"They Don't Think LIke Dunwoody"

What would it be like to live or work in a city and be told that you don't deserve your job or location because you "don't think like" everyone else?  Even if every issue has a spectrum of opinions and public comments?

I heard that chilling comment at the latest DHA meeting.

It bothered me because so many in Dunwoody come from somewhere else.  The northern part of Atlanta's metro  has grown because  of the influx of new citizens from elsewhere.

They didn't leave their ideas and opinions at city limits.  The last time I checked, I didn't see any thought requirements in any HOA bylaws, including the DHA.

Dunwoody is still young and the "growing pains" as we develop our identity as a city are bound to continue.  There's been an interesting mix of voices demanding that more citizens become involved in voting or whatever process is in the spotlight, and demands that only certain points of view be given serious consideration.

(Reference:  The Other Dunwoody - More Dunwoody Than You)

Cases in point:

"The City should hire Dunwoody companies first for all of our projects."  I'm all about supporting local businesses and keeping Dunwoody's money here.  I've been on this particular bandwagon myself in other posts.  The latest complaint about auslanders' input on Dunwoody was the recent signage proposal from KMA - based in Pennsylvania.  I wondered just which Dunwoody companies bid for projects and were rejected.  There's a list on the City's Purchasing Division page.

As far as I could tell, there were no bids from ANY Dunwoody or Dunwoody-owned companies!!  Not even one!!  I was shocked because with the number of sign companies in and around our town, surely someone must have submitted a bid!  (Ditto for IT companies, marketing companies, etc.  I checked ALL of the bid lists and RFPs that are available online. )  But there wasn't. There were bids from large companies based in Atlanta (including Sky, who created the city logo and did the first research on the "mood" of the city and how it saw itself).  There are others from around Georgia.  But not a single one from Dunwoody itself.

You can't hire a company if they don't submit a bid.   If Dunwoody companies don't want to bid for city services...   does that mean we can't hire anyone else?   Someone please correct me if I'm wrong but I Googled all the company names and not one had contact information in a Dunwoody zip code.

"The people hired to work at City Hall are not 'from Dunwoody' and that is a 'problem'."  

Does this complaint include our elected officials?  Because all of them (past and present) have resided in Dunwoody for far less time than those complaining about city hall employees.  No one at City Hall was born anywhere near Dunwoody.  (Again, corrections welcome, but I checked this before posting it.)  There were even suggestions that the Community Development director should not be in his position either.  Is there a litmus test to be applied for city hires?  Who will create and administer it?

Here's a real-life situation where "old" and "new" ideas can be symbiotic:
In a couple of my larger projects where I am one developer within a group (sorry, gang, can't go into details, these all have signed NDAs tied to them) I stand out from the other team members because a) I am the eldest and b) much of my skills are self-taught.  My team members are usually in their teens and twenties and  are the result of a computer-science curriculum.

Computer Science courses teach basic programming skills, but are often light on "real life" applications where those skills are used to solve problems for a customer, who is not a computer science major.  Students of these courses often get stuck in a "groupthink" mentality where lack of life experience is a hinderance.  They can't put themselves in their customers' shoes so to speak, and their skills can't solve the problem.  My role has often been to show these programmers the POV they're missing and use solutions that I created outside of the box.  (Because I've never been IN the box in the first place!)  Then the problem gets solved and the customer is happy.  In return, I learn the latest in computer programming from the latest classes without having to plunk down tuition or take time away from home, family, and work.

Is it just a little bit possible that self-proclaimed "real" Dunwoodians are too close to their problems to see the solution?  Is it also a little bit possible that "real" Dunwoodians are so wrapped up in their conflicts - signage, zoning, parks, whatever it is - that they can't step outside their self-created box and invent a new solution that includes diverse points of view?  Maybe some objectivity from a fresh face that exists outside the Dunwoody box is just what the doctor ordered.

"Not enough people are involved in the city.  I so wish younger people would start getting involved.  Where are they?"

To those who express the above thought:  supposing someone new did pop their head up and express their ideas as part of "getting involved."  Whatever would you do with them?  Listen to their POV, even if it differs from yours?  Would you find common ground?  Or would you pursue the tried-and-true path of dismissing them if they think "differently"?  Would you try to get their POV dismissed or censored?  Would you try to get the PERSON dismissed?  Would you force them on to the defensive by challenging them to a fight?

 I am positive that there are people that honestly don't care about City Hall and its politics.  I am equally positive that personal commitments keep others from involvement.  But if you are one of the people that asks the question, "Why aren't more involved?" ask yourself "Would I want to get dragged into a public fight over an idea when all I want to do is make a living and raise my family in peace?"  Because that's what many "other" Dunwoodians don't want to deal with and that prevents them from being "part of the process."

How does "Dunwoody" really think?  It's not a simple answer and there's more than one.  Again, I reference the research report created by Sky as their foundation for the city branding project.  Read the comments - this is what people honestly say when they feel safe to speak freely.  There are some common threads but a full spectrum of thoughts that diverge from each other.  Which of them is the real Dunwoody?

Here's a hint:  it's a lot more than the ones that agree with you.


 

FOR HIRE: World's Greatest Nanny

UPDATED 8/28/2012:  Starshia confirmed for me this morning that she has accepted a new position starting  next week.  Thanks to everyone who stopped to read this post and who contacted me.

When I was in my last trimester with PJ in 2010, I finally had to break down and admit that our family needed help.  Our relatives are scattered across the US and none were going to visit any time soon.  Maggie was starting her final year of Pre-K and Michelle was turning 1 year old - that turning point where children need a lot of attention and activity.  I didn't have much of either.

We got some advice from friends who had nannies and babysitters and set out to find someone who would be there to help play with and educate the girls while Pat and I were getting ready for our son to be born.  We were scared to death as we sorted resumes and conducted interviews.

Starshia posing with Michelle and Maggie
during  our family visit to  Georgia Aquarium.

Our final interview was with Starshia Conley, then living in Doraville.  Starshia had a resume longer than my arm with numerous certifications and work experience.   After meeting her (and doing the requisite background check we did on everyone) we hired her almost on the spot.

In two years, Starshia has become a member of the family, more trusted than some of our blood relatives.  It was a mutual blessing for all six of us in the house.  The thing is with PJ now two and headed to preschool with Michelle, we're not going to have enough hours for her to make a living.  So it's time for Starshia to find a new family.

