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OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD

Record of Proceedings

PECS Committee Meeting – August 11, 2026: Appointments, Grants, Budget Amendments, and Policy Discussions

Board of Commissioners & Committees — Tuesday, August 11, 2026

BodyDekalb County, Georgia

SessionBoard of Commissioners & Committees

DateTuesday, August 11, 2026

StatusFILED

Video Record

0:00 / 2:19:24

Transcript — VerbatimClick a timed line to jump · ⧉ to share it

0:05

Great afternoon, everyone.

0:06

My name is Nicole Messiah, and I have the honor and pleasure to serve as the chair of PECS that's planning economic development community services, in addition to being the district three county commissioner.

0:19

I am I serve alongside my other colleagues of this board.

0:23

That's Commissioner Robert Patrick, who's here today with us in District One.

0:28

Also not present is Commissioner Michelle Longspears from District 2.

0:34

We actually have Commissioner Gracious.

0:39

Just draw a blank.

0:41

My apologies.

0:44

We have Commissioner Terry that is from District Super District 6 that is joining us as well.

0:51

Thank you so much for joining us here with PECS.

0:54

We're going to follow the agenda as much as possible as listed for those that are following along with that.

1:03

We'll get started with the first agenda item, which is the minutes and the agenda item is 2026-1169.

1:13

And it's all commission districts.

1:15

The minutes for June 6, 2026, Planning Economic Development and Community Services Committee meeting.

1:22

If Commissioner Patrick, if you've had an opportunity to review those, I will accept a motion, please.

1:27

Motion to approve 1169.

1:30

Second.

1:32

All those in favor?

1:34

Aye.

1:35

Aye.

1:36

Thank you so much.

1:37

And we'll jump right into our appointments, appreciative of the individuals that are here with us today and their willingness to serve DeCeb County.

1:50

We'll start with 2026, 1127, and that is all commissioned district.

1:57

Appoint Shelley Bishop to post two of the DeCab County Board of Family and Children's Services.

2:07

And thank you for being here with us today.

2:10

And so we generally will start our interviews similarly in just asking you to tell us a little bit about yourself and then any of your skills, experiences, you know, past work history that will make you valuable to serve on the CAP Board of Family and Children's Services.

2:31

Welcome.

2:33

Thank you so much, Madam Commissioner, as well as to the other commissioners on the PECS committee.

2:39

I am Shelly K.

2:41

Bishop.

2:42

I am a Ohio NATO native.

2:45

I um was born and raised there.

2:48

I went to Florida AM University and then a graduate school with the MS and graduated from Ohio State University with my MSW.

2:57

I've been serving students and children most of my career.

3:25

She said, you know what?

3:26

You have the ability to serve.

3:28

So I want you to take you under my tutelage, and I am going to train you.

3:34

And here I am now as the director of wraparound services, wraparound and support services with the DeCav County School District is my current position.

3:44

Thank you.

3:44

Thank you, Santa.

3:46

Thank you so much for that.

3:48

And you do have an extensive resume here, and your prior work to DFACS.

3:56

You know that the D FACS board serves as a liaison between the community and the county by evaluing evaluating local child welfare services, family assistance programs like foster care, TANF, SNAP.

4:13

Can you tell us how would you engage with the community and other stakeholders that are not listed?

4:20

For instance, when it comes to our court system, juvenile courts, some of our other family courts and superior court, so that you can strengthen some of the services and the work that you would do on the board.

4:35

Great question.

4:36

Currently, I serve as one of the members of our attendance protocol committee with the solicitor general.

4:45

So I'm very familiar with working with both courts, juvenile court and the solicitor general's office.

4:51

I work completely directly with our external stakeholders, our partners in a community that serve our safe centers and our high eight high schools.

5:01

And how I strengthen that is by continuing to build connections and helping them understand the programs in which I'm leading first and then understand their programming.

5:11

And so recently, well, last year, I started working, having a yearly partner meeting with our school-based mental health services so that we can continue to strengthen that with the school districts as well as our part our external partners.

5:29

So I've been working really hard at trying to ensure that we engage our partners to make sure they have a strong voice in the school district as well as how we transfer what we do and how we work with them in their own setting.

5:47

So I think it's a transferable relationship, and I've just believed in making sure those connections are strengthened when I'm working with them directly.

5:57

Thank you.

5:58

Thank you so much for that.

5:59

And it's great to hear that you are already working with our solicitor general Donna Coleman Stribling and the other court systems related to it because that is typically a missing piece.

6:11

So thank you so much for having the foresight to, you know, already been having the conversations and working on those lines.

