[{"_1":2,"_98":-5,"_99":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,74,86],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},"mediaId",6062856,"mediaKeyId","3275392-4545e494b69cef3a802b1e049b81c8ec","parentId",3275392,"title","Stonecrest proposes tighter rental-inspection rules and business-license requirement for offsite landlords","audioSeconds",1117,"startMs",3821000,"endMs",4938000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3275392-4545e494b69cef3a802b1e049b81c8ec&start=3821&end=4938","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3275392-4545e494b69cef3a802b1e049b81c8ec/thumbnail_3821000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6062856/Stonecrest/DeKalb-County/Georgia/Stonecrest-proposes-tighter-rental-inspection-rules-and-business-license-requirement-for-offsite-landlords","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6062856-b8ebdbab43a5e2e41ba0e1ff6c481eb3/orig.mp4?Expires=1771205569&Signature=lHiOXXCMr84L6KhB26uW9ah-0r1ZuDPBCTYCC7z3NRr5GXuwK0LbBp3IIWV42AOFJ7jB7aMac3pFI7AIqUCelnB1UVoXrI3~66WQajvpmGljDt0oM1Aza03LMlarm~M5R0FGkZY4-B361qBNbnLg7Q7Qejpdg5r2EwA0kkGqMHyBuD3f3ceftIOtrP71CdPXRKeyAM4lByBS06NBIidQT6qDriPk~sYSO4lAqFe2VxIlwgJnIgs9PpXXUJ6IO6MCYnC5UeZ1Ft3icbS9qlp~meDqOZVy5z7B9ABGVbqe5HpdH5ws4dio6ppA-bErz9k8d666SJc8smTq6Iksnarg7w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-05-13T11:47:43Z","article","City staff and Councilmember Tammy Grimes presented a proposed amendment at the May 12 work session that would tighten inspection and certification requirements for multifamily rental properties and create registration obligations for single-family rental units.

Director Kawhi told the council the draft ordinance raises the city’s inspection coverage for multifamily housing: the proposal requires larger coverage each year so that 50% of units are inspected annually and 100% of units are inspected every other year, with inspectors required to provide a compliance report and checklist. “Currently, we have 20% of the inspections for every 5 years for multifamily that has been amended to 50% for, fifth 100% to be every other year,” Director Kawhi said during the presentation. The draft also adds a required letter of compliance completed by a certified building inspector and attaches the inspection requirement to business-license renewal for property operators.

Councilmember Tammy Grimes, who framed the item as a priority for District 5, said the city is seeking to “put some teeth into” existing rules so renters live in safe, maintained units. Grimes described field observations of mold, broken air-conditioning and dilapidated decks and said the certification and reporting requirements are meant to force consistent, verifiable inspections: “So it's 1 thing to say I have enough money to own the property, but the things that you need to have in order to conduct your, business here in Stonecrest, that's where we're trying to make that rubber meet the road,” she said.

Staff said property owners will be responsible for hiring certified inspectors and providing inspection reports to the city; the city will review submitted compliance reports and may withhold or affect business-license renewals for properties that do not comply. Director Kawhi said additional city staff will not be required to implement the program because inspections and certification are supplied by the property owners’ contracted inspectors and the city will review compliance packages.

Council members asked about single-family rental properties that are being used as rental units. Staff said single-family rental units that are not owner-occupied will be required to register with the city; registration will generally require an occupation/business tax certificate (a business license) for owners who do not live in the city. When Councilmember Terry Fye queried whether that requirement would be treated as a rental registry, the city attorney, Denmark Ashby, explained the city can require an occupation tax certificate for any business operating inside its limits and that a court could not nullify the General Assembly’s statute authorizing such certificates.

Why this matters: the proposed changes would increase the city’s regulatory oversight of rental housing and tie compliance to business-license renewals, affecting out-of-area landlords and large apartment owners as well as tenants who report substandard living conditions.

Sources and attribution: quotes and details are taken from on-the-record presentations and council discussion during the May 12 work session.

