Residents press council for botanical gardens updates and data‑center guidance; caller asks about DeKalb BOE funds

During the public comment period on Nov. 24, several residents urged the council to provide more public information and faster action on two recurring concerns: the proposed Stonecrest Botanical Gardens and data centers near residential areas.

Margaret Sofadir identified herself as a member of the Stonecrest Garden Club and asked the council for regular status updates and access to plans and budget information for the botanical garden. She told council the project should include specialists (for example, an arborist) and phased plans and asked for quarterly or annual updates so residents can follow progress.

City Manager responded that funding for the botanical garden is identified in the FY26 budget, an arborist has been hired within the last three months, staff is assembling the project plan, and a public report is expected in January (presentation timing may move to January). The manager said project information will be posted on the city’s project portal and invited residents to contact the manager’s office for follow-up.

Faye Cofield asked whether the city has requested an audit or clawback of $1,200,000 the city provided to the DeKalb County Board of Education, referencing the board’s superintendent being indicted on unrelated charges and alleged board misappropriation. The comment asked whether unspent funds could be returned to the city. The transcript shows the question was recorded but no formal action or staff commitment to an audit or recovery was made during the meeting.

Carmisha Washington Smith and other residents raised concerns about data centers, requesting council-led community education on data centers’ impacts and noting local water and sewer infrastructure concerns. The City Manager said DeKalb County has been holding meetings on data centers, that the city has not yet convened similar meetings, and invited direction from council on how staff should address those concerns. Staff noted some ordinance language already exists and that a rewrite of ordinances is underway, which could address data‑center issues during public, advertised meetings.

The council did not take immediate action on the BOE audit/clawback question or on convening a city run data‑center forum; the manager requested direction from council to staff how to proceed.