Doraville  City Council Work Session City Hall Council Chambers 3725 Park Avenue Doraville, Georgia 30340  Disersity. Vitality. Bomnunity Monday, January 10, 2022  Meeting Minutes 6:30 p.m.  Arika Birdsong-Miller City Clerk  I.  CALL TOORDER  Mayor Joseph Geierman called the meeting to order.  II. SWEARING-IN CEREMONY  Gerald Evans representing District 1, Chris Henshaw representing District 2, and Stephe Koontz representing District 3 were sworn in as City of Doraville City Council Members. Council Members Gerald Evans, Andy Yeoman, Rebekah Cohen Morris, Christopher  III. ROLLCALL  Henshaw, Maria T. Alexander and Stephe Koontz were present.  IV. APPROVAL OF MEETING. AGENDA  Council Member Cohen Morris made a motion to approve the meeting agenda as presented. Council Member Koontz seconded the motion. The motion carried by AYES/ YES: Evans, Yeoman, Cohen Morris, Alexander, Henshaw and Koontz  unanimous vote (6-0). NAYS/NO: - ABSTAIN:  V. REPORTS AND PRESENTATIONS None  VI. NEW BUSINESS 1. Density Bonuses  Planning and Community Development Director Naomi Siodmok explained that this isa proposed text amendment to allow a density bonus up to 100 percent over what is allowed in the zoning district for added amenities. Director Siodmok detailed the table ofb bonuses and that the limitations include that developments must be able to accommodate additional units within the same building height, building stories, and lot coverage allowed by the  zoning district to ensure consistency with the context oft the area.  2. Automotive Retail with Installation  Naomi Siodmok, Director of Planning and Community Development, explained that staff has heard from two business owners about the negative impact on their business due to limiting automotive parts sales to retail sales only. Director Siodmok asked was Council open to changing a use, Automotive parts (retail only) but without on-premises installation,  1    to allow installation. This use is allowed by-right in' T-5(Urban Center), T-6(Urban Core),  M-1(Limited Manufacturing), and C-2 (General Business).  3.1 Homestead Exemption  Council Member Yeoman and Council Member Henshaw proposed a change to the City of Doraville Homestead Exemption away from the $25,000 exemption toward a $10,000 exemption plus 2.5 mil reduction for homeowners. This is a smarter exemption process that increases and decreases each year based on the housing market swings.  4. Peachtree Industrial Sidewalk  Council Member Evans and Council Member Yeoman explained that in February 2019, the Cityo ofDunwoody filled in all remaining sidewalk gaps in their jurisdiction. This left a small section in Doraville as the only unfinished section on the north sidet that would create a continuous  connection from Jimmy Carter Blvd to Brook Run and Halpern Parks.  5. Electric Vehicles/Hybrids  Council Member Yeoman proposed that Doraville pass ai text amendment to our building code that requires all garages be "EV. Ready" toi install Level 2 charging infrastructure in 6. National League of Cities Program- Health and Resilience through the. Arts Mayor Geierman explained that this use of ARPA funds that has not been discussed yet and the City could use at least $500,000 towards an art installation (ori installations) promoting  single family attached and detached new construction.  wellness.  7. URA APpoimtmentystructure  City Manager Chris Eldridge described the Urban Redevelopment Authority structure and the qualifications that are: required for citizens toj join the City Council appointed board.  VII. UNFINISHED BUSINESS  1.Accessory. Structures- deferred to February  2. Redistricting  Mayor Geierman explained that for many years, our city council districts have divided the city into roughly 3 parts - District 1, which is everything North of] I-285 and West of Buford Highway (generally called the "Tilly Mill and Winters Chapel District"); District 2, whichi is everything South ofI-285 (also referred to as the ("Northwoods District"); and District 3, which is North ofI-285 and East of Buford Highway (also referred to as the "Oakcliffi District"). These districts are designed to ensure that the city council includes representatives from all parts ofl Doraville, and they're regulated bya a Federal law that requires districts to have the same number of people ini them. Over the last ten years, as the city annexed territory in some areas and encouraged new housing in others, the city's population distribution has gotten al bit uneven. Because of this uneven growth, the city is required to revise its council district boundaries to divide the population in each more fairly. The city council has received 3 maps from State Reapportionment Department that would provide for fairer electoral  2    representation: two showing a 3-district scenario, and one: showing a two-district scenario. Switching to two districts would probably require al bit ofa change: perhaps having two district-elected representatives from each district (total of4 4) and two at-large council positions Additionally, in its last meeting some members ofc council mentioned they were interested in considering whether thisi is the time to reduce a council seat - probably by eliminating one oft the at-large positions ifcouncil decides to pursue the two-district map. We could only move forward on this ifthere iss someone who would believe ini this course ofaction enough to volunteer to have their seat be the one that is eliminated. Any change reducing the number of council reps would also require a vote - hopefully in November. Ifo council is going to ask the state legislature to pass any bills for us, we would need to pass a resolution for each bill no later than January 19th. The city would need to advertise the request, and then we would need to engage Senator Harrell to start working on them for us by early February. There ist the option to change the map via home-rule, but if the council does that, it will not be able to doi it again for the duration ofthis 10-year period. After discussion, there was a consensus to support the redistricting to move to two (2) City Council Districts. This item will be back on the agenda next Council Member Henshaw made a motion to enter Executive Session to discuss Personnel Matters. Council Member Evans seconded the motion. The motion carried by unanimous vote (6-0). Council Member Henshaw made ai motion to adjourn from Executive Session with no action taken. Council Member Alexander seçonded the motion. The motion carried by unanimous vote (6-0). AYES/YES: Yeoman, Cohen Morris, Evans, Alexander, Henshaw, Koontz  week for a vote. VIII. EXECUTIVE SESSION  NAYS/NO:- ABSTAIN:-  IX. ADJOURNMENT  There being no further business to come before City Council, the meeting adjourned.  Approved: Joseph  44W  Attest:  Shanta J.E Bingham City Clerk B  3