Starshia is an Early Childhood Education major at Georgia Perimeter College in Dunwoody.  Since 2007 she has worked for both families and daycare/preschools, including the Goddard School in Norcross.  She's getting her college education the old fashioned way:  she's working for it.

When Starshia cares for my children, she doesn't just babysit:  she created a structured program that included lots of active play both outdoors and indoors, age-appropriate art activities, and basics like the alphabet and numbers.  She evaluated each of the children at their educational level and formulated an activity plan with specific goals.  She helped Maggie improve her writing skills in time for kindergarten.  She helped prepare Michelle for preschool.  When PJ was old enough to crawl, she started introducing him to the same types of structure and activity, again preparing for preschool.  Most of all, she guided the girls full-time when it was time for us to rush to Northside in labor.  She kept Pat from stressing out (too much) and made sure the girls could visit with their brother in the hospital and prepare for his arrival at home.

Starshia is not just a sitter who gets the kids off to bed and is an over-18-adult in the house:  she is a trusted professional who provides reliable observations and advice.  She is truthful and tactful at the same time and always communicates so that there is a consistency between her style and ours when it comes to the balance of discipline and affection the children experience.

Starshia has one year's worth of classes left at GPC before getting her Associate's degree and continuing with her career goals.  She considers herself a Dunwoodian and would like to stay in Dunwoody.  We recommend her without hesitation to any family that needs not just a baby sitter, but an advisor, extended family member, and trusted friend who is brilliant with children.  I've learned a lot from Starshia these past two years and she will always be a part of our family.  That is the reason why we would like to see her find a position here in Dunwoody that she can love and be part of the family just like she has in our home.

If you'd like to consider interviewing Starshia or would like to refer her to a family, please contact me via email at duncan@sdocpublishing.com.  I will make sure you can review her CV and contact information personally.

I voted today!

So can you.  The polls are open until 7 PM.

Full election results from Channel 11

Election results from Dunwoody Patch

Small Business Owners Wanted for Interviews

From Independent We Stand:
There must be some Dunwoody business owner out there who has a unique perspective on this question.


A reporter from a major news publication has approached Independent We Stand looking for business owners to interview for an article about the fines that small businesses often have to pay when they break city or state rules. Interested business owners should be able to speak to some or all of the following:

Is it tough for small business owners to keep up with the different rules they need to follow?

Are some unnecessary or over-the-top?

Are the fines for outrageous amounts, or amounts that are just too high for the average small shop?

On the flip side, are there any positives to city/state rules for running a business, like perhaps they prevent competitors from getting an unfair advantage?

Do you feel like you can speak to these questions? If so, just reply to this email or email us at media@independentwestand.org. But hurry as the reporter needs business owners to interview by today. This is one of the biggest business publications in the world and well worth your time if your are included in the final article.

Dunwoody Branded Signage pt 2: "What Would YOU Do?"

Recap:  City Hall convened an impromptu sounding board to review KMA's initial vision of wayfinding signage for Dunwoody.

For the most part, very few people hated the concepts outright.  Most in attendance, myself included, said they were essentially on the right track, just tweak the designs to make them more "homey".  I specifically said to use the materials and standards of monument signage in Dunwoody Village.

Given the feedback I can't explain why the same proposal, without any modifications at all, made its way to City Council and execution at the hands of public opinion.

The wayfinding street signage didn't get as much objection:  I'm betting because they are smaller, simpler, and wherever you are people expect a sleek and simple street sign.

The park monument signage (which will set the pace for similar signs for other municipal spaces - City Hall, Police Precinct, possible Fire Department) was problematic.  When you get beyond the purely subjective and emotional adjectives (ugly, etc) you drill down to the root, spelled out in the initial Branding Research Results from November 2010. Page 13 (within the document, after the TOC and cover, not the PDF page) asked "Would you like Dunwoody's image to reflect MOST..." then there was a forced choice between Past, Present, Future, and Other.  There was no "check all that apply".  Most of the comments associated with the "Other" choice indicated that there should be a combination between all three options.  So if you combine the "Other" and "Past" votes from the pie graph, that's about 25% of respondents with this preference.  It's a minority, but a significant one.

So the "branding project" came up with a modern-style set of logos and color combinations - which works because the majority of respondents expressed a preference for a current or futuristic "look".  It works on the web and on stationery, flyers, etc.  But when it comes to a physical monument, something that people will refer to as a landmark and think of in context with the community itself, that "significant minority" kicks in.  There are still a lot of traditional aspects to Dunwoody's collective thinking that deserve to be represented.  IMHO, these monument signs are the way to incorporate all three elements.

"Any time you're ready, wise-guy...."

So this is what I think would work.    This assumes that City Hall is sticking with the branding plan as-is without any modifications.

First, the parks/municipal monument:

Stick with material combinations that have been a Dunwoody tradition and are incorporated throughout smaller shopping areas in the Village overlay district, and even in the revived Georgtown Shopping Center entrance.  Brick (or stone) monument base and frame.  Painted wood (or composite facsimile if that can require less maintenance).  Engrave the text/images into the surface.  Double-sided, of course.

Keep the font, the colors, the alignment that are consistent with the logo.  Maybe even adjust the line height, width, kerning, etc to match what the logo was created with.  Instead of a giant asterisk (which was the one thing that did the most to turn off the focus group) scale the thing back and make it a small accent.  Still visible, still consistent, still an element that reinforces that this marks a city property, just not as a primary element that distracts the viewer from the actual content.

Speaking of scaling back, the original signs were about 8 foot square.  5-foot square would do the job for most of the parks and future municipal spaces.  The only park monument that would need to be larger is Brook Run - not only to match the size of the park itself but to leave room for changeable panels to announce events, etc.  (BTW - Rick, you're not the only one who hates the Concrete Monolith.  Lots of (half) joking suggestions about backing a Public Works pickup truck into it a few times.  I'm of half a mind to do naked cartwheels around the park boundary the day that ugly thing comes down.)

Put the Parks & Rec variation of the city logo in the corner for balance.  Maybe even put the street address in that space underneath the site name.  Lose the tagline for signage - that crosses the line into clutter.

Here's my concept for "Gateway" markers.

Same idea with a low profile.  Again, keep it to 5-feet high, maybe increase the width to 8 feet or whatever is proportional.

