DeKalb County PEX Committee Meeting - April 28, 2026
DeKalb County PEX Committee Meeting - April 28, 2026
On April 28, 2026, the Planning, Economic Development, and Community Services (PEX) Committee of the DeKalb County Board of Commissioners met to consider several agenda items. Chair Nicole Messiah presided, joined by Commissioners Robert Patrick and Long Spears, and Commissioner Ted Terry from Super District 6. The committee approved routine items, discussed funding for senior services, summer food programs, security cameras, a plumbing repair program, and debated proposed ordinances addressing homelessness and noise regulation.
Consent Calendar
- Approval of Minutes (Agenda Item 2026-050751): Motion to approve passed unanimously.
Discussion Items
- Human Services – Senior Services Bridge Loan (Agenda Item 2026-0636): Director Scott explained the annual transfer of $850,000 from the general fund to the senior citizens services grant fund to cover the gap from January 1 to July 1 until federal/state funds arrive. The committee approved the transfer.
- Recreation, Park & Cultural Affairs – 2026 Summer Food Services Program (Agenda Item 2026-0602): Paige presented a substitute increasing sites from 9 to 11 (all recreation centers plus Porter Sanford and Lewalker Park). The program provides breakfast and lunch for summer campers. Total estimated cost is $555,000, projected based on last year's actuals plus an increase. Commissioner Terry clarified that the county hosts sites and records campers, with federal funds distributed accordingly. The program runs from the week after school ends until the last day of summer camp (ending before school starts in August). The committee approved.
- Parks and Recreation – Security Surveillance Cameras (Agenda Item 2026-0408): A substitute corrected a $34 mathematical error. The contract, not to exceed $201,986.78, is for cameras at Porter Sanford, Hamilton, and Chestnut (shop). Commissioner Terry asked about monitoring: internal cameras are for building security; exterior cameras may be tied to the police real-time crime center. Data retention is approximately 30 days. The committee approved.
- Community Development – Cap Cares Plumbing Services (Agenda Item 2026-0432): Director Mitchell presented the renewal of a contract for plumbing repairs under the Cap Cares program, funded by $5 million in ARP funds. The program has completed 233 repairs, averaging $13,191 per repair, with 155 active and 1.9 million remaining. The contract renewal is for $1,926,356.50. Commissioner Long Spears raised concerns about ARP spending deadlines; the county's internal deadline is September 2026, but the contract extension goes to June 2027. After discussion, the committee agreed to amend the agenda item to clearly state that ARP funds must be spent by the end of 2026, and that the contract can continue if other funding sources are identified. The committee approved the item with that clarification. Commissioner Terry noted the program's importance for keeping people in housing and suggested future funding from the watershed enterprise fund, with priority on water leaks.
- Public Safety, Vagrancy, and Unauthorized Camping Ordinance (Agenda Item 2026-0550): Chair Messiah introduced the ordinance to address behaviors (vagrancy, unauthorized camping) without criminalizing homelessness. The law department had proposed a substitute. Commissioner Long Spears raised several concerns: the warning structure (should be at least both oral and written), the 24-hour notice before property removal (suggested a 72-hour retrieval period), and the need for updated resource lists. Commissioner Terry emphasized pairing the ordinance with a diversion center to reduce jail costs (currently $28 million/year) and suggested developing a protocol for clearing encampments. Commissioner Patrick asked about interrelation with prior legislation. The committee deferred the item for 30 days to allow further input from law and commissioners, especially Commissioner Long Spears who will be traveling.
- Regulation of Sound Ordinance (Agenda Item 2025-0015): Commissioner Terry described two tracks: daytime decibel levels and nighttime plainly audible standard. The law department had drafted versions. The committee discussed the merits of decibel meters (objective, defensible in court) versus plainly audible (subjective, easier for police). Commissioner Patrick and Commissioner Long Spears favored the decibel standard across the board, while Commissioner Terry noted police preference for plainly audible at night. Chair Messiah raised cost concerns: decibel meters at $3,000-$5,000 each for 600 officers would be $1.8-3 million plus training and maintenance. The committee decided to hold the item in committee until May 26, 2026, to allow for further refinement. The original intent (gas-powered landscape devices) was noted as having been broadened. The remaining items on the agenda were deferred to the next PEX meeting.
Key Outcomes
- Approved: Agenda Items 2026-050751 (minutes), 2026-0636 (senior services bridge loan), 2026-0602 (summer food program), 2026-0408 (security cameras), and 2026-0432 (Cap Cares plumbing contract) with an amendment clarifying ARP funding deadline.
- Deferred: Agenda Item 2026-0550 (public safety/vagrancy ordinance) for 30 days; Agenda Item 2025-0015 (noise ordinance) held in committee until May 26, 2026, with direction to refine based on decibel standard discussion.
- Remaining agenda items deferred to the next PEX meeting.
Meeting Transcript
Great Tuesday, everyone. My name is Nicole Messiah, and I am honored to serve as the Chair of PEX planning economic development and community services. I serve this in this committee along with Commissioner Robert Patrick from District 1 and Commissioner Long Spears from District 2. I also acknowledge that we have Commissioner Ted Terry here from district super district six. If there is an opportunity, or excuse me, if you have the opportunity to um review the minutes, I will entertain a motion, please. Motion to approve. Second. And that is agenda number. Give me one second. I'm sorry. That is agenda item 2026-050751. We have a proper first and a second. All those in favor? Aye. Aye. Thank you so much. That agenda item passes. For the next one, we have human services. That's 2026-0636. All commission districts, transfer funds and the amount of 850,000 from the general fund to the senior citizens services grant fund. Great afternoon, Director Scott. Good afternoon, Madam Chair and members of the PECS committee. This is a annual item each year. This is a money that's already in the human services budget, and we're seeking to transfer from one account to the other. Each year there's a gap in funding from January 1 to July 1 when we anticipate senior services funding from the land of regional commission. That's inclusive of federal and state dollars. So this transfer funds basically acts as a bridge loan. And then if approved, um, and we are able to accept the uh this bridge and transfer the funds over, then it goes back into the general fund after July 1. All right, fantastic. Are there any questions from committee members? Commissioner Terry. All right. Seeing non Allen to take an ocean. Motion to approve 0636. Second. Seeing we have a proper first and second. Um, all those in favor? Aye. Aye. Aye. Thank you so much. That agenda item is approved and passes. The next is from recruit um recreation park and cultural affairs. That's agenda item 2026-0602, all commission districts for 2026 summer food services program. Great afternoon, Paige. Nice to be here. Thank you. Um, so this is to approve our 2026 summer food program. Um, you should have a substitute in front of you. The only change is the number of sites has increased from nine to eleven sites.
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