OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

DeKalb County SPLOST Resident Review Committee Public Safety Meeting - August 28, 2026

Board of Commissioners & Committees — Friday, August 28, 2026
BodyDekalb County, Georgia
SessionBoard of Commissioners & Committees
DateFriday, August 28, 2026
StatusNEW · FILED
Video Record
0:00 / 1:22:29

Transcript — Verbatim
0:09

Good evening, fellow committee members, residents joining us here in online county staff.

0:14

It's my pleasure to call our August meeting to order.

0:17

Today's meeting is all about spending category A public safety.

0:21

Um today we're joined by director of public safety Daryl Fulton, Chief of Police Gregory Paddock, uh interim fire chief melvin Carter, Animal Services Director Natasha Walton.

0:36

Um today's presentation will focus on how public safety category uh spendings have been allocated, um, mainly on end-of-life facilities, um updating older buildings and plannings for future expansion.

0:53

Um, followed by the presentation, we'll hold a committee QA where presenters uh will answer questions uh from the committee members, and then we'll have a public comment section where we really want to keep our comments focused on spending category A uh SPLOSS II initiatives.

1:12

Um again, we can't thank the public enough for coming out and and ready to be being ready to share their their voices.

1:21

Um with that being said, uh we do have some uh initiatives as our uh August wraps up.

1:28

We've been working towards our yearly report.

1:30

Um, and there are some other um business actions that we will have.

1:34

So with that being said, we will um take a roll call starting from right, and we'll go this way.

1:42

Uh Rebecca Perkins, district one, Stephen Benny, uh CEO.

1:50

Pam Middleton, District Five.

1:53

Gerald Austin, CEO.

1:55

James Coch, District Six.

1:57

We have a quorum.

1:59

So our first order James.

2:02

I don't know if you can hear me.

2:02

This is Jamie Dutrow, District 2.

2:05

Hey.

2:06

We hear you loud and clear.

2:08

I've had to join uh virtually.

2:11

Thank you very much.

2:13

Larry's gonna be back to shape.

2:14

Uh Larry Lowe is also going to be trying to check in and uh uh yeah, so we have a quorum.

2:21

Um our first order of business today is to adopt the August meeting agenda.

2:26

Um does everybody have the copy in front of them?

2:29

Yeah.

2:31

Are there any proposed amendments?

2:37

Seeing none, are there motions to adopt the agenda?

2:41

Yes, sir.

2:41

Which agenda are we using today?

2:43

Uh we are using the August agenda that was uh provided to us.

2:47

That goes until eight, or that goes until 8 30.

2:51

So um Gerald mentioned that we do reserve the right to extend the meeting if we need to go over.

2:57

Um again, we can use this like timeline um loosely um we really want to cover the full 45 minutes of presentation.

3:05

We have 30 minutes of business.

3:07

Uh if we get through the business earlier, the meeting, the presentation starts earlier, public comment starts earlier, we're out by eight.

3:14

So subjectively, we can get out here.

3:16

All of our meetings have been going to about 8 15.

3:18

So however you want to come.

3:19

It is the it is in the zone of nebulousness.

3:23

I think that's fair.

3:26

As a point of clarity, it's not that we can arbitrarily extend.

3:31

We have to uh really uh as a committee, we have to really decide whether or not we want to do that and then go through the process.

3:39

So basically, the stated time is from 6 uh 30 to 8 p.m.

3:45

And we can't just arbitrarily do that.

3:48

So the stated time actually in the preliminary uh layout, it was actually stated 8:30, but that was incorrect.

3:58

So it has been corrected, and we'll go by the standing order.

4:05

I would just like to make one further statement, and I think that anybody from the public who has taken the time to come here should have the right to speak on any subject that they desire.

4:17

If they have taken the time, they deserve the courtesy.

4:20

Thank you very much.

4:22

Definitely.

4:25

Any further comments?

4:27

Any further comments?

4:28

Uh is there a motion to adopt the August meeting agenda?

4:32

I motion that we adopt the uh standing agenda as Brennan.

4:36

Is there a second?

4:37

I second.

4:39

All those in favor?

