DeKalb County Committee of the Whole Meeting - June 18, 2026
DeKalb County Committee of the Whole Meeting - June 18, 2026
The DeKalb County Committee of the Whole convened on June 18, 2026, presided over by Commissioner Shekaira Johnson (District 4). The meeting included committee reports, review of the proposed executive agenda for June 23, 2026, a walk-on item for a North DeKalb Day Center agreement, and presentations from Decide DeKalb and the Chief Housing Officer on housing affordability. Key decisions included the referral of multiple items to standing committees and direction on housing bond programs.
Committee Reports
- Finance, Audit & Budget (FAB): No meeting held; next scheduled for June 23 at 2 p.m.
- Public Works & Infrastructure (PWI): Reported a lengthy previous agenda with over 20 items, including several exceeding $3 million, which are returning for further review.
- County Operations (OPS): Approved minutes from May 21, recommended deferral of an Oracle Cloud Services change order, and approved a roof maintenance change order supported by audit. Continued discussion of standing procedure rules.
- Public Safety & Employee Relations (ERPS): Approved items including lighting leases for Fire Stations 16 and 27, PPE inspection/maintenance, SCBA equipment repair, and a resolution on illegal dumping of scrap tires. Deferred an ordinance on animal restraint/transportation and a resolution on civilian oversight of digital shield initiatives. Discussed a home rule ordinance to amend pensions for employees killed in the line of duty.
- Planning, Economic Development, Community Services & Sustainability (PECS): Met June 9, reviewed 17 items, recommended approval for 9, and moved 8 to the next meeting on June 23.
Review of Proposed Executive Agenda
Staff presented the proposed agenda for the June 23 Board of Commissioners meeting. Three public hearings were announced: (1) ad valorem tax millage rate budget revision (Item 1045), (2) acceptance of the 2055 Unified Plan update (Item 0995), and (3) a traffic calming petition for Terrill Drive (Item 0943). Numerous items were assigned to committees:
- Airport: Six consent items for lease agreements and consents.
- Chief Executive Office: Two housing-related items (1043 and 1044) referred to both FAB and PECS: a housing authority bond resolution not to exceed $25 million and a resolution authorizing initial implementation of the Housing Investment Bond program, including seven sub-programs.
- Community Development: Items 0948 and 1023 referred to PECS (HUD consolidated plan update and surplus property transfer to Land Bank).
- Transportation: Item 1022 (SPLOST II $500,000 for Laredo Drive bicycle facility) referred to PWI.
- Purchasing & Contracting: 10 for ERPS, 7 for OPS, 5 for PECS, 15 for PWI – all accepted.
- Parks & Recreation: Two items (0901 donation $33,884 and 1012 agreement $135,000) referred to PECS.
- A total of nine public hearings were noted for the June 23 meeting.
Walk-On Item: North DeKalb Day Center Agreement
Commissioner Longspears walked on an agreement with St. Vincent de Paul for a North DeKalb Day Center. Commissioner Longspears and Commissioner Patrick stressed urgency, citing rising homelessness and the need to complete renovations before cold weather. The item was referred to PECS. PECS Chair Commissioner Messiah stated she could not commit to hearing it on June 23 due to a packed agenda but would work to schedule it as soon as possible. Commissioners Terry and Patrick requested it be prioritized before the July recess.
Presentations
Decide DeKalb Quarterly Update (Q1/Q2 2026) President Dorian DeBar presented the strategic economic development plan, focusing on housing, redevelopment, workforce, and entrepreneurship. Highlights included a $30 million Candler Crossing development (Publix-anchored) supported by $3.82 million in TAD funds, the upcoming Cottages at Midway groundbreaking, and the launch of a women-owned business guide. The Kensington TAD is approaching expiration, and Decide DeKalb is working with the county to reassess it. Commissioners praised the initiatives and requested deeper analysis of the Kensington TAD.
Advancing Housing Affordability Chief Housing Officer Dr. Allen Ferguson presented the Housing Investment Bond program. The county aims to issue up to $155 million in bonds, with an initial $25 million drawdown to fund seven programs: down payment assistance (up to $20,000 for first-time buyers, plus $5,000 county employee incentive), owner-occupied rehabilitation (up to $30,000), multifamily gap financing (Housing Catalyst), capacity building seed fund, land bank support, multifamily acquisition, and transitional housing. The bond is backed by the Affordable Housing Fund, which received $12 million in 2026 and is anticipated at $15 million annually beginning 2027. Commissioners discussed eligibility, AMI targets (down to 30%), reporting frequency, and the link to the proposed millage rate increase (offset by EHOST). Dr. Ferguson emphasized that without the millage rate, the program would be severely limited. Commissioners requested regular housing reports and an analysis of the millage rate/EHOST offset.
Key Outcomes
- The walk-on North DeKalb Day Center agreement was referred to the PECS committee; timing to be determined.
- Housing bond items (1043 and 1044) were referred to both FAB and PECS for further discussion.
- The proposed executive agenda was reviewed and items assigned to committees as noted.
- The committee moved into executive session for litigation and real estate; no action was taken.
- The meeting was adjourned.
Meeting Transcript
Everybody and welcome to the June 18th, 2026 Committee of the Whole. I am Commissioner Shekaira Johnson, District 4 Commissioner and Presiding Officer. We will get going with our agenda today. I do believe Commissioner Masaya is joining joining us virtually. So we will start with the committee reports. Commissioner Terry, are you ready? Madam Presiding Officer, we didn't have a FAB meeting. So no report, but we will look forward to getting back together on next Tuesday, June 23rd at 2 p.m. for that. Thank you. Thank you, sir. Ummissioner Patrick. Thank you, Madam Presiding Officer. Uh PWI had a very lengthy agenda agenda. The last time we met, it was uh 16 pages. I believe we had over 20 agenda items. Um the important stuff, and everything we do is important, of course, but some of the really big items were over three million dollars. And uh those items, several of them just came back from audit from Mr. Labwa Campbell's department has completed his review of those, and those will be coming back to PWI this afternoon. So as always, please tune in at about 3 30 and we'll have that conversation. Thank you. Thank you, Commissioner Patrick. Commissioner Marita Davis Johnson. Thank you, madam presiding officer. Uh good morning, everyone. I am Marita Davis Johnson, and I chair the uh county operations committee, also known as the ops committee. My colleagues who serve on that committee with me, uh Commissioner Robert Patrick and Commissioner Ladina Bolton. The uh ops committee met on Tuesday uh June the second, where committee members was joined by Commissioner Ted Terry. During that meeting, we approved the minute, the meeting minutes from the May the 21st ops meeting. There were uh five new agenda items, uh facility management items were approved, uh innovation and technology items were approved. There were two previously heard items, innovation and technology items 26071, a change order of Oracle Cloud Services Contract was recommended deferral, facility management item 260781. A change order, uh on call roof maintenance services was recommended approval as supported by audit. The committee held a discussion on child review and discuss section 15. We've gotten appointments to public office and 20 we got in contracts. Committee members uh continued the discussion of standing procedure rules, which items on presiding officers sections E and H being reviewed by the Law Department. The ops committee will meet again uh this afternoon at 1 p.m. Join us live on uh DC TV for the greatest show on her. And thank you and I move back. I thought I would take that from uh PWI didn't since he didn't think he didn't state in this uh comment. You gotta say it. It's always implied. It's always implied. We we go by dollar value. Okay. Commissioner Messiah, are you on? I am on. You ready to give your report or I am young? Thank you so much. Great morning. So I'll thank you, Madam P.O.
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