Wednesday, September 30, 2009

DeKalb Falcons in Sembler Stadium? Item may be up for discussion on Thursday in Doraville.


Monday night the Doraville City Council went into executive session specifically to discuss the possible acquisition of property. That same day the Georgia Supreme Court told DeKalb County’s development authority that it needs voter approval to sell bonds to pay off the debt on a new performing arts center. (See Atlanta Unfiltered.)

But the impact of the ruling could be much broader, subjecting virtually any bond issue by the authority to a public referendum. In a footnote on page 3, the court said a 2007 law requiring voter approval applies to bonds issued for “any new buildings or facilities or improvements to existing buildings or facilities.”

Since the cat is out of the bag with DeKalb County and others thinking of purchasing the GM plant in order to build a new football stadium for the "Doraville" Falcons, the Supreme Court ruling may have just thrown a wrench into their plans.

Thursday's town hall meeting on the future of the GM site is scheduled for Thursday evening at 6:30 pm at the Forest Fleming Arena, 3037 Pleasant Valley Drive, Doraville, GA 30340.

This land deal is by far the most important development project in the history of the City of Doraville and Council-member Bob Roche is so concerned over DeKalb Counties Plans that he has stated that if this happens that "Doraville might cease to exist"

High court: DeKalb voters must approve arts center bonds (Sembler & future GM purchase too?)


From the award winning blog by Jim Walls of Atlanta Unfiltered. (A daily must read.)

The Georgia Supreme Court told DeKalb County’s development authority Monday that it needs voter approval to sell bonds to pay off the debt on a new performing arts center.

But the impact of the ruling could be much broader, subjecting virtually any bond issue by the authority to a public referendum. In a footnote on page 3, the court said a 2007 law requiring voter approval applies to bonds issued for “any new buildings or facilities or improvements to existing buildings or facilities.”

That would include a controversial proposal, tabled in June, to help the Sembler Co. complete its Town of Brookhaven mixed-use project. Sembler had asked for a bond issue to pay for a $52 million property tax abatement, a deal that the DeKalb Board of Education and a majority of county commissioners opposed unless they were given a chance to vote on it.

The controversy flared up further over authority chairman Gene Walker’s role in the decision-making. Walker last year sought and won a seat on the DeKalb board of education, a race financed in part by more than $20,000 in political contributions by members and associates of the Sembler family. Walker has since resigned from the authority.

The high court ruled that the authority cannot sell bonds to pay off $4.3 million in debt on the new Porter Sanford III Performing Arts Center without voter approval. A DeKalb County judge refused to validate the bonds last year, siding with state Rep. Mike Jacobs, who had intervened to argue the authority would be violating the language of a law he sponsored unless there were a public referendum.

In his brief, Jacobs argued the law would not affect every transaction by the authority. But the court said a literal reading of the law shows it applies to virtually any bond issue that the agency might consider.

“What the Supreme Court is saying,” Jacobs said, “is that the referendum requirement as currently written also applies to any bond deal where the authority … is constructing new buildings or improving existing buildings, and that would include the private bond deals.”

Jacobs said he believes voter approval is necessary for some deals, such as so-called “backdoor general obligation” bond issues by the authority, whose members are all appointed by the DeKalb County Commission. In other cases, such as the proposed Sembler deal, he might support amending the law to only require approval by the county commission.

“In all cases, a body of elected officials would have to sign off on it,” he said.

DeKalb argued the law is unconstitutional because it only applies to one county and does not apply to any municipalities. The justices disagreed.

Tuesday, September 29, 2009

Dunwoody Spruill Green Market - Wednesday at the Dunwoody Post Office


Dunwoody Farmers Market
1551 Dunwoody Village Parkway, 30338
Wednesday, Sept. 30rd, 8am-12noon
Rain or Shine!
Farmers:
Annie Okra’s Barn
Blossom Hill Farms
Heirloom Gardens
Indian Ridge
Moss Hill Farm

Bakers:
H&N Bread Company
Hardwright Bakery (wheat / gluten free products available)
Sweet Auburn Bread Co

Soaps and Body Care:
Indigo Bath and Body

Jams & Jellies:
Emily G's Jam of Love

Pet:
Big Daddy Biscuits

Dairy:
Carlton Dairy

Prepared Foods:
ApotheCafe & Juice Bar
Cuisine on the Run
Garlic Clove Foods
Good Gracious Granola
Hope's Gardens
Nature's Own Olive Oil & Dips
Zen Tea
Zocalo's Fresh Mexican Salsas & Dips

Meats:
Pine Street Market
Local Artisans:
Accents by Dave
Odds Bodkins

What's at Market this week
What you will find at Market this week
(This is an estimate based on what the farmers/artisan plan on having available.)

Artisan Breads, Arugula, Baked Goods, Basil, Beans, Cheeses, Chives, Collards, Cucumbers, Cushaw Winter Squash, Eggs, Eggplant, Field Peas, Fresh Cut Flowers, Fresh Made Dips & Salsa's, Green Beans, Handmade Jewelry, Handmade Soaps, Handmade Tortillas, Halloween Costumes, Handbags, Honey, Hummus, Jams & Jellies, Kale, Kolrabi, Lettuce, Meats - Fresh Bratwurst, applewood smoked bacon, Pancetta, A variety of Salamis, Mixed Greens, Mustard Greens, Okra, Olive Oil and Fresh Dips, Parsley, Peppers – Sweet and Hot, Radishes, Salad Onions, Scuppernongs, Summer squash, Swiss Chard, Tatsoi, Teas, Tomatoes, Turnips

CSA Update
We have a few openings for our CSA for the Fall Season.
If you are interested please email Elise at SpruillgreenMarket@yahoo.com for more information.

Heart of Dunwoody provideds AED's to Dunwoody Police


DUNWOODY, Ga -- A Dunwoody man turned a family tragedy into a life-saving effort. His wife suffered a sudden cardiac arrest while watching their daughter's volleyball game.

"I just sort of passed out and flipped over.," said Kathy Lundsten.

It was more than 45 minutes before doctors got Kathy's heart beating again, and two weeks before she woke up from a coma. Kathy can barely remember the near death experience.

"Just being in the hospital and not knowing why I was there or what all the people were doing there," said Kathy.

Bob has made it his personal mission to keep other families from that pain. Over the past four months he's collected $46,000 to purchase Automated External Defibrillators, or AEDs. The units were given to Dunwoody Police. Chief Billy Grogan said they are often the first on scene in an emergency, but without an AED, there's little they can do.

"One of the worst feelings a police officer can have is when they get on scene and they are helpless," said Grogan.