Same structural elements as above.  It can be made into a low enough profile to be used at the Winters' Chapel/Peeler intersection without blocking views.  Or, if that little triangle can't handle a monument sign, try installing it on the stone retaining wall around Dunwoody Point shopping center.  Scale it up for major gateways like Georgetown, Mount Vernon, Ashford-Dunwoody, etc.

Most of all, this isn't brand new and untried.  This type of monument signage has been used throughout the Village overlay district to convey commercial identities while keeping the sense of community from changing to fast.

Thanks for reading with me while I got this out of my system.  Have a good night!

Zoning Rewrite Project Next Public Meeting on August 1

The signs have gone up on the street corners.

Next session for general public input is August 1 at Dunwoody UMC Fellowship Hall at 7 PM.

The consultants are soliciting input on the first draft of the first module of the new Zoning Code.  (This is not all there is going to be it's just an initial draft of one section.)

Download and/or print your own copy here:  http://www.zoningdunwoody.com/sites/default/files/documents/Mod1_071612.pdf

Please note that EVERYONE, both the sounding board and general public are getting this at the same time.  There is no super-double-secret access for the sounding board or for anyone else.

Comments are closed on this post.  All comments should be added to either the "Open Questions" tab or to the "Project Blog".   If you are concerned about blowback or other problems in response to open comments you can submit them privately via the email form.  Links to those are available to the left.

Please review at your leisure and make your opinions known by whatever means is more comfortable for you.  There are a lot of comments from a very small group of people and the process would benefit by having a wider range of citizen involvement.

Dunwoody Branded Signage - "When You're In a Hurry, Slow Down"

That was a piece of advice I got when working in a research lab in grad school.  The point being, if you don't have time to do something right the first time, you really don't have time to do it over if you screw up.

IMHO, the City did the right thing in suspending the signage plan in light of the public response.

When the branding initiative combined with the CVB and Chamber of Commerce was announced, I had some serious reservations about it for different reasons.  I made them known to TPTB (*The Powers That Be).  Then, because I like my job and want to keep it, I put my personal feelings aside and attended to the task at hand:  making the new branding standards function in the Chamber website and other online outreach.

I learned to be very objective, very detached, very quickly.

So with that background in mind, I'm going to be the Devil's Advocate here and go on record saying that I don't think the branding as it has been applied thus far, or the signage proposed, was as bad as some claim.  It's not perfect, it needs work, there were some clear missteps along the way, but in the grand scheme, it's not the Hindenberg.

I don't know any creative professional who has not experienced this scenario at least once:  you consult with your client or director, you come up with rough concepts, you flesh them out using every emotional technique in the book, your concept comes to life and the client loves it.  It does everything it's supposed to do, it applies to every contingency and situation.  The colleagues love it.  There's buy-in from everyone on the client's roster.  Then it goes for initial review to the general public, you're so happy with the accomplishment and proud to show it to the world.  And then...

...it totally bombs.

Initial public review is a big, fat thumbs-down.  It's enough to make your question your profession and your life.  It's frustrating.  And no entity or enterprise or corporation is so high-and-mighty that it can't happen to them.  Even Coca-Cola got a galaxy-sized dose of humility with its meticulously-crafted, perfectly researched "New Coke" formula and campaign.

But it happens.  It's part of the creative industry.  I wanted to give the reps from both these organizations a big hug and expound on how much I understand.  I can think of some examples where I've been in the same situation with a client's website.  One took 8 different tries to get the appearance and delivery satisfactory to both the client and their audience. When it happens to me (oh, how it has happened.......:::sigh:::) I vent for a little while, then take a seat, a deep breath, maybe even a glass of wine, and evaluate the feedback.  When I clear my head I usually realize that the modifications necessary are a) not a personal criticism and b) not going to take much effort to incorporate.  Just settle down, review, rethink the box that you're thinking in, and you'll get on the right track.

First, establishing a visual representative identity ("branding") is necessary to building civic pride and community, especially when you have unexpected diversity.  If it wasn't important, the DHA wouldn't have invested in the first attempt in 2006.

Both Sky (which created the overall branding plan) and KMA (which designed the monument signage) did exactly as they were directed by City Hall and in practical terms, did everything right.  Sky put on an elaborate data-gathering plan to solicit input from citizens and the general public to frame their scope.  DunwoodyTalk linked to the survey results in his commentary on this issue.  Take some time to read some of the results written comments.  Not only is there a wide range of opinion, many of them are directly contradictory; some of the recommendations are even legally, financially, or physically impossible.  ("Close the college" is my favorite example.)  Rather than indulge in the luxury of focusing on one segment of this population to the exclusion of all others, Sky (under direction of City Hall) formulated a graphic that attempted to represent all of them, even as they contradicted each other.  You wonder why comprehensive branding plans are so expensive?  This is the reason why.  This is hard work that requires a lot of skill and expertise, as well as a thorough understanding of human psychology.

When your presentation attempts to encompass and represent as many viewpoints as possible, while marginalizing and excluding as few as possible, you get a presentation that becomes "generic" if you're going to keep it simple.

So the City has some options available at this juncture.

They can scratch the effort and start over.  Just absorb the loss and move on.  If you're the Gap, or Tropicana (which I mentioned on this subject in a previous post) you can move some finances around and go that route.  When you're a startup government entity spending tax money, it's a harder choice.  Besides, the survey results aren't going to change much, even if you issue new surveys.  That means the scope you're trying to encompass in your image isn't going to vary either.

They can modify what they have before using it on infrastructure investments.  Tweak a font, tweak a color combo, blend it with other graphics.  Basically, modify the official style guide based on current feedback.

They can hunker down and wait out the storm, then go ahead with their plans as written without modifying the style guide or other proposed implementations.  Doable and the cheapest option - but refer to the previous post and how long Dunwoody memories are.

"OK, wise-guy, what would YOU do?"  Stay tuned for Part 2 after I get some quality time with the kids.  Happy lunch break, everybody!

Dunwoody: City of Long Memories

When the City branding initiative was debuted to a less-than-enthusiastic response I remember hearing some insider comments along the lines of "Don't worry about it.  The furor will die down and everyone will forget and just accept it."

Not in Dunwoody.

No matter how large or how small the issue, it is unwise to assume that the populace will "just forget and accept" when their desires have been crossed and their needs ignored and their questions dismissed.