Clarifying details recorded in the meeting: the draft raises multifamily inspection coverage to inspect 50% of units annually and to reach 100% every other year; building-inspector reports and a standardized checklist are required; newly constructed units have a 12-month timing clarification tied to certificate of occupancy inspections; single-family rental units that are rented and not owner‑occupied will be required to register and may need an occupation tax certificate (business license); staff said no additional city inspectors are required because property owners will submit third-party certified inspection reports.

Ending: Staff said it will continue drafting ordinance language and that the proposal will return to council in a later meeting for formal consideration.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City Council Work Session 6:00 PM 05-12-2025","oneSentenceSummary","Councilmember Tammy Grimes and staff presented a proposed code amendment to increase multifamily inspection coverage, require certified inspectors and add compliance reporting; staff also said single-family rentals will be required to register and may need a business license.","taxTitle","Stonecrest, DeKalb County, Georgia","taxId",4249,"location","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":77,"_43":78,"_45":79,"_47":80,"_49":81,"_51":82,"_53":83,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":84,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":85,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6062860,"Stonecrest staff presents draft abandoned-shopping-cart ordinance requiring retrieval plans, fines for large retailers",772,3062000,3834000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3275392-4545e494b69cef3a802b1e049b81c8ec&start=3062&end=3834","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3275392-4545e494b69cef3a802b1e049b81c8ec/thumbnail_3062000.jpg","/articles/6062860/Stonecrest/DeKalb-County/Georgia/Stonecrest-staff-presents-draft-abandoned-shopping-cart-ordinance-requiring-retrieval-plans-fines-for-large-retailers","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6062860-7e15bf02001863c0c529abccb9c017fb/orig.mp4?Expires=1771205569&Signature=QiGOC52Vs1y-t1-jTYys9ic~BIJsS7MGSqQCQve0vSRVos5~UiF0o08wZeVtq1Ub8l8SR~60~aRv1CcLntzR1KfvlvmtPev2S1NObkQxlA-X5Oo1B-fhYvjUsRlZDYSFStY6Qu~eq7w9Zs3EhT6ob~pargAGHYCwmHklmJLeAcJpqxxcJOslctyNZPT23PoxJbDQtISlH4~z~reIL-hBUjbFFEcLH9w6P6NciAFEuw-h309s6cgPXcp1vv-zWgvEzTHxqGosdP-T0ycffO1AgU98mizWXzs8C626kDPlIq~k1ZTW3t~srpCVzSLF44QUFIXHa5v1Mn8SDNiPrrHV~g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","A draft ordinance to address abandoned shopping carts drew council discussion at the May 12 Stonecrest work session, with a council staff member presenting a proposal that would require retail businesses with four or more carts to keep carts on-site, install cart-stopping devices and submit a retrieval plan to the city.

Support staff for Councilmember Terry Fye said the draft requires businesses that use shopping carts to provide a retrieval plan and a staff contact and that the city could request that plan within 60 days. The presenter described a fine schedule included in the draft: “1 cart is $150 plus 125 for each additional cart found,” and said the measure mirrors ordinances in other nearby cities.

The draft aims to give code enforcement a clear enforcement path and a means to notify businesses when carts are found off site. The presenter said the ordinance would let code enforcement notify the business of a cart’s location and that the business would have a set period to retrieve the carts. “We give them 72 hours to after code enforcement notifies the person on-site of where the card is and where the location is to make sure that they pick it up,” the presenter said.

Council members asked how the ordinance would treat personal items placed in carts and carts taken by people who are unhoused. Staff said the draft defines shopping carts as items that must be maintained on-site and that operational questions about personal items would be addressed during rollout and through conversations with affected retailers. Councilwoman Alicia Washington asked specifically how the city would treat carts that had been taken off-site with personal belongings; staff said that retrieval plans and on-site contact information would be the primary enforcement tool while staff develops guidance for those cases.

Staff referenced model ordinances from other jurisdictions — including Savannah, Brookhaven, South Fulton and Forest Park — and said those cities had informed the proposed text. The presenter said Stonecrest’s initial fine schedule is comparatively modest to allow grocers time to comply and that fines could be increased if the city observed no change in behavior.