6:18

I'm gonna open up the floor for the rest of my colleagues, and particularly Commissioner Patrick, who serves as a committee member, and you know, feel free, um Commissioner Patrick, to answer, I mean, ask any of the questions and interview back or you know, any of your own.

6:36

Okay.

6:37

Um I'll take the fourth question.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting

Parks and Recreation█████████████████17%

Appointments████████████12%

Public Safety████████████12%

Technology and Innovation█████████9%

Procedural███████7%

Homelessness███████7%

Service Delivery Strategy█████5%

Public Engagement█████5%

Environmental Protection█████5%

Summary of Proceedings

PECS Committee Meeting – August 11, 2026

The Planning, Economic Development, and Community Services (PECS) Committee of the DeKalb County Board of Commissioners met on August 11, 2026, at 20:30 UTC. Chair Nicole Messiah (District 3) presided, joined by Commissioner Robert Patrick (District 1) and Commissioner Terry (Super District 6). Commissioner Michelle Longspears (District 2) was absent. The committee considered 16 agenda items, including appointments, grant applications, budget amendments, a camping ordinance, a sound ordinance, a rebate program, the service delivery strategy, a racial equity study update, and a resolution for a data center health study.

Consent Calendar

Minutes Approval (2026‑1169): Approved the June 6, 2026, PECS meeting minutes.
Appointment – Shelley Bishop (2026‑1127): Appointed to Post 2 of the DeKalb County Board of Family and Children’s Services (DFACS). Unanimously approved.
Appointment – April Moore (2026‑1128): Appointed to Post 5 of DFACS. Unanimously approved.
Sublease of Mental Health Centers (2026‑1132): Approved consent to sublease portions of Kirkwood, Clifton Springs, and Wynn Way Mental Health Centers to Genoa Healthcare for pharmacy services. The agreement includes a credit-back mechanism to offset medication costs for County clients. Unanimously approved.

Discussion Items

CHaRM Recycling Program Contract Renewal (2026‑0974): Approved a three‑year renewal with Live Thrive Inc. for operation of the Center for Hard to Recycle Materials. Staff confirmed contract terms are unchanged. Commissioner Terry raised the possibility of shifting funding from the parks department to the sanitation/beautification fund in the next budget cycle, and the administration agreed to review the placement. Unanimously approved.
Park Improvement Grant Applications (2026‑1175): Approved a substitute resolution authorizing applications to the Georgia Department of Natural Resources for two grants: (1) Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) and Georgia Outdoor Stewardship Program (GOSP) for lake and dam renovations at Exchange Park, Chapel Hill Park, and Davidson Arabia Natural Preserve; and (2) LWCF funds for improvements at Pleasant Dale Park. The substitute corrected district designations. Unanimously approved.
Toby Grant Park Grant Application (2026‑1179): Approved a resolution to apply for an LWCF Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership grant to renovate Toby Grant Park, including parking, pickleball courts, playground, and pavilions, with a SPLOST match. Unanimously approved.
Sugar Creek Golf – Lighting and Retention Wall (2026‑1216): Approved a budget amendment of up to $800,000 for lighting and a retaining wall for the third tennis court at Sugar Creek Golf. Funding will come from remaining SPLOST funds (~$400K) and swept capital. Commissioner Messiah noted the community’s strong advocacy for the project. Unanimously approved.
Porter Sanford Arts and Community Center Equipment (2026‑1219): Approved a $79,000 budget amendment for required equipment and improvements at Porter Sanford, based on an assessment by the arts director. Commissioner Terry encouraged a broader facility review to maximize usage and revenue. Unanimously approved.
On‑Call Architectural/Engineering Services Change Orders (2026‑0844): Approved a substitute change order increasing contract funds by up to $3,297,250 for on‑call services from seven firms, with a reduction to American Engineers based on internal audit recommendations. Unanimously approved.
GIS Enterprise License Agreement Change Order (2026‑0802): Approved a substitute change order increasing the ESRI contract to $3,900,000 through November 2029. Discussion included potential GIS integration with Google Maps and Apple Maps, use of EagleView oblique imagery, and development of a citizen reporting system (e.g., “Click Fix”). The administration agreed to present options for such a system within 45 days. Unanimously approved.
Ordinance on Unauthorized Camping and Public Safety (2026‑0550): After extensive deliberation, the committee voted to advance the ordinance to the full board with two additions: (1) a reference to the Joint Policy Statement on Addressing Homelessness, and (2) a draft standard operating procedure (SOP) from the police department outlining enforcement approach. Commissioner Messiah expressed confidence in officer discretion. Commissioner Terry emphasized the need to avoid criminalizing homelessness and requested clarity on how the ordinance would be implemented. Approved with conditions.
Sound Ordinance Amendment (2025‑0015): Deferred to committee pending input from Commissioner Longspears. The committee discussed two options: “plainly audible” (preferred by staff) and decibel meter (preferred by Commissioner Patrick). No vote taken; held in committee.
Electric Landscape Maintenance Device Rebate Program (2025‑0017): Held in committee, to be considered alongside the sound ordinance.
Service Delivery Strategy Renewal (2026‑1190): Conditionally approved pending additional information and a Zoom meeting with all commissioners. The 2022 SDS update was triggered by the comprehensive plan; all municipalities except Tucker have now approved. Tucker’s resolution was signed July 14, 2026. Approval is needed by September 15 to meet DCA’s October 31 deadline. Approved conditionally.
Resolution on Racial Equity Study Implementation (2026‑0982): Withdrawn after Chief Operating Officer Zach Williams outlined progress on all five key recommendations, including a new employee resource page, a policy evaluation RFQ, mandatory training, an Access and Opportunity Officer hire within 30‑60 days, and a forthcoming community equity study. Commissioner Terry requested written documentation and quarterly updates. Withdrawn.
Resolution for Data Center Health and Environmental Study (2026‑0244): Held in committee for further discussion. Commissioner Terry, the sponsor, argued a third‑party study is needed to inform data center regulations. Commissioner Messiah and Commissioner Patrick suggested broadening the study to a countywide baseline health and environmental assessment. Deferred pending Commissioner Longspears’ input.