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Public Safety██████████████████████████████████34%
Procedural███████████████████19%
Public Engagement█████████████████17%
Fire Station Development████████████12%
Technology and Innovation█████5%
Animal Welfare█████5%
Engineering And Infrastructure███3%
Public Works Maintenance██2%
Community Engagement██2%
Summary of Proceedings

DeKalb County SPLOST Resident Review Committee Public Safety Meeting - August 28, 2026

The SPLOST Resident Review Committee met on August 28, 2026, to review spending in Category A (Public Safety) under the SPLOST I and II programs. The meeting featured presentations from the Director of Public Safety, Police Chief, Interim Fire Chief, and Animal Services Director, followed by committee questions and public comments. The committee also conducted routine business including agenda adoption, minutes approval, and adoption of the annual report outline.

Consent Calendar

  • Adopted the August 2026 meeting agenda as presented.
  • Approved the June 2026 meeting minutes with a correction: changed "Rupert Road" to "Bermuda Road" in the public comments section.
  • Adopted the annual report document outline, with the understanding that appendices could be added later.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Dwayne Cole (Deer Creek homeowner, District 4, Super District 7): Unable to attend due to a death in the family; his statement was read into the record. He expressed gratitude for a community SPLOST awareness meeting held in April 2026, but raised concerns about deteriorating road conditions on Blandier Boulevard, dangerous intersections (Bermuda Road and North Deshaun), increased traffic from Costco development, and the need for a previously approved roundabout at Bermuda Road, West Park Place, and Stuart Mill Road. He requested an update and next steps.
  • Rosemary Cabal (DeKalb County Animal Advisory Board, unpaid member): Thanked Director Walton and the committee. Provided statistics: shelter intake reached 9,664 animals in 2025, with June and July 2025 averaging about 1,000 animals per month (30 per day, 4 per hour over an 8-hour workday). She noted the shelter also houses livestock (e.g., 27 goats and sheep in a court case) and stressed the need for infrastructure to support the 500 animals housed and to create a safe, inviting facility for adoptions.
  • Stacey Shorts (first-time attendee): Praised the presentations and DeKalb County police. Asked about SPLOST funding for 911 system improvements and questioned why Station 7 (opened two years ago) still shows a $6 million line item. The committee clarified that the $6 million represents the construction cost recorded for accounting purposes, not ongoing spending.

Discussion Items

  • Working Group No-Vote Meetings: A motion to adopt a working group no-vote meeting on a need basis was tabled after discussion. Interim County Attorney Phillips advised that the committee's enabling resolution requires public comment at each meeting. The committee decided to seek further legal review on whether informal gatherings (e.g., retreats or agenda-setting meetings) would be permissible without violating open meetings laws. The motion to table was approved.
  • Request for Park Acreage by District: The committee approved a motion to request data on park acreage by district from the county staff.
  • Presentations on Public Safety Spending:
    • Director Fulham (Office of Public Safety): Provided an overview of SPLOST I and II public safety spending. SPLOST I total public safety funds: ~$101 million; SPLOST II: ~$91.8 million. Authorized amounts: SPLOST I $70 million, SPLOST II $15.5 million, with actual expenditures of $28.7 million (SPLOST I) and $8 million (SPLOST II). The balance is largely for the Bobby Burgess complex. Approximately 75% of authorized public safety funds have been committed across both programs. 25 projects across 9 categories, including 7 new fire stations (5 built, 2 under construction, others in design). SPLOST I funded 100 police vehicles, 10 rapid response trucks, fire radio upgrades, and design for Bobby Burgess upgrades. SPLOST II funded additional animal shelter kennels and an architect to evaluate expansion.
    • Chief Pedrick (Police): Highlighted the importance of modern infrastructure for policing. The Bruce Street precinct houses the East Precinct, police academy, and training facility. The Digital Shield Initiative and Real-Time Crime Center have advanced modern policing. He emphasized investing in people and community partnerships, noting that repurposed buildings (e.g., former Toys "R" Us for South Precinct) provide community rooms but others lack such spaces.
    • Chief Carter (Fire Rescue): Discussed the replacement of Fire Stations 18, 19, and 20, all built in 1975. These stations have outgrown their design due to larger apparatus, expanded mission (hazmat, satellite station), and modern health/safety requirements (cancer risk reduction, decontamination zones, private sleeping quarters). Population growth in service areas: Station 18 service area grew from ~32,000 (2010) to ~36,000; Station 19 from ~27,000 to ~30,000; Station 20 from ~23,000 to ~25,000. The three stations share a common design, allowing cost efficiencies.
    • Director Walton (Animal Services): Described field enforcement: responding to calls, investigating cruelty/neglect, transporting animals to the Lifeline shelter (one county-run shelter by the airport). The shelter is overpopulated, and the department works with the community to provide resources (food, fostering) to reduce intake. A $500,000 planning study for public safety training facilities (including animal services) is underway, with a 6-9 month timeline.
  • Committee Questions:
    • No SPLOST funds used for flock cameras.
    • AMR contract for EMS is five years; DeKalb Fire Rescue supplements transports.
    • Animal shelter expansion: architect evaluating existing facility and potential southern location.
    • Cost sharing: Cities with their own police still pay for fire service through a fire fee; Tucker and Stone Crest pay for police services. SPLOST capital costs currently come from unincorporated area.
    • Prioritization of police precincts based on population, call volume, response times.
    • Planning study for training facilities: $1 million allocated, study to determine future needs.
    • Bobby Burgess complex: houses six divisions (four public safety, courts, IT); design work for replacement/renovation is starting.
    • Code enforcement vs. HOA compliance: different legal frameworks (contractual vs. governmental).
    • Mental health services: $15 million SPLOST II allocation for behavioral health facilities (Claritel and public health), not part of public safety category.
    • Committee requested tours of Bruce Street facility and Real-Time Crime Center.

