Sunday, May 31, 2020

Social Justice - Required reading in the Heneghan household - "The Hate U Give" by Angie Thomas


I grew up in blue-collar Chicago, rode public transportation to and from high school every day, but was privileged enough that my father was a painter at a University founded on the morals of social justice and equality for all.  I attended that school, studied Public Administration, became President of the Student Body, was named the first student on the University Board of Trustees. Then many years later, I helped found the City of Dunwoody, was elected to the City Council, and am now the Mayor Pro Tem and the longest-serving member of the Council.

Let me attest that every policy and every decision from the creation of the City until today has passed across my desk, and I can tell you that fairness and love are attempted to be achieved in every decision we make.   We strive to make your city government serve all stakeholders in a transparent manner with resourceful, efficient, progressive, and professional leadership. We expect the same from our police department, and in doing so, we, the Council, strive to ensure that our department is a reflection of the community they serve, are one of the most qualified and best-trained departments in the state.

These are difficult times with huge numbers of people hurting emotionally, financially, physically, and spiritually and when injustice happens, we are all affected.  We, as human beings, internalize this injustice and can see ourselves wronged in the process with only the hope that the legal system will right the wrong.

As my three teenage sons have now grown up in a world very different than my own, it is my responsibility to teach social justice and equality for all.   To teach them that just under a small layer of skin, that we are all the same color; therefore, everyone deserves fairness, equity, and respect of your fellow man. Unfortunately, I must also teach my boys that the world isn't always color blind, nor is diversity always celebrated; therefore, many injustices occur because of ignorance, bias, or just plain fear.

As white boys from Dunwoody who are halfway sheltered, I have mandatory movie nights (Schindler's List was this week's movie), and I purchase books to supplement their formal education.  The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas was one of those books, and then after it was completed, we watched the movie.

I highly recommend both the book and the movie because it allows you to walk a mile in the shoes of an African American teenager who is unjustly shot and killed at a traffic stop and the community reaction that followed.

As a Father and City Councilman, I will continue to strive to treat everyone fairly, instituting social justice reforms where possible and continuing my prayers for peace, understanding, and love of my fellow man. 

Dunwoody City Council agenda for Monday June 1st


DUNWOODY CITY COUNCIL MEETING
JUNE 01, 2020 6:00 PM – VIA ZOOM TELECONFERENCE

Please click this URL to join. https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82673712544
 Or join by phone:
Dial(for higher quality, dial a number based on your current location):
US: +1 929 205 6099 or +1 301 715 8592 or +1 312 626 6799 or +1 669 900 6833 or +1 253 215 8782 or +1 346 248 7799
 
Webinar ID: 826 7371 2544

Agenda

 PUBLIC COMMENT
To take part in public comment, please send an email to publiccomment@dunwoodyga.gov. Include your name, your email address and phone number. You will will be placed on a first-come, first-served list for public comment. The first public comment section has a 30-minute time limit. Each speaker is allowed up to three minutes. If time runs out, pre-registered speakers will be called on during the second public comment section toward the end of the meeting. If you don't pre-register, you can use the "raise hand" feature on zoom during the meeting to be added to the public comment list.

Approval of May 11, 2020 City Council Meeting Minutes

Approval of a Construction Contract for Sidewalk and Bike Lanes on Peeler Road from Equestrian Way to Cherring Lane (Todd Meadows)

Award of Municipal Court Probation Services Contract (Norlaundra Huntington)

Amendment to Funding Authorization for Tilly Mill Road Sidewalk Construction (Todd Meadows)

Award of Contract - Athletic Field Lights at Peachtree Charter Middle School (Brent Walker)

Amendment of the City Position Allocation and Compensation Chart (Nicole Stojka)

Text Amendment Regarding Bicycles on Sidewalks (Chapter 30) (Richard McLeod)

PUBLIC COMMENT
To take part in public comment, please send an email to publiccomment@dunwoodyga.gov. Include your name, your email address and phone number. You will will be placed on a first-come, first-served list for public comment. The first public comment section has a 30-minute time limit. Each speaker is allowed up to three minutes. If time runs out, pre-registered speakers will be called on during the second public comment section toward the end of the meeting. If you don't pre-register, you can use the "raise hand" feature on zoom during the meeting to be added to the public comment list.

