[{"_1":2,"_122":-5,"_123":-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",[32,75,87,99,110],{"_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":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6561177,"mediaKeyId","3295779-ea088f73e6c2cb50a7af6cf9092d3c47","parentId",3295779,"title","PECS defers short‑term rental ordinance vote as staff and commissioners seek enforcement, tax and staffing details","audioSeconds",2693,"startMs",2503000,"endMs",5196000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3295779-ea088f73e6c2cb50a7af6cf9092d3c47&start=2503&end=5196","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3295779-ea088f73e6c2cb50a7af6cf9092d3c47/thumbnail_2503000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6561177/DeKalb-County/Georgia/PECS-defers-shortterm-rental-ordinance-vote-as-staff-and-commissioners-seek-enforcement-tax-and-staffing-details","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6561177-25be7350f21d0aba3dff46af7095f5e1/orig.mp4?Expires=1771028958&Signature=Ffp7YvbhWEl1XHpXw~ZuVmxIZhFJlJv7aPjbwTekjaEclNBZPLNvAWm4RqBPxRlPr-lNWEjSunzmHkd9NINyg1ySM30id6B32XGB9ONCBv6ZSiKI4M8d2zc6C3fYnne8mn0LB-ZGqj81lz59GxV-EAUzdN9BnwQ3kQAkxpehXW~HlpyoeSZtLbvK-k8wJNrkFhxXtTTWO1j6KWZL45StLPLDyLQNwru7BLX6zOW6sZqYajlisDqrM9RzVVW~BDgxRoN0gR9S53TVxrQd3ufRtvD0gMwDoC6~MQA0nR8pl3Nd~QvNzMBqt6PsZcRJJr4GblMWckfwtupBsHVggevdAA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","DeKalb County","date","2025-05-13T00:00:00Z","article","Planning staff presented a draft ordinance to regulate short‑term rentals countywide and the PECS committee voted to defer final action for 30 days while staff and enforcement officials answer outstanding questions about staffing, taxation and post‑hours response.

Yvonne Trammell of the Department of Planning and Sustainability told the committee that short‑term rentals are not currently permitted in unincorporated DeKalb but “continue to operate.” Staff reported a 13% decline in publicly listed short‑term rental listings since August 2024—down from about 2,962 listings to about 2,564—and described the draft ordinance’s core elements: a by‑right accessory use permit with an annual application and fee, business licensing, a requirement to post the number and location of parking spaces, and an 8% local tax on short‑term rental gross receipts. Staff estimated a potential taxable base of about $7.7 million countywide and an 8% tax could generate roughly $560,000 annually under that projection.

Trammell told commissioners that the county would likely need additional staff to administer and enforce the program: a vendor‑supported solution could handle registration, permitting, tax collection, a 24/7 complaint hotline and activity monitoring, but in‑house implementation would require roughly four additional business license technicians and four additional code enforcement officers.

Commissioners focused on enforcement timing and tax treatment. Commissioner Ted Terry noted most nuisance complaints about “party houses” occur at night and on weekends and asked whether code enforcement would be available after hours; staff said that is under review and a third‑party hotline could provide a 24/7 intake for complaints. Interim County Attorney Welch said the draft requires an identified local agent for each rental and that posting a license number and agent contact (commonly in a visible window) is a way to provide notice and a response path.

Commissioner Terry also raised whether short‑term rentals should be classified for property‑tax purposes as businesses (with assessment of personal property in the unit) or residential; Interim County Attorney Welch said the chief tax assessor is evaluating options and that some jurisdictions treat short‑term rentals as business operations for assessment purposes.