The further implementation of the branding initiative is only one example.  That situation is more complex than it appears on the surface and it's one I've had some experience in working for the Chamber.  That is enough to fill its own post on another day.

But in spite of the majority of public sentiment, City Hall is still pushing ahead with an implementation that is increasing the negative response.  Why?  What is to be gained by pushing a program that not only was not forgotten and accepted but is getting further criticism?  And who stands to gain?

ChattComm is another example.  Blogger Bob wrote a stellar piece on his own space this weekend that built on Greg C's comments via John's blog.  Why isn't the digital transfer of calls from ChattComm to DeKalb Fire (aka CAD to CAD) working yet?  This isn't a new question:  it came up when the ChattComm conversion was still being debated by Council almost a year ago.  But at the time, the question was dismissed, both by Chief Grogan and (then) Mayor Wright.

Looks like that one didn't get forgotten either.  Again, what is to be gained by pushing a program that faced quite a bit of resistance in 2011 and then not following through on the technical details?  And who stands to gain from it?

Let's not forget the multi-faceted arguments over green space.  First there was the proposed "greenways" that looked great on paper, but not from the back porches of the people whose property would have been confiscated to build them.  Then there was the rush to buy up the PVC farm and hospital properties.  At the time, City Hall and Council were justifying the purchases to increase park space, even though there has been some serious backpedalling by City Hall since then.  But the quote is clear in this Crier article from March 2011:  (emphases added)

“The addition of 16 acres of park land is a watershed moment for Dunwoody and a generational game changer for the Georgetown/North Shallowford community,” said Wright in the release. “The city council and I are thrilled to jump start the revitalization of the Georgetown/ North Shallowford area of Dunwoody and are relieved that this purchase will head off the inevitable development of the land for more apartments as well as help us move forward in our effort to eliminate our monumental deficit of green space.”

Which sounds great, until the development of said parkland was contingent on a bonds proposal that tried to include the kitchen sink (including purchasing apartment complexes).  Bonds are a hard enough initiative to get through a vote in a recession.  It might have passed if the language was more direct about what the money would be spent for and didn't try to encompass another property purchase.

Here's what the citizenry is going to remember from these fiascos:
1)  City Hall wants to take private residential property for public recreation.
2)  City Hall intends to ask for more money via taxes, bonds, etc, but is not going to be clear on how the money gets spent.
3)  City Hall intends to hold the citizenry responsible for voting against unclear bond referendums when the outcome isn't to their liking.  ("Well, it's your own fault, you voted against parks.  I guess you just don't like parks or children or families.  Shame on you!")

Someone is really out of their mind if they think this is going to be forgotten too.

The key to trust and credibility is consistency.  Dunwoody residents have very long memories.  If your modus operandi involves hoping people forget a gaffe or an idea that they're opposed to, you're in for a bad day at the office.

But for some reason, someone at City Hall has ignored this concept.  Who?  And what do they stand to gain from it?  And is City Council going to let them get away with it?

Pushy Real Estate Buyer or Con Artist? You make the call.

A short time ago I blogged about an unsolicited letter in a format that was disturbingly unprofessional and unnerving to my family and neighbors.

Well it turns out that "Bajja" is unhappy with my assessment of his business approach.

I received a phonecall this evening from this person who disapproved the comments, but was unable to post such on the blog directly from his phone.  He believes that in spite of the method of contacting me and the lack of professional information, I should have called him on the phone.

This situation is officially weird and I am creeped out.  I do not know this person, still don't know their last name or their business name, and as I said in the previous post, the offer is respectfully declined.

Bajja, if you are reading this, your contact is unwelcome.  Dunwoody Police have been notified.  Any further contact from you by any method or medium will be considered harrassment and legally addressed as such.  Stay away from this property and the people in it.

Reflecting on Impressions

Jason Massad from Dunwoody Patch contacted me last night for some commentary on the proposed wayfinding signage.  I'm in the middle of some work for the next few days so I don't have a whole lot of time to expound here and I'll wait until Jason's story is finished before posting further.

In the mean time, here are my thoughts from November 2010 on the concerns being brought forward today.

The entire post is here

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Logos & Branding - A Practical Analysis

11:29 PM | 

A few weeks ago, the City of Dunwoody unveiled a new series of logos created by contractor Sky Design.
The City has learned a few hard lessons about branding and logo implementation in the process.

Just because you spend a lot of money on it, doesn't mean that everyone will love it.  Dunwoody joined the club with The Gap and Tropicana brands who redesigned their logo image and got their heads handed to them by their customers.  The Gap just abandoned the new effort (even though it was very stylish) and Tropicana is trying to work in their new logo identity with the old one.  It happens - you research, you conduct surveys and focus groups, you wear out your font file and your color wheel, and come up with a design that SHOULD be effective.  Then your PR person is issuing statements when your creation falls flat on its face. 

Google is your best friend.  Pay attention!  The original tagline for the city was "Smart People - Smart Place".  Sounds good, right?  The City of Plano Economic Development Board thought so too.  They used it first.  To add insult to injury, the tagline showed up on an internet search.  Trademarked or not, there was going to be a conflict.  Plano was on the phone to Dunwoody in about a day.  It's not worth the hassle to use a tagline that's been claimed elsewhere.  The new tagline is "Smart People - Smart City".

Large design firms with a lot of experience may sometimes cannibalize other designs. Even inadvertently.  The initial reaction on the local blogosphere was that the original logo looked too similar to both the Walmart and E-Trade logos.  Someone with WAY too much time on their hands lampooned that idea, as major newspapers commented on it.  Could be a coincidence but if the public sees a similarity it doesn't matter.  Others commented that even the unveiling video shown at the Music Festival was recycled from another presentation for another corporation.  Recycling happens.  Can you get away with it?  How lucky do you feel?

INTRODUCING - Dunwoody Chamber of Commerce Version 4.0

This is the fourth incarnation of the Dunwoody Chamber website, and the third since the site was recreated in Drupal.  Mr. Boyken and I had a little sit-down in his office soon after he was elected as Chairman of the Board and we had an in-depth conversation about how he wanted the Chamber presented to the public.  Sleek, upscale, and simple.  The above design is the result.

We moved some information around and reorganized some categories so don't be shy about using the "Search" function in the red menu bar.  