Exemptions and process details discussed include a threshold exemption for establishments with fewer than four carts and an outreach plan: staff plans to share the draft with local retailers and request feedback before enforcement. The presenter said some peer ordinances apply a grace period for notification before formal enforcement; Stonecrest staff said they intend to inform retailers before citations would be issued.

Why this matters: abandoned shopping carts can create public-safety and cleanliness problems, and the draft ordinance would create a formal city process to require retailer accountability and to empower code enforcement to seek timely retrieval from businesses.

Sources and attributions: quotes and details in this article come from the May 12 council work-session presentation on the draft abandoned-shopping-cart ordinance and from council questions during the same item.

Clarifying details from the meeting: draft requires retailers with four or more carts to submit a retrieval plan within 60 days if requested; draft fine schedule described in the presentation is $150 for one cart plus $125 for each additional cart; staff said code enforcement will notify retailers and the draft contemplates a 72-hour retrieval window after notification; the draft includes an exemption for stores with fewer than four carts.

Ending: Staff said it will distribute the draft to retail partners and stakeholders for feedback and return to council for further action.","Council members reviewed a draft ordinance that would require retail establishments with four or more shopping carts to file cart-retrieval plans and provide a contact for code enforcement; the draft sets a fine schedule and contemplates a notification period before enforcement.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":89,"_43":90,"_45":91,"_47":92,"_49":93,"_51":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":96,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":97,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6062866,"Stonecrest engineer outlines 2025 paving, park and sidewalk projects, Southeast Athletic restroom pending power connection",872,724000,1596000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3275392-4545e494b69cef3a802b1e049b81c8ec&start=724&end=1596","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3275392-4545e494b69cef3a802b1e049b81c8ec/thumbnail_724000.jpg","/articles/6062866/Stonecrest/DeKalb-County/Georgia/Stonecrest-engineer-outlines-2025-paving-park-and-sidewalk-projects-Southeast-Athletic-restroom-pending-power-connection","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6062866-bbb6f8abd11527ea9924d41e5b4ed4b8/orig.mp4?Expires=1771205569&Signature=IKbUTYGNTZBtaf4v22LNRudklGUCaMukSQwgKhTWX~oXJPoezgsA4mGEKrqLa9G7OdRikBSFQ35TOjafaOr9PtqAR4gp7-JREZ0AjvDc4h9wvFlJW4Fw6V~-EB92tOJkQcJl2pKRF2ld-Ihb10dxyPHYJ9S8V806urZ6tzPadSQsKB0novwomMntWlpnO5lK1Hx5p1Fz7jnvwgpKPKRnQNklbXA74DrOyAZduWwu4YMmHADpw2sGjjUFlQanCAS-SviufpkkJ5wmDaoew6lzqj2mvzdPgKJm8i-CNyYLeIBLaZ1fN~ZBcWfbOQ3-brEOHI-IloFNoTidBLAc4jdgBw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City Engineer Harry told the Stonecrest City Council at its May 12 work session that the city plans to open bids for the 2025 paving program on May 29 and could issue a notice to proceed around July 4 after contracts are signed.

The bid calendar is central to the engineer’s larger update about projects across the city, from park infrastructure to sidewalks and school-crossing safety improvements. The city has completed construction of new restroom facilities at the Southeast Athletic Complex but “it is not, powered yet. We are waiting for Georgia Power to come and set the transformer,” the engineer said. He added the restroom build will provide 16 fixtures — “8 female and 8 male” — and will reduce future porta-potty rentals for large events.

The projects summary matters because several items are moving from design to procurement this year. The engineer said the purchasing division released the 2025 paving invitation to bid on April 16, held a pre-bid meeting April 24 and has answered vendor questions; the bid opening is scheduled for May 29 and staff expects to bring a recommendation to council at the June 23 meeting unless an earlier meeting is available. If the contract is executed on schedule, the engineer said, “hopefully, we can do an NTP on July 4 after the contracts signed by the mayor and the contractor.”

