October 2025 Council Meeting Recap

Jimmy Furst
Oct 28
7 min read

Below is my recap of the latest Council Meeting with my thoughts, which don't represent the Mayor or the rest of the Council.

Click HERE for the agendas and videos for this month's Council meetings.

ONE BIG THING:

Transient Pet Sales Ordinance

I've been working with Councilman Stovall to introduce an ordinance to ban sidewalk pet sales in our city. These sales often take place in unsafe, unregulated environments where animals are kept in poor conditions, without proper food, water, or shelter. Many of these pets come from irresponsible breeders or puppy mills, and buyers have little to no information about the animal’s health or background. Sidewalk sales also raise public health and safety concerns by increasing the risk of disease transmission and placing animals in stressful, unhealthy conditions. By banning this practice, we can better protect animals, prevent consumer exploitation, and encourage adoption from reputable shelters and rescue organizations.

The Council APPROVED this new ordinance. I'm excited to make Chamblee a better place for our furry friends.

Announcements and Presentations

Council Dog of the Month

Bingo!! You'll be winning big by bringing this cutie home with you. Bingo is his name, and he's 2 years old and 59 lbs. He is a lot of fun to walk with and has a joyful bounce to his step. He has gorgeous eyes, pretty coloring, and those ears that stick out in different directions are a hoot. Bingo seems house-trained, takes treats gently, and is ready to go home with you today. He is a pleasant, straightforward dog with a bit of a Scooby Doo-like appearance, and you can't go wrong by bringing him home. You'll be happy crying "BINGO" in no time!!

Public Hearings

Text Amendment to the UDO on Smoke/Vape Shops

You might be wondering why we’re holding this public hearing even though the amendment was already passed last month. There was a technical issue with how the original hearing was advertised, so we’re required to hold the hearing again and revote on the item. The Council APPROVED this new ordinance, again.

Ordinances-2nd Read

Transient Pet Sales Ordinance

This was covered in the One Big Thing section above.

Vape/Smoke Shop Ordinance

Again, this was approved last month, and this will limit smoke and vape shops' operations within a certain distance of a school. The Council APPROVED this new ordinance for a second time.

Staff Action Items

2026 Benefits Renewal

In partnership with Acrisure, the City annually reviews and bids out its group health insurance contracts to ensure competitive pricing, affordability for employees, and long-term sustainability.

For the 2026 benefits renewal, staff recommends moving bundled medical, dental, and vision coverage to UnitedHealthcare (UHC). The City will maintain its current employer/employee premium contribution percentages, continue Life and Disability coverage with The Hartford Group, and keep FSA and HSA offerings through Everything Benefits Corporation (EBC), including current HSA contributions and existing wellness and surcharge programs.

Additionally, staff proposes developing a three-year strategy (2027–2029) to address long-term plan costs, prescription management, and premium alignment. Transitioning to UHC is expected to result in a cost avoidance of $750,000 in 2026 compared to renewing with Cigna.

Council APPROVED the staff recommendations for the 2026 benefits renewal. I want to note that I understand the gravity of making a change to our plan and the disruption it could cause to people.. However, we have a fiduciary responsibility to our residents, and $750,000 is a significant cost savings.

Amendment to City Financial Polices

The City Council was asked to approve revisions to the City’s Financial Policies following a compliance review conducted by the Georgia Office of Planning and Budget (OPB) as part of the Improving Neighborhood Outcomes grant close-out process.

The OPB had identified two compliance observations, one of which was resolved during the previous fiscal year. The remaining issue concerned the City’s procurement threshold for micro-purchases. To align with state and federal regulations and maintain eligibility for future grant funding, the Finance Department recommended lowering the threshold for grant-funded purchases from $25,000 to $10,000. Council APPROVED the amendment to the city's financial policies.

Amendment to the Q3 2025 Budget

Staff requested City Council approval of the Q3 2025 Budget Amendment, which included updates to the General Fund, State American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Fund, Series 2025 Park General Obligation Bond Fund, and Dresden Plaster Special Services District Fund.

The amendment addressed several items: a transfer from the General Fund to the ARPA Fund to cover non-reimbursable professional service expenses related to Village Park improvements; recognition of remaining ARPA funds to be spent in FY 2025; and acknowledgment of bond proceeds from the $30 million Parks Bond issued in September 2025, following strong voter approval in November 2024.

Additionally, the amendment established the FY 2025 budget for the Dresden Plaster Special Services District, funded by a 2-mill rate, to support economic development, infrastructure, and maintenance at Dresden Park.

Council APPROVED this item.

Dresden Trial Grant Application

The City is requesting $1,000,000 in federal funding through the Georgia Department of Transportation’s Transportation Alternatives and CMAQ Program to support the construction of the Dresden Trails, which will connect Buford Highway, Dresden Park, and Shallowford Road. The trails aim to enhance transportation alternatives, reduce congestion, and provide safe routes to Dresden Elementary School. The CMAQ grant requires a 20% local match, and the project is already funded through SPLOST, with construction planned for 2026.

We already have funding for the project through SPLOTS, and this is a great opportunity to redirect those dollars into another project. Below is a picture of the project. Council APPROVED this item.

