Memo

To:
From:
Date:
City Commission
Peggy Merriss, City Manager
December 12,2013
Re: Annexation
City Manager's Office
509 North McDonough StreF:t
PO fux 220
Georqlc:t3003l
4U4-37D-4102 Pax 404-378-2678
mto , dP<".::nturoa com wv.;rv; decaturga.corn
This time last year, the City Commission adopted Resolutions R-12-18 and R-12-19 which
proposed a modest annexation of primarily commercial properties in areas adjacent to the
existing northeast and northwest city limits. The City was never able to secure a sponsor
from the local DeKalb County legislative delegation and annexation efforts stalled.
At the end of the 2013 General Assembly session, several bills were introduced that
provided for the creation of new cities in DeKalb County. These bills made it possible for
efforts to incorporate Lakeside, Tucker, Briarcliff and Stonecrest to move fo!V.'ard for
possible consideration during the 2014 General Assembly session. All four incorporation
plans have raised sufficient funds to cover the cost of financial feasibility studies. Currently,
the study for the City of Lakeside has been completed and it appears that it is financially
feasible based on criteria used by the Carl Vinson Institute of Government. The other
studies are underway and are likely to be completed before the 2014 General Assembly
begins.
The potential existence of new cities in north DeKalb County has a significant impact on the
future of the City of Decatur, particularly given that the proposed borders of the City of
Briarcliff surround the existing City of Decatur northern city limits on all sides. Once the city
is surrounded by other municipal borders, our city limits are set and there will be no capacity
to change. Basically, the city limits will be permanently set
The question before the City Commission is not if all of northern DeKalb County will be
municipalized, but when will that happen. Based on last year's General Assembly session,
the environment can shift quickly and the City of Decatur needs to take action to determine
its future plans and move forward with those plans before it is too late.
Over the summer, the City of Decatur and other members of the DeKalb Municipal
Association (DMA) have been meeting with the organizers of the proposed cities of Briarcflff,
Lakeside, Tucker and Stonecrest; with DeKalb County officials; and, with each other to
consider what the impacts of municipalization could be and what the appropriate response
should be from existing cities. The outcome of the discussions is that existing cities should
consider and adopt annexation plans that indicate their future city limits. Draft plans have
been compiled and have been made available by the DMA to DeKalb County officials and to
members of the DeKalb General Assembly delegation in various town meeting settings.
An Equal Opportumty Emr ,Jr:y.;..r
City of Decatw
In terms of the 2014 General Assembly session, indications are that due to the change in
the election primary dates from June to March, the session will be compact and move
quickly though the forty "legislative" days. The three new city bills in north DeKalb County,
(Briarcliff, Lakeside and Tucker) include maps with overlapping territory. It does not seem
realistic to think that the General Assembly will adopt all three in their current form; nor does
it seem realistic that they will get specifically involved in redrawing the maps. It is my
understanding that the City of Lakeside bill has a Republican sponsor in both the Georgia
House of Representatives and Georgia Senate, so it may be the first bill to move forward.
However, as indicated by all of the activity at the end of the 2013 General Assembly
session, it is impossible to predict what could happen during the session.
Based on what has happened in the past year and looking at what might be happening in
the coming year or in the near future, it is likely that by 2018, all of DeKalb County north of
Memorial Drive will be located in either an existing or new city. This means that in a
relatively short time span, we need to assess what areas, if any, should be part of the future
City of Decatur and move forward in conjunction with the City Schools of Decatur and other
stakeholders to develop appropriate plans.
Attached is a very preliminary draft of what the future City limits could encompass. This is an
important starting point that should be incorporated into the community-based committee
discussions about City Schools enrollments and facilities. We also need to continue
discussions with the City of Avondale Estates to assure that each city's plans are consistent.
To that end, we anticipate putting together for your consideration in January 2014, a project
budget proposal to include professional demographic, financial, capital planning and market
analysis assistance to review and analyze potential annexation options and the impacts on
the community. This group could also provide assistance and expertise with the efforts of
the community-based committee's work.
Attachments: Draft Potential City of Decatur Annexation
Proposed City of Briarcliff
Proposed City of Lakeside
Proposed City of Tucker
Proposed City of Stonecrest
Cc: Board of Education, City Schools of Decatur
Phyllis Edwards, School Superintendent
Ju: Ec.:r .ul Opr:n!l\Ullt'/ Employ. l
r ...
Proposed City of Briarcliff
Est Population - 92,824
Version II
Est value- $9,668,912,569
L'\I>Uf' 'll\l
H;J .J .. "I\ 4'"'
:mn on!
.. --
GtMII To\.tl 10(.90

u ,,.. n'
b iJt.JO.OOO
1,l&.,,t:.rt.,.a

S9,Ua.91i50
0.75 1.5
-
l
I
i
I
I
... I
...
I
I
!
l
i
....
I
t f1 i .....,V
j
. I
i
I



Govcmmenl Fachhlo$ I
.:, !IC'--o;. I
i
n-v -x .J!n
a::t.-dt !
- . . .-. -------
w
g
Vl
w

c:(
..J
u..
0
>-
....
u
0
w
Vl
0
D..
0
a:=
D..
-
City of Tucker Proposal II
Population - 55,522
Parcels- 17,989
Assessed Value- $1 ,768,188,816
Gwinn ell

. -_ .... <""du,\111
..,
!i
0


Ubtory
Government Facilities
.C. Scllools
Law Enforcement
Other Government FacRities
lt:l School!
Pub
CJ High School Attendance Olst
. - . - "
0 1_25 2_5
" Ubfory
Government Facilities
Law Enlotcemenl
OlherGovernmentfadlilies
_, PaF'ClOI
--. -
!'arb
..
Coty of Slonec<est (Proposed)
Zoning
No Data
Commerdol
Industrial
Mobile Home Plflc
MUIOple Zoning
Single Family Residential
MultifamHy Residentlal
Tradijional Neil!hbortlooO
5
Miles