Key Outcomes

The committee approved 10 consent and action items, most unanimously.
The camping ordinance was advanced to the full Board of Commissioners with additional implementation requirements.
The sound ordinance and rebate program were held pending Commissioner Longspears’ return.
The Service Delivery Strategy was conditionally approved; a Zoom briefing will be scheduled before the September 15 deadline.
The data center study resolution remains in committee; staff will consider a broader baseline study approach.
The meeting adjourned at approximately 22:00 UTC.

Meeting Transcript

Great afternoon, everyone. My name is Nicole Messiah, and I have the honor and pleasure to serve as the chair of PECS that's planning economic development community services, in addition to being the district three county commissioner. I am I serve alongside my other colleagues of this board. That's Commissioner Robert Patrick, who's here today with us in District One. Also not present is Commissioner Michelle Longspears from District 2. We actually have Commissioner Gracious. Just draw a blank. My apologies. We have Commissioner Terry that is from District Super District 6 that is joining us as well. Thank you so much for joining us here with PECS. We're going to follow the agenda as much as possible as listed for those that are following along with that. We'll get started with the first agenda item, which is the minutes and the agenda item is 2026-1169. And it's all commission districts. The minutes for June 6, 2026, Planning Economic Development and Community Services Committee meeting. If Commissioner Patrick, if you've had an opportunity to review those, I will accept a motion, please. Motion to approve 1169. Second. All those in favor? Aye. Aye. Thank you so much. And we'll jump right into our appointments, appreciative of the individuals that are here with us today and their willingness to serve DeCeb County. We'll start with 2026, 1127, and that is all commissioned district. Appoint Shelley Bishop to post two of the DeCab County Board of Family and Children's Services. And thank you for being here with us today. And so we generally will start our interviews similarly in just asking you to tell us a little bit about yourself and then any of your skills, experiences, you know, past work history that will make you valuable to serve on the CAP Board of Family and Children's Services. Welcome. Thank you so much, Madam Commissioner, as well as to the other commissioners on the PECS committee. I am Shelly K. Bishop. I am a Ohio NATO native. I um was born and raised there. I went to Florida AM University and then a graduate school with the MS and graduated from Ohio State University with my MSW. I've been serving students and children most of my career. She said, you know what? You have the ability to serve. So I want you to take you under my tutelage, and I am going to train you. And here I am now as the director of wraparound services, wraparound and support services with the DeCav County School District is my current position. Thank you. Thank you, Santa. Thank you so much for that. And you do have an extensive resume here, and your prior work to DFACS. You know that the D FACS board serves as a liaison between the community and the county by evaluing evaluating local child welfare services, family assistance programs like foster care, TANF, SNAP. Can you tell us how would you engage with the community and other stakeholders that are not listed? For instance, when it comes to our court system, juvenile courts, some of our other family courts and superior court, so that you can strengthen some of the services and the work that you would do on the board. Great question. Currently, I serve as one of the members of our attendance protocol committee with the solicitor general. So I'm very familiar with working with both courts, juvenile court and the solicitor general's office. I work completely directly with our external stakeholders, our partners in a community that serve our safe centers and our high eight high schools. And how I strengthen that is by continuing to build connections and helping them understand the programs in which I'm leading first and then understand their programming.

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