Dunwoody City Council Agenda for Monday August 25, 2025 (Group Homes, Brook Run Maintenance Facility, Municipal Services, Google Fiber, Shallowford Trail)

DUNWOODY CITY COUNCIL MEETING
Monday August 25, 2025
6:00 PM
DUNWOODY CITY HALL - DUNWOODY HALL
4800 ASHFORD DUNWOODY ROAD
DUNWOODY, GA 30338

Agenda 6 pm  - City Site Agenda

City Council meetings are live-streamed on the City of Dunwoody’s Facebook page.

They are also available for viewing (no two way communication) on Zoom,
https://dunwoodyga-gov.zoom.us/j/85998548170 or  phone +14702509358,,85998548170#

You can access the video after the meeting on the City of Dunwoody’s YouTube page.

Invocation and Pledge of Allegiance

Administration of Oath of Office to Officer Skylar Lewis and Officer Aaron Barone

PUBLIC COMMENTS - Public Comment allows the City Council the opportunity to listen to the public (3 minutes per speaker / 30 minutes total).

Economic Development Update - 2nd Quarter (Michael Starling)

Public Hearing - The City of Dunwoody, property owner at 4770 N Peachtree Road, Dunwoody, GA, 30338, requests a variance from Chapter 16, Section 78 to allow replacement of a City of Dunwoody maintenance facility and associated improvements in the 75-foot stream buffer.

SECOND READ: Review and consideration a text amendment to the Code of the City of Dunwoody for Chapter 27, including Sec. 27-112, Sec. 27-135.1, Sec. 27-146.1, and other sections, the general purpose of which is to create zoning regulations and procedures for group living uses, including, but not limited to assisted living, independent living, community residences, recovery communities, and for other purposes. 

Rebidding of Major Municipal Services (J. Jay Vinicki) 

2025 Holiday Lights Display at Brook Run Park (Rachel Waldron) 

 Funding Authorization for Stormwater Repairs - 2566 Briers North Drive

Dunwoody Cultural Arts Center HVAC Integrated Controls Addition

 Resolution to Surplus Six Vehicles

Approval of a Contract Amendment with Vandermeer Management to Provide Construction Management Services for the Brook Run Maintenance Facility

Approval of a Franchise Agreement with Google Fiber

Approval of a Final Design Contract with AECOM for North Shallowford Path Final Design

Thank you Briers North Community for 20 Years of Generosity, Joy and Fellowship!! No Halloween event moving forward.

To Our Wonderful Halloween Visitors

After more than 20 years of celebrating spooky season with you all, it’s with both gratitude and a touch of sadness that we share this message: starting in 2025 our neighborhood will no longer be hosting our annual Halloween event.

What began as a small neighborhood tradition has grown beyond anything we ever imagined. We have been truly honored to see families return year after year – some who came as children, now bringing their own children.

But with that growth has come challenges we can no longer safely or responsibly manage. The number of visitors and vehicles has outgrown our capacity, and with increased traffic, parking difficulties, and safety concerns for both our guests and the surrounding community, we’ve had to make the hard decision to bring this cherished tradition to a close.

To those of you who have faithfully joined us through the years - thank you. Your enthusiasm, kindness, and joy made this event what it was. We've loved being part of your Halloween memories, and we are deeply grateful for the connection and magic you've brought to our neighborhood.

With heartfelt thanks,
Briers North Subdivision

Dunwoody Police Fundraiser - Jordan Laverty - Thank You for your Service! Saturday 5 pm @ Dunwoody Tavern

Saturday, August 23, 2025 at 5 PM
Dunwoody Tavern, 5488 Chamblee Dunwoody Rd

Join Dunwoody PD and the Dunwoody Police Foundation this Saturday, Aug 23, 2025, 5pm as the Dunwoody Tavern hosts a special fundraiser in honor of DPD Detective Jordan Laverty. Let’s rally together to support the Laverty family after this recent tragic loss.

 

Donations will be accepted, plus Dunwoody Tavern is pitching in 20% of their sales that night towards this fundraiser. All funds raised will go directly to the Dunwoody Police Foundation to help out Detective Laverty’s family during this incredibly tough time.

 

Dunwoody Police Foundation will also be selling memorial T-shirts ($25/ea) towards this fundraiser.

 

There will be games for the kids on the green space, bar will be open, and you can even grab some dinner. Hope to see you there!

 

Can't make it but want to help the family? Please consider donating online via Dunwoody Police Foundation directly. Please include in notes section: LAVERTY FAMILY FUND: https://dunwoodypolicefoundation.org/donate/

Dunwoody City Council election qualifying period closes Wednesday with only one contested race identified on opening day of registration. Lautenbacher, Price, Ziskind & Lambert have tossed thier hat into the ring.

Today was the first day of a three day registration period for candidates to declare their candidacy for the three Dunwoody City Council positions that will up for election this November.  Today as detailed on the City Website, four candidates successfully completed the registration process and paid the $360 registration fee, they are ...

Catherine Lautenbacher - District 1, Post 1 

Rob Price - District 2, Post 2
David "DZ" Ziskind - District 2, Post 2

Tom Lambert - District 3, Post 3

As you see above, there is only one contested race with District two incumbent Rob Price being challenged by Mr. David Ziskind.

  
David Ziskind 

 

Catherine, Rob & Tom

 Is anyone else going to run?   Salary is $12K per year and health insurance.

The window closes Wednesday afternoon and more information can be found here.

