartment inspections.

1263
01:28:42,900 --> 01:28:45,500
Susan has been managing that.

1264
01:28:47,620 --> 01:28:49,580
Well, the inspection program is going very well.

1265
01:28:49,680 --> 01:28:53,060
As you know, we have 66 apartments that we're doing the inspection on.

1266
01:28:53,480 --> 01:28:56,300
We are beginning inspection number 12 this week.

1267
01:28:57,120 --> 01:29:03,120
And as a matter of policy, what we do is create a notebook on each apartment complex that we inspect.

1268
01:29:03,780 --> 01:29:09,160
The reports that we're seeing range anywhere from 20 pages to 500 pages, so they vary in length.

1269
01:29:09,780 --> 01:29:16,280
All of the reports include photographic inventory as well as the code section that are being reviewed.

1270
01:29:16,760 --> 01:29:20,740
We've had two complexes that we have had to issue a court citations for.

1271
01:29:20,740 --> 01:29:26,700
One has already had a court date, and that was dismissed, and they're about 75% complete with the corrections they needed to make.

1272
01:29:27,240 --> 01:29:32,060
We have an additional apartment complex that will be going to court in November, the first week of November.

1273
01:29:32,820 --> 01:29:34,980
We do have one that now is fully compliant.

1274
01:29:35,900 --> 01:29:42,280
And I do meet with the inspector every Monday morning, and then he is now beginning to provide a report to me every Friday.

1275
01:29:42,780 --> 01:29:47,060
He had to have something to report on, so every Friday I do receive a report from him.

1276
01:29:47,060 --> 01:29:50,240
I feel like we're really on schedule.

1277
01:29:50,880 --> 01:29:55,400
We did receive, by the way, this week a request for a demo of an apartment complex.

1278
01:29:56,360 --> 01:29:58,640
So we're hearing a lot of different things about...

1279
01:29:58,640 --> 01:29:59,140
Where is that?

1280
01:30:00,000 --> 01:30:07,340
Claremont Cove, which is north of Dresden and west of Claremont, north of Beaver Highway.

1281
01:30:08,880 --> 01:30:14,000
So we haven't completed the process of that, but we do have a request in for demolition

1282
01:30:14,000 --> 01:30:15,000
of that apartment complex.

1283
01:30:15,360 --> 01:30:16,240
How big is that, do you know?

1284
01:30:16,420 --> 01:30:20,560
I don't remember the number of units. I apologize. I think it's fairly small, fairly small.

1285
01:30:20,840 --> 01:30:24,620
Is the one that's coming on the court in November, is that a result of a continuance

1286
01:30:25,150 --> 01:30:26,660
or is that just a later court date set?

1287
01:30:26,660 --> 01:30:30,460
No, that is a new court date for that particular complex.

1288
01:30:30,800 --> 01:30:33,320
We've only had two, and they're different complexes.

1289
01:30:36,000 --> 01:30:39,120
We're moving right along as planned.

1290
01:30:39,740 --> 01:30:44,200
I think our inspector is doing a very good job.

1291
01:30:45,020 --> 01:30:50,420
I have not received any complaints from the field directly to me about him.

1292
01:30:50,820 --> 01:30:55,020
I did receive one complaint about not knowing that he was there.

1293
01:30:56,600 --> 01:31:02,100
So at this point, we're actually a little bit ahead of schedule.

1294
01:31:03,680 --> 01:31:06,480
The Claymore Cove, is that the Archway project?

1295
01:31:06,800 --> 01:31:07,300
Yes, it is.

1296
01:31:07,400 --> 01:31:08,300
Okay, thank you.

1297
01:31:11,200 --> 01:31:15,040
So this book, these reports, are they available at your office for us to look at?

1298
01:31:15,240 --> 01:31:17,720
We are maintaining two copies on each complex.

1299
01:31:18,420 --> 01:31:20,040
And of course, yes, they are available.

1300
01:31:20,560 --> 01:31:25,020
They're updated repeatedly because as things are corrected, that goes in the book as well.

1301
01:31:25,020 --> 01:31:32,460
So it includes the notice, what happened, everything that's going on, we're keeping a public record on what's occurring in each complex.

1302
01:31:33,240 --> 01:31:38,100
Susan, would it be possible for us to go out with the inspector on a typical inspection?

1303
01:31:38,460 --> 01:31:42,100
Not necessarily, I don't know how long they last if they're one day, five days, whatever.

1304
01:31:42,660 --> 01:31:44,880
Just to get a better feel for what they're looking at.

1305
01:31:46,700 --> 01:31:48,500
I'm sure he wouldn't have a problem with that.

1306
01:31:48,620 --> 01:31:51,400
We would just need to know when you'd want to do that.

1307
01:31:51,400 --> 01:31:53,200
The next inspection will be this Thursday.

1308
01:31:55,400 --> 01:31:57,240
We can certainly coordinate that for you.

1309
01:31:58,160 --> 01:32:01,280
As you've been meeting and reviewed, are we getting,

1310
01:32:02,160 --> 01:32:06,480
are we maintaining a consistency from complex to complex

1311
01:32:06,480 --> 01:32:09,280
so that we're now sort of looking at the same things

1312
01:32:09,280 --> 01:32:13,520
and are we getting tougher or are we backing off on some things?

