OK.  So, I was totally off-base with the impetus of this whole I-20 resolution before the Decatur City Commission this evening.

After listening to the conversation at tonight’s meeting, it became clear that the real issue at hand in bringing up a resolution wasn’t about financial support for an I-20 transit option, as I had previously thought, it was about taking a public stand regarding the transit options still on MARTA’s table to build a rail line out I-20.  Though there’s nothing suggesting this on MARTA’s I-20 East alternatives website (the map above is their most recently posted “option 2″ from May 2011), according to a lively discussion at city hall last night, heavy rail option #2 would leave East Lake Station and tunnel under Oakhurst on its way to I-20.

Now, as the Mayor pointed out during the conversation, heavy rail option #3, which runs from Indian Creek Station to Wesley Chapel Road, is the one on the Transportation Investment Act draft project list to the tune of $225 million.  Heavy rail option #2, which would run under Oakhurst and wouldn’t even stop inside the city limits by the sounds of it, has not seen that kind of financial support and according to a comment from Mayor Pro-Tem Baskett, MARTA acknowledged in their presentation to the Commission two weeks ago that they knew Decatur residents would be opposed to that.

However, both south-side commissioners expressed a desire to pass the resolution officially supporting heavy-rail option #3 from Indian Creek to Wesley Chapel, publicly stating Decatur’s opposition to option #2.  This comment from Commission Kecia Cunningham sums up the sentiment…

“And to think that we will be silent about what may be happening in Oakhurst, I mean just the whole notion that [tunneling under Oakhurst is] being batted around, and MARTA not come to Oakhurst, MARTA not come to the commissioners who represent that part of the city, tells me that we’re not really part of their thought process…I don’t know about you guys, but when they talked to us last month that was the first that I was told specifically that Oakhurst was involved.  And just the notion of that makes me very concerned and I think it’s important for us to…say, there is an option out there that doesn’t have such an awful impact on the city of Decatur, on Oakhurst.”

In the end, the resolution was passed unanimously by the commission, stating support for heavy rail option #3.

But this has only just begun.  First off, we need to see a dang map of the revised/new (?) option #2.  I’ll see if I can get a scan.

Deanne, who’s helping to organize next Sunday afternoon’s School Board candidates forum at the Church of Decatur Heights, is looking for community input.  She’d like to know what questions y’all might have for the two candidates – Garrett Goebel and Peg Bumgardner – vying for John Ahmann’s vacated District 1 seat.

Write your questions in the comments section below and you’re question might just get asked by moderator Geoff Koski!

Additionally Deanne notes that Julie Rhame, Board member and unopposed District 2 candidate, is looking foward to mingling with folks and answering questions during the Meet & Greet afterwards.

Update: Ignore this post and go HERE.

At Decatur’s last city commission meeting, Major Pro-Tem Jim Baskett brought up a MARTA presentation that occurred prior to the full commission meeting where the city commission was “all but asked” to draw up and pass a resolution showing support for the I-20 Transit Initiative. The mayor pro-tem then suggested that the city draw up a resolution that could be put on the docket at the next commission meeting, voicing support for the project.

Mayor Bill Floyd, who obviously has put a lot of blood, sweat and tears into the current draft Transportation Investment Act draft list being a member of the TIA Executive Committee, seemed wary of adopting a resolution stating explicit favor for the I-20 project.  (Some of Mayor Floyd’s thoughts on the subject can be found in this recent report.)

In the end, the commission asked Deputy City Manager Hugh Saxon (sitting in for City Manager Peggy Merriss) to draft the resolution and they would discuss it further at the next meeting.

The project is slated for $225 million on the current draft list, but many DeKalb politicos and residents are hoping to get the full $522 million project funded.

That’s tonight!  (You can preview the resolution on page 33 of the attachments for the meeting.)

I like trees. I have two huge oaks and they make me happy. Most people I know tend to like theirs as well. That’s the basic mindset in which I read a recent FFAF comment thread discussing our largely non-existent residential tree ordinance.

Caveat: I tend to bristle at heavy-handed meddling in my affairs so I’ve never been a big fan of neighborhood tree ordinances. Wanna chop down all your trees? You’re outta your mind as far as I’m concerned but, hey, I’m not you. It’s your yard. Have at it.

Instead, I’ve always wished we could simply inspire people to value trees. Not just an individual tree but the culture of trees — the ongoing planting, nurturing and enjoyment of them. Not for emotional reasons or under threat of fines, but in practical, measurable terms. And that’s why today felt like Christmas morning, because my wish came true in the form of this posting on The Atlantic Cities site.

As it turns out, trees aren’t just pretty. They’re serious bottom line performers, and in ways that seem very compatible with how we tend to think and behave around here.

In the referenced studies, not only did a tree in front of one’s house add more than $7,000 to its sales price, it added $13,000 to the value of the house next door.

Uh, whah?!

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