Dunwoody & Brookhaven were hoping for better news from State @GaDPH Region 3 EMS Advisory Council on splitting the County into several response zones. It didn't happen, so still waiting on long term solution. @AMR_Social @DCFRpubaffairs @ItsInDeKalb @BrookhavenGaGov

 No Good News for Dunwoody from the EMS Council meeting of August 14th.

The sub-committee looking at the DeKalb zone did NOT recommend opening the zone to other providers (other than DeKalb Fire, which holds the entire zone certificate).  The sub-committee cited a modest amount of improvement in response times from the proposal of DeKalb/AMR into three DeKalb response areas.  That said, the sub-committee also said more substantial improvement is still needed, despite their recommendation to NOT open the zone to other providers.

Then the full EMS Council voted 18-1 to approve the sub-committee's recommendation to NOT open the DeKalb zone or split it.  Another 10 members voted to abstain (such as DeKalb Fire and other ambulance providers - all who have a vested interest in the motion outcome).  

Then the Region 3 EMS Council voted to disband the DeKalb zone sub-committee altogether.  This means Dunwoody, Brookhaven, etc. are back to the current status quo and not without an appointed sub-committee of the Region 3 EMS Council to investigate or monitor further.

Bottom line is our current EMS response times issue will continue.  In Dunwoody, we will see more of the same and we may need to continue paying a $600K per year supplement for an extra ambulance to stay close to Dunwoody, otherwise the pool of ambulances may be pulled to travel deep into DeKalb County making a return trip North problematic during rush hour.

Chief Fullum of DeKalb Fire then updated the full Region 3 EMS Council that AMR is now operating under an 18-month extension contract that only runs from January 2025 to June 2026.  A DeKalb Fire RFP for the DeKalb ambulance services contract is in the review stage.

Guess we need to wait to see what will be proposed next?

Video from Brookhaven last year asking for EMS changes needed.

Will good news be coming out of the @GaDPH Region 3 EMS Advisory Council Meeting to improve EMS Services in Dunwoody & Brookhaven? @AMR_Social @DCFRpubaffairs @ItsInDeKalb @BrookhavenGaGov

The Georgia Region 3 EMS Advisory Council Meeting is Thursday at 10 am

Will an EMS Solution for slow ambulance services for Nothern DeKalb County be proposed? 

City of Dunwoody is already paying for extra ambulances to solve DeKalb / AMR Shortfalls.  Brookhaven is now looking for solutions to issues as well.

The City of Dunwoody has raised numerous issues regarding ambulance availability with DeKalb Fire Rescue, their contractor AMR as well as the State EMS Advisory Council.  Our only solution was to provide additional ambulance services was for the City to pay for additional ambulance coverage that DeKalb should be providing.

There is a public meeting taking place tomorrow where Chief Mike Carlson (and maybe others) will be representing Dunwoody. I am hopeful that tomorrow both the Dunwoody Residents and those of Brookhaven will hear about proposed service improvements in the County EMS services.

What: Region 03 EMS Advisory Council Meeting

When: Thursday, August 14, 2025, at 10:00 am-12:00 noon

Where: DeKalb County Fire Rescue Services Headquarters 1950 W. Exchange Place, 5th Floor, Tucker Ga, 30084.

How to Connect Virtually: https://gapublichealth.webex.com/gapublichealth/j.php?MTID=m2fc2ec1e89bda8d9de9ca17f18db1999 

Thursday, August 14, 2025 10:00 AM | 2 hours | (UTC-04:00) Eastern Time (US & Canada). Meeting number: 2537 811 8743.  Password: 9h3xBSPRFm6

Join by video system

Dial 25378118743@gapublichealth.webex.com

You can also dial 173.243.2.68 and enter your meeting number.

Join by phone

+1-415-655-0001 US Toll

Access code: 253 781 18743

The purpose and objective of the Region 03 EMS Advisory Council is to serve as a liaison between the Department (State of Office of EMS and Trauma) and the regional EMS system; serve as the local coordinating entity for Emergency Response Zones in Region 03; coordinate, facilitate the improvement of, and maintain a quality EMS system in the following eight (8) counties comprising EMS Region 03 (Clayton, Cobb, DeKalb, Douglas, Fulton, Gwinnett, Newton, Rockdale); promote public education and knowledge of Emergency Medical Services; promote training programs at the local and regional levels to personnel involved with the delivery of EMS; establish a forum where the concerns of public and private organizations related to the Regional EMS system can be voiced; recommend to the Board of Public Health or its designee the designation of one or more 911 Zone providers for each Emergency Response Zone within the EMS Region, subject to approval or modification by the Board or its designee in accordance with the procedures set forth in O.C.G.A. 31-11-3 and 31-1104 and under the circumstances outlined in DHR Rule 511-9-3-.04, based primarily on the consideration of economy, efficiency and the benefit to public welfare.

The Board of Commissioners from each County within the Region shall make at least one appointment to the Council in compliance with the Bylaws.  County/allotted appointments: Clayton/2; Cobb/4; DeKalb/4; Douglas/1; Fulton/6; Gwinnett/5; Newton/1; Rockdale/1.

All meetings of the Council are subject to and in accordance with the Georgia Open Meetings Act.  Council meeting written minutes and audio recording are available through an Open Records Request directed to the Georgia Department of Public Health/Office of EMS and Trauma.  https://gadph.justfoia.com/publicportal/home/newrequest

https://www.atlantanewsfirst.com/2025/02/27/dekalb-county-develops-plan-addressing-slow-ambulance-response-times/