DUNWOODY CITY COUNCIL MEETING
Monday June 10, 2024 - 6:00 PM
DUNWOODY CITY HALL - DUNWOODY HALL
4800 ASHFORD DUNWOODY ROAD
DUNWOODY, GA 30338
Agenda 6 pm - 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/84919972403 or phone +14703812552,,84919972403#
You can access the video after the meeting on the City of Dunwoody’s YouTube page.
Invocation and Pledge of Allegiance
Administration of Oath of Office to Officer Sebastian Wright
Public comments - in person 3 min each / 30 min max with additional at end of meeting if needed.
City Manager's Monthly Report
Minutes from May 28 - huge error on Vermack / DHS Lights vote tally *
Resolution to Surplus Twelve Vehicles and One Trailer
Updating Permitting Fee Schedule to Comply with State Law Changes
* On May 28th, there were only five members of Council in attendance as Mayor Detusch and Joe Seconder were away. The approval of 18, 12 foot high lights was discussed whereby Councilmember Price wanted to defer approval until others were in the room and I stated I was against the measure completely. The motion to approve was made by Councilmember Harris and I believe seconded by Councilmember Lautenbacher prior to Councilmember Price's formal request to defer therefore the City Attorney stated we should move forward with the motion on the table and not defer. The vote went forward with a 3 to 2 vote (Harris, Lambert & Lautenbacher in favor with Heneghan & Price against) making this the first city council item in 15 years to pass with less than the four members needed for majority. With the 3 to 2 vote there was a quick discussion on weather the item passed or failed and with the reading of the Charter it was confirmed that it passed. The minutes up for approval at this mistakenly shows a 5 to 0 vote for approval, it fails to identify the discussion / motion made by Councilmember Price nor any notes as to the discussions / decisions of the City Attorney nor my questioning as to the funding for this project. If this item was deferred as normal course in order to allow the full Council to vote, who knows it might have failed, been modified or it might have passed with me being the lone no vote. Guess we will never know?
To me, the approved lighting of the "Vermack Trail" (located only in front of Dunwoody High School and not planned to go anywhere else) with 18 lights (identical to what is now on Winters Chapel) is excessive in both the amount of lighting and monthly cost and it also goes against the desires of the neighbors directly across the street from the school. It was also unclear to me as to who would be picking up this expense (be it General Fund or DeKalb County School System) for pedestrian lighting as I have looked at the tax records and don't see a street light fee being paid by either the school, or the residents of Vermack. As these are "12 foot tall" pedestrian lights, they are not street lights and therefore not a fee that we can pass on to the adjoining property owners. I believe this approval also sets a bad precedent for all future trail lighting, including all those planed on Winters Chapel, Peeler, Chamblee Dunwoody and maybe someday to a street in front of, or across from your home.
Here is a public recap of the meeting from the Dunwoody Crier.
I have asked the City Manager and City Clerk to correct the minutes.