Each police car will hold one of the lunchbox size units. Officers will be trained to use them over the next month, but Bob is still $15,000 short on the bill. To learn more about how you can help call (404)358-4147 or send an e-mail to: bob.lundsten@gmail.com

Audio from Sep 28th - Dunwoody City Council Meeting


Agenda and full documents

09282009_Audio_001.mp3
Start of Meeting & Proclamation

09282009_Audio_002.mp3
Public Comment

09282009_Audio_003.mp3 Passed
Budget Policy, Audit Committee, Alcohol Denial procedures
Consent Agenda - Financial Software & traffic ordinance

09282009_Audio_004.mp3 Passed
Dunwoody Overlay

09282009_Audio_005.mp3 Discussed
Zoning change timing - ZBA more then 15 days needed

09282009_Audio_006.mp3 AED's
Thank you Bob Lundsten and to everyone who donated.

09282009_Audio_007.mp3 Passed
Building Permit fees

09282009_Audio_008.mp3 Passed with huge changes
Traffic Calming - back to original DeKalb method, no resident install fee.

09282009_Audio_009.mp3 Passed
Purchasing & Pond extension (5 additional meetings)
Click here for Pond proposal - council changed from 4 to 5.

09282009_Audio_010.mp3
Final Public Comment

Monday, September 28, 2009

Dunwoody Chili Cookoff @ Fall Fest in Dunwoody Village on Oct 24th.


Saturday, October 24th
Dunwoody Village

(rain or shine)

1st place - $1,000
2nd place - $500
3rd place - $250
People's Choice Award - $500

Click link for
Rules & Regulations/Application.

Brent Morris - 404.368.0338
bmorris@peachtreebenefitgroup.com


Heyward Wescott - 404.395.5565
hwescott@gmail.com

Party on the Plaza at Perimeter Mall for Habitat for Humanity, Thursday Oct 1st.


Habitat for Humanity--DeKalb's mission is to provide affordable home ownership opportunities and support to working families in partnership with religious, community, business and government organizations--as well as our homeowners. Please join them in their annual fund raiser, the Party on the Plaza at Perimeter Mall taking place this Thursday.

Tickets are $25 and include appetizers from Maggianno's, Wildfire, and McCormick and Schmicks restaurants. There will be live music from Blake Music Group, a cash beer and wine bar and silent auction filled with luxurious items.

You may purchase tickets on-line, click here and designate your donation as POP Tickets. Your name will appear on the PAID TICKETS list at the entrance to the Party on the Plaza at Perimeter Mall on October 1. Tickets will also be available at the door.

The event will be held under the stars in the lower Garden Courtyard at the front of Perimeter Mall. In case of rain, the event will move inside at the lower retail entrance.

An Unspooky Sunday in Oakland Cemetery


Sue Rodman, author of Field Trips with Sue recently won the honor of being named the Nickelodeon Parents' Pick for Best Local Blog and always has interesting and inexpensive things to do with the kids. I thought this was a good time to reintroduce you to her blog as it is one of my favorites for kids activities.

What: Sunday in the Park
Where: Oakland Cemetery
When: Sunday, Oct. 4, 12 - 6 pm
Cost: Suggested donation is $3 per person, Under 3 is Free

A cemetery may not be the first place you think of for a lovely Sunday in the Park, but Oakland Cemetery is no ordinary cemetery. This Sunday they are celebrating the 30th annual Sunday in the Park festival. Sunday in the Park is a Victorian street festival offering fun and entertainment for all ages.

The children’s area features crafts and old-fashioned games. Oakland’s traditional Teddy Bear Tea entertains kids of all ages with storytelling by well-known Atlanta storyteller Cathy Kaemmerlen as Miss Sara Dipp A Tea. We saw Cathy do her rendition of "There Was an Old Woman Who Swallowed a Fly" at Artspooloza and she was FANTASTIC! Other children’s entertainment includes: The Bubbleman, Ruby the Clown, Fancy the Face Painter and a kid’s scavenger hunt.

The festival isn't just for kids. Activities include Doug Lothes and his performance of Gone With the Wind in Twenty Minutes at Lion Square Stage. There will be a variety of live musical entertainment on Lion Square Stage (including Lonesome Redwing, Handsome Roy Glenn Key and Friends, Bone-A-Fide Slides and Hicks with Picks). Throughout the cemetery, guests will enjoy an artists market, living history demonstrations, storytellers, Irish dancers, The Harmony Express Barbershop Quartet, Big Bethel Heaven Bound Choir, Vauxhall Garden Variety Players and more!

Guests are encouraged to participate in the Victorian costume contest and photography contest. Carriage tours and free walking tours (with an opportunity to enter some of the magnificent mausoleums) will be offered. I had the opportunity to take the Civil War tour at Oakland this summer. It was an unusual, interesting and memorable history lesson.

Free parking is available outside the cemetery gates and in designated parking lots (Grady Health systems parking lot behind the Kin Memorial MARTA station on Grant and Barnet Performance parking lot at 465 Memorial Drive.)

Sponsors for Sunday in the Park include: Six Feet Under, Stella Neighborhood Trattoria, A.S. Turner & Sons, The Stacks, Craft Creation & Design, LLC, Atlanta INtown and Tin Lizzy's.

Saturday, September 26, 2009

Agenda for Dunwoody's Monday City Council Meeting.

Monday, September 28st
Dunwoody City Hall
41 Perimeter Center East
Dunwoody, GA 30346
7:30 p.m.
Agenda

Introduction of new staff:
  • Heather Potter, Executive Assistant
  • Rich Hampton, Purchasing Manager
  • Michael Tuller, Community Development Director

Stage Door Players Proclamation

Second Read: Ordinance to adopt the City of Dunwoody Budget Policy.

Approval of Audit Committee Policy.

Approval of Contract 09-175 (Financial Software).

Second Read: Ordinance to amend Chapter 17: Traffic and Public Roadways.

Second Read: Ordinance to amend Chapter 4: Alcohol Beverages.

Amendment to Chapter 27: Zoning Ordinance to revise the text of the Dunwoody Village Overlay District.

Second Read: Ordinance amendment to Chapter 27: Zoning Ordinance to revise the text of §3C, the Dunwoody Village Overlay District.

Update on Ordinance to amend Chapter 27: Zoning, §5A and §5D: Public notice requirements for zoning actions in the City of Dunwoody.

Resolution to accept Automated External Defibrillators.

Resolution to revise building permit fee schedule.

Resolution to adopt Traffic Calming Policy.

First Read: Ordinance to adopt Purchasing Policy.

Consideration of amendment to contract with Pond & Company for Comprehensive Plan meeting schedule.

Presentation envisioning 3 to 5 stories at Dunwoody Village was given to only 40 residents at Thursday's Comp Plan meeting.

Thursday's Comprehensive Land Use meeting on Thursday only had 40 people but all 40 of those in attendance were able to speak their mind on the subject at hand.

Much of the time on Thursday was spent going through both the vision statements and projected future development ideas for the four projected growth areas of the city. Please take a look at the document embedded below and comment as you see fit. I also have about two hours of audio which shows a healthy debate (people on both sides of the development fence) on what this city should look like in 20 years. I may be able to process and upload the audio if I get a few requests.

Since this document won't be visible to my readers via e-mail, this document is also available here.

If anyone would like to sign up for the e-mail delivery of my blog, just click here.

