My
fellow citizens ... the following are some items of interest ....
1.
Zoning Rewrite .... As you know we hired a firm in 2011 to rewrite our zoning
ordinance. In my opinion, this is the number one priority in our city for 2012.
Among other reasons of why this is important is that we must align our Zoning
Ordinance (ZO) with our Comprehensive Land Use Plan (CLUP),
Georgetown/Shallowford Master Plan (GTSMP), Dunwoody Village Master Plan (DVMP)
and Transportation Master Plan (TMP) so that ZO will withstand any possible
future legal challenge. I, and others, have been pushing to have this completed
by the end of 2012. The rewrite itself is scheduled to be completed by that
timeline. However, by time the rewritten ZO is vetted (public hearing, council
meetings, etc.) it will probably be the first quarter of 2013 before the final
draft is approved by the City Council. It is very important that each of you stay
involved in this process. The attendance at the initial public meeting was a
little disappointing. In addition to public meetings, of which there will be
more as time goes on, you can go to our city website — www.dunwoodyga.gov — and on the right
side of the home page you will see a green box with the statement "Zoning
Code Rewrite Project" in red lettering. Click on that box and on the next
page click on "Zoning and Land Development Code Rewrite." In the middle
of the next page as you scroll down you will see a box with "Patch"
written in it .... click on the box and you can view the presentation and issue
discussed at the initial meeting. You can also sign up to receive updates as
updates become available. At the last city council meeting a Citizen's Rewrite
Sounding Board, with membership, was approved. In our march to city hood
"Zoning" was the number one reason given by our citizens of why they
wanted to become a city .... so please stay involved in this most important
project.
2.
Storm Sewer Fees .... At the last city council meeting the Council voted to
raise the annual "Storm Sewer Residential Fees" from $48 to $69
.... this is a $21 or 44% annual increase. This fee is shown on your annual
property tax statement. Most of you know I am a strong proponent of low
taxes/fees. IMO, spending money boils down to needs vs wants ... and storm
sewers are a basic need. We have estimated that storm sewers would be our
largest financial liability. Since we completed the inventory of all our storm
sewers we now know it is the largest financial liability of our City.
Concerning this increase, my question was is that large of an increase needed.
The one thing I want to try to avoid is having to come back to the citizens for
another increase. I am hoping that by fixing the worst storm sewers first we
can stay ahead of the curve. Most of our storm pipes are a corrugated metal
pipe (CMP) which has a life span of 30-35 years. A lot of our storm
sewers are approaching that life span. As we replace or resleeve where possible
our storm sewer pipes we will be using a new pipe made out of a thick hard
plastic-like material or concrete pipes where necessary ... both of these pipes
have a greatly increased life span vs the CMP. We will be asking to put this
pipe material as a requirement as part of our zoning code rewrite ... this will
effect any future development or repairs of storm sewers. Some of you have ask
about the sewer fee we pay to the County ... that is for sanitation sewer which
is part of our water bill ...… the storm sewer is for water run off from the
street, water ways, etc., and is a totally separate system from the sanitation
sewers.
3.
City Way Finding/Information Signs Project .... In this year's budget in included
$150,000 for new city way finding signs. These include new street signs,
information signs, directional signs, etc. This is a multi-year project and I
voted against this budget item because there is not a total cost figure for
this project to completion. In other words, we know how much we are going to
spend this year but do not have a figure for additional cost in the out years.
That being said, the Council voted 5-2 to proceed with the Way Finding Project
and I will work with members of the Council to implement the project in the
most efficient manner. One thing that should be mentioned is that many of our
current signs do not meet the new guidelines for size, illumination, etc. We
have had a meeting with the firm that is doing the design work and they have
taken the Council and Staff's inputs and will be coming back with some basic
design/color schemes incorporating our inputs. Hopefully we will have something
to show you in the near future at a council meeting. If all goes well, the
first new signs will appear sometime late this fall.
4.
Executive Session Leak… Executive sessions (ES) are closed meetings use to
discuss sensitive issues such as legal matters, personnel and real estate. To
go into ES a motion must be made and passed by a majority of the council.
Only the council members and essential personnel are allowed in ES.