1313
01:32:13,900 --> 01:32:17,920
What's sort of the focus and what do you see as you look at the reports?

1314
01:32:17,920 --> 01:32:26,200
What are some of the violations or the enforcement issues that seem to be coming time and time again?

1315
01:32:26,740 --> 01:32:30,740
Well, I think with anything, there's a learning curve as you take on something new.

1316
01:32:31,120 --> 01:32:34,520
But he does have a checklist that he follows that everyone was provided.

1317
01:32:35,360 --> 01:32:37,760
And I do think he's consistent in his approach.

1318
01:32:38,480 --> 01:32:43,080
Those things that are life safety matters, we do not waste time on,

1319
01:32:43,180 --> 01:32:45,460
because it's important to deal with life safety issues.

1320
01:32:45,460 --> 01:32:50,680
And we are granting flexibility for things that require bidding, and we're aware of that.

1321
01:32:51,100 --> 01:32:54,840
So, I mean, everything can't just be black and white.

1322
01:32:55,220 --> 01:32:57,080
You try to make it black and white where you can.

1323
01:32:57,560 --> 01:33:01,220
But there are things that we have to give a little bit of leniency to,

1324
01:33:01,380 --> 01:33:03,380
and courtesy to, as long as it's not a life safety issue.

1325
01:33:03,760 --> 01:33:08,200
Is there a process for requesting extensions, or how does that work?

1326
01:33:08,600 --> 01:33:11,540
If somebody needs, wants to get the list, and they go through it,

1327
01:33:11,560 --> 01:33:13,380
they feel they need additional time.

1328
01:33:14,300 --> 01:33:18,800
Well, the inspector has been working with them in the field, and actually the latest

1329
01:33:18,800 --> 01:33:23,680
update I have indicates that he's provided extensions to some, and some of them are going

1330
01:33:23,680 --> 01:33:29,900
out until December. It depends on the nature of what it is. If they're having to re-roof

1331
01:33:29,900 --> 01:33:34,060
an entire complex and they have to go out to get bids to do that, they need time to

1332
01:33:34,060 --> 01:33:38,980
do that. But if they need to put up a guardrail along a sidewalk where somebody could fall

1333
01:33:38,980 --> 01:33:45,880
They need to get that done. So there's a degree of subjectiveness that has to occur.

1334
01:33:46,980 --> 01:33:52,640
I've heard from one group that they were hoping to extend some of the things that weren't life-saving to you,

1335
01:33:52,720 --> 01:33:58,560
but they were hoping to extend some of the things into the next fiscal year, which obviously is beyond December.

1336
01:33:58,900 --> 01:34:03,400
Are we looking at things like that when people are requesting extensions?

1337
01:34:03,400 --> 01:34:12,020
I mean, if they come in with a, if the request is more of a budgetary than anything else,

1338
01:34:12,120 --> 01:34:17,840
they would push these improvements into the 2014 budget rather than the 2013 budget.

1339
01:34:18,440 --> 01:34:21,060
Are we working with them on that level?

1340
01:34:21,260 --> 01:34:23,400
Well, I haven't been approached in that regard.

1341
01:34:23,840 --> 01:34:26,600
I don't know that the inspector has, and until it's brought to my attention,

1342
01:34:26,680 --> 01:34:27,420
I don't know about that.

1343
01:34:27,740 --> 01:34:31,200
But certainly, we need to look at those things.

1344
01:34:31,700 --> 01:34:34,940
We need to make sure that they truly are moving forward with progress.

1345
01:34:35,820 --> 01:34:46,480
And if we see that it's a stall tactic, the goal here is to make a better quality of life situation for all of the folks that live in these apartment complexes.

1346
01:34:46,720 --> 01:34:53,640
And if we see that it's a stall tactic, we're going to do what we can to motivate them to move forward.

1347
01:34:54,780 --> 01:34:56,280
That's the best way to know how to answer your question.

1348
01:34:56,280 --> 01:34:58,580
Yeah, and that's what I was looking for.

1349
01:35:01,210 --> 01:35:06,710
There will be special situations, but I also agree that it could be used as a stalled type

1350
01:35:06,710 --> 01:35:06,990
of extent.

1351
01:35:07,010 --> 01:35:07,210
Right.

1352
01:35:07,370 --> 01:35:10,570
And if I don't know about the situation, there's not a thing I can do about it.

1353
01:35:11,410 --> 01:35:16,250
Do you know any more details about the citation that was dismissed in court?

1354
01:35:19,820 --> 01:35:24,600
My recollection is that the one that was dismissed in court, they were actively moving

1355
01:35:24,600 --> 01:35:29,080
forward and they were showing, demonstrating that they were 75 percent into the corrective

1356
01:35:29,080 --> 01:35:35,100
measures. And today, that was the last report. Today, they're probably even further along.

1357
01:35:36,800 --> 01:35:38,100
So that's what I know about that.

1358
01:35:38,140 --> 01:35:40,640
Because I assumed a citation is kind of the last resort.

