City Commission Meeting – 3/16/09
March 16, 2009 | 11:24 amLots on the table for tonight’s City Commission meeting (agenda found here).
Among the most interesting issues:
1. City Commission will vote to show support for the annexation of 10 commercial parcels along E. College between the city limits and Sams Crossing, with the understanding that Avondale will annex everything to its west up to Sams Crossing. (page 42 of the supplemental materials)
This vote represents the first step in the process of bringing these parcels inside the city limits. Rep. Benfield has agreed to sponsor the legislation before the GA general assembly in two separate bills (one for each city).
Though 10 parcels won’t do much to ease the city’s tax burden, the two cities are in agreement that they both would benefit from giving this strip a little TLC.
2. Surprisingly, the “Sanitation Fee Schedule” agenda item is some of the most interesting reading the meeting “materials”. (page 39) Essentially, sanitation fees will probably have to be increased citywide because the market for recyclables has completely evaporated. Why? Because the companies that collect them can no to make more off collection – though I wonder what becomes of all of these recyclables if they aren’t used. Are they just stored somewhere?
So, keep this is mind when you throw something in the recycling. Plastics, chipboard, cardboard isn’t currently being reused…and could just as easily wind up in a dump. The best course of action is to minimize all garbage. That seems to be the impetus behind the city providing a coupon for a free reusable tote with our garbage bags in the near future.
3. The city is smartly removing the Homestead Exemption from 2009 tax bills in anticipation that the state will not meet its 3% goal (revenue above amount to fund program) to distribute them in 2009. (page 38)
4. The Ponce Heights traffic study – incorrectly called Ponce Terrace in the report – doesn’t recommend any action in traffic calming (except restriping crosswalks) until a neighborhood committee is estabilished and its determined there is a need for additional measures. (page 64)
5. The Glenlake Park overhaul begins soon (late March – early April). Church St. will be narrowed to one lane during construction to provide parking for tennis court and pool users. (page 57)
Phew! Lots going on!
For the City folks that monitor this, can you answer me whether the City will refund/pass through the grant should the state fools honor the HRTG for 2009?
Didn’t we just hear a few weeks ago that the city has saved 40% of its operating budget ($7 million) it its reserves?
http://decaturmetro.com/2009/01/26/decatur-has-7-million-in-reserves/
That is great, and it is prudent for the city to anticipate losing this money for next year and plan for that. But it seems like maybe some of the reserve money should be used to offset the potential loss of money from the tax relief grant instead of increasing taxes on residents in the midst of the great recession that we are currently undergoing.
There should at least be a debate about it instead of the city commission and Peggy just instictively raising taxes.
Everyone should remember that anyone can go to the Commission meeting and comment on any agenda item and that there is also a time at the end when anyone can address the Commission on practically any subject. If you think you need to, make your voice heard !
DM: You didn’t mention the most massive thing — the enormous mixed-use development being planned SW of Sam’s Crossing (“East Decatur Station” ECS). Four of those parcels are in that area, so we assume that this smallish annexation is connected to this ECS development. But ECS needs more than those parcels if it’s all going to be in the city. Another couple or three smallish annexations.
P. 5: “EDS developers now control a large percentage of the district.” It’s been in the works for a while, I guess. Plenty of clues, in retrospect.
Work session in less than an hour. (Anyone know if it’s okay to sit quietly in the back?)
“It’s been in the works for a while, I guess. Plenty of clues, in retrospect.”
This one’s definitely been no secret. I participated in the public planning sessions way back in 2002 and there was even talk then about a desire to have the whole project area within the city.
From what I can see of the current plan, it’s not fundamentally different from the one that came out of that process.
Umm…there are slides regarding the Avondale LCI in the supplemental materials, but I believe they are only in support of the Mixed Use zoning ordinance. The city is creating this type of zoning in preparation for large parcels LIKE Avondale or DeVry.
But any individual rezoning of an area to Mixed Use would also have to be approved by the commission.