Everything said or done in ES in confidential information. Anyone breaking the
confidentiality of ES maybe subject to disciplinary action by the Council. The
leaking of the proceedings of ES can be a financial detriment to the city
and/or be a cause for possible legal action against the city. It seems somewhat
apparent that one or more individuals may have leaked information of the
proceedings of the City Council ES that was held on 3 FEB 2012. The Mayor and
City Council has hired Mr. Bob Wilson to investigate the circumstances behind
the leak of information from the 3 FEB 2012 ES. I support this
investigation.
5.
Weather Sirens .... I am a strong supporter of the installation of weather
sirens. After my personal conversations with the Director of Emergency Services
after a Level 5 tornado hit his city of Joplin, MO last year I have become a
bigger proponent of sirens. As a history lesson Dunwoody actually had sirens
until the early 1980s when, I am told, the sirens were sold by DC to Cobb
County. Sandy Springs has recently installed sirens and are now going thru the
testing phase. The sources of their funding were grants from Federal Emergency
Management Agency, Georgia Emergency Agency and their own local funds. We
applied for grants in 2011 but were not successful. We will apply again this
year for grants to help fund this project. IMO, severe storms and tornadoes are
the number one risk factor of causalities for our citizens. I will continue to
"push this ball down the court." In the mean time the following is a
system set up by DC (Code Red Emergency Alert System) for weather alerts ....
you will note there is action required by you to participate. I think it is
definitely worth considering but I would not rely on it as your sole source of
hazardous weather information ...…
The DeKalb Emergency Management Agency is rolling out the next
level of this high-speed notification system — called Weather Warning – that
will let emergency officials to contact residents in the path of key pending
weather events to provide critical warning.That is, of course, if you live in
the county and enroll in the newly enhanced Code Red emergency alert system. “With
this enhancement, DeKalb County citizens
can receive telephone messages moments after the National Weather Service has
issued a severe thunderstorm, flood or tornado warning that has a projected
path for a certain area,” DeKalb Public Safety Director William “Wiz” Miller
said. “This will allow recipients of the alerts more time to prepare and take
precautionary measures.”
The
targeted nature of the system, Miller said, will reduce false alarms and
unnecessary alerts.
Basically,
the enhancement calls only registered users in the area projected to be
affected by the storm.
Miller
pointed to a recent tornado alert outside the county that threatened to skirt
DeKalb’s northwestern corner.
“With
Code Red, we send out prepopulated messages to all users,” he said. “That’s
240,000 citizens that we notified in that particular storm. Some people didn’t
get the notification until after the storm warning had been canceled.”
If
the Weather Warning call is missed, an 800 or 866 number is left on call
waiting, and users can dial that number to hear the latest weather-related
message.
Prior
to the upgrades, the system was used to communicate anything from boil
warnings, missing child alerts or traffic advisories
to police suspect searches or community-wide health hazards.
While
the Weather Warning option is only able to make automated phone calls, other
Code Red alerts can send emails, text messages or make calls to home or cell
phones.
But
to use any of the free services, DeKalb residents and businesses must be signed
up. And current Code Red users must register to use Weather Warning.
To
register, go to the county website (www.co.dekalb.ga.us) and click on “Code
Red” under “Emergency Alerts.”
The
site will provide the option of adding Weather Warning and allow you to choose
alerts about tornado, flash flood or severe thunderstorm warnings -- or all of
the choices.
Those
without Internet access who want to register can call 770-270-0413 Monday
through Friday between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.
6.
Safety Issues ....
Issue
# 1 ... Recently I was going to the ATL Airport at about 0530. As I was
driving on Mt Vernon Rd, in the vicinity of Dunwoody Station, in the dark I
came upon a runner on the road in dark clothing with no reflectors, lights,
etc. on. Folks that is not very smart. I know the human body is tough but it is
no match for a 3,000 lb. car. If you have to run or bike in the dark pls. light
yourself up like a Christmas Tree with lights, reflectors, etc..
Issue
# 2 .... As I run (if you can still call what I do running)
and bike thru the neighborhoods, I notice many homes w/o the name and/or
address on the curb in front of their home or on the mailbox located on the
street. I know the emergency vehicles have a GPS system but what if the GPS
fails or it is a very dark night, etc? I highly recommend that each of you
check to ensure you have your address on your street mailbox or on a sign using
illuminated paint on the curb in front of your home.
