Dunwoody Mayor Lynn Deutsch publishes first newsletter.

Greetings! My regular newsletter will focus on policy items, actions the City Council is exploring and decisions we have made. If you are interested in Dunwoody events, make sure you have signed up for the City's fabulous weekly newsletter. (link is found below) In the past few weeks, the City Council finalized a moratorium limiting development in the Dunwoody Village area. This allows work to continue on the updated area plan. We anticipate adopting the final plan later this year. As I have said, we only get one chance to do this correctly. I believe that patience is necessary to move the area forward. We hosted a record number of volunteers for the Dunwoody Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service (picture above). Hundreds of trees and bushes were planted. Thousands of daffodil bulbs were planted in memory of the children who perished in the Holocaust, scores of beds weeded, and more. It was freezing that morning and 750+ volunteers still showed up. A very proud moment for our community. Thanks to our local chapter of Jack and Jill Inc for initiating this project 4 years ago and continuing to serve as a co-sponsor. As promised, I have begun the conversation about the challenges facing the DeKalb County School District with the other DeKalb Mayors (or their representatives). I am formulating a plan for continuing these discussions. Concerns about the school system are shared across the county. Along with our City Council, I continue to monitor the activities of the Georgia Legislature. Some members of the legislative branch seem determine to weaken Georgia cities' abilities to perform our responsibilities especially as it relates to zoning and design standards. We will continue to advocate strongly against these bills. I will let you know if we need you to take action to support our position. I look forward to seeing you soon. Please remember you can always reach out to me at Lynn.Deutsch@Dunwoodyga.gov. Lynn PS-- Please save March 12, 2020, 7 PM for the State of the City. More details coming soon.

GDOT PUBLIC OPEN HOUSES I-285 MANAGED LANES PROJECT TUESDAY JANUARY 28 Noon-2PM 4:30 PM-7:30 PM St. Luke's Church 1978 Mt. Vernon Road As many of you know, I would like to see the whole 285 Managed Lane project reevaluated for effectiveness and value added. I believe that there are better strategies to reduce traffic congestion on the Top End. There is a huge need to mitigate the impacts this project is going to have on the communities abutting the interstate. If you attend one of the open houses and share my concerns, please consider adding these thoughts to any of your own comments. ·     Sound walls and other noise reduction tools must be installed before construction begins. ·     GDoT should fund multipurpose trails on Cotillion, along I-285, and on the reconstructed Chamblee-Dunwoody bridge ·     Additional space should be added to the Chamblee-Dunwoody bridge to allow for the greening up of this gateway to Dunwoody. (similar to the 5th Street Bridge in Atlanta or the Encore Parkway Bridge in Alpharetta) If you are unable to attend, or just want a preview of what G DoT will share at the meeting, please click on the project's webpage.

A New Tradition for Dunwoody We are starting a new tradition in Dunwoody, welcoming our young residents to to be part of our meetings. Sign up your scout troop or other youth organization fo lead City Council in the Pledge of Allegiance. You can get more information and sign up here.

Subscribe to Dunwoody's Weekly Email. Delivered once a week on Fridays, this great publication lists all the happenings across Dunwoody. You can subscribe here!

City of Dunwoody passes resolution urging Cities to get a seat at the table on the new DeKalb Ethics Board.

RESOLUTION URGING DEKALB COUNTY AND THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY TO PASS THE LIMITED CHANGES TO THE DEKALB ETHICS ORDINANCE CODIFIED AT ARTICLE 22A OF THE CHARTER OF DEKALB COUNTY REQUIRED BY THE DECISION OF THE GEORGIA SUPREME COURT IN DELAY V. SUTTON

WHEREAS,  the City of Dunwoody is authorized and empowered by its Charter to administer and regulate the ethical conduct of its elected and appointed officers; and

WHEREAS,  the City of Dunwoody has been recognized by the Georgia Municipal Association as a City of Ethics since 2009; and

WHEREAS,  the City of Dunwoody has established its own policies and ordinances to review and evaluate its officials’ conduct as open, transparent, and lawful under the Charter of the City and the Constitutions of the State of Georgia and of the United States; and

WHEREAS,  DeKalb County Voters overwhelmingly approved a referendum in 2015 amending the Charter of DeKalb County and establishing an Ethics Code in the County’s Charter; and