Sunday, May 24, 2020

Dunwoody's Memorial Day virtual ceremony 10 a.m.



10 am - click link below.


Dunwoody's Memorial Day virtual ceremony is designed to keep the community safe, while honoring military personnel who died while serving in the United States Armed Forces.

Mayor Deutsch shares a special message during the pre-recorded ceremony, which includes an original song composed and performed by Jill Hudson, a former Dunwoody resident. The Pledge of Allegiance is led by City Council Member Joe Seconder, a retired U.S. Army Infantry Major and Iraqi Freedom Combat Veteran.

City Council Member Pam Tallmadge introduces a moment of silence, and Rev. Josh Amerson, associate pastor at Dunwoody United Methodist Church, gives the Invocation. The ceremony also includes special music recorded on May 24, 2019, by the Dunwoody Baptist Church Celebration Choir and Orchestra.

Wayne Radloff, a retired U.S. Navy Captain, member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Committee and Dunwoody resident, played an important role in planning the virtual presentation.

Sunday, May 17, 2020

Dunwoody athletic fields have a soft opening on Monday & check out the Video tour of Brook Run by Matt Weber of What's Up Dunwoody

https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1013445055723915

Matt Weber, a realtor with eXp Realty, founder & co-host of "What's up Dunwoody", the multi-media conglomerate of podcasts and various Facebook groups focused on all things Dunwoody; gave a wonderful tour of the new amenities that are now being finalized in Brook Run Park.  Please check out the video to see the new playing fields, amphitheater, pavilions, and various public spaces, and then follow What's UP to stay in the know.

In other news Mayor Deutsch announced that there is a soft opening plan for Dunwoody amenities as follows...

"On Monday, May 18:  the following amenities will ope; Tennis courts, Park restrooms that do not serve a playground, Athletic fields for unorganized play (no team sports or field lighting; groups must spread out to allow adequate play area and social distancing) and various Indoor facilities will set their own reopening plans with approved COVID-19 safety protocols in place, as defined by the state.

If these openings proceed smoothly, the city will continue to open more areas of the parks, including the playgrounds, basketball courts, skate park and dog park in the coming weeks. Our parks department is working with surrounding municipalities to develop a coordinated approach to reopening. We are also watching the Governor’s executive orders carefully. We will keep you updated as decisions are made, but our current target date is June 1."

Slowly as more aspects of our community are opened, I hope we will continue to be vigilant of social spacing, wearing masks, and applying hand sanitizer as needed.   As a community, I know we all fall on various aspects on the spectrum for the level of protection and buffering that we each believe we need. 

Hopefully, we can all be mindful & respectful of each other's personal space to ensure our collective safety from the virus.  If you fall to one end of the spectrum and see others that are not doing what you believe best, please separate yourself from the situation.  Confrontation is not the answer. so please be kind as we are all dealing with different levels of stress at this time.   Thanks

Sunday, May 10, 2020

Dunwoody City Council Agenda for Monday May 11th

DUNWOODY CITY COUNCIL MEETING
MAY 11, 2020 6:00 PM

Or join by phone:
+1 312 626 6799 or +1 929 205 6099 or +1 301 715 8592 or +1 346 248 7799 
or +1 669 900 6833 or +1 253 215 8782

Webinar ID: 870 6404 8211
Agenda

PUBLIC COMMENT
To take part in public comment, please send an email to publiccomment@dunwoodyga.gov. Include your name, your email address and phone number. You will will be placed on a first-come, first-served list for public comment. The first public comment section has a 30-minute time limit. Each speaker is allowed up to three minutes. If time runs out, pre-registered speakers will be called on during the second public comment section toward the end of the meeting. If you don't pre-register, you can use the "raise hand" feature on zoom during the meeting to be added to the public comment list.