1359
01:35:40,960 --> 01:35:41,220
Yes.

1360
01:35:41,540 --> 01:35:41,700
Okay.

1361
01:35:43,670 --> 01:35:48,230
In one other question, I know that there was, I understood that that fire that occurred

1362
01:35:48,230 --> 01:35:52,710
at Parktown North happened shortly after we had finished our inspection there and

1363
01:35:52,710 --> 01:35:58,790
come up with probably one of those 500-page reports. Do you know if we reflected

1364
01:35:58,790 --> 01:36:05,110
Did potentially fire safety hazards there or was that just somebody actually started the fire?

1365
01:36:05,210 --> 01:36:10,550
All of the life safety issues in that particular complex were corrected prior to that fire.

1366
01:36:15,230 --> 01:36:16,210
Any other questions?

1367
01:36:17,450 --> 01:36:18,210
Thank you.

1368
01:36:18,510 --> 01:36:19,270
Thank you.

1369
01:36:20,250 --> 01:36:25,550
Mr. Mayor, the next item is the Marta Charette, and we've already covered that unless there's any other questions.

1370
01:36:27,190 --> 01:36:28,310
That's enough.

1371
01:36:28,310 --> 01:36:35,570
I just want to thank city staff for getting that schedule up on the homepage of the website.

1372
01:36:36,410 --> 01:36:43,330
Let's public know what times and dates they can go for public input in that process.

1373
01:36:44,550 --> 01:36:44,830
All right.

1374
01:36:44,950 --> 01:36:45,150
Thank you.

1375
01:36:45,730 --> 01:36:46,250
Announcements?

1376
01:36:46,850 --> 01:36:47,550
Am I having announcements?

1377
01:36:49,470 --> 01:36:58,130
29th of October at Croskies High School, Michael Thurman is going to be there with Marshall.

1378
01:36:58,810 --> 01:37:06,130
and they're putting on a public meeting and I would encourage all of us to be there

1379
01:37:06,130 --> 01:37:10,790
because it's going to be a great time for us to be making our statements

1380
01:37:10,790 --> 01:37:12,970
for the type of support that we want for our school systems.

1381
01:37:13,450 --> 01:37:17,430
It's particularly the only high school that we have in the city of Brookhaven.

1382
01:37:20,210 --> 01:37:23,010
I believe it's set for either 6.30 or 7.

1383
01:37:23,830 --> 01:37:26,650
Maybe a corner of about the Croskies Park thing.

1384
01:37:26,650 --> 01:37:34,290
Well, we can do everything. Now, it appears that this has not been a well advertised event.

1385
01:37:34,850 --> 01:37:36,690
So I'm making sure it gets advertised.

1386
01:37:37,530 --> 01:37:41,170
Yes. It's next Tuesday.

1387
01:37:42,590 --> 01:37:47,510
All right. I have a little bit of announcement just to give everybody a little update.

1388
01:37:48,310 --> 01:37:55,830
Joe and I attended a roundtable last Wednesday, Joe.

1389
01:37:57,130 --> 01:38:06,470
with citizens concerned about our SOB ordinance and it went very well. Everybody was well

1390
01:38:06,470 --> 01:38:10,210
behaved. It was probably, what did you say, 25 or 30 people there, Joe?

1391
01:38:10,450 --> 01:38:11,630
No, there were a lot more than that.

1392
01:38:11,770 --> 01:38:11,950
Were there?

1393
01:38:12,270 --> 01:38:13,290
Probably closer to 60.

1394
01:38:13,530 --> 01:38:16,750
60 folks, okay. Maybe 70, I don't know.

1395
01:38:19,370 --> 01:38:21,470
And there were a lot of folks there and there

1396
01:38:21,470 --> 01:38:24,390
were a lot, there was a lot of thoughtful discussion and there were some very good

1397
01:38:24,390 --> 01:38:27,650
questions because some of the questions we didn't know the answer to but there

1398
01:38:27,650 --> 01:38:34,610
were some good points brought up and I've asked a couple of them but I've also

1399
01:38:34,610 --> 01:38:39,130
asked the citizens to please email some of the ideas and questions they had

1400
01:38:39,130 --> 01:38:43,990
about our SOB. One idea that did come out that Joe and I kind of thought was a

1401
01:38:43,990 --> 01:38:47,870
good idea and of course this would be done in concert with Tom and Marie and

1402
01:38:47,870 --> 01:38:53,290
you know the council of course is they had asked one of the questions was

1403
01:38:53,290 --> 01:39:00,050
do we have different opinions from attorneys, from different attorneys, when we were debating

1404
01:39:00,050 --> 01:39:05,150
our SOV and I, of course, answered we had. We had, Mr. Kerr was one of them, we had Bob

1405
01:39:05,150 --> 01:39:11,370
Dallas and we had, of course, Scott Berkhold. I think the desire from these citizens was

1406
01:39:11,370 --> 01:39:15,630
that we kind of reach out a little further and see if we can have some consultation

1407
01:39:15,630 --> 01:39:21,430
for some one or two more attorneys with some experience in the field. And I thought

1408
01:39:21,430 --> 01:39:26,870
that was a good idea just to either reiterate our ordinance and kind of give us a more firm

1409
01:39:28,030 --> 01:39:33,310
ground on what we've done and what we're doing and give us confidence in that that what we're

1410
01:39:33,310 --> 01:39:38,490
doing is the right thing or to possibly give us ideas about other options that may be

1411
01:39:38,490 --> 01:39:44,470
out there that we didn't want to wear out. So it's just a suggestion that we kind of

1412
01:39:44,470 --> 01:39:51,190
affirm or open up our understanding of what our SOB is.