7.
Security Issues ....
I
encourage each of you to get to know your neighbors and set up a system where
you can watch each other's house when one of you are gone from your residence.
If you see something that doesn't pass the "smell test"... than call
911 ASAP. No matter how many police officers we have they can't be everywhere
at once and we are their extra eyes and ears. Preventing crime in our City
requires all of us to stay vigilant.
Solicitors
.... Any solicitors that come to your door, with the possible except of scouts
and local school kids, must have a permit from the City to solicit. If
they don't have a visible permit then call 911. Even if they have a permit I
would recommend you do not let them inside your home to use the bathroom or
whatever. We had a situation recently where a solicitor ask the resident to use
the bathroom and then helped themselves to a few of the residents valuable
items.
Car
Security ... REPEAT ITEM ... During a recent 16 day period we had 22 cases of
"larcenies from vehicles." These vehicles all had items of value in
plain view for the thief to help themselves. In addition to the pain of losing
the items and a broken window/door lock for the owner these incidents use
valuable time that our police officers could use patrol our streets to enhance
the safety of our citizens. A theft can be in and out of your vehicle in a
matter of a few seconds. Pls. be vigilant and keep all items of value
out-of-sight in your vehicle ... please pass the word!
8.
Elections .... Today Tuesday - 6 MAR 2012, is the Presidential Preference
Primary. You will have to select a Democratic or Republican Ballot and then
vote for the candidate of your choice for the ballot you select. Voting will be
at your normal polling location and the polls will be open from 7 AM to 7 PM. A
lot of our relatives, friends, neighbors and fellow Americans have paid the
supreme sacrifice to earn us the right to vote .... so please exercise that
precious right/privilege.
9.
Walk to School .... This Wednesday, 7 MAR 2012, is a Walk to School Day in
Dunwoody. Parents and students are urged to walk to school that day .... and
every other day when possible. I will be walking with the Austin School parents
and children and we will be departing from the Mellow Mushroom in the Village
at 7:30 AM. See you all there. As a safety note, everyone please be aware that
there will be large groups of our parents and children walking to all our city
schools that morning.
10.
Stay Informed .... I ask each of you to stay informed as to what is going on in
our City. I recommend that every few days you go on our city website .... www.dunwoodyga.gov ... and check the
calendar (it can be selected from our "Home Page"), etc. for what is
going on. Come to meetings when ever you can ... City Council (2nd and 4th
Mondays of the month @ 6PM & 7PM respectively), Zoning Bd of Appeals (1st
TH of each month @ 7PM), Sustainability Commission (2nd TH of each month @ 7:45
AM), Community Council (2nd TH of each month @ 7 PM) and Planning Commission
(2nd TU of each month @ 7 PM). Contact your reps or if they are not available
contact any one of us on the Council. Come to public hearing ... these are
conducted in an effort to stay transparent and to keep you informed. Your input
is sought.
11. That
is about all for this evening/morning. Please pass this on to all your friends,
neighbors, members of your HOA or anyone else you think maybe interested. If
anyone would like to be added to my email list please let me know and I will
make that happen. Thanks for your continued support of our city ... as well as
your personal and collective involvement. All of you make all of this worth
doing.
Let
Us Continue To Build Our City Together
Denny
Shortal
Dunwoody
City Council, District One, Post-1
Mayor
Pro Tem
denis.shortal@dunwoodyga.gov
PH (O) 678-382-6700 (C) 678-246-9006
PH (O) 678-382-6700 (C) 678-246-9006
3 comments:
Point number 4, regarding Executive Session needs clarifying: Discussing real estate is not legal in ES - except when it is to discuss AQCUIRING property. Thus, as the leaks have apparently informed us, the ES that is referenced above was a violation of GA law and I applaud the leaker. Swapping or selling land are conversations that must be made in public, and the city’s attempt at skirting the law is shameful. Those in attendance of the closed meeting should face the citizens and admit the city was wrong, rather than look for a scapegoat.
You know that above Joe Hirsch is a pretty insightful guy. Seems to be just the type of gadfly our community needs to keep this current de facto single-party city government in check.
Holy hell is Dunwoody Leaks @DunwoodyLeaks too funny!
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