The most obvious upgrade is the "infographic" scrolling images on the front page.  Don't be fooled by how simple these "slideshows" appear.  There is a lot of complex programming behind the scenes that makes it work.  Kind of like the gears on a classic Swiss watch.  The greatest challenge was making it simple for the office staff to change these images in and out as necessary.  Check back once in a while and you'll see some new surprises!

This week we're going to go through the post-launch punch list and continue the updates.  This includes planning for an all-new mobile version and possibly a smartphone app.  The first time the site went live I discovered some technical issues undocumented features that need to be accommodated.

It's important for every major organization to have a web presence that is unique to them.  All of my themes, including those for content management systems, no matter how complex, are custom made from scratch.  I would hate to be the guy who had a website launch, then the public notices that the "custom design" is actually JSN Epic for Joomla (free version) with all of the default color and appearance settings unchanged.  Talk about a rip off!  (Hypothetically of course....)

Please enjoy using the new interface with all of the functionality you have come to expect from the Dunwoody Chamber site.  The "Contact" link is the best place to ask a question or report a bug.

Off to First Monday Networking!

Last Chance to Check Your Computer for the Doomsday Virus

This is not a hoax.  There is a real virus threat out there this time.  A check that will last less than a minute will provide priceless peace of mind.

The Background:

Several years ago, an internet crime ring based in Estonia released a virus that would redirect an internet user from legitimate sites to fraudulent ones.  The gang stole millions of dollars from victims around the world and eventually got nabbed by the FBI late last year.

But the malware is still out there and your machine could still be affected.  If it is, you will not be able to access the internet.

What You Should Do:

There's a quick and easy check to see if your computer has been infected.
Visit this site, set up by the FBI that will determine if your machine has been compromised by this virus.

http://www.dns-ok.us/

If you see a big icon with a green background, you're golden.  Nothing to worry about.

If the icon has a red background, your machine is infected and it's a good thing you got to it now!

You can learn how to fix your machine at this site:  http://www.dcwg.org/fix/.  There is a list of links at the bottom of the page to free tools that will clean you up in time for Monday.

More information is available here from the FBI.

Always, always, always keep your antivirus software up to date and do not click on links in emails or on pop-up ads that you do not know.  Do not use your credit card on sites that are not encrypted.  And DEFINITELY do not hand out your bank information or social security number, or other personal data to individuals who call you, no matter what they try to say.  Be careful out there!

July 4th Parade - the Spirit of Dunwoody

This recap has been making the rounds in my head since lunchtime Wednesday but I had a killer job commitment to square away first (which will be the subject of another post) and my grey matter is officially fried to a crispy golden brown.

Any event, including parades that have over 130 entries and over 30,000 spectators is a logistical juggernaut.  What is a relaxed holiday morning for most families is a study in "how to handle Plan B" by the organizers.

First - the BlackHawk chopper landing.  My husband was in the Village gathering Nectar of the Gods (coffee) when it approached and tried to land - at least three times.  He came back giggling about how tents were blown around like toys and how could anyone not think that the after-parade party setup would need to be better secured?  It was only later we heard that someone was injured and the story instantly became not-funny.

Second - Dunwoody Police reported on their Facebook and Twitter pages that a child either fell off or jumped off a float and then was caught under the trailer.  I saw the golf cart take off down Mt. Vernon in response, and I remember thinking that it had to be a medical emergency.  Every parade parent's nightmare.  This is why I haven't marched in the parade with my own kids yet.

Third - if the initial delay due to the injury wasn't enough, a classic car stalled out.  How did we know this?  Because the boy scouts accompanying the car pushed it to the end of the parade.

Commitment

It would have been easy to just ditch it in a side street and keep it moving.  These boys had some serious guts - and leg muscles - to keep their entry going.

Any one of these events could have derailed the entire day.  But they didn't.  The parade organizers, police, EMS, and anyone else involved in running this parade dealt with the situation, assisted those who needed help, and kept the parade going.  That is what I call commitment and civic pride.

Couple that with having Georgia's largest 4th of July parade hosted by a private not-for-profit, as well as a variety of fireworks displays around the area (we're regulars at Chamblee's display in Keswick Park) and you have a full day's worth of old-fashioned, small-town, family holiday fun, guaranteed to wear out the most energetic kid and the production requires little to no tax money for Dunwoody.

Safety is always a conversation at parade time.  I imagine it will be an even bigger topic in 2013.  Unfortunately, there's not much the parade organizers and marshalls can do to enforce individual common sense in a 30K crowd.

Case in point:  THE POTATO.

I almost didn't believe Bill and Stacy during a DHA meeting when they said this exhibit was joining the parade.  Giant anything is a crowd-pleaser!  I still think it would have been funnier if someone "forgot" to tell Publix that it would be parking in their lot.

Again, logistics with making sure the trailer can navigate Dunwoody Village Parkway, where to put it at the end of the parade, etc.  In spite of the above incidents that found their way through the crowd before this part of the parade came, in spite of the newly-heightened awareness of safety this year, you still had the scene below:

The left wheels of the semi had to pull all the way to the left of the road to line up the trailer.  That front bumper and fender are no more than 18-inches away from the curb.  And what is on the curb?  Kids hanging out, of course, while their parents hang out right along with them.  Believe me if my kids were on that side of the street I would have yanked their little behinds off that curb faster than you could say "french fries".  This close call could have been the fourth big glitch of the day but thankfully, it wasn't.

The parade is an example of why I'm proud of Dunwoody.  No matter what else is happening in government, our jobs, our neighborhoods, good or bad, there is always a time to put "every day" aside and enjoy all that we have in common.  

Happy July 4th!

GoDaddy is having issues

Some customers who host their sites on GoDaddy noticed error messages starting at about 7 PM last night.  I couldn't change their DNS to backup and the customer support line has had busy signals for almost 12 hours.

If you host with GoDaddy, you're going to have to ride this one out.  Don't know if this was a DoS attack, straight hacking, or just a system failure.  Post a comment if you hear anything!

How to Write a Creepy Real Estate Offer

1)  Create hand-written "form letters".
2)  Use red ink.
3)  Send copies to home addresses at random from a bulk database export.
4)  Ignore whether the property is listed for sale or not.
5)  Use yellow, lined paper, instead of a company letterhead.
6)  Only use your first name, don't include your last name.
7)  Include a phone number but no other contact information.
8)  Don't explain why you're interested in buying a property that is not on the market.
9)  The return address on your envelope should be a "MailBoxes Etc" location in Buckhead.