1413
01:39:51,270 --> 01:39:53,070
And I thought that was a good idea and I think Joe did too.

1414
01:39:53,870 --> 01:39:54,650
I definitely did.

1415
01:39:54,790 --> 01:39:58,430
So I'd like to say in the next couple of weeks,

1416
01:39:58,550 --> 01:40:04,430
I'd like to coordinate with Tom and see if we can get some one

1417
01:40:04,430 --> 01:40:06,610
or two more attorneys to kind of give us their perspective

1418
01:40:06,610 --> 01:40:09,810
on our ordinance where they either affirm what we've done

1419
01:40:09,810 --> 01:40:12,850
or say maybe we could tweak this or that or strategy

1420
01:40:14,710 --> 01:40:19,550
I would like to suggest that Tom, you present us with people that you think that we should

1421
01:40:20,470 --> 01:40:26,970
open this up to, let us have a review of who they are so we can assess their professionalism

1422
01:40:26,970 --> 01:40:32,410
in the area and give us maybe several suggestions and let us choose from amongst those.

1423
01:40:33,090 --> 01:40:35,890
I have a bit of an objection to this.

1424
01:40:35,890 --> 01:40:43,130
I personally think that we reached out early on and have presentations at a work session

1425
01:40:43,130 --> 01:40:43,770
of this.

1426
01:40:44,450 --> 01:40:48,990
We also reached out to Wendell Willard and some other, you know, city attorneys as well.

1427
01:40:50,630 --> 01:40:51,690
We've made our commitment.

1428
01:40:52,030 --> 01:40:52,750
We're in a lawsuit.

1429
01:40:53,810 --> 01:41:00,110
I think if we have any doubts then we ought to just rescind our SOB ordinance.

1430
01:41:00,470 --> 01:41:03,790
But I mean, I think we've made our commitment.

1431
01:41:03,790 --> 01:41:06,450
I don't agree that we have any doubts. We should resend our ordinance.

1432
01:41:07,330 --> 01:41:10,590
There were some questions that came up that I think we need answers to

1433
01:41:10,590 --> 01:41:14,370
in order to affirm what we've done in a more positive manner.

1434
01:41:15,590 --> 01:41:21,290
We had members of the community come up to us and consistently state this point

1435
01:41:21,290 --> 01:41:26,610
and I think as representatives of the citizens that we have an obligation to fulfill.

1436
01:41:26,790 --> 01:41:30,190
I don't really think it has anything to do about what our current stance is

1437
01:41:34,230 --> 01:41:38,270
or backing out of this, I think we just need to follow through on it and see.

1438
01:41:38,930 --> 01:41:43,670
And if the general consensus of a room full of attorneys is that we're heading down the right path,

1439
01:41:43,770 --> 01:41:48,290
do you think that's going to change any of the comments that you received from the...

1440
01:41:48,290 --> 01:41:49,410
You know, I don't know, but...

1441
01:41:49,410 --> 01:41:51,550
Are you looking for opinions till we find something they agree with?

1442
01:41:51,570 --> 01:41:57,190
No, no, I think it might address some of the questions that I didn't have the answer to

1443
01:41:57,190 --> 01:42:00,430
that I'd like to have answers to and, you know, Tom could probably provide some of them.

1444
01:42:01,010 --> 01:42:06,590
Oh, if, you know, if there are specific questions, then yes, but I need to provide a general review.

1445
01:42:06,830 --> 01:42:10,990
I think I started off by saying there were some questions that I didn't have the answer to

1446
01:42:10,990 --> 01:42:14,970
that I think would be good to have answered and that we had some differing opinions on it.

1447
01:42:15,050 --> 01:42:21,150
I think it would be good for us to give us a more full understanding of a way to defend what we've done.

1448
01:42:21,370 --> 01:42:25,910
But if there are things that are indefensible, they need to be pointed out

1449
01:42:25,910 --> 01:42:31,750
For purposes of our strategy going forward, my message to the constituency is that we took

1450
01:42:31,750 --> 01:42:35,990
a measured, through these folks, we took a measured careful decision on adopting our

1451
01:42:35,990 --> 01:42:41,970
SOB, which I support, and Joe supports, and I think we all support, and I was very clear

1452
01:42:41,970 --> 01:42:42,430
about that.

1453
01:42:42,610 --> 01:42:47,030
And I said, if there are any questions or concerns that maybe we hadn't heard of

1454
01:42:47,030 --> 01:42:49,330
or considered, we'd like to hear them.