Dnwdy Comm Mtg Sep24

Thursday, September 24, 2009

Do you want Five story buildings around the Georgetown shopping area, or Eight? How about the Village?


Important Land Use Plan meeting Tonight.
Please attend!


The City of Dunwoody is formulating a policy document for the long term planning of the city which may include increased density to the commercial areas such as Dunwoody Village, Georgetown/Shallowford, Winters Chapel/Peeler and the Jett Ferry/Williamsburg areas.

If you haven't been paying attention and think the headline above was meant as a joke, it's not. Please come hear what the professional city planners expect to happen to Dunwoody in the next 20 years and hear first hand the ideas that your neighbors have about making these changes manageable to the residents who live here. Click here for previous articles I have written that mention the Comprehensive Land Use Plan.

Tonight is suppose to be the last public meeting on the issue before the draft plan is created by the consultant but due to citizen concerns over the process to formulate the strategy for the future of the city, the city council will have have a proposal in front of it on Monday to fund several additional meetings.

That being said, now is the time to become involved and let your voice be heard.

Tonight,
Thursday Sep 24th @ 7 p.m.
Dunwoody United Methodist Church
1548 Mount Vernon Road, Dunwoody, GA 30338

DeKalb Police Alliance - Hometown Hero's Gala and Silent Auction on Oct 3rd.


A while back I discussed the DeKalb Police Alliance, the non-profit organization who fund raises to benefit police officers from all over DeKalb County. I questioned the transparency of the organization and the cost of the event for the officers it is suppose to honor. In response the DeKalb Police Alliance posted their latest tax return on their site and they have reduced the price for police officers and their guests down to $50 per plate.

I have made a donation to the organization and was forwarded the following e-mail therefore if anyone else is in the position to donate to this additional life insurance fund raising effort please do so.
The DeKalb County Police Alliance’s Annual Hometown Hero’s Gala and Silent Auction on October 3, 2009 is quickly approaching and I want to make sure Dunwoody is included. The event will raise funds to renew the three-year $100,000 life insurance policy for all of DeKalb’s police officers. It covers all sworn police officers in DeKalb including those serving in Avondale Estates, Chamblee, Clarkston, Decatur, Doraville, Dunwoody, Lithonia, Pine Lake and Stone Mountain.

The City of Dunwoody can purchase a table for $1,000.00
Regular ticket prices are $100; however, we have reduced tickets for police officers and their guest to $50.00.

To purchase a table or an individual ticket please call Nicole Blackshear at 678.362.0392.

Thanks for your continued support!
2006 Tax Records, 2007 Tax Records, 2008 Tax Records

Tuesday, September 22, 2009

Budget Review - Does Dunwoody need a Narcotics Task Force Officer and a SWAT Team?


Talking to residents regarding their needs and wants is a big part of being an elected official therefore I am posting an e-mail (with full permission) from my friend and neighbor Mike Kaplan in order to start a discussion on a matter with which I was unaware. I understand Mike's concerns but maybe my rose colored glasses just keep telling me that these budget items (well trained, well armed men with whom I have shared meals and have formed a bond of trust) are there to fight the bad guys and make the city safer and therefore would never allow the injustices documented below to happen in Dunwoody.

John,

I am a straight arrow - I don't do drugs, I barely drink, I don't gamble or even cuss. So I have no sympathy for illegal drug use or other illegal activity but it burns me up to see police act unethically. I would rather have drug users go unpunished than have police use illegal and immoral tactics. Across the country, because of financial incentives and pressures, there has been a growing pattern of Narcotic Task Forces and SWAT teams performing unethically and putting innocent citizens at risk.

Related to the funding of a Narcotics Task Force officer, I am troubled by these sentences in Warren's Memo to the City Council of Sep1, 2009:

"In addition, we recommend one additional sworn position for a Narcotics Task Force officer. The City would benefit from any seized funds recovered by this officer. Typically, the full cost of the officer yields a return to the City to be used for the exclusive purpose of funding capital and equipment needs in the Police Department."

The problem I have with this is the financial pressure on Narcotic Task Force officers to justify their salaries through the confiscation of drug-related cash and assets. This pressure has led to abuses such as officers lying, planting evidence, unjustified civil asset forfeiture and even the death of innocent citizens. Examples in our area include the death of 92-year-old Kathryn Johnston http://www.reason.com/news/show/123632.html and the recent death of a pastor, Jonathan Ayers http://www.cbsnews.com/blogs/2009/09/01/crimesider/entry5279161.shtml killed by, in my opinion, improper police action in a narcotics task force sting-gone-bad. There are dozens of other cases across the country highlighted in the links below. The common characteristic is a police force more interested in "scoring points" and seizing funds than in actually making life safer for the community.

At the very least let's not make the officer's performance be related in any way to how much funds are seized or the financial "return to the City".

Here is an article about a Mayor of a small town near Washington DC whose house is raided and dogs killed by narcotic officers who did little in the way of investigative work before invading his home. The officers did not have a proper warrant and lied about the events. The lies came to light only because the Mayor was a respected and well known member of the community. It is alleged that these illegal police actions commonly occur by narcotic officers but usually the average citizen, not having the resources of a well-known mayor, is powerless against them. By the way, the mayor is now trying to get SWAT team and narcotic task force team activity brought under control in his community.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/01/23/AR2009012302935_pf.html

Hand-in-hand with abuses by Narcotic Task Forces are problems with SWAT teams. The wrong kind of police officer is attracted to the violence associated with SWAT teams ( a respected police chief said he would not hire any officer who wanted to do SWAT work). SWAT teams should be used for the rare hostage situation or other possibly violent situation, also rare. The problem is that too many police forces have SWAT teams and, once they are on the payroll, there is pressure to have them "do something" rather than just sit around waiting for the rare hostage crisis. This has resulted in SWAT teams being used in situations that don't justify a no-knock, flash-bang, all-out invasion. This has lead to mistakes, wrong-door raids and innocent citizens killed as described in this white-paper:

Overkill: The Rise of Paramilitary Police Raids in America
http://www.cato.org/pubs/wtpapers/balko_whitepaper_2006.pdf

I don't think Dunwoody needs even a membership in a inter-city SWAT team. If we ever have a hostage situation (how often has that happened in Dunwoody?) we can call the FBI or the Georgia State Patrol. Funding part of a SWAT team and buying equipment for it will lead to pressure to use the team which will lead to trouble.

Mike Kaplan

PS: If Dunwoody does decide to have a narcotics task force officer and a SWAT team then it is my opinion that they should have a strong civilian review board.

Dunwoody Work Session audio of September 21, 2009

Tonight's Dunwoody City Council work session ran about four hours long but it is at these work sessions where topics are debated and policy is formulated openly which we will see again in next weeks meeting packet for a final vote. If the work session works well, the voting meetings should be rather boring and I am happy with tonight's session so hopefully next weeks session will go much quicker.

With the excessive rain, horrible traffic, flooded basements and school closings the meeting attendance was lighter than usual, so I am happy to provide the audio broken down into individual segments for your listening pleasure. I have listed the amount of time recorded on each item and maybe it will assist you in determining if the item is worth your time. If you need the work documents from the meeting just click here.