After discussion, the committee voted to defer the short‑term rental ordinance (agenda item 2020331467) for 30 days so code enforcement, the assessor’s office and the county attorney can return with clearer staffing plans, enforcement options for after‑hours complaints, and tax‑assessment guidance.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","DeKalb County - PECS Committee Meeting - May 13, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Planning staff presented a draft short‑term rental ordinance proposing an annual permit, business license, parking requirements and an 8% tax; the committee deferred the item for 30 days to resolve enforcement, staffing and tax questions.","taxTitle","DeKalb County, Georgia","taxId",3571,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6561172,"DeKalb Community Academy 101 program showcases Columbia pilot and plans countywide rollout",3097,3104000,6708,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3295779-ea088f73e6c2cb50a7af6cf9092d3c47&start=3104&end=6","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3295779-ea088f73e6c2cb50a7af6cf9092d3c47/thumbnail_3104000.jpg","/articles/6561172/DeKalb-County/Georgia/DeKalb-Community-Academy-101-program-showcases-Columbia-pilot-and-plans-countywide-rollout","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6561172-dd35fd811558639b6df4a16052b39748/orig.mp4?Expires=1771028958&Signature=lRITauTob2wshRm90S2jFaQmfFWsUqNeyyTcMIdcli5wH-wjBd8Za~jhryTiz21SJ04ZepBgV9ofXTVZA1QFKBcguKdbN4-UKijITwk2SRkIdD6cMwyPY89b4aihTHjtJbr3xqX7WFnkb21w4gmfLv6f7-qGjhyyS0aPlf8wFCdK~NpVdvxWDgFTuj-yjTbD5BOgLNecaW-KjS9e9Hn-jXaAz~uIZvtR0oeKvmqQf8mqQh1TR5Fa2tumdbfYtFbUGogeR3J9HOUVDHrFOagXZPwgFOBEdQmSZf~NlJzvr2QtKt51b6JSKMjBEBM31IbHkVxAFGlQoO0biZuuSZbCKQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","DeKalb County’s Planning and Sustainability Department presented the DeKalb Community Academy 101 (DCA 101), a multi‑month neighborhood training program that aims to educate residents about county services, planning processes and avenues for civic engagement.

Lasonya Marshall, special project coordinator for the planning department, described DCA 101 as a four‑month training that uses steering committees, public meetings, workbooks and an ArcGIS story map to collect resident input and translate it into visual products and priority recommendations. The program’s first pilot was held in McNair; the department is currently running a Columbia cluster program based on the Columbia High School attendance area and plans to run DCA 101 in other unincorporated districts through the fourth quarter of 2025.

Eva Chabot, a planner on the long‑range team, demonstrated the project’s story map and said the department collected priorities and converted them into a list of recommended strategies and a timeline for implementation. Staff described an ambassador model: at the end of the training the community selects local ambassadors to help sustain priorities, coordinate with county partners, and pursue small‑scale projects such as cleanups, beautification and tree plantings.

Commissioners commended the program’s emphasis on resident education and empowerment. Commissioner Ted Terry and other members said the model helps bridge gaps between residents and county decision‑makers and recommended incorporating targeted data—for example, school district data on student homelessness—into future cohorts to better align planning recommendations with social needs.

Staff said Columbia 101’s timeline began with steering committee work in early 2025 and will include a second public meeting and final steering‑committee meeting in June; the program intends to present each community with a set of priorities, recommended partners and potential projects for follow‑up work.","DeKalb County’s Planning and Sustainability Department presented the DeKalb Community Academy 101 pilot program for resident training and civic engagement, highlighting the Columbia cluster and plans to expand countywide through 2025.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6561167,"Votes at a glance: PECS committee actions and deferrals",3490,46000,3536000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3295779-ea088f73e6c2cb50a7af6cf9092d3c47&start=46&end=3536","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3295779-ea088f73e6c2cb50a7af6cf9092d3c47/thumbnail_46000.jpg","/articles/6561167/DeKalb-County/Georgia/Votes-at-a-glance-PECS-committee-actions-and-deferrals","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6561167-21b6521c0d3f7d7e90ba68288bb8054f/orig.mp4?Expires=1771028958&Signature=hfrIvEH79hfGWzHrXbNAtRjJiNd1T79CtVYl5AY2P7Lo2~udoJren2FKCs6TU9u2oWhR5pwdpXzWsmZferuoaQwKqWebKVYTFs3VpXd-5bZkAVFyX5v8vPLfq1z-N~f18KKPy6PEtY7p-9AmJjf4N6pntwXWPWVIMTP-UFxwCFgZAVsv2jooxyetBjjmT~r3CS-5oQryHXF1AuGQ15oaqstUaftHfKi8ZOoeCvjIMT0q5TJJ2CLCTSXBah0NPBK6NZbTyqXgfdVKMA5ALUIwCMNtkkbO3i-rTZYQUNfoUg4ugcWMwr0dDdZZ~qDg4olvXYpLlP8DiADCIFB5PJCmBg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Planning, Economic Development and Community Services Committee took the following formal actions during the meeting:

- Approval of minutes from the April 22, 2025 meeting: motion carried.

- Appointment of Jocelyn O’Neil to the RPCA Citizens Advisory Board (agenda item 20205497): candidate interviewed; committee will take a vote at a later date (no final vote recorded in committee).

- Transfer of funds: committee reported that a transfer of $850,000 from the general fund to the Senior Citizens Services Grant Fund (agenda item 20205546) was approved earlier by the full Board of Commissioners and noted on the committee agenda (no committee action required).