Behold that which blessed my US Mailbox this afternoon.

Address redacted.  If you know my family, you know where we live.  ;-)

When I googled the phone number, I found this website:  http://www.onlinemediainteractive.com/fastsaleformyhouse/needtosell.html

I'm guessing home flippers.  Anyone else get one of these creepograms?  Or know the company where the phone number led?

By the way, if "Bajja" is reading this, your offer is respectfully declined.

Is Dunwoody getting its own girls' party place?

A while back I posted about my (and my daughter's) experience with Pink Pastry Parlor in Alpharetta and bemoaned the fact that indoor play and party spaces were rare in a city that is so concerned about opportunities for children.

It looks like that may change...!

Behold Sweets 'n Dreams, a new storefront in the Shops of Dunwoody that is going through the process to build out and open.  It is promoted as a party facility/event center/bakery and may be one of the things that our retail centers have been missing for a while.

Check 'em out on Facebook!
http://www.facebook.com/SweetsnDreams

Street/Summer Fair Vendors Wanted for Input on Media Article

I received an email this morning from Independent We Stand, an advocacy organization supporting and promoting the value of local independent businesses.

A reporter for a major news publication has approached Independent We Stand looking for entrepreneurs who have been vendors at street fairs and other outdoor summer events. They're seeking examples of lessons learned from these business opportunities – what to do and what not to do to. The entrepreneurs should be in only their second or third year of business and have some wisdom to share based on what they learned as an outdoor vendor last summer or the summer before. Do you fit the bill or know someone else who does? Just reply to this email or email us at media@independentwestand.org!

Dunwoody and its neighbors are chock full of these kinds of enterprises!  If you are a small biz entrepreneur or solopreneur who as ever set up shop at Lemonade Days, the Dunwoody Music Festival, or the Dunwoody Arts Festival, this may be a golden opportunity for you to showcase your wares to a wide media audience!

While we're at it, I'll bet some of the vendors at the Dunwoody Green Market would fit the bill too.  Ditto for the new generation of food trucks that are hitting the streets to carve out their niche.  (I still think the Hail Caesar idea is hysterical!)

Drop a line to Independent We Stand above and give the media another reason to put Dunwoody-grown brands on the map.  (Tell Bill I said "hi" when you email!)

Rezoning Questions Go Gently Down the Stream

Over the weekend I received this message from Joe Seconder via FaceBook and per his request I'm glad to pass it on:


Subject: Invite - Dunwoody Stream Buffer Educational Forum

Hi All,

On behalf of the City of Dunwoody’s Sustainability Commission, you are cordially invited to attend the Dunwoody Stream Buffer Educational Forum at 7 pm on Thursday, June 28th at Dunwoody City Hall.

As we embark on defining stream definitions, this forum can help educate those who may be making the future decisions/

The Forum will cover: Benefits of Stream Buffers, Stream Buffers as Regulatory Tools to Promote Surface Water Quality, Variance Processes, Types of Streams – Which should be protected with buffers?

There will be a panel of experts as well as an opportunity for questions following the panel discussion.

Scheduled Panelists include representatives from:

·         Georgia Environmental Protection Division - Stormwater Unit, Watershed Protection Branch
·         Georgia Soil and Water Conservation Commission
·         Atlanta Home Builders
·         Upper Chattahoochee Riverkeeper

City Calendar click posting here
Facebook Event click here

Many thanks,

Joe Seconder
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
During my morning cup(s) 'o joe (sorry, Joe, couldn't resist.  It's that kind of Monday!)  I ran across this entry on John's blog.


Dunwoody Zoning Code Rewrite Meeting - Fri June 22nd
Date: Friday, June 22, 2012
Time: 12:00pm – 1:30pm
Location: City Hall
41 Perimeter Center East

In partnership with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the City will present recommendations for sustainable practices to be incorporated in the Zoning Code Rewrite.  This meeting is a result of a technical assistance grant the City received earlier this year for the Building Blocks for Sustainable Communities Program, Green Building Toolkit.

A consultant team led by Code Studio and YR&G is currently working with EPA to assess and make recommendations to the Zoning Code that will be based on sustainable sites, water efficiency, and energy conservation.  This opportunity capitalizes on the rewrite process to advance the incentives and regulations related to sustainable practices to further the City’s sustainability mission.  The presentation is the culmination of assessments made through the EPA Green Building Toolkit, consultant review of existing code, and technical staff input.

The public is invited and encouraged to attend to contribute to the process to ensure a sustainable future for the City of Dunwoody.  The meeting will be streamed and a video posted for members of the public who are unable to attend at the scheduled time.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
At the first Zoning Rewrite Sounding Board meeting, we figured out what issues needed to be addressed.  First, we learned that our input was going to be extremely limited.  "Priority" issues that had been already discussed in one of the Land Use plans were strictly off the table, even for discussion or questions.   So the sounding board had no choice but to address popular issues where the comprehensive plans are silent. That's a rant for another day.

We knew that City Hall/Council expected the consultants doing the writing and the sounding board/public attendees giving their input to address all of the questions around "streams", starting with their definitions.  The sounding board tabled this to address it in its own meeting because there was NO way it could be tackled alongside other questions.  It was just too big, too involved, and there was too much data to absorb and sort out.

Which brings us to today.  At first glance, I have some questions....

1)  Why are there two meetings?  Two different times and days?  Are there two different panels?  Two different sets of goals for these gatherings?  That's how it looks.  And both are supposedly put on by "the City" and "the Sustainability Commission"?  First thing I thought of when I saw the Facebook event and then John's blog pointing to an event on the City's website was that the left and right hands aren't talking to each other.

2)  As was pointed out in the comments under John's post, why is this on the City's calendar, but not on the ZoningDunwoody.com website, which according to the City employees involved is supposed to be THE central point for all communications on this project.  Neither of these events are posted or mentioned in any way.

3)  If the City expects its citizens to be involved in these meetings, you need more than a week's notice.  You also need to rethink having a meeting that fills the entire lunch hour for people who work and have families to care for with activities in the summer months.  Video is fine for a recap but I thought the point was to increase involvement?

So is this just a goof?  Or is the talk of citizen input so much lip service?  Or was someone between a rock and a hard place and there was literally no other time/date/place for this presentation?  Clarification is needed, please.