Agenda - Work Session
  • 1. Start of meeting - Council Comment (Time: 9m26S)

  • 2. August financial report. (10m37s)

  • 3. Pubic Comment - Traffic Calming (1m50s)

  • 4. City of Dunwoody Budget Policy. (10m01s)

  • 5. Discussion of Financial Software RFP. (19m56s)

  • 6. Discussion of Purchasing Policy. (13m32s)

  • 7. Discussion of Audit Committee and Audit Policy. (15m44s)

  • 8. Traffic calming policy discussion. (20m40s)

  • 9. Ordinance to amend Chapter 17: Traffic and Public Roadways. (0M47s)

  • 10. PUBLIC HEARING - Chapter 27: Zoning, §5A and §5D: Public notice requirements for zoning actions in the City of Dunwoody. (49m35s)

  • 11. Discussion of CVBD employee benefit package. (15m57s)

  • 12. Public notice requirements for zoning actions in the City of Dunwoody and text amendment to Chapter 21: Signs. (2m03s)

  • 13. Street parking at Marcus Jewish Community Center. (19m08s)

  • 14. Discussion of Comprehensive Plan meeting schedule. (21m47s)

  • 15. Discussion of City Council Rules and Procedures regarding meeting schedule. (13m40s)

  • 16. Final citizen public comment and end of meeting. (4m06s)

Sunday, September 20, 2009

If Doraville is going to give away the GM plant, maybe someone besides DeKalb County could help?

Joesph over at Dorablog states that Doraville is thinking about de-annexing the GM Plant back to the control of DeKalb County. If Doraville sees the GM plant as a problem to develop, so much so that they want to unload it onto someone else, maybe another one of their neighbors might be interested in moving their city border a little south? Would this be feasible, who knows but it would be interesting to explore and contemplate the uses for this site?

Below is an except from the Dorablog but please read the full item there since the comments appear to tell the story of why Doraville would make such a move.

Big news about the GM plant site — councilman Bob Roche just confirmed for me a rumor that I heard earlier this weekend that Dekalb county is considering a purchase of the site in partnership with a developer. The implications of the development deal are big. According to councilman Roche, the city will no longer have any zoning power over the former GM property, and will lose tax revenue from it (several hundred thousand a year). It will be effectively de-annexed from the city (although Doraville will still set closing times and other similar ordinances). The county has suggested that they can patrol the site using Dekalb PD, therefore not taxing our current police forces.

The developer is New Broadstreet, based out of Orlando. The company’s president, David Pace, helped develop Disney’s Celebration USA outside Disney World. The company’s website says it is committed to New Urbanist principles — which include walkable neighborhoods, and mixed-use developments that adhere to the work-live-play philosophy.

Dunwoody Fall Festival looks to be a huge event on October 24th. Sign up now for sponsorship and volunteer opportunities.


This festival presented by the Dunwoody Chamber of Commerce will have a chili cook off, live music all day, inflatables for the kids, a hay ride, dunking station, beer tent, food vendors, arts and crafts, and more!

Sponsors & Vendors contact:

(Vendor Forms)
fallfest@Dunwoodycommerce.org
678.244.9700

Chili Cook-off Information contact:

Brent Morris - cell 404.368.0338
bmorris@peachtreebenefitgroup.com

Heyward Wescott - cell 404.395.5565
hwescott@gmail.com


Volunteers contact:

fallfest@Dunwoodycommerce.org
678.244.9700


We need your help to make this event successful.

Rep Fran Millar speaks to the Dunwoody Chamber regarding Milton County.


GA State Representative, Fran Millar, is the keynote speaker for the Dunwoody Chamber of Commerce dinner event on Thursday, September 24 at the Ravinia Club.

He will be discussing the impact on Dunwoody if Milton County is formed. The meeting is open to the public and begins at 6:00pm. $40 per person and $30 for Chamber members.

To RSVP go to http://franmillardinner.eventbrite.com/ or call the chamber at 678-244-9700 extension 0.

Circus of the Kids has come to Atlanta - St. Jude the Apostle


My friends daughter is a clown in this production of Circus of the Kids and he states that this is the most incredible program to both participate in as well as watch what these ordinary kids can do. I look forward to seeing the show which is taking place at St. Jude the Apostle School. Click the photo above for a video preview and the prices below to order advance tickets.

Walk for Food Allergy at Brook Run on Sat Sep 26th

EVENT DETAILS

Date: Saturday, September 26, 2009

Time: Check-in begins at 9:00 a.m.; Walk begins at 10:00 a.m.

Location: Brook Run Park, 4770 N. Peachtree Rd, Dunwoody, GA 30338

Distance: 2 miles

Restrictions: No pets, glass bottles, bikes, roller skates, or skate boards. Baby strollers and wagons are welcomed.

Decatur's First Annual Dogtoberfest on Oct 4th

Please join the City of Decatur for Oakhurst's First Annual Dogtoberfest! Sunday, October 4th from 2pm-6pm on the Solarium lawn, 321 West Hill St.

DOGS WELCOME!

Dog and Kid Friendly Activities, Dog Training Tips, Costume Contest, Beer, Live Music, Microchipping, Doggie Adoptions and more!

Join us for a day of fun filled activities for you and your dog. We're kicking off the day at 2pm with a "Mutt Strutt" or mini parade starting at the Taj Ma-Hound and ending at the Solarium. Since it is October costumes are welcome and there will be a costume contest immediately following the parade with prizes for Scariest, Goofiest, Prettiest, Best Group Costume and Most Original.

Prizes will include gift certificates from local businesses, doggie art work, pet portraits and more. Get your dog Microchipped by Animal Action Rescue. Adopt a new family member from one of our animal rescue organizations. Learn some extremely valuable training tips from the professional trainers at Frogs to Dogs. They'll be conducting a question and answer session throughout the event as well as introducing their Emergency Animal Transport Vehicle, the first of its kind in GA.

Check out our marketplace for cool new collars and leashes, delicious dog treats, free information from local non profit organizations, art, doggie photography and lots more. And we even have fun events for the kids including face painting and dog bowl decorating.

Admission is FREE. All donations for food, beer and Dogtoberfest activities will benefit the Oakhurst dog park.

For more info., please contact Krista Aversano, kaversano@tajmahound.com.

Saturday, September 19, 2009

Monday's Dunwoody City Council Agenda

Monday, September 21st
Dunwoody City Hall
41 Perimeter Center East
Dunwoody, GA 30346
7:00 P.m.
Agenda - Work Sesssion

Friday, September 18, 2009

City of Dunwoody proposes 15.5 Million dollar budget for 2010


As required by the City Charter, I hereby submit for your consideration the proposed Fiscal Year (FY) 2010 budget for the City of Dunwoody.

The City of Dunwoody was incorporated on December 1, 2008. Dunwoody began providing a full array of municipal services in January, 2009. Since that time all of the necessary personnel, contracts and equipment are in place to provide “best in class” services to our 40,000 residents and over 2,000 businesses. The start up of the Police Department was the fastest deployment in the United States.