WHEREAS,  the Voters’ expression at the ballot box sent a very loud message to their County and State elected officials that they demand a strong, independent, and transparent ethics Board to oversee County elected and appointed officials and employees; and

WHEREAS,  the Supreme Court of Georgia, in Delay v. Sutton, 304 Ga. 338 (2018), invalidated and held unconstitutional the creation of the DeKalb Ethics Board on the single issue that appointments were made to the Ethics Board that were not confirmed or approved by elected officials; and

WHEREAS,  the invalidation of the Ethics Board on the single Court ruling now calls into question the entirety of the Ethics Ordinance, especially including the appointment, function and role of the County Ethics Officer; and

WHEREAS,  with the growing number of existing and planned Cities in DeKalb County, the wishes and demands of citizens in incorporated areas for ethical and transparent government are of increasing importance in how the County manages its governance and operation; and

WHEREAS,  the Elected Officials of DeKalb Cities speak for their constituents and deserve a voice, role, and function in the re-establishment and efficacy of a reconstituted DeKalb Ethics Board; and

WHEREAS,  the delay caused by extraneous issues infiltrating the discussion and resolution of the single issue upon which the Georgia Supreme Court ruled is detrimental to the standing, credibility, and future of DeKalb County and her incorporated areas;

NOW THEREFORE, the Mayor and City Council of the City of Dunwoody, in an open and public meeting, RESOLVE AND STATE the Will of the Council as follows:

1.         The General Assembly, or the Board of Commissioners, as appropriate, should address and remedy the single issue they created that led to the Ethics Board being declared unconstitutional by the Georgia Supreme Court and that issue only.

2.         It is of paramount importance that the General Assembly and the Board of Commissioners take this issue seriously, that they hear the import of the voices of the electorate of DeKalb County who demand ethical and transparent representation (as expressed in the referendum in 2015 and in their rejection of the amendments proposed in SB 7 of the 2019 Session of the General Assembly), and come to a resolution of this problem as soon as practicable.

3.         DeKalb Cities need to be granted an effective and appropriate voice through their elected officials in the appointment and conduct of the Ethics Board, to include nomination(s) made to the Board of Ethics by a majority vote of the Mayors of the Cities in DeKalb County, submitted to the Board of Commissioners for confirmation, for 2 members of the Ethics Board, one of which should be a member of the State Bar of Georgia.

4.         The City of Dunwoody sees value in the input of various community groups in determining the composition of the Ethics Board and urges the General Assembly and the Board of Commissioners to enact a lawful process by which such groups can continue to have a role and mechanism to inform and suggest membership to the Board of Ethics.

5.         The City Council designates the Mayor, or her designee, as the official with authority to negotiate on behalf of the City of Dunwoody to give effect to this Resolution and to bring a report to the Council as necessary on the progress of the response to these demands.

6.         The City Council adopts as its factual findings in support of this Resolution the language included in each “Whereas” paragraph above.

            SO RESOLVED, this 27^th day of January, 2020.

           

Dunwoody City Council Agenda for Monday January 27, 2020

Monday, January 27, 2020
Dunwoody City Hall
4800 Ashford Dunwoody Rd

Dunwoody, GA 30338

6:00 p.m. - Watch Live

Agenda

Brook Run Park Update

SLUP 19-03: Paul Ludwig on behalf of Saint Barnabas Anglican Church at 4795 North Peachtree Road, Dunwoody, GA 30346 seeks a Supplement Land Use Permit to allow for an addition of classroom space and administrative offices to supplement their institution.The tax parcel ID for this site is 18 354 13 030.

Ratification of IT Costs

I-285 Top-End Express Lanes raises more questions on local access from PIB and other traffic concerns on local Dunwoody roads.

Last week I posted a GDOT video of what the I-285 express lane system might look like moving through Dunwoody.  There was also a set of drawings of the possible property acquisitions as well as various lane and access configurations that might be implemented.  Looking at those drawings, I raised a few concerns and residents pointed out in the comments other traffic flow issues.   I have taken the liberty to break apart the very large drawing into just three separate segments of the Dunwoody project.

Please spend some time looking at these drawings thinking about traffic flow, traffic impacts and access as these issues need to be raised and corrected if this project is to move forward.

The GDOT information meeting scheduled for Dunwoody is taking place on January 28th at St. Lukes Presbyterian Church, from 2 to 4 pm and again that same evening from 4:30 to 7:30 pm.