Behold, the reasons why sounding board held off on discussing "streams" with the consultants writing the code.  It's enough that there's a lot of questions that need answers but the data and the people distributing it seem to be all over the place.  Not even on the same page.  Personally, I haven't formed any opinions yet, and no one is forming them for me.  However I do know the following:

--No one has suggested "eliminating stream buffers".  Whoever started that rumor, knock it off.  It isn't true and you're not helping your cause by spreading it.

--I intend to be very careful about adding restrictions to someone's property.  Especially if "streams" aren't on their official property survey or deed and until now, no one has noticed them.  It's easy to wave the "sustainability" flag when you don't have to pay for the effects of new regulations dropped in your lap out of nowhere.  I hope that at least one of these scheduled meetings explains to affected homeowners why their "streams" are so important and require protection if the state, county, and city haven't bothered to document them.

But bottom line - improve the communication, folks.  Your messages will be taken more seriously if you seem like you're on the same page.

More Pubs, More Jobs - O'Brian's Tavern

Has anyone else noticed that since our new Mayor was elected there's been a sudden proliferation of beer-serving establishments?  Hmmmmm....  Coincidence?  You make the call.  (Kidding, guys, kidding!)

There's another Tavern operated by the Dunwoody Restaurant Group opening in the Mt Vernon Shopping Center (same center as the Dunwoody Bakery, CVS, Camelot Jewelers, the old Ace Hardware, etc etc etc).  O'Brian's is opening soon and they're hiring cooks.

Check out their ad on CraigsList:
http://atlanta.craigslist.org/nat/fbh/3063590340.html

There are similar ads for a general manager but that one's been open for a while and I have no idea if it's been filled.

So there's O'Brian's, then there's Marlow's going in the Village, the Tavern, Firkin & Gryphon and a slew of others.  Anyone have Liefmans Kriek on tap?

More Filming at Dunwoody High?

The tents, the trailers, and the cryptic directional signs are back up at Dunwoody High School.  There are also trailers hauling around 50s-era classic cars that would make the Ivy Riders drool.

Lots of scuttlebutt on IMDB and other entertainment outlets about both feature and TV movies being filmed somewhere in Georgia but there's nothing solid on this location.  Anyone have anything?  Post a comment!

Who will fill the old Arby's restaurant in Williamsburg?

At the DHA meeting last night, we learned that both Chik-fil-A and Starbucks are considering moving in to what used to be Arby's in Williamsburg.  (Bill - sorry I couldn't make it.  Work deadlines.  See ya next meeting, 'K?) You couldn't ask for a better scenario:  it's already built out for a restaurant, it has a drivethru, there are no zoning conflicts or variances needed.  So it's no surprise that there's more than one interested party.

Take the officially unofficial poll:
Which establishment would you prefer to replace the old Arby's in Williamsburg?

Diverging Diamond Interchange Video

Courtesy of the Dunwoody CVB.  Real-time view of navigating the much-touted DDI.  Even in the rain, it looks like drivers don't have much to fear.  Keep your eyes on the road, your cell phone in your pocket, and your bumpers between the lines and you're fine.

Greater Perimeter Business Expo on June 1

The Dunwoody Chamber has joined with the Sandy Springs Chamber for this year's Expo.  All of the exhibitor spaces are filled and the ballroom at Westin Atlanta Perimeter North is supposed to be packed.

Come out and see what your neighbors are doing.  Yes, the neighbors.  These are the people whose work keeps homeowners taxes down by paying the lion's share of Dunwoody's revenue.  Business people and homeowners are often one and the same in our little town.

If you are a small business owner and decided not to exhibit, there is an important place for you too:  The Expo is going to be the biggest networking event in town today.  Bring your cards, your promo items and be ready to shake some hands.  There's always time to make some new contacts.

The Expo is free and open to the public from 10 AM to 4 PM.  More info is at www.gpbe.org.  Even the parking is free.  ;-)

Take some pictures too - I expect that I'll be adding to the photo slideshow on that front page early next week!

View Larger Map

Water Infrastructure: Don't Let This Happen In Dunwoody

(Edited for clarity 6/1/2012)

From the Channel 46 website:

DEKALB COUNTY, GA (CBS ATLANTA) -

The pipe that caused water to flow through a DeKalb County neighborhood was on a list of pipes that needed to be replaced because they were too old.

DeKalb County spokesman Burke Brennan said more than 50 percent of the county's water and sewer lines are more than 25 years old, and about a third are over 50 .   

"These are lines that we have identified as needing to be replaced and, throughout the street within the next year or two, we're going to be replacing the entire water line," he said. "Today it's just a patch, but this is an old line. It could happen again but we're eventually going to put in a new water line off of here."

Angelo Diaz lives in a house off of Rockbridge Drive that was the most severely affected by the flooding-turned-mud.

"Yesterday as it was getting dry, I was hoping it would just be water, but then when that level came down I noticed how much mud was around," Diaz said.

A restoration crew contracted by DeKalb County was assessing the damage on Thursday.

"They didn't say they were going cover things but they did say to make a list of everything that's coming out and put a value on it," Diaz said. "I'm hoping for the best, that they'll be 100 percent responsible for it."

Brennan said that anybody with a claim can contact the county's risk management department and file a claim.

"They'll take a look at and if we're at fault we will deal with it," Brennan said.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I get that the city has to be a group of multitaskers that don't have the luxury of handling one issue or problem or plan at a time.  The article above refers to water and sewer lines specifically. Dunwoody is in similar dire straits with its stormwater system that was inherited from the same county that neglected the water lines that failed in the news story.  There is similar potential for a catastrophic failure in the stormwater system as well.  The infrastructure issues identified at the beginning of this administration have not gone away and still need to be addressed even as splashier headlines get attention.

Memorial Day 2012

UPDATED: The Report is Released

No commentary and comments are closed.

Here's the press announcement.

Here's the report.

Councilwoman Bonser responds.

"America's Supernanny" is casting in Atlanta

UPDATE:  application deadline has been extended to May 30.

Shed Media US, producer of reality/unscripted shows such as "Who Do You Think You Are?"  on NBC and "World's Strictest Parents" on CMT is looking for families to participate in a new version of the "Supernanny" series in Atlanta.

Specifically, casting is looking for:

• Families with children ages 5 - 17
• Families with more than one child
• Families who are challenged with unique circumstances regarding their children and would like some extra help with addressing them and are willing to participate in a TV show.