The FY 2010 (January 1, 2010 – December 31, 2010) budget is an investment in the future of Dunwoody and reflects the priorities of Council and the citizens of our community. This budget has been planned taking into account both local and national economic conditions. The metro Atlanta area witnessed a rapid and traumatic economic crisis over the past 18 months. While Dunwoody has not been hit quite as hard as other communities, the damage realized to job creation, the real estate market and the financial sector impacted our ability to raise revenue. I project that the City will exceed our conservative revenue estimates for FY 2009 and predict a modest growth in revenue for FY 2010. Most economists are cautiously optimistic that we have nearly reached the bottom of this economic recession and that our local economy will not experience significant continued economic decline in 2010. With this less than rosy economic forecast, I estimated our revenues conservatively and planned for our expenses to be in line with the economic realities currently facing Dunwoody.

The FY 2009 adopted revenue budget for the City of Dunwoody was $14,975,978 and the expense budget was projected to be $14,073,899. We now project to end the year with a surplus that will exceed $3,634,085. The City did not budget in FY 2009 for our fair share of the Homestead Option Sales Tax (HOST). These funds can only be used for capital projects. The revenue generated from this program ($2,382,000) contributed greatly to the large surplus. However, through prudent spending and good revenue planning, the City is projected to generate $1,252,085 in surplus for FY 2009 not counting the HOST funds. The FY 2010 budget includes a budget surplus of $1,312,759 in the General Fund and $120,000 in the Stormwater Fund. These surpluses will allow the City to build capital reserves essential to any well-run organization.

It is appropriate at this time to summarize our first year of operation. The City of Dunwoody commenced the delivery of services on January 1, 2009 through an innovative set of partnerships with three private sector firms who provide the City of Dunwoody with Community Development (Clark Patterson Lee), Public Works (Lowe Engineers) and Finance and Administration (Calvin, Giordano and Associates) services. All of our critical staff was in place by December 1, 2008, and it is clear that each of these firms delivered on their promise of cost efficient and effective service delivery with a specific focus on customer service. Early estimates prior to incorporation projected service delivery costs well above the costs that the City Council ultimately negotiated. This cost savings, in my opinion, is due to this innovative approach of using several vendors to provide services instead of using one company to manage city operations. I think that in time, this model of service delivery will prove to be very successful.

Several key executive positions were filled in FY 2009 by highly competent staff. Outside of the Police Department, the City has only 4 employees. The City hired Finance Director Chris Pike, City Clerk Sharon Lowery, Police Chief Billy Grogan and Court Clerk Tiffaney Pete to provide leadership and management for the City along with the contractors on board to manage Community Development (Jennifer Peterson) and Public Works (Richard Meehan). These department heads bring significant experience and professional qualifications to the City of Dunwoody. Their energy, knowledge and passion for Dunwoody are evident.

The highlight of FY 2009 was the deployment of the Dunwoody Police Department (DPD). Led by Chief Billy Grogan, the DPD officially went into service answering calls on April 1, 2009. In 90 days time, Chief Grogan hired, equipped and prepared 40 sworn officers and 8 civilians to protect and serve the citizens of Dunwoody. The DPD is a “best in class” police department with strong leadership and the finest law enforcement officers in the State of Georgia. The DPD, in 5 months of service, produced a dramatic and much appreciated impact on public safety in Dunwoody.

The FY 2010 budget recommends funding for merit based increases for the employees of the City. The cost of these merit-based increases to the City is $91,085 for the 52 employees of the City. Merit increases will be decided on the basis of employee performance, and these raises will be effective on April 1. It is important for the City to not only reward excellent performance, but to keep salaries high enough to retain our best employees. The recommendation is in line with current market conditions. Even in a down economy, our research shows that local governments are still providing merit increases.

One of the largest challenges the City faced in FY 2009 was the identification, selection and eventual build out of City Hall. The 25,000 square foot requirements included space for administrative staff, a Council Chamber/Court room and a police headquarters. The time frame was short, the inventory varied and the financial resources were limited. With a team of professionals, the City found a temporary home for City Hall in the Perimeter Center area (41 Perimeter Center East), negotiated an economical lease agreement, built out the entire space requirement and moved in the Police Department on March 23rd and the rest of City Hall on May 11th. The space satisfies our short term requirements. The long-term plans for the City of Dunwoody include a permanent home, and our financial strategy includes provisions for accomplishing this goal without incurring debt.

The Municipal Court was organized in FY 2009. There are four Judges appointed by the Mayor and Council. The Court occupied temporary quarters starting in February, 2009 until the Council Chamber/Courtroom was completed at our permanent home in May, 2009. Court meets twice a week and the operation runs smoothly, processing approximately 800 citations per month and coordinating the probation function of the Court.

The City’s comprehensive plan, a state mandated planning effort is underway and is slated for completion at the end of this fiscal year. This process involved hundreds of citizens, and the final product will serve as the long-range roadmap for the City of Dunwoody for the next 20 years.
The Community Development Department processed over 1,100 building permits and provides staff support to 9 citizen boards with 65 community volunteers. These boards have been meeting throughout FY 2009, serving our community with distinction.

Public Works spent a significant portion of FY 2009 analyzing road conditions and prioritizing transportation improvements. This work will culminate in a transportation master plan to provide the “roadmap” for funding public infrastructure improvements for the future. The City of Dunwoody spent considerable funds in FY 2009 filling potholes, repairing sidewalks, maintaining signals and completing other public works projects. The most substantial project the City worked on this year was the transportation improvements on Womack Road to accommodate the new Dunwoody Elementary School. In addition to turn lanes and striping, the Public Works Department installed radar display devices in all of our school zones to curb speeding in areas where pedestrians and children are present. Later this year, the City will drive all of our major roadways with a laser truck to analyze pavement conditions and to provide the City with the data necessary to prioritize road projects on a “worst-first” basis.

During the Spring of this year, the City created a Storm Water Utility (SWU). The SWU charges a fee to all property owners to finance repairs and maintenance to the storm water system in Dunwoody. The fee charged equals the fee paid the previous year to DeKalb County. The SWU is an enterprise fund, and the revenue generated from this utility stays within the accounts of the Utility. It is self-sustaining, and no General Fund dollars are used for this purpose.

Fiscal Year 2010 will be an exciting year for the City of Dunwoody. The proposed budget contains adequate funding to provide “best in class” basic services to the citizens of Dunwoody. This budget focuses specifically on the following priorities: (1) Strengthening the Dunwoody Police Department, (2) Concentrating resources for infrastructure improvements, and (3) Providing for the future financial stability of the City.

