Copy
View this email in your browser

District 8 News & Reminders

Even amid a pandemic, there’s city business to be done. 

We’re nearing a decision on who will operate Atlanta’s five tennis centers. We tweaked our Tree Trust Fund to ensure our city’s magnificent canopy grows and that dollars are spent wisely. One of our District 8 neighborhoods won an important battle to preserve its historic status. We also got an answer on golfers and others sharing the North Fulton course at Chastain: it will be golf all the time.

In as unusual a summer as many of us have known, crime statistics and human behavior reflect our unsettled times. On a positive note, Airbnb has cracked down on party houses--an issue we dealt with what seems an eternity ago.

As always, we remain grateful for your interest and involvement in what makes our great city tick. 

Some quick reminders: Continue to pay attention and participate this political season. It may be the most important and exciting of our lives. Don’t forget to get a flu shot. You’ll be glad you did. Please note that trash collection will be on a one-day-delay the week of Labor Day, September 7. And remember the 90-day closure of Northside Drive over Peachtree Creek (near Bobby Jones Golf Course) begins this month, as the state replaces an aging bridge.  

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Match Point for Atlanta’s Tennis Centers

The Chastain Tennis Center
On September 8, City Council is scheduled to vote on a new operator for Atlanta’s five tennis complexes, including two in District 8: Bitsy Grant and Chastain. Universal Tennis Management, also known as Universal Tennis Academy, has held the contract for more than a decade.

In August, the city took over operations of the courts as a one-year extension of Universal’s 10-year contract expired. The city’s Procurement Office has spent the last year untangling an intense bidding process between Universal and Agape Tennis Academy, based at the DeKalb Tennis Center.

The city’s Procurement process has been at the center of a several-year federal law enforcement investigation, so its integrity is paramount. Although I have heard from hundreds of constituents about the tennis centers, it’s imperative that I respect the bidding process, which I have done.

Like many others, I am eager to see the financial proposals of the two bidders. I’m also curious to learn whether customer satisfaction and other intangibles factor into Procurement’s recommendation. 

I will be asking hard questions when the contract comes up for consideration by Full Council on September 8th. I will also expect the city to hold the next vendor to the same high standards that UTA was known to provide its customers at our tennis centers. I will not accept a drop in the quality of service that we came to expect and rely upon, making our tennis centers some of our most heavily used recreational facilities.

For those who have been following this issue and wish to share your position, you may provide public comment that will be heard during the Council meeting on the 8th by calling (404) 330-6001 and leaving a voicemail between 4-7 pm on Monday, September 7th. The public can tune into the meeting by dialing (877) 579-6743, conference ID 8315991256, or by going to the Council’s  website, YouTube channel, Channel 26, as well as the Council’s Facebook and Twitter pages.

Unsettled Times

Vandals drove this post through a kiosk in Chastain Park
Making sense of human behavior is never easy, especially during a pandemic. Crime statistics, usually a reliable barometer, are of little help this time.

Through mid-August, total crime in Atlanta is down 20% from a year ago. In Police Zone 2, which includes District 8, it’s down 17%. But those figures belie rises in two violent categories: murder and aggravated assault.

Citywide, there have been 90 murders, up 50% from 60 a year earlier. In Zone 2 (an expanse that includes all of Buckhead and more), there have been six murders, up from five last year. Aggravated assaults, however, have risen 24% in Zone 2, to 113 from 91. The increase is 5% citywide.

Auto thefts --- always a problem in Zone 2 with its vast retail parking lots and garages --- remain up a stubborn 13%. Otherwise, crime statistics are plunging: robbery, down 25%; rape, down 39%; burglary, off 14%; larceny, down 38%, and theft from autos, off 11%. 

What’s going on? Criminologists will someday tell us, but the impact of COVID-19 and the disruptions it has caused are certainly factors.

Another factor may be the unsettled state of policing in Atlanta, although Zone 2 officials assure us they’re on top of things. Traffic stops, a measure of suspicious activity, are down 19%, year-to-date, but that could also reflect less vehicular activity as people stay home. 

Last month, we told you of late-night drag races on city streets witnessed by large crowds. Steps have been taken to narrow those streets with blockades, and I’ve paid for an off-duty officer on Peachtree Street during weekend nights.

Less obvious, but equally disturbing, is a rise in vandalism we’ve seen in places like Chastain Park. Street lights have been shot out. Kiosks have been destroyed. The Atlanta Department of Transportation placed barrells on Alex Cooley Drive at the north end of the park to stop reckless driving and racing. Recently, a landscaper reported that he was shot with BB’s fired by kids in a passing car.

We remain in constant contact with police and are working to install more security cameras. But crime prevention, however small, starts with each of us. Watch out for your neighbors, and please don’t leave your car keys in your car or exit the vehicle while it’s running. Zone 2 Major Senzer estimates this is the way about three quarters of car thefts happen. 