1455
01:42:49,430 --> 01:42:53,650
And frankly, there were a couple of things that I didn't have answers for that I want

1456
01:42:53,650 --> 01:43:00,350
answers to, and I'm not talking about having a consortium of attorneys come up, just one

1457
01:43:00,350 --> 01:43:06,090
or two possibly, maybe one, to kind of address those questions from a different perspective,

1458
01:43:06,750 --> 01:43:12,690
not to undermine our ordinance or undermine our understanding of our legal position,

1459
01:43:13,390 --> 01:43:18,370
but just when we have questions about these things in the future, we have given a lot

1460
01:43:18,370 --> 01:43:22,290
of consideration to things that we didn't necessarily consider before, and we now know

1461
01:43:22,290 --> 01:43:28,330
why we why the answer is what it is just more informing our decision is my

1462
01:43:28,330 --> 01:43:32,410
opinion it would have to be somebody with no vested interest in what's going on

1463
01:43:32,410 --> 01:43:37,850
here or definitely nobody that has a perceived agenda and I think that would

1464
01:43:37,850 --> 01:43:43,750
satisfy a lot of a lot of concerns and in the in the community yeah I'd like to

1465
01:43:44,410 --> 01:43:51,030
just provide a little bit of clarity I did watch the video of the discussion

1466
01:43:51,030 --> 01:43:54,990
I commend you all for going and listening to the citizens.

1467
01:43:57,050 --> 01:44:02,930
It probably took guts, and I know that this is a sensitive issue because it is an active litigation.

1468
01:44:03,770 --> 01:44:13,170
But from a public perception, I commend you for listening to the public and showing that they elected us to hear their voice.

1469
01:44:14,650 --> 01:44:25,070
The issue that I heard resoundingly was that the citizens are concerned about the cost that the city is embarking upon in addressing this issue.

1470
01:44:25,690 --> 01:44:36,010
And if we can look at solutions that minimize the cost of the city but produce the same results, let's look at those options.

1471
01:44:36,010 --> 01:44:40,890
I think the ordinance we have is a well thought out,

1472
01:44:41,010 --> 01:44:44,310
constitutionally upholdable ordinance which protects our citizens.

1473
01:44:45,170 --> 01:44:53,430
But we also have the reality of that we're dealing with a litigation matter that is costing the taxpayers money.

1474
01:44:54,470 --> 01:44:59,350
So are there solutions out there which can protect the city of Brookhaven?

1475
01:45:00,000 --> 01:45:05,880
Ultimately, achieve the same results as the course that we're currently going down, but

1476
01:45:05,880 --> 01:45:10,540
minimizes that cost to the citizens. And I think that that's what the citizens want to

1477
01:45:10,540 --> 01:45:17,020
see this city move forward with, is exploring those opportunities that minimize the costs

1478
01:45:17,020 --> 01:45:26,580
and yet still achieve the same results that is protecting the future value of the city

1479
01:45:26,580 --> 01:45:27,060
of Brookhaven.

1480
01:45:27,060 --> 01:45:32,560
But I guess at the end of the day I'm confused because I'm not sure how short of changing

1481
01:45:32,560 --> 01:45:34,340
our ordinance we can minimize those costs.

1482
01:45:34,920 --> 01:45:36,680
We're not driving that cost right now.

1483
01:45:36,820 --> 01:45:40,800
We've not chosen to file a lawsuit, we're just simply responding to it.

1484
01:45:40,860 --> 01:45:42,800
So at this point we're responding.

1485
01:45:44,180 --> 01:45:54,100
We've made our position and I'm not an attorney nor have I played one on TV, but the costs

1486
01:45:54,100 --> 01:45:54,740
are what they are.

1487
01:45:54,740 --> 01:46:00,200
I mean, what a little bit I know of the legal system is that we're sort of on a train that

1488
01:46:00,200 --> 01:46:07,200
has left the station and sort of pulling into a siding that we choose to pull into, it's

1489
01:46:07,200 --> 01:46:09,420
going down the track.

1490
01:46:09,640 --> 01:46:14,480
So I'm not sure that while I understand and appreciate what you're saying, I just

1491
01:46:14,480 --> 01:46:21,080
don't know that we have an opportunity or we have an option to mitigate the cost because

1492
01:46:21,080 --> 01:46:22,360
we're not driving those costs.

1493
01:46:22,540 --> 01:46:23,600
Well, we're responding.

1494
01:46:23,600 --> 01:46:27,740
I'd also like a reconformation of what the litigation cost is.

1495
01:46:28,100 --> 01:46:38,340
You know, when we first discussed this, we talked, we were told that our max cost is going to be this issue cost city 75 grand and it'll be over in nine months.

1496
01:46:39,200 --> 01:46:44,660
It's nine months now, we've spent 40 grand on this issue and we haven't even gotten to the courthouse.

1497
01:46:45,080 --> 01:46:47,760
Well, we actually, we have gotten to the courthouse.

1498
01:46:47,940 --> 01:46:50,980
We've been heard, the briefs are filed, we're now waiting for an answer.

1499
01:46:50,980 --> 01:46:54,600
It's not a long-lengthly trial, and it's not 40,000.