Ultimately its unclear from the agenda whether the commission is even considering approving the mixed-use zoning option this evening, so I didn’t mention it. In terms of Avondale, I’m not sure of its current status, but last I heard it had been submarined by MARTA for the time being.
And yes, that plan has been around a long darn time.
Obviously I have a lot of catch-up to play. I’ve heard vaguely about a plan in that area, but had no idea how extensive it was. In any case, the fact that the idea has been around for a long time is beside the point.
My point is that this smallish annexation is related EDS. It’s part (but only part) of it. That relation isn’t mentioned anywhere in the supporting documents, but all you need to do is compare maps. We now (i.e. since the January vote) have a lot more details about two major mixed-use development in the areas recently considered for annexation — EDS and Devry. Both were apparently waiting much closer in the wings that I was able to pick up on.
What happens to all of those recyclables? Mostly, they just pile up in a port somewhere, or in China. It isn’t pretty.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/12/business/worldbusiness/12recycle.html?_r=1&ref=business
But it’s crucial to retain the recycling infrastructure, because the economy WILL come back, and with it the manufacturing that makes use of all of those recyclables. We don’t need to resume our old, bad habits of dumping everything in a landfill. We were making great strides before the economy tanked. Let’s hope it’s not all lost in the recession.
Just a few updates based on the March 16, 2009 City Commission materials and meeting .
Sanitation Fee being decreased –
The City Commission approved the recommended reduction in residential sanitation fee from $235 to $225. While the cost of collecting recyclable material has increased, it is still at a level that is less than what we were paying two years ago and is less than what we calculate the cost to be if the City was collecting and disposing of materials. This allowed us to reduce fees.
In addition, in order to encourage both reduction and reuse of materials, a coupon will be included with tax bills that will allow tax payers to get one free reusable tote bag. The bag can be used for grocery or other shopping in lieu of either plastic or paper bags. Education efforts to get people to think not only about recycling but also reducing waste and selecting reusable products is an important part of our mission. We think the bags will help reinforce that message.
Homeowner Tax Relief Grant –
The City Commission decided to wait until the Fall 2009 billing (taxes due December 21) to remove the HTRG credit. This way the State’s budget should be adopted and we would have a very clear picture of whether or not the State has funded the HTRG.
If the credit is removed, it is important to note that this is a state tax increase, not a local increase. The City of Decatur has no control over whether to pass along this credit. Unfortunately, it appears that the City would be violating the Georgia Constitution’s gratuities provisions if we were to use City funds for a State program.
Annexation of ten parcels on East College –
Avondale Estates wants to extend their city limits west to Sams Crossing/Arcadia. In order to not have an unincorporated island, the City of Decatur needs to extend its city limits west to include the ten parcels. Rep. Benfield is willing to introduce the legislation for each City as long as each city is cooperating. It does not include any residential property and is in response to Avondale’s request.
Church Street –
Church Street will be reduced from four lanes to two lanes, one travel lane in each direction with on street parking added while Glenlake Park is under construction.
Mixed Use Zoning District –
Last night was a work session for the City Commission and as always the public was welcome to attend. The City Commission does not usually take public comment as work sessions are used to go into depth on an upcoming issue.
The City Commission will consider the addition of a Mixed-Use zoning category at their April 6, 2009 meeting. There will be an opportunity for public comment at that meeting.
Thanks so much for the follow up Peggy!
One follow up: If the HTRG is put off to the Fall and the State doesn’t extend the grant, does that mean property owners will have to pay both “installments” in the Fall?
Absolutely Lump. Need to keep recycling.
But I think we can still find ways to cut back on things that are thrown out. Perhaps a post is in order.
Right on. Don’t forget REDUCE and REUSE, which work just as well in times when the bottom falls out of the materials markets.
Now, is there any other way to reuse a beer bottle besides as a college dorm candle holder?…
Yes. The credit would be removed entirely on the second installment.