Druid Hills residents to consider joining Atlanta (Decatur: live, zoned)

[arjay57]

I would be in favor of this. It would be a great bump for NPU-N.

If the more remote areas were to join we might even need another NPU. (Although we are close to be out of letters).

[kferq]

Here is a report of the August 21 cityhood and annexation meeting from a Clairmont Heights Civic Association viewpoint:

Annexation meeting notes from 8/21/14 | Clairmont Heights Civic Association

From CHCA resident representative Jim Smith and Mark Knowles on meeting with Druid Hills Civic Association : Impressions and notes from 8/21/2014 meeting at Fraser Center.

1. Annexation of DHCA into the City of Atlanta is not imminent, but is actively under consideration. They plan to survey their residents (4400 homes) with final results by Thanksgiving. This has to be completed before they can either petition the city to annex them (rarely done because the requirements under state law are very tough to meet) or get legislation drawn and submitted at the capitol during the next legislative session that would allow for an annexation referendum.

2. Schools as an issue were barely touched on in this meeting, at the behest of the organizers. Councilman Wan from Atlanta’s 6th District said that he thought an inter-governmental agreement might be signed between APS and DCSS to allow students to remain in DeKalb County schools on a fee per student basis (paid by APS to DCSS). He admitted that nobody had a clue how it would work out if the Druid Hills Charter Cluster came into being. Truly, nothing else was said.

3. Libraries belong to the county, so they would remain with DeKalb.

4. Taxes in Atlanta are about the same as DeKalb. At $200,000 [property assessment] or lower, they are actually lower. However, water and sewer are at higher rates, but DeKalb has yet to fund a whole lot of projects that have already been completed in the City of Atlanta, so DeKalb rates will probably increase soon. Our area would stay under the DeKalb County water and sewer service delivery area through an intergovernmental agreement.

5. The city of Atlanta is not seeking to annex us [CHCA and MANA]. Thus, we will actually be initiating the annexation. In order for them to consider us they would want to see a survey indicating support. We would need to conduct our own neighborhood survey. We also have other options that we may want to see in the survey. It is clear we have a mountain of work in front of us before we can do a survey.

[Iconographer]

Originally Posted by kferq

Here is a report of the August 21 cityhood and annexation meeting from a Clairmont Heights Civic Association viewpoint:

Annexation meeting notes from 8/21/14 | Clairmont Heights Civic Association

From CHCA resident representative Jim Smith and Mark Knowles on meeting with Druid Hills Civic Association : Impressions and notes from 8/21/2014 meeting at Fraser Center.

1. Annexation of DHCA into the City of Atlanta is not imminent, but is actively under consideration. They plan to survey their residents (4400 homes) with final results by Thanksgiving. This has to be completed before they can either petition the city to annex them (rarely done because the requirements under state law are very tough to meet) or get legislation drawn and submitted at the capitol during the next legislative session that would allow for an annexation referendum.

2. Schools as an issue were barely touched on in this meeting, at the behest of the organizers. Councilman Wan from Atlanta’s 6th District said that he thought an inter-governmental agreement might be signed between APS and DCSS to allow students to remain in DeKalb County schools on a fee per student basis (paid by APS to DCSS). He admitted that nobody had a clue how it would work out if the Druid Hills Charter Cluster came into being. Truly, nothing else was said.

3. Libraries belong to the county, so they would remain with DeKalb.

4. Taxes in Atlanta are about the same as DeKalb. At $200,000 [property assessment] or lower, they are actually lower. However, water and sewer are at higher rates, but DeKalb has yet to fund a whole lot of projects that have already been completed in the City of Atlanta, so DeKalb rates will probably increase soon. Our area would stay under the DeKalb County water and sewer service delivery area through an intergovernmental agreement.

5. The city of Atlanta is not seeking to annex us [CHCA and MANA]. Thus, we will actually be initiating the annexation. In order for them to consider us they would want to see a survey indicating support. We would need to conduct our own neighborhood survey. We also have other options that we may want to see in the survey. It is clear we have a mountain of work in front of us before we can do a survey.

This covers it very well. My DH feels like a lot of this proposal hinges on not just Druid Hills but Lavista Park...they are the neighborhoods that actually abut the city, after all.
Not sure how I feel about the school arrangement. DH says this was done in Gainesville. Frankly, I think I'd prefer a clean break.

[jeoff]

Originally Posted by LovinDecatur

This covers it very well. My DH feels like a lot of this proposal hinges on not just Druid Hills but Lavista Park...they are the neighborhoods that actually abut the city, after all.
Not sure how I feel about the school arrangement. DH says this was done in Gainesville. Frankly, I think I'd prefer a clean break.

Even if a "clean break" is the ultimate goal, this might be the best answer in the short term. Renovating/purchasing/selling schools, plus rezoning, plus personnel changes has got to be very expensive, stressful and time intensive work--and if all of that had to be sorted out first, annexation might not happen for a decade, if at all. (Just my guess).

[Iconographer]

Originally Posted by jeoff

Even if a "clean break" is the ultimate goal, this might be the best answer in the short term. Renovating/purchasing/selling schools, plus rezoning, plus personnel changes has got to be very expensive, stressful and time intensive work--and if all of that had to be sorted out first, annexation might not happen for a decade, if at all. (Just my guess).

I'm sure that's their thinking as well, jeoff.

[netdragon]

I always consider Druid Hills Atlanta anyway, even if it isn't, so I think this would just be Druid Hills joining what it's most aligned with anyway.

[Gulch]

I wonder if the Elaine Boyer mess is going to add fuel to the annexation fire.

[Iconographer]

Just an FYI. There is another meeting scheduled for tomorrow night at the Maloof Center. Schools will the focus of discussion.

[arjay57]

LD, do you know whether this is open to the public?

[Iconographer]

Originally Posted by arjay57

LD, do you know whether this is open to the public?

Not yet. The various representatives are trying to cobble together something to present to the public. At this point, they are trying to move this along as efficiently as possible; opening the meetings at this point would likely bog down the process.