1500
01:46:54,840 --> 01:46:58,720
Half of that was spent for lawyers to create the ordinance

1501
01:46:58,720 --> 01:47:01,420
and show up at the council meetings.

1502
01:47:01,680 --> 01:47:05,700
I've never, you know, I know the cost of litigation,

1503
01:47:06,660 --> 01:47:10,080
and the city will be paying the cost of litigation.

1504
01:47:10,680 --> 01:47:14,120
There will be a tremendous amount of prep time prior to that,

1505
01:47:14,320 --> 01:47:19,200
and there will also be appeal, possibly numerous appeals.

1506
01:47:19,200 --> 01:47:26,300
So I would like to see, you know, I frankly don't believe the quotes that we were given

1507
01:47:27,780 --> 01:47:30,140
about the total cost of...

1508
01:47:30,140 --> 01:47:31,280
Let me just wrap this up.

1509
01:47:31,760 --> 01:47:36,600
But basically I think we're getting a little off track from what I was suggesting was not

1510
01:47:36,600 --> 01:47:39,940
that we repeal our ordinance.

1511
01:47:40,320 --> 01:47:44,200
It wasn't suggesting that we, you know, the cost was something that did come up.

1512
01:47:44,200 --> 01:47:54,180
But to me, if we better understand our position thoroughly from top to bottom, I think in our options,

1513
01:47:54,540 --> 01:47:58,340
but mainly our position as to why we did what we did, which I think we did the right thing,

1514
01:47:58,980 --> 01:48:04,400
if we better understand that, I think it benefits our citizenry in knowing that their elected officials

1515
01:48:04,400 --> 01:48:09,960
have researched every in and out of this area.

1516
01:48:09,960 --> 01:48:15,140
We had a lot of testimony on it. We did have a lot of consultation on this.

1517
01:48:15,380 --> 01:48:17,020
We did hear from some other attorneys.

1518
01:48:18,120 --> 01:48:21,760
And all I'm saying is there's some new questions that came up that I didn't know the answer to,

1519
01:48:22,080 --> 01:48:24,380
and I frankly would like to have those answered.

1520
01:48:25,600 --> 01:48:30,460
And having consultation with attorneys not necessarily involved in this suit

1521
01:48:30,460 --> 01:48:38,420
would help me better defend our ordinance if those questions are answered in such a way that I'm comfortable with them.

1522
01:48:38,420 --> 01:48:44,720
So, again, I was very clear and Joe was clear that we supported our ordinance and we thought

1523
01:48:44,720 --> 01:48:47,660
our ordinance was the right thing to do and we still do think that.

1524
01:48:48,180 --> 01:48:51,620
There were some questions that weren't brought up when we were researching this and when we

1525
01:48:51,620 --> 01:48:54,360
were consulting and voting on it that I wanted to have.

1526
01:48:55,080 --> 01:48:56,400
I think we need to have answered.

1527
01:48:56,700 --> 01:49:02,680
And if you'd go back and watch the meeting, I think you'll see just one or two very

1528
01:49:02,680 --> 01:49:09,000
very cogent questions that I think will help us better understand the impact of our ordinance

1529
01:49:09,000 --> 01:49:14,280
and better defend it to our constituents, to let them know, because my whole purpose

1530
01:49:14,280 --> 01:49:18,280
for going to that meeting was to let the people know that we took a lot of time with

1531
01:49:18,280 --> 01:49:22,800
this decision. There was rational thought behind it, and I think they were appreciative

1532
01:49:22,800 --> 01:49:27,680
of that. But there were some very intelligent questions about our ordinance that I think

1533
01:49:27,680 --> 01:49:34,820
need to be answered and I don't like you your point to your point Rebecca that you know keep searching keep getting answers

1534
01:49:35,340 --> 01:49:40,280
You know and then they'll have new ones to come up that you know we keep not that's not what I'm talking about just

1535
01:49:40,820 --> 01:49:44,860
You know part of being an attorney or a part of being an elected official or just a business venue

1536
01:49:44,860 --> 01:49:45,440
You know you

1537
01:49:46,300 --> 01:49:49,880
review every so often your policies and procedures and to make sure that they're

1538
01:49:50,340 --> 01:49:55,920
Doing what they're intended to do and I think to have the full more full confidence in what we've done

1539
01:49:55,920 --> 01:50:02,140
I think is wise on our part and I don't want I don't want to give the wrong

1540
01:50:02,140 --> 01:50:07,240
impression again I support our ordinance I think our council supports our

1541
01:50:07,240 --> 01:50:11,040
ordinance I think it's the right thing to do I just want to be even more

1542
01:50:11,040 --> 01:50:14,100
certain of that and getting some questions answered I think will help us

1543
01:50:14,100 --> 01:50:18,840
convey that to our constituents even better. Mr. Mayor if I may just two

1544
01:50:18,840 --> 01:50:24,540
points one is I'd like to suggest to all of us there is a court case

1545
01:50:24,540 --> 01:50:32,020
coming up. So pretty much what happens after that court case is going to predict what avenue

1546
01:50:32,020 --> 01:50:36,460
we go down. I'm very much in favor of following through on this. I'm going to suggest that

1547
01:50:36,460 --> 01:50:41,120
we pick this conversation up after that court date and it'll make a lot more sense what

1548
01:50:41,120 --> 01:50:46,740
we can or should be doing in regards to how we handle this issue, if you agree. And

1549
01:50:46,740 --> 01:50:52,080
then secondly, I just want to make the comment about that evening. One of the

1550
01:50:52,080 --> 01:50:57,440
valuable outcomes of it. People were just generally satisfied to have us there to have

1551
01:50:57,440 --> 01:51:02,220
a conversation. Up to this point, we pretty much have been muscled on this issue. We

1552
01:51:02,220 --> 01:51:09,140
all ran on the basis of transparency. That was transparency. We needed to do that.