Bike Month Proclamation

1st. Quarter 2020 Internal Audit Report - Dunwoody Senior Baseball update

Vulnerable Road User (VRU) Update

Resolution to Allow Temporary Outdoor Restaurant Operations

A Resolution Amending The Temporary Moratorium On The Acceptance Of New Applications For Special Use Approval, Permitted Use Approval, Or Building, Land Disturbance, Site Plan And Design Review Or Other Permits For Any Construction In The Dunwoody Village Overlay District 

Review and Approval of Contract with Calfree Zoning for the Rewrite of Municipal Code Chapter 20, Signs

Funding Authorization for 5721 Bend Creek Road Bank Stabilization Project

Funding Authorization for 5207 Redfield Court Stormwater Repairs

Amendment to Funding Authorization for Roberts Drive Corridor Improvements

Amendment to Funding Authorization for Tilly Mill at Andover Crosswalk Improvements

Approval of a Contract Extension with Optech for Stormwater and Road Mainteance 

Resolution in Support of an Application for a Roadside Beautification and Enhancement Grant 

Approval of an Annual Contract for Stormwater and Road Maintenance

Approval of a Design Contract Amendment with Southeastern Engineering, Inc. for Spalding Drive at Chamblee Dunwoody Road Intersection Improvements

Assistant Finance Director Position

SPLOST Update to Council

Bicycle Riding on Sidewalks

PUBLIC COMMENT
To take part in public comment, please send an email to publiccomment@dunwoodyga.gov. Include your name, your email address and phone number. You will will be placed on a first-come, first-served list for public comment. The first public comment section has a 30-minute time limit. Each speaker is allowed up to three minutes. If time runs out, pre-registered speakers will be called on during the second public comment section toward the end of the meeting. If you don't pre-register, you can use the "raise hand" feature on zoom during the meeting to be added to the public comment list.

Friday, May 1, 2020

Update on various Dunwoody events


Statewide shelter-in-place order expires for most

Governor Kemp has lifted Georgia’s shelter-in-place order, except for senior citizens and the medically fragile are free to start going out in public again. There are also many different rules that businesses must follow and congregations over 10 people are still not allowed.  Dunwoody Businesses have the tough job of deciding whether or not to open – and how much of their business to open. 

City Hall services are going to continue running on a restricted basis for now, with most items being handled over the web or via email. As we move towards a new normal, the city will continue to evaluate its operations and take any steps necessary to continue to provide services for our residents in the safest manner possible.

Our parks and trails never closed, though certain amenities like the dog park and playgrounds did close. Our parks department is working with surrounding communities and our policies are consistent with cities across the region. We will keep you updated. In the meantime, continue to use the parks for exercise, fresh air, and a change of scenery.


The City of Dunwoody has passed a Vulnerable Road User ordinance requiring three feet of spacing when vehicles pass cyclists, pedestrians, joggers, construction crews, and those not protected.  This ordinance is now in effect and Kudos to Councilman Tom Lambert for pushing this effort forward.

https://www.fox5atlanta.com/news/new-ordinance-designed-to-keep-roads-safer-for-everyone-goes-into-effect-friday-in-dunwoody

Dunwoody Homeowners Association announced a postponement of the Annual 4th of July Parade just as the Dunwoody Preservation Trust postponed Lemonade Days to a future date to be named.  Today the Peachtree Road Race announced that their race would be postponed until Thanksgiving Day Morning and I understand that various factors caused these postponements. Unsure of the future dates of these events but I am sure both will be announced soon.


Finally, in case you are not aware. The legendary Blue Angels and Thunderbirds will pay tribute to COVID-19 frontline responders Saturday with a flyover of metro Atlanta. The flying aces will start the flyover near Marietta flying south at 1:35 pm and crisscrossing over Pill Hill in Sandy Springs just a few minutes later. It's all part of a national tour the Blue Angels and Thunderbirds are doing to show respect to the frontline COVID-19 responders who have been risking their lives to keep America healthy and running. 

(Anyone recognize the name of this pilot? I know the proud parents and you might too.) 

Billy Joel: Quarantine Edition ("Vienna" Parody) by Patrick Fitzgerald

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KvCTrwZYAE4

Quarantining with a bit of free time has really brought out the best in some of us, be it baking, home repair, or penning and performing a parody song with your neighbors.

Patrick Fitzgerald and these wonderful ladies from Dunwoody really put on an entertaining show, and I believe more songs and videos are coming forward soon.