Link - 400 to Ashford Dunwoody

Link - Chamblee Dunwoody to North Peachtree

Link - PIB to Flowers

City of Dunwoody - Mission, Vision and Values

Mission Statement  

The mission of the City of Dunwoody is to provide the highest quality of life for those who live, work or play in our community and to foster an environment where business can prosper. We will serve all stakeholders in a transparent manner with resourceful, efficient, progressive and professional leadership.

Vision 

Dunwoody is a city located in metro Atlanta, in northern DeKalb County, Georgia. Dunwoody o officially incorporated as a city on December 1, 2008. The City of Dunwoody will provide quality service to its citizens and support the largest economic engine in the Southeast by planning in a careful and thoughtful manner. The City of Dunwoody will be inventive, transparent and embrace responsible progress, tempered by the city’s rich history and strong desire to maintain a close and vibrant community atmosphere that values family life and the entrepreneurial spirit. The City of Dunwoody will continue to support and nurture a community dedicated to the preservation of family, education, religious institutions, and the environment.

Values 

Goals  
The goals of the City of Dunwoody and its governing body are to make Dunwoody a better community, built on mutual respect and trust, and to promote and maintain the highest standards of personal and professional conduct among all involved in City government – elected officials; City staff; volunteers; and members of the City’s boards, commissions, and committees.

Preamble 
The proper operation of democratic government requires that decision-makers be independent, impartial, and accountable to the people they serve. The City of Dunwoody representatives intends to act pursuant to the ethics as delineated in the Charter in order to promote and maintain the highest standards of personal and professional conduct in the City's government. All elected and appointed officials, City employees, volunteers, and others who participate in the City's government will subscribe to those ethics, understand how it applies to their specific responsibilities, and practice its values in their work. Because we seek public confidence in the City's services and public trust of its decision-makers, our decisions, and our work must meet the most demanding ethical standards and demonstrate the highest levels of achievement in following this code.

As the governing body of the City of Dunwoody, we represent as follows:

(1) As representatives of the City of Dunwoody, we will be ethical.
(a) We are trustworthy, acting with the utmost integrity and moral courage.
(b) We are truthful, do what we say we will do, and are dependable.
(c) We will make impartial decisions, free of bribes, unlawful gifts, narrow political interests, and financial and other personal interests that impair the independence of our judgment and actions.
(d) We will be fair, distributing benefits and burdens according to consistent and equitable criteria.
(e) We will extend equal opportunities and due process to all parties in matters under consideration. If we engage in unilateral meetings and discussions, we do so without making voting decisions.
(f ) We will show respect for persons, confidences, and information designated as "confidential."
(g) We will use our title(s) only when conducting official City business, for information purposes, or as an indication of background and expertise, carefully considering whether we are exceeding or appearing to exceed our authority.

(2) As representatives of the City of Dunwoody, we will be professional.
(a) We will apply our collective knowledge and expertise to our assigned activities and to the interpersonal relationships that are part of our job in a consistent, con dent, competent, and productive manner.
(b) We will approach our job and work-related relationships with a positive attitude.
(c) We will keep our professional knowledge and skills current and growing.

(3) As representatives of the City of Dunwoody, we will be service-oriented.
(a) We will provide friendly, receptive, and courteous service to everyone.
(b) We will be attuned to, and care about, the needs and issues of citizens, public officials, and city workers.
(c) In our interactions with constituents, we will be interested, engaged, and responsive.

(4) As representatives of the City of Dunwoody, we will be fiscally responsible and transparent.
(a) We will make decisions with prudent consideration of their financial impact, taking into account the long-term financial needs of the City, especially its financial stability which are transparent to the City residents and businesses.
(b) We will demonstrate concern for the proper use of City assets (e.g., personnel, time, property, equipment, funds) and follow established procedures.
(c) We will make good financial decisions that seek to preserve programs and services for City residents.

(5) As representatives of the City of Dunwoody, we will be organized.
(a) We will act in an efficient manner, making decisions and recommendations based upon research and facts, taking into consideration short and long term goals.
(b) We will follow through in a responsible way, keeping others informed, and responding in a timely fashion.
(c) We will be respectful of established City processes and guidelines.

