From left: City Manager Andrea Arnold, Mayor Garrett, Assistant City Manager Linda Harris
Andrea Arnold, Decatur City Manager, introduced our speaker, Mayor Patti Garrett.
Mayor Garrett presented the accomplishments of the City of Decatur in 2022 and the plans for 2023. These include:
- Economic development
- Civic trust
- Equity and racial justice
- Climate issues
- Transportation
- Housing
Highlights:
The Recreation Department opened the Oakhurst Rec Center. She urged anyone interested in the Recreation Department to sign up for their newsletter.
An “inclusive” playground opened in Legacy Park.
She spoke about the Downtown Master Plan 2.0. Mayor Garrett shared the observation that good redevelopment is because of strong partnerships with business and nonprofits.
The city adopted a clean energy plan. This includes receiving grants from other government entities to install solar panels.
The new tree ordinance went into effect, making Decatur one of only 140 cities worldwide that have this type of tree protection.
Georgia Power is switching many street lights to LED lights, saving substantial funds.
A Clean Team has been established. They help keep the city neat and tidy.
The city lost a net total of six businesses and 116 jobs. Much of this was affected by the recent closure of the “Baby Kroger.”
The Decatur e-shuttle pilot project has ended operation, replaced by a new shuttle program, the Decatur Circulator.
Decatur Downtown Development Authority has police officers assigned to the square on busier days.
CCTV is being installed in some of the city parks.
The city is working to address affordable housing. There will be 130 housing units in Legacy Park.
This is the city's 200th birthday year, and fundraising is underway to raise $200,000 in 200 days for commemorative projects. A big party for the community is planned for December.
The book to be delivered to the Decatur Library on behalf of our speaker is
Eating From Our Roots by Maya Feller.
More about Patti
Patti Garrett was elected to the Decatur City Commission in 2009 and has served as Mayor since 2016.
Patti serves on the boards of the Atlanta Regional Commission and the Georgia Municipal Association, and is board chair of the National Civic League. She is a graduate of Leadership DeKalb and the Atlanta Regional Commission’s Regional Leadership Institute. She served as Honorary Chair of the Islamic Speaker’s Bureau 2019 Gala and was recently named to the ISB Advisory Council. She has taught nutrition, provided nutrition counseling services, and worked as a Clinical dietitian at Georgia State University and Emory University Health Services. She is interested in health policy, particularly related to access to healthy foods, equity, environmental policies, active lifestyles and the role of local government in fostering healthy, equitable and vibrant communities.
Patti graduated from Texas Christian University and holds a Master of Science from the University of Tennessee. She and her husband, Gary, live in Winnona Park and enjoy walking, biking and visiting their three grown sons and their families.
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