DUNWOODY CITY COUNCIL
Special Called Meeting
Monday, September 29, 2025
10:00 AM
This coming Monday morning, the Dunwoody City Council will be presented with the Mayor & Staff's proposed 2026 budget, and it will be the first time for proposed feedback or proposed changes. At this meeting, the Council reviews the budget line by line, questioning what is included and what they would like to see changed or added. There may be public hearings on October 14th & October 27th, but the real budget is typically hammered out at this workshop/committee meeting. I am pleased that this meeting will take place in Council Chambers and will be live-streamed / recorded, but note there is no public comment section of the meeting for the public to speak, as the public hearings are later in October, with proposed approval set for October 27th. That being said, please feel free to express your wishes via email to council.members@dunwoodyga.gov in advance of the meeting.
There are no major surprises in the published budget, but I have questions and desires for change. I see we are proposing to spend $2 Million on a 12-foot path on Peeler between Glaze & Lakeside (.4 of a mile in Front of Four Oaks subdivision), where we have already spent $1.5 Million on Engineering, whereby I believe that project should be delayed until the Winters Chapel Path is complete first. We are spending $3.3 million on the Chamblee Duwoody / Village Crossing corridor project in 2026 and we will spend over $13 in total for the project over the next few years. I am still not sure if doing what we did to the Georgetown area and doing the same thing on Chamblee Dunwoody is a good thing, but that is what the rest of the Council wants. Council is already slated to also spend $2 Million dollars in 2026 ($3 million in total) on the new Brook Run Maintenance Facility & new offices for a facility that was initially budgeted to be much, much less. Much smaller amount of money, but I remember there was a lot of pushback against the Dunwoody Elementary School Path to Village North Court project, as we also need agreements to cross Georgia State property.
We cut out all traffic calming funds, which suggests that they haven't been installed in quite a while, and that our installation policies might be too stringent to meet. I am happy to see a few non-path, regular sidewalks being installed this year. I would like to see the $2 million in funds slated for Peeler/Four Oaks go towards standard sidewalk installations around the city, as the needs are tremendous and the amount of engineering is significantly reduced compared to 12-feet of concrete, stormwater improvements, and lighting that accompany those large projects.
The main topic of the budget discussion will not be about what is listed, but instead what is not. There will be a discussion on how to spend the substantial ($11 million) amount of Fund Balance available for ongoing or proposed projects and programs. The city has parkland it purchased to be developed, amenities like sand volleyball to possibly be installed, there are public safety improvements to be made with the Police Department as far as drones, ambulance & 911 infractructure, public safety improvements in sidewalks near schools and in neighborhoods that have not been addressed; there is a big list that was presented in the memo to Council. That is where there will be a big discussion and a majority of our time will be spent.
DUNWOODY CITY COUNCIL
Special Called Meeting
Monday, September 29, 2025
10:00 AM
DUNWOODY CITY HALL - DUNWOODY HALL
4800 ASHFORD DUNWOODY ROAD
DUNWOODY, GA 30338
Agenda 10 am - City Site Agenda
City Council meetings are live-streamed on the City of Dunwoody’s Facebook page.
They are also available for viewing (no two way communication) on Zoom,
https://dunwoodyga-gov.zoom.us/j/85998548170 or phone +14702509358,,85998548170#
You can access the video after the meeting on the City of Dunwoody’s YouTube page.
DISCUSSION ITEMS (Budget Work Session) - FY2026 Proposed Budget (Richard Platto)
Mayor’s Recommendation:
• Police Equipment: $500,000
• Homecoming Park: $5,000,000
• Pedestrian Safety: $500,000
• Sidewalks: $1,000,000
Major Unmet Public Works
• Chamblee Dunwoody at Vermack
• Chamblee Dunwoody at Peeler
• Tilly Mill at Mount Vernon Place
• Womack at Leeds Message Signs
• Dunwoody Village Pkwy Raised Intersection / Mini Roundabout
• Dunwoody Club Drive at Bend Creek Warning Sign
• North Peachtree at Dunwoody Crossing Signal Reflective Backplates
• Vanderlyn at Hensley Interaction Bulb Outs
Major Unmet Park Needs
• Homecoming Park Build Out
• Pernoshal Trail Repairs
• Springwood Park
• Brook Run Playground Replacement
• Brook Run Park Wayfinding Signage
• Windwood Hollow Pavilion Upgrades
• Wildcat Park Phase I
• Arts Center Window Replacements
• Brook Run Park Greenhouse
• Dunwoody Trailway Bridge Replacements
• Waterford Playground Shades
• Brook Run Multi-Use Field Concession Shade
Important Dates
Wednesday, August 27 – FY2026 Proposed Operating and Capital Budget Book is posted to the City’s website for public viewing.
Monday, September 29 – FY2026 Budget Workshop is scheduled to start at 10:00am.
Tuesday, October 14 - First public hearing on the FY2026 Proposed Operating and Capital Budget.
Monday, October 27 – Second public hearing on the FY2026 Proposed Operating and Capital Budget, and action item to vote on adoption of FY2026 budget.
