InTucker Magazine

City Council Update – October 2018

Our Mayor and City Council held a pair of regular scheduled meetings in September, a rare month where there were no land-use petitions before them.

At their meeting on September 10, Council held a public comment period to gain feedback on the City’s ordinance pertaining to fireworks. The City Attorney and City Police Liaison answered questions about penalties associated with illicit use of fireworks, as well as enforceability of potential restrictions on fireworks use. There is no formal proposal before the Council on fireworks, but with recent changes to state law, localities have the opportunity to revisit their own ordinances.

They also voted unanimously to approve funding for installation of four security cameras at Henderson Park. The cameras will be located near the playground parking lot, as well as on the playground, and should be installed later this fall.

At the meeting on September 24, Council approved an ordinance prohibiting people from transporting open containers of alcohol anywhere in the City except for in the case of a special permit associated with a festival. They approved a series of revisions to the Community Development Fee Schedule, a move that is anticipated to be revenue neutral and solely designed to create an easier process for developers and the public. They voted 6-0 to approve a contract with TSW to conduct Tucker’s Downtown Master Plan. The effort, whose $80,000 price tag will be a 50-50 split between the City of Tucker and the Tucker-Northlake Community Improvement District, will show potential buildout options, as well as opportunities for streetscapes and civic spaces in Downtown Tucker. It should be complete around mid-2019.

Finally, Council voted 6-0 to authorize the Mayor to negotiate and execute a contract to make City Manager Tami Hanlin an employee of the City. Hanlin has been Tucker’s only City Manager since incorporation and is currently working with the City under a contract with service provider Jacobs.

The next City Council meeting will be October 8 at 7 p.m. at the City Hall Annex (4228 First Avenue).