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Decatur commission approves nonprofit contracts, moves forward on charter revision to allow a directly elected mayor
Summary
The commission approved contracts for three nonprofits, adopted home‑rule charter amendments for first reading and voted to pursue a charter change that would create a directly elected mayor; it also approved several budget housekeeping items and a sidewalk‑easement contract.
At its Dec. 1 meeting the Decatur City Commission approved a package of nonprofit contracts, took a first reading on a revised city charter and voted to pursue a charter amendment to allow a directly elected mayor.
The commission authorized contracts for services with the DeKalb History Center ($10,000), Global Growers Network ($15,000) and the Decatur Arts Alliance ($15,000). Each organization’s executive director made brief remarks about programming and community impact; the contracts passed on unanimous voice votes.
On charter changes, city staff presented an updated redline charter drafted with the National Civic League and the 29‑member Charter Review Commission. The ordinance to adopt home‑rule amendments (articles 1, 2, 4, 5, 6 and 9 and a new article 8 on public engagement) passed by roll call and will return for a second reading on Dec. 15 as required for home‑rule amendments.
Separately, the commission debated the method for selecting the mayor — whether to continue selection by the commission (with a proposed two‑year mayoral term) or to move to a directly elected mayor. After extended discussion the commission voted to proceed with the alternative route: staff will prepare a resolution for Dec. 15 asking the Georgia General Assembly to enact local legislation that would enable a directly elected mayor (the change would replace the current at‑large commissioner seat with a mayoral seat on the ballot in 2027).
Commissioners also adopted a resolution to amend FY 2024–25 budgets for non‑general funds (hotel/motel tax fund, tree bank fund, community grants fund, opioid settlement fund and ARPA), described as a fiscal‑year cleanup tied to the draft audit; staff said the actions have no general fund impact.
The commission awarded a $34,000 contract to Diana Hunt & Associates for acquisition services associated with temporary construction easements needed for the Derry Down Way sidewalk project and set a $41,000 project budget (including contingency).
On other items, the commission opened a December 15 work session to refine a residential parking permit pilot (staff said the existing ordinance had been deemed unenforceable) and provided an annual enforcement cost estimate ($335,000 annually for 24/7 coverage on the full list of 37 streets) to inform the coming discussion.
The meeting closed with community recognitions, youth participation from Talley Street Elementary and announcements about holiday events and a Dec. 12 DDA meeting.