To this end, I recommend a number of budget enhancements for the Dunwoody Police Department. As a matter of history, the City formed the Department in 90 days; without the benefit of meaningful data with which to accurately project the needs of the department. Based on our experience thus far in answering calls for service, the expectations of the community in regards to police presence and recommended national standards for caseloads and call volume, I recommend an enhancement to the staffing level for the Police Department. The Department’s manpower study concluded the need for 4 Police Officers and 2 Detectives. Due to fiscal restraints and competing priorities, I recommend the addition of 1 Detective. In addition, I recommend one additional sworn position for a Narcotics Task Force officer. This position would be assigned to a Federal Drug Task Force that would handle narcotics cases in the metro Atlanta area. The City would benefit from any seized funds recovered by this officer. Typically, the full cost of the officer yields a return to the City to be used for the exclusive purpose of funding capital and equipment needs in the Police Department. I also recommend the purchase of a backup vehicle for the Police Department. This vehicle would be used to replace a vehicle that is damaged or in the process of undergoing repairs. It is critical to have a backup vehicle to avoid having more than one officer in a car at any given time. The other major item in the Police Departments budget is the purchase of a prisoner transport van. This will aid the Department in transporting multiple subjects to the Jail without having to take more than one vehicle out of service. This occurs any time we have more than 2 persons being arrested or any time we arrest a female and a male, as it is illegal to transport a man and women together in a police vehicle. The prison transport van will be configured to separate male and female prisoners so that they can ride at the same time to the Jail.

I also recommend the funding of a 911 feasibility and planning study allowing the City to accurately project revenue that would be raised through a 911 fee in Dunwoody and to estimate the costs of developing a 911 center. The study will also carefully research options for partnerships with the Sandy Springs/Johns Creek 911 center and other municipal options in the surrounding area. The City will be participating in a partnership with Sandy Springs and Johns Creek to form a multi-jurisdictional SWAT team. I recommend funding for SWAT equipment for our department. The benefit to this endeavor is the ability to call in a large SWAT team for situations in Dunwoody without having to provide the extensive resources necessary if we were to offer this service independently. The FY 2010 budget also includes funding for a false alarm program to cut down on officer time responding to errant home and business alarms. Lastly, the FY 2010 budget funds a “reverse 911” type program to inform residents of natural disasters and crime notifications.

The Public Works Department budget includes funding for $540,000 to right of way maintenance, street and sidewalk repairs and traffic signal maintenance. Additionally, the Public Works budget includes funding the comprehensive transportation plan ($60,000). Funding for this plan was originally appropriated in FY 2009, but due to delays in running the laser truck to evaluate pavement conditions, the plan will be finished in FY 2010. The FY 2010 budget focuses resources in Public Works on resurfacing and intersection improvements. Dunwoody covers a large geographic area, and the infrastructure of the city is generally in poor condition. It will take many years of capital investments to bring the road system up to the level our community expects. The FY 2010 budget utilizes both local and state funding to continue the paving projects we began in FY 2009. We anticipate spending nearly $1.2 million on repaving ($980,000 from State of Georgia and $200,000 from Dunwoody) with the majority of the funding coming from State Local Assistance Road Program (LARP) funds. There is $800,000 of expenditures in the budget to begin construction on Dunwoody Village Parkway for a new streetscape. Engineering for this project should begin in early FY 2010 and construction will soon follow. State (Transportation Enhancement (TE) Funds) and Federal funds (Stimulus) entirely pay for this project. I also recommend $100,000 of funding to begin the process of replacing and adding sidewalks to meet Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) guidelines. The confluence of schools (Dunwoody High School, Peachtree Middle, Chestnut Elementary, Dunwoody Elementary and Georgia Perimeter College) created a traffic congestion issue within a large radius of these schools.

I recommend two key intersections for engineering design to kick start the process of intersection improvements to help move vehicles in this congested corridor. I recommend engineering studies and concept plans ($150,000) for the intersection of Mt. Vernon at Vermack Road and the intersection of Tilly Mill Road at North Peachtree. The current design of these two intersections exacerbates the traffic congestion in Dunwoody caused by the schools in the area.

The City of Dunwoody is still in the process of negotiating for the transfer of physical assets from DeKalb County within our city limits. In anticipation of a successful resolution to the parks negotiations, I have forecast that the City will be responsible for maintaining these parks for a portion of the calendar year. The FY 2010 budget anticipates that the City will be required to maintain, improve, and manage these assets for half of the Fiscal Year ($250,000.)

As the Comprehensive Planning process is completed in the first few months of 2010, it is appropriate to begin our planning efforts to make changes to the zoning ordinance and create redevelopment plans for various areas of the City that have been identified in the Comprehensive Plan process. The FY 2010 budget includes funds for Phase One of the task of re-writing the zoning code. The zoning code in place currently is a conglomeration of the DeKalb County code and various other cities. It was cobbled together quickly so that the City could begin regulating development as soon as possible. It also is not necessarily reflective of the results of the community based planning process we are set to complete early next year. It is expected that the process of rewriting the zoning code will take multiple years. FY 2010 funding is recommended for Phase One ($100,000.)

I recommend funding two redevelopment studies for FY 2010. The Comprehensive Plan steering committee identified the Georgetown/Shallowford Road area and the Dunwoody Village area as two areas of the City that require master planning. The cost for both of these master plan studies is $250,000. It is critical to do the planning required for these areas to ensure that both areas are not allowed to deteriorate and that the community’s vision for the area is realized instead of leaving the development to chance.

The City will be utilizing Tax Anticipation Note (TAN) financing in FY 2010 to level out cash flow problems that any new incorporated city would experience in their first few years of existence. We estimate the TAN will be approximately $4,000,000, and it will only be used on a “draw” basis to make certain that we are only paying interest on funds that we vitally need for cash flow purposes. Additionally, the City made a strategic decision in FY 2009 to reserve $530,179 for FY 2010 payments on our equipment financing arrangements. The City purchased a lot of equipment and vehicles in FY 2009 and has financed these purchases over a five-year period. Year one payments are due in January. Due to the preplanning efforts of the Council, the City will use the reserved funds ($530,179) to offset the total payment due on the financing ($785,703). This will leave the City an obligation of $255,524 for FY 2010.

To provide the most efficient and effective services to our citizens, the City relies heavily on engaging the most effective technology available. Looking back on the rapid deployment of City services, the impact of the technology selected is apparent. The FY 2010 budget includes funding necessary to maintain our technological resources to ensure a secure and reliable technical environment, increase accessibility of the citizens, increase productivity, and provide results oriented technology in an open, accountable, and responsive manner. The IT staff plans to develop and implement processes throughout FY 2010 and into early FY 2011 to enhance the City’s website to allow citizens to interact electronically with government, creating in essence a 24/7 electronic government where citizens and businesses can access government services and can complete tax payments online. By using process automation and data integration, IT aims to lower the technology cost of the City while increasing production. The FY 2010 includes expenditures related to an integrated financial accounting and asset management system, document management system, ordinance codification, human resources management system, e-government website portal, and unified communications. The IT Staff also plans to begin the GIS development process in support of the Community Development department.

I look forward to discussing this budget with you and the City in detail as we craft the final budget for FY 2010.