- Opioid settlement fund disbursement (agenda item 20205657): staff proposed allocating approximately $1,343,742 to Claretel Behavioral Health, $620,035 to the Sheriff’s Office and $434,354 to DeKalb Public Health. The committee voted to defer the item for 60 days to allow staff to provide line‑item budgets, a formal application process for outside partners and coordination with the county’s behavioral health coalition.

- DeKalb County Library landscape transition plan (resolution 2025‑0617): committee agreed to defer adoption for 30 days to allow each commissioner to identify two libraries to prioritize in the first phase of the plan.

- Parks & Recreation fee schedule (PARKS‑20205500): committee approved fee adjustments for athletics and field rentals (pages 1–6) while excluding recreation center programs (top of page 2); the recreation center programs and pages 7–15 were deferred for 30 days.

- DeKalb County Bridal Equity Study resolution (2025‑0521): committee voted to recommend adoption of the resolution and move it forward for full board consideration.

- Short‑term rental tax and permit amendment (agenda item 2020331467): committee deferred the item for 30 days so code enforcement, the tax assessor and the county attorney can provide additional information on enforcement hours, staffing and assessment/tax treatment.

- Planning & Sustainability Community Academy 101: informational presentation; no committee action required.

Votes recorded in the transcript were often voice votes with “aye” recorded; where roll‑call tallies were not provided in the committee transcript, the committee recorded the motions as carried or deferred as noted above.","A concise rundown of formal actions taken by the PECS committee at the meeting: minutes approved; several items deferred for further information; partial Parks & Recreation fee changes approved; DeKalb County Bridal Equity Study resolution approved.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":92,"_47":104,"_49":105,"_51":106,"_53":107,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":108,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":109,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6561181,"DeKalb committee approves several Parks & Recreation fee increases for athletics, defers remaining program fees",1484,2052000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3295779-ea088f73e6c2cb50a7af6cf9092d3c47&start=2052&end=3536","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3295779-ea088f73e6c2cb50a7af6cf9092d3c47/thumbnail_2052000.jpg","/articles/6561181/DeKalb-County/Georgia/DeKalb-committee-approves-several-Parks-Recreation-fee-increases-for-athletics-defers-remaining-program-fees","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6561181-2c56ac0ce826d062ec52d59ac25744ae/orig.mp4?Expires=1771028958&Signature=huGglJX7ZdidWbh3zzEzaWfFHGomyqGaDSELMAe8~NfiHpdgANR1vmaYOp3XwG3gPPPEWzE2~uuJAMshV6wQLmbfEf1HCZJg94VQ0u~QcVACp9mfS3AmgjoF5gdLY4uZOcSRqToxxqgs~dL1-GGMkfX8UvobqUEub76Dn7F~9DcxZO1t1H2E6XSMjc6KEhpszWQkBvb2NAEzTVirX8a4PdLgcTTx8XdNVpY~QNbYe4DccTkIJNM7onFsLQklU9MyOLao-sTHxl-P2-BoYzXfM4qZkUFnjR7dSEO-6hPXKVcom2C5uUAihv8FagWmhaBw0gI1w6TXy73ncwtYypcV4A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Planning, Economic Development and Community Services Committee approved a set of Parks and Recreation fee adjustments limited to athletic and field rental categories and deferred the remainder of the department’s proposed fee schedule for further review.

Director Ellis, speaking for the Recreation, Parks and Cultural Affairs department, said the fee update is intended to reflect pandemic‑era delays in updating fees and to align some charges with regional comparables. Staff presented a color‑coded substitute schedule and asked the committee to act on pages 1–6 (athletics and field rentals) and defer pages 7–15 for additional review.

Committee members approved the motion with one amendment: to exclude recreation center program fees (summer camps, after‑school programs, mini‑camps, instructional classes and similar items on the top of page 2) from the initial approval and defer those with the rest of the package for 30 days. Staff said approved athletic fee changes would take effect with the next season; rentals already paid would remain at the originally contracted rates.

Parks staff said the department’s operational expenses are far higher than current fee revenues: staff described annual operating costs near $800,000 and said fee collections historically covered only a small fraction of that amount. Staff also noted that many facility uses are in‑kind (interdepartmental or county‑internal) and proposed adding commercial rates to charge outside promoters using county fields.

Commissioners asked for additional context on usage and the revenue impact of proposed increases. Commissioner Ted Terry said commissioners needed attendance and usage data to judge registration fee changes. Commissioner Long Spears expressed concern about raising fees for youth programs without clearer evidence of improved services or increased staff support.

