Development News for Tucker, Georgia

April Financials Show Cautious Spending Amidst Revenue Shortfalls; Fee Schedule for Tucker Town Green Proposed for Increase

Staff presented the April financial update, showing revenues at 83% of the fiscal year budget but expenditures at 76%, indicating a cautious approach to spending due to lower-than-expected revenues. General fund revenues are trending below the typical 91% at this point in the year, primarily because property tax collections are complete, and remaining collectible revenues are lower. SPLOST revenues are also trending about 5% short of budget for the fiscal year, though slightly better than the general fund. Hotel revenue is significantly below budget (13% short), impacting expected income from events. The council discussed the need to potentially adjust future CIP projects if revenue trends continue downward. Separately, a discussion on fee schedules for Tucker Town Green rentals revealed proposed increases for hourly rates, half-day, and full-day rentals, along with a new maintenance fee. The council debated the application of the maintenance fee across different park rental locations, with a preference for a nominal fee at smaller parks versus the higher rate at Tuckertown Green. Concerns were raised about pricing out families for birthday parties at smaller parks. The fee schedule for tree removal contributions to the tree bank was also discussed, with clarification that this is for contributions to the tree bank, not for illegal tree removal, and requires a code change, not just a fee schedule amendment.

DeKalb County to Replace Water Main on Hugh Howell Road; IGA Proposed with Tucker for Resurfacing

The council was presented with details about an upcoming water main replacement project on Hugh Howell Road, led by DeKalb County Watershed Management. The project involves abandoning an existing 8-inch asbestos cement pipe water main and installing a new 12-inch ductile iron pipe water main from Mountain Creek Trail to Lilburnstone Mountain Road. Construction is estimated to last 12 months and is scheduled to begin in late Q4 of this year. The alignment will be within the pavement of Hugh Howell Road, necessitating open-cut installation and traffic control, likely with a minimum of one lane closure. Night work is recommended to minimize disruption, though it poses higher worker safety risks and potential noise complaints. DeKalb County is proposing an Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) with the City of Tucker for road resurfacing to coordinate efforts and avoid duplicate work, where DeKalb County would do temporary resurfacing of the trench and the City of Tucker would perform permanent resurfacing curb to curb. The project aims to enhance infrastructure resiliency, reduce service outages, and improve efficiency.

City Council Debates Smart Lights, Cameras, and Public Wi-Fi Implementation

The city is discussing the implementation of smart lights with embedded cameras in downtown areas, specifically Tuckertown Green and Main Street, and potentially for future use on off-road trails. This discussion aims to gather council direction on policy aspects, including use cases, public accessibility, and the use of AI. Staff presented existing camera systems: facility cameras (closed-loop, reactive), park cameras (stored data, third-party access), and leased Flock license plate readers (LPRs) with limited live data for DeKalb County PD. The proposed smart lights would offer Wi-Fi access and potentially embedded cameras. Council members expressed concerns about data privacy, third-party access, accountability, and the cost-effectiveness of smart lights if only used for Wi-Fi and lighting. Some are supportive of cameras for specific security needs (e.g., parks, known issues) if they are closed-loop and auditable, while others are hesitant about live camera feeds and third-party data processing. The possibility of separate Wi-Fi-only smart lights was raised. Staff acknowledged the need for internal policy development regarding camera usage, data access, and vendor selection.

City Council Reviews Transportation Plan, Vision Zero Policy, and Tucker Town Green Rental Fees

The council discussed the DeKalb County water main replacement project on Hugh Howell Road, involving coordination with the City of Tucker for road resurfacing. A presentation was given on the city's Transportation and Trail Master Plan, emphasizing a Vision Zero policy, complete streets approach, and a safety action plan. The plan prioritizes safety and operational improvements over roadway capacity expansion. Key components include updating the comprehensive transportation plan, trail network, and establishing a safety action plan with a high-injury network analysis and a Vision Zero commitment aiming for zero traffic deaths by 2050. The plan also includes short-term and long-term projects focusing on multimodal transportation, with an emphasis on underserved areas. The council also engaged in a discussion regarding the potential adoption of a Vision Zero policy, which commits the city to reducing traffic fatalities and serious injuries, collaborating with other jurisdictions, and monitoring progress. The council also reviewed fee schedules for Tucker Town Green rentals, with proposed increases and a new maintenance fee, and debated the application of these fees across different park locations to balance revenue generation with community accessibility.