Brent, a DM fan currently living in D.C., writes in with this question about Decatur eateries…

We’re flying in [to Decatur] Christmas Day to visit my mom (who lives in downtown Dec) for a few days.  Are any restaurants in/near Decatur open Christmas NIGHT?  We won’t be there until maybe 4:00, so the usual mid-day options (some major restaurants and hotel buffets) will have shut down by then.  Must we just make a quick dinner at home (Mom’s in her 80s and doesn’t cook much anymore) or will the Majestic on Ponce be our only option outside the apartment?

Isn’t Denny’s always open on Christmas?  (Just kidding Brent!)

My apologies for those that could give a flip about an expanded ‘No Parking’ in an area that you never give a second thought to…but hey, you got to give our gripey commenters credit!  Sometimes they’re psychic!

A little over a month ago, DJ wrote in with complaints about the parking situation on Nelson Ferry down by First Christain and its insanely popular little park that’s a hit residents less than 3 feet tall.  He wrote and I quote “Why do they allow parking on both sides of the street by the park?”

Whelp, it seems like either the pastor at First Christian was thinking the same thing or this post got the ball rolling because one of the items on tonight’s commission meeting agenda is “Recommend expanding the existing “No Parking” zone on the south side of Nelson Ferry Road adjacent to Decatur First Christian Church.”

Details for the proposal can be found on pages 37 and 38 of the supplemental materials provided by the city.

It is stated that that Asst. City Manager David Junger met with Rev. James Brewer-Calvert and with “neighborhood representatives” regarding the problem. I didn’t realize that Ponce Heights had neighborhood reps!  Who are they?

The Decatur City Commission and the Board of Education will meeting tonight in a joint 6:30p work session at city hall to discuss “annexation options”.

The meeting is only scheduled to last an hour (as are most work sessions preceding the actual commission meeting) but hopefully the discussion will provide further clarification on how the school system would absorb up to 500 additional students if the full commercial/residential annexation plan were to go forward.

In case you’re looking to get up to speed beforehand (you know…do a little homework?) the full gamut of options were detailed in this May 2008 presentation.  Also, here’s the latest City Manager’s report to the City Commission, which includes a helpful Revenues vs. Expenditures chart on page 6.

Here’s something I’m still trying to wrap my head around…why don’t “city operation” expendures increase when you go from just commercial property to commercial/residential property?  That larger area doesn’t need additional police, fire, garbage pickup, etc?