Speaker numbers apply only to this recording.
The Planning, Economic Development and Community Services (PECS) Committee of the DeKalb County Board of Commissioners met on October 27, 2026. The meeting was chaired by Commissioner Nicole Missayan (District 3) and included Commissioners Robert Patrick (District 1), Long Spears (District 2), Ladina Bolton (Super District 7), and Commissioner Terry. The committee reviewed appointments, human services and victim assistance grants, new economic development financing tools, and funding for homeless services.
Director Scott presented the 22nd year of the Human Services Grants program, recommending 53 of 121 applicants for a total of $650,000 from the county's operating budget. Commissioner Terry requested a $20,000 increase for each of eight agencies under the homelessness category, adding a total of $160,000 to the allocation. The CEO suggested drawing from the broader $13 million housing budget if the board desired additional funding. Commissioner Patrick made a motion to approve the grants as presented, which carried. Commissioner Terry voted in opposition, citing unmet needs in homelessness prevention.
Jacob Vallow and Tiffany Wills (Decide DeKalb) presented a resolution to authorize a Commercial Property Assessed Conservation Energy and Resilience (C-PACER) program, making DeKalb the fifth county in Georgia to adopt the program. The program uses 100% private capital, has no cost to the county, and is intended to finance energy efficiency, flood mitigation, and seismic improvements for commercial and multifamily properties. Commissioner Patrick asked for national data on program default rates. Commissioner Bolton noted that owner-occupied condos are not eligible. The item was held in committee, to be advanced to the full board on November 10 after a final resolution is distributed and reviewed.
Mr. Vallow proposed the creation of the DeKalb Development Corporation, a non-profit subsidiary of Decide DeKalb, to take over the functions of the Office of Economic Development and focus on large-scale catalytic projects. The proposal requests $1,975,000 in annual funding for staffing and operations. Commissioner Patrick requested clarity on how commissioner-led projects would be vetted. Commissioner Terry inquired about cost-saving measures like sharing office space. Commissioner Bolton asked about the composition of the seven-member board of directors. The item was held pending the completion of an intergovernmental agreement and resolution for committee review.
Dr. Ferguson and Director Mitchell presented a $1,316,927 request from the Affordable Housing Fund to increase capacity for homeless services. The funds would be used for five district-based street outreach workers, coordinated entry staff, day center management, shelter contract operations, warming/cooling centers, and a HMIS coordinator. Commissioner Patrick expressed strong support, noting the effort took six years to accomplish. Commissioner Bolton questioned the administrative overhead relative to direct service provision. Commissioner Terry requested a clear operational plan for the recently passed urban camping ordinance, expressing frustration over a lack of response from staff. Director Mitchell stated that comments had been provided to the board months prior. The item was discussed extensively and moved to the full Board of Commissioners for action.
Great afternoon, everyone. My name is Commissioner Nicole Missayan. I have the honor and distinct pleasure to serve as your DeCab County Commissioner, District Three, as well as the chair of PECS Planning Economic Development and Community Services. I serve along my colleagues from the PECS Committee, that's Commissioner Robert Patrick, District 1, and Commissioner Long Spears from District 2. I also want to acknowledge that today with us we have Commissioner Ladina Bolton from Super District 7. And with that, we will follow the agenda as present. We have a number of presentations and agenda items to uh get through, but we have been doing smashing if I do say so myself in PECS, and today will be no different. With that, their first agenda item I will read for those that are following along. It is agenda item 2026-1529, all commission districts, minutes for August 25th, 2027, Planning Economic Development and Community Services Committee meeting. Uh motion to approve. Second. All those in favor? Aye. The next is um this or the second area is for the appointments. It is agenda item 2026-1130, all commission districts to appoint Ronald Mingnum to post seven of the DeCab County Board of Family and Children's Services. Great afternoon, Mr. Mingham. If you could come to the podium if you don't mind, please, and thank you. I appreciate it. Thank you so much for your being here and your willingness to serve. We have just a couple of uh quick questions. Again, um thank you for joining us here in PECS and for your uh patience. The first question is, you know, based on your interest in serving with the DeCab County Department of Family and Children's Services, what professional or uh personal experiences prepare you to support the board's mission of protecting children while preserving family integrity. Um thank you again. My name is Ron Mangum. Uh, one of the uh opportunities I've had in the county of DeCav is I served as uh uh director of the DeCav Child Appointed Special Advocates, which helps uh children in the uh protective services and finds volunteers to work with those kids while they navigate through uh the system uh in the courts from who are have the parental rights removed from the parents. Uh I did the board chair chairmanship for over five years locally, and I also served on the national board of national CASA based out of Seattle for two years. Uh so I had a lot of opportunities to work with the volunteers in the community who work directly with the kids and the staff uh at the DeCab courthouse uh directly uh over the years, and I've navigated, you know, through the through the legislative and the budgeting process uh that was needed to house uh those children and to find volunteers to work with those kids. So that's some of my personal experience that I've dealt with in the county of DeCab. Thank you so much. I appreciate that. Um, Commissioner Pactrich, do you have a question that you would like to ask? Oh uh, yes. Uh first of all, your resume is impressive, sir. So thank you for being willing to serve. Uh this is a tough role, and and I think you know how how tough it is, so thank you. Uh the DFACS board serves as a liaison between the community and the county by enhancing, excuse me, by evaluating local child welfare services and family assistance programs like foster care, uh TANF, and SNAP. Uh how would you engage with community and stakeholders to better understand local needs and strengthen these services? How I've done that in the past is uh I've attended uh all of the community meetings. I'm an active member of the Design Estates community, so I get feedback on uh different uh I'll call it uh challenges that are facing our communities. Uh and I actually liaise with constantly with the directors of DeCAB. Uh one of the things I didn't say is I've been on the DeCav uh board for a number of years. Uh I've dealt with at least maybe three or four different directors who have different styles, but we all there for the same mission to serve the children and the families. So a lot of that is gathering feedback, listening to the director who really looks at not just the trends in the CAB, but you know, statewide and looking at options on how we can tailor those solutions for the DeCav County citizens and children.