We need your eyes and ears and -- most of all -- your support.

A Win-Win for Trees

My delight over the city’s purchase of the 216-acre Lake Charlotte Nature Preserve this summer was tempered by a plan to use precious Tree Trust Fund dollars to build a trail and to pay for up to five years of maintenance.

First, some background. The preserve, which includes giant poplars, oaks, beech, and shagbark hickory, has been described by Planning Commissioner Tim Keane as “one of the most intact forests in the city of Atlanta.” 

The forest, in southeast Atlanta near Moreland Avenue and next to I-285, which has a rich history, was most recently slated to become a landfill. Instead, the city stepped up and protected vital trees and wildlife, a cause about which I am passionate. It’s one of the reasons why the Tree Trust Fund, which receives payments from those who cut down trees, exists. 

Because of its significant tree canopy, the land purchase qualified for Tree Trust Fund dollars, a use authorized by an amendment to the Tree Trust Fund by Council in 2016 to acquire forested land. Its acreage, combined with its cost of $4.7 million, makes Lake Charlotte the most significant parcel of forested land the city has purchased since the amendment. With that comes a higher level of necessary clean-up, maintenance, and overall expense.
 
And this is where I paused, particularly when I realized the proposal was going to use Tree Trust Fund dollars to build a trail system, make infrastructure improvements, and provide for 5 years of maintenance, which totaled $2.3 million--almost 50 percent of the $4.7 million purchase price. 

While I recognized the importance of spending money to address initial clean-up and maintenance, I was concerned that a fund, which is to be spent solely on trees, was going to be used for infrastructure and other purposes for a long period of time. 

In the end, I supported the legislation approving the $4.7 for the purchase of the property but could not support the maintenance piece, due to the inclusion of items not specifically related to trees. This also led me to introduce legislation to tighten the requirements of the use of Tree Trust Funds for forested land purposes.
 
After discussion and feedback from my colleagues and tree advocacy groups, my legislation narrowed the use of funds to initial maintenance costs related solely to trees, such as the removal of invasive species and clean-up. It prohibited the use of funds for infrastructure projects such as trails, buildings, and parking lots.

The amendment also limited the initial maintenance plan to three years from five. After that, the Department of Parks must budget funds to maintain forested properties long-term, as intended.

The amendment, co-sponsored by Dustin Hillis, passed unanimously earlier this month. It  keeps our eye on a tight budget for forested property purchases and ensures that such purchases will still get their upfront needs met, thereby saving dollars and making the land available to the public as soon as possible.

Most importantly, by reining in how Tree Trust Fund money can be spent, more will be available for future forested land opportunities. This entire process provides a good example of how Council and advocacy groups can work together to make city policy stronger and, in this case, to protect our city’s tree canopy.

It Was Fun While It Lasted

For three months this spring --- when COVID19 closed the Chastain golf course and most Atlanta facilities --- we enjoyed nearly total access to more than 100 acres of fairways and green space where few of us normally tread.

The mayor and the Parks and Recreation Department okayed our request to use the golf course to relieve the packed PATH trails around Chastain. Remember, outdoor activities were about the only safe way we could break the monotony of stay-at-home quarantine, and the PATH was so busy that physical distancing became difficult.

The golf course proved a huge attraction. Thousands walked it daily. Families picnicked. So many were enamored of this rolling carpet of green that they clamored for continued access when golf resumed.

That led to a 60-day experiment to close the course to golfers on Tuesday and to use it as green space.  As life returned to normal, fewer used the golf course on Tuesdays. There was unhappiness over the very few who had misbehaved and damaged the course. Parks and Rec, already financially pinched, cited lost revenue. It also said it worried about safety for confused walkers who might think the course was still open to them. 

Thus, the city has decided to return the course to full use by golfers only. No doubt, some will be unhappy, but Chastain has 268 acres, much of it in greenspace. For instance, if you haven’t visited the heavily wooded Alex Cooley Drive at the north end of the park, you’ve missed something special.

Ultimately, we are grateful to all for the flexibility shown during a difficult time.

One for the Neighborhood

Residents of Tuxedo Park and the Friends of Tuxedo Park, who have been working hard and advocating for the preservation of their historic neighborhood, got a “win” recently. Their hard work paid off when city Planning staff made the decision to deny a subdivision application for Tuxedo Road that would have effectively created lots that would have been inconsistent with the current, surrounding historic lot patterns. This requirement must be met when a proposed subdivision falls within a local historic district, or is on, or eligible for, the National Register of Historic Places. Tuxedo Park fell into the latter category. 

Neighbors and residents compiled information to document that at least 50% of the homes in Tuxedo Park were 50 years or older and had not had significant renovations done to them, which would have negated their historic value and status. This was quite the feat, and all documentation was turned over to city Planning, which had already made an initial determination through its Office of Urban Design that the neighborhood qualified for status under the National Register. 