On parks and facilities, the engineer reported: the Southeast Athletic parking-lot bid was released and is expected to add “92 additional parking spaces at Southeast Athletic”; Farrington Park’s outdoor exercise equipment bid is open and will include removing wood chips and surfacing the play area with rubberized material; Brown’s Mill Park and portions of Farrington Park are included in a parking-lot resurfacing specification; and a restroom at Salem Park is being prepared by bringing sewer service closer to the play area but the council has not funded restroom construction yet. On Salem Park the engineer said proposals for sewer-line design were “being evaluated” and purchasing was preparing a recommendation.

The botanical garden civil design is completed and returned by the engineer for comments; the city is awaiting review comments from Georgia Soil and Water Commission before advertising civil construction work. The engineer said the civil work covers grading, parking, building pad and drainage, while the architectural design for the garden building will require a separate architect procurement.

Transportation and pedestrian-safety items include sidewalk designs for Irish Drive and Farrington Road (phase 2) to connect from Panola Road to DeKalb Medical and sidewalk work on Phillips Road and Salem Road. The city has applied for multiple grants: a CDBG application that has been evaluated; a TAP (Transportation Alternatives Program) grant described in the presentation as a $3,000,000 request for Thompson Mill Road; and a Farrington Road phase 1 CDBG effort listed in the staff slides (described in the presentation as a “2,024 CDBG grant”). The engineer also said staff is preparing specifications for rectangular rapid flashing beacons (RRFBs) at five schools and for three pedestrian hybrid beacons (PHBs), and that some crosswalk locations will be shifted so beacons can be installed safely and not at driveways.

Council members raised safety concerns about the Turner Hill and Rockland intersection; the engineer said tree removal there is complete and that the project will install solar-powered yellow flashing signs on both sides of the approach. “We’re gonna be installing a solar powered yellow flashing signs on both sides of that just before you turn in,” he said, adding that solar panels require cleared sight lines.

Council members and staff also discussed parking, event capacity and the operational benefits of replacing temporary portable restrooms with permanent restrooms at Southeast Athletic Complex. The city manager added that upfront construction costs are expected to be offset over time by reduced rental costs and by increased event capacity that could attract more regional tournaments.

Why this matters: several of the items the engineer described move from study to procurement and construction this year and will affect traffic, school crossings and park accessibility across Stonecrest. Key near-term dates the council heard: bid opening for 2025 paving on May 29, staff recommendation potentially June 23, and a target notice to proceed around July 4.

Meeting context: the engineering update drew multiple council members’ questions about timelines, safety at school entrances (Arabia Mountain High was mentioned) and maintenance responsibilities for roadway medians and parkway landscaping. That discussion included coordination with DeKalb County and with Georgia Power for the Southeast restroom transformer.

Sources and attributions: quotes and project descriptions in this article come from the city engineer’s presentation and follow-up answers during the May 12 work session, and from on‑the‑record comments by the city manager and council members during the same item.

Clarifying details noted in the meeting: bid opening for 2025 paving scheduled May 29; potential council recommendation June 23; target NTP July 4; Southeast Athletic new restroom build includes 16 fixtures (8 female, 8 male); planned addition of 92 parking spaces at Southeast Athletic; TAP grant described as $3,000,000 for Thompson Mill Road; proposal to relocate some crosswalks so RRFBs can be installed (five schools targeted); Salem Park sewer design proposals evaluated and a sewer extension to enable a future restroom is being pursued but restroom construction not funded yet.

Ending: Staff said it will return to council with recommended contract awards and bid evaluations for paving and other procurements; council members asked staff to continue coordinating with the school district and with DeKalb County on sidewalk and safety projects.","At a May 12 Stonecrest City Council work session, the city engineer reviewed the 2025 paving procurement timeline, completed and upcoming park improvements and pedestrian-safety work, and said new restrooms at Southeast Athletic Complex are built but awaiting a Georgia Power transformer to be put into service.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Stonecrest proposes tighter rental-inspection rules and business-license requirement for offsite landlords

Stonecrest staff presents draft abandoned-shopping-cart ordinance requiring retrieval plans, fines for large retailers

Stonecrest engineer outlines 2025 paving, park and sidewalk projects, Southeast Athletic restroom pending power connection