1553
01:51:09,440 --> 01:51:14,240
They had the right to have that conversation with us. It was valuable. We came back

1554
01:51:14,240 --> 01:51:19,040
with information that we didn't have before, which opened our eyes and we're sharing

1555
01:51:19,040 --> 01:51:25,480
some of that with you now. That was a lesson. I mean, you can get caught in this rut sometimes,

1556
01:51:26,980 --> 01:51:31,680
and I very much appreciated the opportunity to do that. But I'd suggest that we pick

1557
01:51:31,680 --> 01:51:35,720
this back up after the, whatever, instead of deferring it whenever the court date is

1558
01:51:35,720 --> 01:51:35,980
had.

1559
01:51:36,400 --> 01:51:40,300
Well, it's not what we're waiting for is a ruling from the court. There's no time

1560
01:51:40,300 --> 01:51:40,960
certain of that.

1561
01:51:40,960 --> 01:51:43,560
Yeah, I mean, we can do it, and we can have this discussion in the executive

1562
01:51:43,560 --> 01:51:43,980
session.

1563
01:51:44,740 --> 01:51:45,140
Okay.

1564
01:51:45,820 --> 01:51:52,520
That's what I would recommend that we do since we are talking about ongoing litigation, let's take it.

1565
01:51:52,560 --> 01:51:57,780
But also in the meantime from an education standpoint, and I'll let the attorney decide.

1566
01:51:58,440 --> 01:52:04,940
If you look at our ordinance, there are pages and pages of citations of cases that we use to make our decision on.

1567
01:52:05,240 --> 01:52:07,320
I would like to make those cases readily available.

1568
01:52:07,320 --> 01:52:12,460
I'd like, you know, we got a disk with a bunch of information on it to the extent we can put all of that information

1569
01:52:12,460 --> 01:52:17,260
or as much as we can available on the website, I'd like to have that out there.

1570
01:52:17,400 --> 01:52:22,300
So if somebody wants to take the time to do the research that we did to come up with that decision,

1571
01:52:22,520 --> 01:52:27,620
that they don't have to go through and search case by case or, you know, unpack.

1572
01:52:28,040 --> 01:52:32,560
But, you know, let's take what we referenced in the ordinance and make it available

1573
01:52:32,560 --> 01:52:39,600
So, if somebody is interested in reading through it, they have that opportunity to do so without having to find it wherever it is that they can find it.

1574
01:52:40,360 --> 01:52:45,640
Also, the preamble to the ordinance does cite a number of those cases, Ms. Dreyer.

1575
01:52:46,040 --> 01:52:48,880
So, it's there and everybody wants it.

1576
01:52:48,880 --> 01:52:52,480
But let's make it easy for people to find that.

1577
01:52:52,480 --> 01:52:58,680
But let's us create a link somehow to that information so that if they can go to one source

1578
01:52:58,680 --> 01:53:04,000
per KBGA.gov and go from there to find that information.

1579
01:53:04,460 --> 01:53:09,960
I think what you're talking about is educating the public of why we made the decision we

1580
01:53:09,960 --> 01:53:10,180
made.

1581
01:53:10,560 --> 01:53:14,980
And I don't know that putting forth a bunch of legal court cases, the general public

1582
01:53:14,980 --> 01:53:19,280
is not going to spend the hours that we spent reading those things.

1583
01:53:19,280 --> 01:53:26,680
What you're really talking about is getting more proactive information out there to the

1584
01:53:26,680 --> 01:53:32,140
public and educating them on why the city moved in the direction it moved in.

1585
01:53:33,020 --> 01:53:42,180
We have been very silent in supporting the decisions or really explaining the decisions

1586
01:53:42,180 --> 01:53:49,060
that we, you know, the details of why we acted the way we acted in acting the ordinance.

1587
01:53:50,160 --> 01:53:57,960
If, you know, if you want to do that, I think that would be a very good thing to do.

1588
01:53:58,040 --> 01:54:00,780
And I think that was one of the things that came up out of that meeting,

1589
01:54:00,860 --> 01:54:08,120
is I saw that J. and Joe did address the public and sort of give a little bit more background

1590
01:54:08,120 --> 01:54:14,360
in context of why we went down the way, you know, why we had to have an ordinance because

1591
01:54:14,360 --> 01:54:17,920
of constitutional issues, defects in the cap county ordinance.