(6) As representatives of the City of Dunwoody, we will be communicative.
(a) We will convey the City's care for and commitment to its citizens.
(b) We will communicate in various ways that we are approachable, open-minded and willing to participate in the dialogue.
(c) We will engage in effective communication, by listening carefully, asking questions, and determining an appropriate response which adds value to conversations.

(7) As representatives of the City of Dunwoody, we will be collaborative.
(a) We will act in a cooperative manner with groups and other individuals, working together in a spirit of tolerance and understanding.
(b) We will work towards consensus building and gain value from diverse opinions.
(c) We will accomplish the goals and responsibilities of our individual positions while respecting our roles as members of a team.
(d) We will consider the broader regional and Statewide implications of the City's decisions and issues.

(8) As representatives of the City of Dunwoody, we will be progressive.
(a) We will exhibit a proactive, innovative approach to setting goals and conducting the City's business.
(b) We will display a style that maintains consistent standards but is also sensitive to the need for compromise, "thinking outside the box," and improving existing paradigms when necessary.
(c) We will promote intelligent and thoughtful innovation in order to forward the City's policy agenda and City services.

GDOT releases I-285 Top-End Express Lanes Visualization and the proposed plans that I believe need work.

Link to Video of Express Lanes going through Dunwoody

GDOT's first public meeting for the proposed express lanes has now occurred and plans for the highway project as well as property acquisition have now been released by the State.

Last week I walked the right of way along 285 with a Georgetown neighbor reviewing the Dunwoody GIS System determining the current width of the right of way, where it was wide and where it was generally abutting structures.    The video above shows the scope of GDOT's plans but it is not the final project plans as it is missing details (like sound walls) and could also easily change before going final. Besides the actual express lanes, there will also be widening and reconstruction of local access roads (Cotillion and Savoy) as well as bridges and other structures.

The GDOT information meeting scheduled for Dunwoody is taking place on January 28th at St. Lukes Presbyterian Church, from 2 to 4 pm and again that same evening from 4:30 to 7:30 pm.

There are lots of questions being raised by residents, like what is the plan for sound barriers but GDOT is aware of those concerns, therefore they have made this Noise Barrier Fact Sheet.  https://majormobilityga.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Noise-Barrier-Fact-Sheet_08.pdf

What is the final plan for the Georgetown Swim Tennis Club? Though the proposed property acquisition list, does not mention it, they are very close to the right of way.

I have deep concerns with the amount of traffic That I am guessing will be funneled through Dunwoody in order for our neighbors to the North to access the express lane entrance near Shallowford.  I would like to see an additional entrance ramp onto the express lanes heading in both directions on Peachtree Industrial Blvd near Winters Chapel.  If these two access points were included, half of Gwinnett County wouldn't be attempting to fight through Dunwoody to get on the lanes, instead, there would be an easy access point on PIB with many of the vehicles coming down Winters Chapel instead of cutting across Peeler to access those structures.  Not having access on PIB to the express lanes, is very short-sighted.

It appears that Cotillion and Savoy will be made one way, the Chamblee Dunwoody bridge will be rebuilt with a dedicated turn around lane taking you from Cotillion to Savoy but it does not appear that either Shallowford nor North Peachtree will have a dedicated turn around lane under 285, therefore expect delays going though these chock points unless dedicated turn lanes are constructed at Shallowford and North Peachtree for the Savoy to Collillion traffic patern.

If you are unable to raise questions or concerns in person on the 28th, GDOT is also accepting comments on the project webpage. 

You can also provide your comments by Tuesday, February 25, 2020, by using any of the following methods:

•Online at http://www.dot.ga.gov/AboutGDOT/PublicOutreach     1. Scroll to “I-285 Top End Express Lanes” in the lists of Upcoming Public Meetings or Recently Held Public Meetings (January 2020);   2.Click “View Info”   3.Click “ Comment” and follow the instructions to leave your comments.

•Online at https://majormobilityga.com/projects/topend/

•Mail in your comment card to Mr. Eric Duff, Georgia Department of Transportation, 600 WestPeachtree Street NW, 16th Floor, Atlanta, Georgia 30308. Project displays and plans are available online at: https://majormobilityga.com/projects/topend/.

Hardcopies will also be available at the GDOT District 7 Office located at 5025 New Peachtree Road, Chamblee, GA 30341. Following the public comment period, a copy of all comments received will be available by request at the Atlanta address listed above.