South Chamblee (Woodacres) Park Task Order

Following the issuance of the Parks General Obligation Bond last month, staff requested approval to proceed with design and construction administration for South Chamblee (Woodacres) Park. Kimley-Horn, which developed the park’s master plan in 2024, will complete the design and oversee construction administration under its existing on-call contract with the City. This will be the first project completed using funds from the Trail and Parks Bond. Council APPROVED this item.

North Metro SWAT MOU Update

The purpose of this update is to add the City of Doraville to the North Metro SWAT. Doraville will be replacing John’s Creek and Sandy Springs. It was recommended that SWAT teams stay within their respective counties, so we have done some trading. Council APPROVED this item.

Speed Dection Permit Non-Renewal

Staff recommend ending our contract with Red Speed for school zone enforcement at St. Pius, effective November 30, 2025. This gives Red Speed the required 30 days’ notice to wrap up the agreement.

Over the past year, both the Chamblee Police Department and municipal courts have taken a close look at the effectiveness of the School Zone Safety Program. Early data from 2023 and 2024 showed that Red Speed was issuing between 500 and 1,000 citations per month, but that number has dropped significantly. Because of the decrease in citations and the time and resources it takes to manage the program, the team believes it’s the right time to bring the program to a close. The Police Department has also spoken with representatives from St. Pius, and they’re supportive of ending the program. Council APPROVED this item.

On-Call Stormwater Service Contract

Staff recommended that Council authorize the City to enter into an On Call Services Agreement with Integrated Science & Engineering (ISE) for stormwater engineering and consulting services, not to exceed $50,000 over one year, with the option to renew annually for up to three additional years.

ISE had been working with the City’s Stormwater Division for several years, helping maintain compliance with the NPDES Phase 1 MS4 Permit through activities like impaired waters monitoring, SWMP development, annual reporting, and hydrology studies in flood-prone areas.

Over the past year, the City began bringing more NPDES compliance tasks in-house, but while staff training and capacity building were underway, continued support from ISE remained essential to meet regulatory requirements. Additionally, ISE’s quick turnaround on studies of local stormwater “hot spots” helped the City estimate improvement costs and prepare for a comprehensive stormwater system inventory, assessment, and long-term master plan. Council APPROVED this item.

Stormwater Detention Pond Assessment and Retrofit Design Contract

Staff recommended that Council authorize the Mayor to execute a contract with Integrated Science & Engineering (ISE) for the proposed services for a not-to-exceed fee of $24,910. The City of Chamblee’s Stormwater Division recently discovered a failed stormwater detention pond located on the residential lot at 1944 Chamdun Way, which serves the Chamdun Way single-family subdivision. The subdivision was developed in 1989, and the original plat showed the location of the stormwater pond and access easement, assigning maintenance responsibility to the lot owners. Later, DeKalb County assumed maintenance, and when the area was annexed into Chamblee in 2013, responsibility effectively transferred to the City. No records, such as stormwater management reports, design documents, or as builts, could be found. A topographic survey was needed to assess the current condition of the pond and its infrastructure to determine and recommend appropriate repairs.

The pond’s failure caused recurring severe flooding along Montford Drive and Plantation Lane in the Longview neighborhood downhill. During storms, runoff from Chamdun Way bypassed the pond and flowed directly into 3856 Montford Drive and through the neighborhood at high volume and velocity, prompting repeated complaints from residents. Integrated Science & Engineering (ISE), which previously conducted a storm system capacity analysis of the Longview subdivision and is familiar with its hydrology and flooding issues, submitted a proposal to perform a survey, condition analysis, and provide retrofit recommendations for the pond. Council APPROVED this item.

PZ2025-1535: 5007 New Peachtree Road and 1100 Vijay Drive

The project includes plans to build 141 townhomes along with a 4,300 square foot clubhouse, a swimming pool, and plenty of green space for residents to enjoy. The proposal also includes two commercial buildings featuring about 4,000 square feet of retail or restaurant space, complete with an outdoor patio, 40 parking spaces, and 16 bicycle spots.

Along New Peachtree Road, the applicant plans to add a 27-foot-wide streetscape with a five-foot landscape strip, a 12-foot trail segment, and a 10-foot supplemental zone. Inside the development, five-foot sidewalks are proposed along all internal streets to improve walkability and connectivity.

As a reminder, this project was originally approved in 2022, and a new developer has since taken over to move it forward. Council APPROVED this item.

PZ2025-1552: 2800 CENTURY PARKWAY NE

The applicant, South College, proposed the installation of a larger sign on a commercial high-rise property. Council DENIED this item. My take? There was no hardship present.

PZ2025-1538: 3535 Ashton Woods Drive & 3641 AND 3643 Pierce Drive

Both of these items were deferred to next month, and I will cover them at that time.

Please send me your questions, comments, or concerns.

Email: Jfurst@chambleega.gov

Mobile: 770-901-1121

The legal stuff: The views expressed represent the views of the author and may not reflect the views of the Chamblee City Council. Comments posted in response to a Councilmember-initiated communication may be subject to public disclosure under the Open Records Act. If you are a resident of Chamblee and would like to discuss city business, please go to chambleega.gov or contact me at the email above.