1592
01:54:18,180 --> 01:54:21,180
You know the point, you're bringing up baits that are not mutually exclusive.

1593
01:54:21,740 --> 01:54:26,780
I think both of those categories probably need to be had a separate tab, I think,

1594
01:54:26,820 --> 01:54:30,100
for those that want to do the research on this and be educated, you should be

1595
01:54:30,100 --> 01:54:33,180
afforded to them in the full, in the full Monty here.

1596
01:54:33,520 --> 01:54:36,120
And if we do it in progression of how we...

1597
01:54:38,620 --> 01:54:44,180
If we do it in the progression of how we actually did it during council meetings in chronological

1598
01:54:44,180 --> 01:54:46,580
order, let them see how we evolved in our decision.

1599
01:54:47,320 --> 01:54:55,660
And then a more proactive part of the city here to communicate out, I think, is definitely

1600
01:54:55,660 --> 01:54:56,020
welcome.

1601
01:54:56,540 --> 01:55:00,640
It became apparent from the information that we shared that night that of that survey

1602
01:55:01,220 --> 01:55:04,620
it was either 40 or 60 percent, it was a higher percent of people that had never heard

1603
01:55:04,620 --> 01:55:10,560
that we were even in a position of controversy with the 41% have not heard of the issue yet.

1604
01:55:10,800 --> 01:55:16,000
And yet, within a five-minute conversation, apparently the majority of them were saying

1605
01:55:16,000 --> 01:55:17,580
that it's something that we shouldn't be doing.

1606
01:55:18,220 --> 01:55:20,680
And I brought up the point and said, I think I brought it up.

1607
01:55:20,900 --> 01:55:21,780
And if I didn't, I meant to.

1608
01:55:23,540 --> 01:55:28,180
That we worked countless hours on this coming up with our decision.

1609
01:55:28,720 --> 01:55:32,840
And now we're looking at a person who made a decision in less than five minutes

1610
01:55:33,360 --> 01:55:40,540
based upon a survey. And my premise has always been if you need to know the facts before you

1611
01:55:40,540 --> 01:55:44,960
make a decision. So I'm supportive of making sure we get the facts out there for anybody who

1612
01:55:44,960 --> 01:55:48,400
really wants to go as far as they want to go to learn what we did and why we did it.

1613
01:55:50,280 --> 01:55:55,340
All right. Thank you. We don't need executive session, do we?

1614
01:55:55,480 --> 01:55:57,840
Yes, we do. Real estate and legal.

1615
01:55:57,840 --> 01:56:01,540
Okay. Do we want to do it now or after the council meeting?

1616
01:56:02,300 --> 01:56:03,320
Do we have enough time?

1617
01:56:04,260 --> 01:56:04,700
Yeah.

1618
01:56:04,940 --> 01:56:05,200
Okay.

1619
01:56:06,780 --> 01:56:07,200
For a motion?

1620
01:56:07,500 --> 01:56:09,920
I make a motion that we go into executive session.

1621
01:56:10,940 --> 01:56:11,560
Is there a second?

1622
01:56:12,440 --> 01:56:13,680
For a real estate matter.

1623
01:56:14,160 --> 01:56:15,020
And litigation.

1624
01:56:15,420 --> 01:56:16,220
And a litigation matter.

1625
01:56:16,740 --> 01:56:17,360
Is there a second?

1626
01:56:17,360 --> 01:56:17,600
Anything else?

1627
01:56:20,290 --> 01:56:21,070
Is there a second?

1628
01:56:21,830 --> 01:56:22,470
A second.

1629
01:56:23,190 --> 01:56:23,790
Any discussion?

1630
01:56:24,350 --> 01:56:27,150
All in favor of adjourning to executive session signify so by saying aye.

1631
01:56:27,310 --> 01:56:27,690
Aye.

1632
01:56:27,990 --> 01:56:28,430
All opposed?

1633
01:57:28,010 --> 01:57:30,190
All right. Hello. All right. Is there a motion?

1634
01:57:30,990 --> 01:57:33,130
Mr. Mayor, it moves that we adjourn executive session.

1635
01:57:33,410 --> 01:57:34,730
Second. Is there a discussion?

1636
01:57:35,610 --> 01:57:37,530
All in favor of coming out of executive session,

1637
01:57:37,710 --> 01:57:38,690
signify so by saying aye.

1638
01:57:39,010 --> 01:57:40,030
Aye. All opposed?

1639
01:57:40,670 --> 01:57:41,910
All right. We're out of executive session.

1640
01:57:42,390 --> 01:57:44,910
Just a minute. It moves that we adjourn the meeting.

1641
01:57:45,550 --> 01:57:45,970
Aye. Second.

1642
01:57:47,670 --> 01:57:48,450
Any discussion?

1643
01:57:49,310 --> 01:57:50,990
All in favor of adjournment of the work session,

1644
01:57:51,110 --> 01:57:52,190
signify so by saying aye.

1645
01:57:52,430 --> 01:57:53,770
Aye. Aye. All opposed?

1646
01:57:53,770 --> 01:57:55,690
All right, we're adjourned.

1647
01:57:58,580 --> 01:58:00,120
Okay, welcome to the...