The denial of this subdivision application is an example of how important neighborhood feedback and advocacy is and evidence that the city acts to preserve our historic neighborhoods. This was a win for the neighborhood and for historic preservation. 

A Postscript for the ‘Party House’

 
It’s a fading unpleasant memory, but we should take satisfaction in knowing we may have played a role in Airbnb’s recent announcement about so-called ‘party houses.” The online rental company has announced it’s banning parties and events with more than 16 persons. 

Earlier, Airbnb said 50 Atlanta party houses (including several in Buckhead) were being removed from listings for violating the company’s regulations. The ban, according to Airbnb, applies to future bookings and will remain in effect indefinitely.

It’s small satisfaction for all the hours, and all the headaches, in closing down the 4499 Garmon Road mansion that disrupted the lives of neighbors for more than a year.   
 

Some Reflections on JP from a Dedicated Volunteer

That’s JP in the green hat at a cold early-morning gathering of volunteers
Once a month --- more often, if necessary --- we crank out this monthly newsletter. We’ve been at it for nearly three years, and we’re grateful if you read it. I get to help. My name is Jay Smith. I work as a volunteer for JP Matzigkeit, who represents my district, District 8, on City Council.

I’ve known JP since we worked together at Cox Enterprises, Inc., 25 years ago. I oversaw Cox’s newspapers; JP ran the company’s compensation department. Then, as now, I tried to stay on JP’s good side, for obvious reasons.

JP recently celebrated a birthday, always a good time for reflection and assessment. I’m 70. JP’s a good bit younger. He’s closer in age to my kids than he is to me. That said, I’d like to tell you about my good (and young) friend.

When JP ran for Council he knew his life would change. Yet, he forged on. Although he founded the Chastain Park Conservancy, this was his first bid for elective office. He knew he’d be entering an arena not always kind to public servants. He also knew he’d have to balance Council duties with family responsibilities and an important job at Wahoo Fitness, a startup and a leader in measuring athletic performance with new technology.

JP is earnest, sometimes to a fault. If a constituent has a problem, JP wants it fixed. Katie Howard and Jim Elgar, his two staffers, know there better be a good reason if a remedy isn’t possible. It’s why JP made all those late-night visits to the so-called “party house” on Garmon Road last year when neighbors complained of raucous gatherings. Working with police, the courts, even the water department (JP got the water shut off for non-payment of bills), the parties ended. There were fines and jail time.

JP is true to his business background. He’s adamant that proper business and financial procedures be followed, yet he grinds his teeth at the occasional glacial pace of governmental bureaucracy. He’s proud that property taxes have not risen on the 25% of the bill the city controls. Perhaps his toughest moment came when he voted to approve the Gulch project. He respected the wariness of those who opposed tax breaks, but he recognized the once-in-a-lifetime development opportunity this could bring Atlanta.  

JP can be wonky. His eyes light up when discussing the proper height for retaining walls or the inappropriateness of building on “land-locked” lots that have no street access. His eyes narrow when he considers the inadequacy of the city’s tree ordinance, something he wants to fix.

JP values public safety above all else. He’s proud of the three straight 10% pay raises for police, knowing they will improve retention and recruitment. He fights just as hard for firefighters. He knows not all cops are perfect, and he wants better policing. He marched with Buckhead residents in support of Black Lives Matter, but also knows “defunding” police is not the answer. And don’t get him started on the need for and value of surveillance cameras. 

I could go on, but you get the idea. JP is an elected official in the mold of Jimmy Stewart in the movie, “Mr. Smith Goes to Washington.” I’ve never heard JP raise his voice in anger or utter a swear word. Sometimes, I wish he would. How many of us can say the same? 

It’s an honor to be part of his team. Each week, JP convenes a meeting of Katie, Jim, me, and two other volunteers, Mary Dodson and Greg Easterly. JP guides the discussion, but he listens --- a lot. More than once, he’s changed his mind when he hears a solid dissenting opinion.

There’s a fair chance this item will not survive to make the newsletter. I’ll have to fight with JP, my editor, to get it in. If you’re reading this, please know it was not easy convincing JP. But that’s why he’s my friend.   
 

District 8 Contacts

 

J.P. Matzigkeit    

jpmatzigkeit@atlantaga.gov

404.330.6051

 

Katie Howard

jpmatzigkeit@atlantaga.gov

404.330.6051

 

Jim Elgar

jqelgar@atlantaga.gov

404.546.4911

Subscribe to the District 8 Newsletter
Copyright © 2020, All rights reserved.

Our mailing address is:
Atlanta City Hall
55 Trinity Ave, S.W.
Suite 2900
Atlanta, GA 30303-3584

Want to change how you receive these emails?
You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list.






This email was sent to <<Email Address>>
why did I get this?    unsubscribe from this list    update subscription preferences
City Council · 55 Trinity Ave SW Ste 2900 · Atlanta · Atlanta, GA 30303-3544 · USA