You have my commitment that the City of Dunwoody will not be a replica of what has been done in the past, but instead we will be an innovative, transparent and dynamic local government, where billions of dollars in commerce are transacted and families live a charmed life in a beautiful community.

Mr. Warren Hutmacher
Dunwoody City Manager

Thursday, September 17, 2009

Register to be a vendor at PCMS Harvest Festival to support Drama Club's Music Man

Time to clear out those attics and basements, connect with your inner
artist, and bring your wares to the:

PCMS DRAMA CLUB HARVEST FESTIVAL

CRAFT & ART VENDORS
RESERVE YOUR TABLE FOR ONLY $45.00-YOU KEEP 100% OF EACH SALE!

ATTIC TREASURES
$25 FOR YOUR TABLE-YOU KEEP 100% OF EACH SALE!

KIDS & SCOUT TROOPS
$25 PER TABLE- YOU KEEP 100% OF EACH SALE!

SET UP FRIDAY 4-6 PM-ROOM KEPT LOCKED & SECURE
CHARITY TRUCK ARRIVES AT CLOSE SATURDAY-NO HASSLES

WHEN: Saturday, October 3rd
9 A.M. to 4 P.M.
Peachtree Middle School

INFLATABLES, DUNKING BOOTH, ARTIST MARKET, BOOK NOOK, FOOD & MORE!


Contact: Kelly Upshaw- kellyau@bellsouth.net

For Vendors: Susan Fraser- sfraser0416@comcast.net
Please include your name, phone, and email.

ALL PROCEEDS HELP FUND THE SPRING PRODUCTION “MUSIC MAN”

Little People of America - Car Wash @ GT Burger King


Though it looks like we may need an Ark, I hope the rain goes away long enough so that my friend Amy's fund raising car wash is successful. Stop by if you can.
Little People of America
Car Wash Fundraiser!!!
This Sunday
September 20th
10 AM-3PM
Donations accepted.

Come see us at the Burger King on Chamblee-Dunwoody Road across the street from Georgetown Shopping Center.

Little People of America, Inc.
, is a national non-profit organization that provides support and information to people of short stature and their families. We are the only dwarfism support organization that includes all 200+ forms of dwarfism. Short stature is generally caused by one of the more than 200 medical conditions known as dwarfism.

LPA has more than 6000 members across the United States and internationally. We have 14 districts and 70 chapters.

LPA offers information on employment, education, disability rights, adoption, medical issues, clothing, adaptive products, and the many stages of parenting a short-statured child - from birth to adult. Information is provided through a national newsletter, the LPA Today, and numerous seminars and workshops which occur locally at chapter events, regionally at District Meetings, and nationally at our yearly national conference.

Chamblee's Frosty Caboose and St. Vincent DePaul team up to provide ice cream for a good cause.

If you haven't been though downtown Chamblee in a while, it is worth a visit. It has great character with new eating establishments like Vintage Pizza, the Frosty Caboose and Get Coffee all of which are quite busy. The St. Vincent DePaul thrift store recently moved in there as well and they are teaming up with Frosty Caboose on Sunday September 20th to support the Chamblee Food Bank. If you are up for a change from Brusters (who doesn't love Brusters?) please stop by on Sunday to check out the Caboose which serves Greenwood Ice Cream which is made just down the road.

Pattie Baker of Sustainable Dunwoody wrote a nice review of the Caboose a while back that you may also enjoy.

A year of good governance in Dunwoody.

A year ago today the Mayor and Dunwoody City Council (including myself) were elected to start a city from scratch and as we start to prepare for our second budget year, I look back and am very proud of our many accomplishments. As a humble public servant, I truly recognize that we couldn't have gotten to this point without the guidance of the residents and the many hours of service from hundreds of volunteers. Thank you.


Below is an editorial written by the AJC prior to anyone announcing their candidacy for the new city and in rereading it today I can only say that I am very proud to serve with the Mayor and my fellow Council Members and that I believe that Incorporating the City of Dunwoody was a very wise decision. I hope you believe the same.

Dunwoody's destiny - Good leadership will be crucial in sorting out thorny issues in newly incorporated DeKalb city

The overwhelming vote Tuesday to incorporate DeKalb County's first new city in 71 years -- Dunwoody -- is but the first step those citizens made toward taking control of their community's destiny. The harder work begins now. Given the success of recent incorporation efforts across the county line in northern Fulton County, Dunwoody's decision was not unexpected. And the structure and form of the new municipal governments in the two counties will likely be similar. But there are major differences between the method for financing Fulton's cities and that for Dunwoody. And that's where Dunwoody's 37,000 residents will have to pay close attention, so that the decision they made Tuesday does not wind up costing them more in taxes.

Dunwoody's first step will be to negotiate the thorny issue of how DeKalb County disburses its 1 percent sales tax for government operations. The tax, unique to DeKalb County, funds some of the services that will now become Dunwoody's responsibility. Dividing it up is going to be politically tricky since DeKalb County government actively campaigned against Dunwoody's incorporation. Moreover, the County Commission -- in apparent violation of the state's open meetings law -- voted last year to contest a 2007 state law stipulating the method for distributing the sales tax money to all its cities. Dunwoody incorporation backers tend to downplay the dispute, contending that the law is clear and would impact only a small amount of dollars. But it is indicative of the political atmosphere in which the new city will be operating. County government officials have characterized the affluent Dunwoody area's incorporation effort as shirking its responsibility toward paying for services in the poorer parts of DeKalb. It may be true that Dunwoody promoters disagreed with some of the county's spending priorities. Other residents of the area were put off by the imperial style and volatility of the county's chief executive officer.

But the incorporation vote passed because the community wants to decide for itself how many police and firefighters it needs; whether to enact tighter controls on planning and zoning; and how to improve other basic government services. The process for doing that has already begun, in anticipation of the first election of city leaders in September. Among other things, working groups are looking into privatizing some of the city's basic services -- as Sandy Springs has done -- and negotiating intergovernmental agreements with the county and other cities. The more Dunwoody residents participating in the process, the better. With the economy in turmoil, it won't be easy to predict what the new city's tax revenue will be. Other new cities have had to increase business fees to pay for services.

And in towns large and small, personality conflicts can flare up and get in the way of good governance. Ask residents of Marietta -- one of the oldest cities in metro Atlanta -- about the constant warfare between the mayor and some council members. Or look at the charges of unethical behavior that diverted the attention of the new city of Milton's leaders earlier this year, prompting the need for conflict-resolution therapy. Dunwoody residents have made their choice. The outcome of September's vote for new city leaders will help determine whether it was a wise one.

Wednesday, September 16, 2009

Kingsley Elementary children are walking to school, are yours? Would you like to try on Oct 7th - Walk to School Day?


Kudos to Kingsley
for another successful Walking Wednesday!!!

My son Gavin in the second grade walks the three blocks to school everyday but having a fourth grader at Dunwoody Elementary, which is over a mile and a half away, across a number of busy streets makes it a little more difficult to walk, but something tells me that he (and I) will be walking there on October 7th.

Who wants to join me? How small do you think we could make the car drop off traffic at DES, if we as a community really tried?

