Not the Time for Business as Usual

From Commissioner Jeff Rader:

The more things change, the more they stay the same.

A year ago, I publicly expressed my disappointment in the budget process for DeKalb County. The process, as described in my formal remarks in February 2009, is subject to political considerations and short-term gains at the expense of tough decisions and long-term sustainability. [To read my commentary on 2009 budget, see link at the end.]

It was my hope then that the new county CEO and the new governing structure for the county Board of Commissioners (BOC), each with a full year under its belt, would lead to improvements in the preparation of this year's budget. Sadly, the process seems to have gotten worse, not better.
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Commissioner Rader Update

From Commissioner Jeff Rader:

Master Plan Provides Guidance for Parks and Recreation

This month, a new director, Roy Wilson, takes the helm of DeKalb County's Parks and Recreation department. The hope is that the new director, like the New Year, marks the beginning of a new era for the department.

But a new face in the same place by itself does not ensure a new direction. Rather, personnel change needs to be supplemented by a forward-looking strategy for the department that fulfills the county's goals in line with the department's resources.

That strategy is already on the table thanks to the completion of a new 10-year master plan for the county's parks and recreation department. A 408-page comprehensive plan was presented this summer by an outside firm hired by the county.

Perhaps the best feature of the master plan is that it provides objective and quantifiable measurements of the county's assets for parks and recreation. It also establishes baseline standards for quantity and quality of current and future assets. (Links to the report are at end of this update.)

The report recommends the county strive to have 18 acres of green space per 1,000 citizens. Based on the county's population, that goal amounts to almost 13,000 acres of parkland, but the county currently has less than 6,000 acres. By that same benchmark, District Two would have about 2,500 acres of parkland, but currently it has about 400 acres.

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Let’s stay focused on your priorities

From: Burell Ellis DeKalb County CEO

PO Box 1483 -- Stone Mountain, GA 30086
Burrell@BurrellEllis.comwww.burrellellis.com

Dear Neighbors,

During these tough economic times, with record job losses, home foreclosures and rising fuel costs, it's more important than ever to stay focused on the priorities of the citizens we serve.

In virtually every community across the nation, property values have fallen due to the recession and its lingering impact. As a result, cities and counties, which are primarily funded by property taxes tied to the value of homes and businesses within their borders, have seen their revenues drastically slashed and are forced to make difficult decisions about the services they deliver and how to pay for them.

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Land Use Proposal

From Commissioner Jeff Rader:

The Board of Commissioners accepted withdrawal of an amendment, proposed by the county planning staff, to DeKalb's comprehensive plan. The amendment would have assigned the Town Center designation to the area surrounding the intersection of North Druid Hills and Briarcliff Roads (30329), currently classified as primarily a Neighborhood Center.

The recommendation by the planning department was the outgrowth of its research started last year when a development proposal, subsequently approved, was under consideration for the Executive Park office complex in the same neighborhood. In the intervening time, my office, with the cooperation of the county administration, was able to secure a Livable Centers Initiative grant to develop a detailed master plan for future development along North Druid Hills Road. For information about that LCI, read my March 22, 2009 update (link below).

Therefore, the commissioners felt it would be premature to make a decision about the land use proposal until the LCI study is complete. The county finally signed the LCI contract in September, followed by a kickoff meeting in October. The heart of the study is soliciting public feedback on its long-term vision for the area under review.

Read about the North Druid Hills LCI:
http://www.commissionerrader.com/news/news244.html