Key Outcomes

  • Adopted August 2026 agenda, amended June 2026 minutes, and annual report outline.
  • Tabled motion to create working group no-vote meetings pending further legal review.
  • Approved request for park acreage by district.
  • Noted that a $500,000 planning study for public safety training facilities is underway, with results expected in early 2027.
  • Public comments were received and will be included in the annual report.

Meeting Transcript

Good evening, fellow committee members, residents joining us here in online county staff. It's my pleasure to call our August meeting to order. Today's meeting is all about spending category A public safety. Um today we're joined by director of public safety Daryl Fulton, Chief of Police Gregory Paddock, uh interim fire chief melvin Carter, Animal Services Director Natasha Walton. Um today's presentation will focus on how public safety category uh spendings have been allocated, um, mainly on end-of-life facilities, um updating older buildings and plannings for future expansion. Um, followed by the presentation, we'll hold a committee QA where presenters uh will answer questions uh from the committee members, and then we'll have a public comment section where we really want to keep our comments focused on spending category A uh SPLOSS II initiatives. Um again, we can't thank the public enough for coming out and and ready to be being ready to share their their voices. Um with that being said, uh we do have some uh initiatives as our uh August wraps up. We've been working towards our yearly report. Um, and there are some other um business actions that we will have. So with that being said, we will um take a roll call starting from right, and we'll go this way. Uh Rebecca Perkins, district one, Stephen Benny, uh CEO. Pam Middleton, District Five. Gerald Austin, CEO. James Coch, District Six. We have a quorum. So our first order James. I don't know if you can hear me. This is Jamie Dutrow, District 2. Hey. We hear you loud and clear. I've had to join uh virtually. Thank you very much. Larry's gonna be back to shape. Uh Larry Lowe is also going to be trying to check in and uh uh yeah, so we have a quorum. Um our first order of business today is to adopt the August meeting agenda. Um does everybody have the copy in front of them? Yeah. Are there any proposed amendments? Seeing none, are there motions to adopt the agenda? Yes, sir. Which agenda are we using today? Uh we are using the August agenda that was uh provided to us. That goes until eight, or that goes until 8 30. So um Gerald mentioned that we do reserve the right to extend the meeting if we need to go over. Um again, we can use this like timeline um loosely um we really want to cover the full 45 minutes of presentation. We have 30 minutes of business. Uh if we get through the business earlier, the meeting, the presentation starts earlier, public comment starts earlier, we're out by eight. So subjectively, we can get out here. All of our meetings have been going to about 8 15. So however you want to come. It is the it is in the zone of nebulousness. I think that's fair. As a point of clarity, it's not that we can arbitrarily extend. We have to uh really uh as a committee, we have to really decide whether or not we want to do that and then go through the process. So basically, the stated time is from 6 uh 30 to 8 p.m. And we can't just arbitrarily do that. So the stated time actually in the preliminary uh layout, it was actually stated 8:30, but that was incorrect. So it has been corrected, and we'll go by the standing order. I would just like to make one further statement, and I think that anybody from the public who has taken the time to come here should have the right to speak on any subject that they desire.

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