Happy Constitution Day

CONSTITUTION DAY 2009
September 17, 2009

The signing of the U.S. Constitution on September 17, 1787 by the Founding Fathers is one of the most important and influential events in American history, establishing the many rights and freedoms we enjoy today. On Thursday September 17, 2009 the nation will observe and celebrate the 222nd anniversary of this remarkable day in our history.

The Constitution of the United States of America is the supreme law of the United States. Empowered with the sovereign authority of the people by the framers and the consent of the Legislatures of the States, it is the source of all government powers and also provides limitations on the government that protects the fundamental rights of United States citizens. Today, it is one of the most influential legal documents in existence. Since its creation, over one hundred countries around the world have used it as a model for their own. It is a document that upholds high ideals, while answering the most practical questions of governance.

And it is a living document. It is one of the world’s oldest surviving constitutions. Great people have spent their lives studying and interpreting the Constitution. And while the Supreme Court continually interprets the constitution so as to reflect a rapidly changing world, its basic tenets have remained virtually unchanged and unchallenged since its inception. It remains a beacon of democracy, tolerance, justice, freedom and liberty for citizens of America and people around the world.

To celebrate the signing of the Constitution, the Congress, by joint resolution has designated September 17th as Citizenship Day and in such it requires all schools receiving public funds to hold educational programs on the United States Constitution.

At each DeKalb school today your child should receive instruction concerning this historic document. For those of you home-schooling or trying to help junior pass the bar, the links below will prove to be excellent resources for instruction on this topic.

http://www.constitutioncenter.org
http://www.archives.gov/education/lessons/constitution-workshop/
http://www.nccs.net
http://www.constitutionday.us
http://thomas.loc.gov/teachers/constitution.html
http://www.constitutionfacts.com/
http://www.atozteacherstuff.com/Themes/Constitution_Day/

Help make a Bottlecap Mural or other art project a reality for the Dunwoody Nature Center


Dunwoody Nature Center is developing a "green" art installation in the park that utilizes recycled plastic bottlecaps. We need THOUSANDS to create art based on artist Michelle Stitzlein's Bottlecap Little Bottlecap project. (You can order a copy for your school or program here.)

Bottlecaps or not generally recycled. While plastic bottles are marked #1-#7 for recycling, most recycling companies do not reuse plastic caps because their chemical compositions vary too much. So we love the idea of using these "toss aways" in colorful art for our park. We'll create oversize flora and larger-than-life fauna out of the bottlecaps.

We need all sizes, all colors, from drink bottles and laundry detergent jugs to margarine tubs and spray paint can lids. Wash them, dry them, bag them, and bring them by Dunwoody Nature Center. A collection bin is in the front hall. Thanks!

Could Dunwoody support a true Charter School?


Rick Callihan raises a question over on the Dunwoody Talk blog that I have heard others ask before; Could Dunwoody start and sustain a viable corporate run charter school? Is in excess of $10,000 per student enough money to properly educate the students who attend?

The DeKalb County School Watch Blog discusses "Private Charters" from time to time and it just so happens that they are discussing it again this week. Check out this blog, read the comments then check out Rick's Blog to see if you want to comment yourself.

Please do me a favor, Rick gets jealous if people comment here and not on his site; so please do let the world know your opinions but post them over at the Dunwoody Talk blog. Thanks.

Tuesday, September 15, 2009

A Couple of Meeting Reminders


The City of Dunwoody Public Calendar does a good job of notifying of public meetings,if you are unaware of it check it out here.

Thursday Morning at 7:45 a.m.

Dunwoody Sustainability Commission Meeting
City Hall

Agenda

Thursday Evening at 7:00 p.m.
Sanitation Services Public Forum
City Hall

The City of Dunwoody is investigating possible alternatives for sanitation and recycling services that will meet or exceed current levels of services offered by DeKalb County.

The City will hold three public forums at City Hall to share more information about our current service provision and possible alternatives. Each forum will include short presentations and provide ample opportunity for public comments questions.

Next Monday Evening - Sept 21st
City Council Work Session at City Hall @ 7 pm
Agenda published on Friday

Next Wednesday Evening - Sept 23rd @ 7 pm
Second Sanitation Services Public Forum - City Hall @ 7 pm
(Comparing and Contrasting to other Cities)

Next Thursday Evening - Sept 24 @ 7 pm
Comprehensive Plan Community Meeting: Preliminary Draft Results
Dunwoody United Methodist Church

Convention and Visitors Bureau of Dunwoody Hiring for Executive Director

The newly created Convention and Visitors Bureau of Dunwoody (CVBD) is recruiting for its first Executive Director. The Executive Director will be responsible for providing enthusiastic and professional assistance to a cohesive and dedicated Board of Directors.

Created in 2009 by the City of Dunwoody, the Convention and Visitors Bureau is responsible for the promotion of tourism for the City of Dunwoody. The CVBD manages a $750,000 annual budget which shall be utilized for the creation, execution, leadership and direction of tourism all tourism activities in synergy with the City of Dunwoody, the Perimeter Center Community Improvement District and the Dunwoody Chamber of Commerce.

A few of the top tourism features of Dunwoody include:
• 5 exceptional hotels (20% of all hotel revenue in DeKalb County)
• Perimeter Mall, great restaurants and Fortune 500 corporate environment
• Premier live, work and play urban community
• 40,000 residents
• MARTA heavy rail line station
• Great school system
• Stable and family friendly neighborhoods and parks
• Historic neighborhoods
• Neighborhood shopping
• Ideal location between with easy access to I-285, I-85, I-75 and GA 400.
• Easy drive to Buckhead, Midtown and downtown.

Challenges include establishing the organization, brand development for the City of Dunwoody, selling Dunwoody hotels and tourist attractions and partnering with the community, businesses and restaurants to promote Dunwoody.

The Executive Director will be a dynamic, passionate and experienced professional with the ability to create new ideas and implement the vision of the Board of Directors. To apply for this position, please send a resume and cover letter along with your salary history to jobs@calvin-giordano.com Job is open until filled.

For more information about this professional opportunity, please contact Roma Rowland at roma.rowland@dunwoodyga.gov. For press inquiries, please contact Edie Damann at edie.damann@dunwoodyga.gov.

Audio of Monday's Dunwoody City Council Meeting

Start of meeting & FY 2010 Budget Update (Will be on the web by next week.)

Public Comment


Contract amendments for Lowe Engineers (storm water). Passed

“Young Survival Coalition’s Tour de Pink Atlanta

Approval of CVBD FY 2009 Budget. Passed

Sherry Boston as additional Dunwoody Municipal Court Judge. Passed

Amend Chapter 4: Alcohol Beverages and fee schedule for patio sales. Passed

GCIC related fees. Passed

Liquor license application 5020 Winters Chapel Road
. Denied

DeKalb County Convention & Visitors Bureau contract. Passed

Time change on Meeting of Sep 28th to 7:30. Passed

Motion to review Personal Care Homes in R100 Referred to Community Council