The committee approved the partial fee package and directed staff to return in 30 days with the remaining fee schedule and additional data on program volumes, revenue impact and potential equity concerns.","The PECS committee approved adjusted athletics and field rental fees (pages 1–6 of the Parks & Recreation fee schedule) while voting to defer recreation center programs and the remainder of the schedule for 30 days for more review.",{"_33":111,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":112,"_41":113,"_43":114,"_45":115,"_47":116,"_49":117,"_51":118,"_53":119,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":120,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":121,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6561186,"DeKalb committee defers decision on first-round opioid settlement allocations after questions on process and housing needs",1136,737000,1873000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3295779-ea088f73e6c2cb50a7af6cf9092d3c47&start=737&end=1873","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3295779-ea088f73e6c2cb50a7af6cf9092d3c47/thumbnail_737000.jpg","/articles/6561186/DeKalb-County/Georgia/DeKalb-committee-defers-decision-on-first-round-opioid-settlement-allocations-after-questions-on-process-and-housing-needs","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6561186-3015d8b99bc7826a93df4b20128ce440/orig.mp4?Expires=1771028958&Signature=Yl~0by00jeL6CJCEGy10N-bSefe2HWopQYydll1WXyx--ibv45Ytt6RsEvuWSsT~mTEa0JE-gNJPCY~Oh5V3ea0FUguSRoQju2qJ254CG4SaEiKW7o-fv9XJmfvYCND2Wi9vKfkYaS5B1HKaZY8WN994zfworm2~CBh3OCVQ9RNoGubJ34CWyaAmVdmJqjgW9bV7pu10lbCQKy9ONeNkb3Zm9leZVN5r9srB6bZfAz7gC4YYFe-0uBw4orhSzP6TDXS8VLzjp-qRy-5P0F~W9SZS4DG0~yT6KOuO2LlX7VaktETgkPelqiD8Hf5hFDERe9YJkYsvEaxy0onf4PKWSQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Planning, Economic Development and Community Services (PECS) Committee deferred a proposed disbursement of opioid settlement funds after multiple commissioners requested more detail on how the money would be allocated and a clearer role for the county’s behavioral health coalition.

County staff told the committee the draft allocation would direct roughly $1,343,742 to Claretel Behavioral Health, $620,035 to the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office and $434,354 to DeKalb County Public Health, with the initial plan focused on distributing Narcan, training and related life‑saving supplies. The staff presentation said the county had received approximately $4,400,000 in opioid settlement funds to date and proposed allocating about $2,400,000 in this first round.

Committee members supported immediate, life‑saving purchases but pressed for a more transparent process and coordination with an existing behavioral health coalition. Commissioner Ted Terry said Narcan and training are urgent but argued the county also needs more transitional and supportive housing to avoid “a revolving door” of people returning to crisis after treatment. Commissioner Terry said residential treatment programs funded with past federal dollars showed strong outcomes and urged the county to consider long‑term recovery capacity alongside urgent purchases.

Several commissioners asked for a public application process and a line‑item budget showing how each agency would spend its allocation. Staff said they plan to open a formal application process for outside partners later and noted there are agencies already expressing interest in additional funding. Commissioners also asked whether municipal providers and county departments, such as DeKalb Fire and Rescue, would be eligible; staff said allocations would not be limited to unincorporated areas.

After discussion, a committee member moved to defer agenda item 20205657 (disbursement of opioid settlement funds) for 60 days to allow staff to develop a clearer application process, provide detailed budgets or line items for the proposed awards, and coordinate with the behavioral health coalition. The committee approved the 60‑day deferral.

Committee members stressed the committee expects a budget breakdown showing what portion of each award will be used for Narcan, training, staffing, and other services; they also asked staff to clarify whether recommended committee membership and review procedures followed state guidance. Staff said the initial committee structure followed guidance from the State Department of Behavioral Health but said the board could adjust membership if the commissioners directed it.

The item will return to PECS with the requested materials and any recommendations from the behavioral health coalition.","The PECS committee debated a proposed $2.4 million first-round allocation of opioid settlement funds to Claretel Behavioral Health, the Sheriff’s Office and DeKalb Public Health and voted to defer the item 60 days for more detail and broader input, including recommendations from the county’s behavioral health coalition.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

PECS defers short‑term rental ordinance vote as staff and commissioners seek enforcement, tax and staffing details

DeKalb Community Academy 101 program showcases Columbia pilot and plans countywide rollout

Votes at a glance: PECS committee actions and deferrals

DeKalb committee approves several Parks & Recreation fee increases for athletics, defers remaining program fees

DeKalb committee defers decision on first-round opioid settlement allocations after questions on process and housing needs