About the "Supernanny":

AMERICA'S SUPERNANNY is looking for families that could benefit from the help of child/teen expert, DEBORAH TILLMAN. She founded and runs 3 successful full-time daycare centers in Virginia where she’s worked with children & teens for years; she regularly presents workshops on childcare throughout the country, and she’s the author of Stepping Out on Faith, a guide to operating a quality childcare center. She holds a BA in Business Administration from Upsala College, a Master’s degree in Early Childhood Special Education from The George Washington University, and has also studied at Oxford University.
The production crew will be interviewing families the last week of May and early June, so they have requested that applications be submitted by May 25, 2012.

Get a printable application here. (MS Word)

For more information about the show or to apply online, please contact:
Casting Director Robyn Kiyomi

rkiyomi@shedmediaus.com

(323) 904-4680 ext. 1154 phone

(I spoke to Robyn earlier today on the phone and she is super-nice and easy to talk to!)


Feel free to pass this along and refer families that you think may be interested!

You can also print a flyer below for more info and contact options.

Help DeKalb Pets at Stars & Strikes this Sunday

Commissioners Elaine Boyer, Stan Watson & Sharon Barnes Sutton have joined forces to host an event on Sunday, May 20th from 5:00 PM until 7:00 PM to help fund a spay/neuter program for pets of DeKalb families in need of assistance. The event is at Stars & Strikes in Stone Mountain & will include activities such as bowling, laser tag, bumper cars, video games, etc.

There are several ways you can help:

· Purchase ticketsat www.helpdekalbanimals.com. Tickets are $30 for Adults, $20for Kids under 12, or a Package of 4, any ages for $80.

· Donate items suchas leashes, collars (new or slightly used) & laundry detergent (which willgo directly to DeKalb Animal Services for laundry needs). The items willbe collected at the event.

· Circulate our website & press release to friends & family to help promotethe event.

There is much to be done to reverse the horrible situation at DeKalb Animal Services & this is a step in that direction. To help get a handle on the massive number of animals euthanized annually in DeKalb (approximately 5,000) we need to educate the public more and provide assistance to those who have good intentions, but cannot afford to fix their pets. After hearing from many concerned constituents at the commission meetings and reading the influx of emails, Commissioner Boyer wanted to do something to help. She consulted with several members of the Animal Services Task Force and the head of Animal Services and the consensus was that a spay/neuter program would go the furthest to help raise awareness and slow the inflow of animals into the shelter. The program will be implemented through LifeLine Animal Project, who is our partneron this endeavor.

Print the flyer below for more info, including sponsorship opportunities.

(Here ya go, Twinkletoes Bob!)   All of the pets I've ever had (including my current ones) have all been rescued strays so I'm glad to lend some PR for this event.

Dunwoody Village Brusters is Open!

Here's their main site:
http://www.brusters.com/localstores/index.asp?storenum=823

It's right next to (what used to be) Dunwoody Pediatrics.

Here's the page with job application info.  Apparently they like to do things offline so you can print out an application from this page, or ask for one at the store in person.

Now I just have to convince my three munchkins that having ice cream in a store like this is just as good as chasing the ice cream truck down the street.  ;-)

Rumor Has It...Not Everything Belongs on the Internet

If there is anything we have learned from the explosion of the Internet in 1995, it's that no matter how much technology is created, people - human beings - don't change.

The utopian ideal promoted when email services began, both at home and at work, was that faster communication would make the world "smaller" and make it easier to share ideas and information.

However, not all ideas are benign and not all information is reliable.  It is the human part of us that has to discern the difference.  Then that same human part has to decide whether and how to distribute it.  That requires turning off the machines.

My old medical research job trained me for that kind of discernment.  All of us in hands-on clinical research were required to take an intensive seminar in medical ethics with an extensive history component.  

The VP of Translational Research, who was always the "go to" person for international media contacts, summed it up thusly:  "If you're not sure about whether a decision is right, whether it's in research, or a pharmaceutical company in your stock portfolio, think about how it will look on the front page of the New York Times.  Because that is where it is going to end up."  

It's more than just print media and television now.  It's more than just journalists who may or may not take heed of the ethics and standards they learned in journalism school.  Now everyone is their own journalist and standards vary with the individual.   But the majority of the machines that store and transmit the information belong to someone else.  

Take Facebook for example.  Read their terms of service some time.  Everything you post on Facebook, they own and can do with it whatever they wish.  Some acquaintances who have been working with Facebook's marketing leadership had some disturbing opinions about them.  Such as "generation y-ers who have all of this data and little idea what to do with it and shaky ethics on the best of days."

Google seems to be more benign - they don't claim ownership to any posted content.  But they have streamlined the cross-referencing of content across platforms (Google Checkout, YouTube, Blogger, etc)  So they may not claim ownership but they've made it easy for someone else to exploit what you add to it.  I'm not one for conspiracy theories but that one scares the hell out of me.

So when the Internet is used to transmit evolving information - especially in legal cases - the consequences can be more severe.  The ability to be objective and treat all parties fairly fades.  There is potential to violate civil rights.  Notice it's not the machines that make information more deadly - it's the people using them.  People using machines rather than their own discretion and the oft-ignored "Power" button.

Yes, I'm leading up to last night's City Council meeting and the surrounding media.

No one is going to be served best by manipulating evolving information on this case on the Internet.  Within moments of John posting the agenda item (with no commentary, just the text of the resolution) there was speculation on the reason for the resolution (which was confirmed at last night's meeting) and conclusions drawn that the City Attorney had already been fired (which was untrue.)  See how fast a single fact was spun out of control?  

I'm not going to opine over who to trust, because I still don't know.  I'm not privy to the facts involved, by choice.  But I do think this is one for the human beings to work out in real time, with face-to-face consequences, to protect the rights of all involved and leave the machines out of it.  Use some human discretion and the "Power" key, at least until the scenario has played out.

(Good commentary from Kerry DeVallette on this issue last night.  He points out some reasons that I think this process should remain offline.)

Dunwoody Marketplace - Critical Mass

I called it.  I SO called this one....

From Dunwoody Patch:  Dunwoody Green Market Seeks New Home

From the article:

The U.S. Postal Service has told the Dunwoody Green Market that it needs the parking lot where vendors operate on Wednesdays eight months of the year and that the market will have to find a new home.
The financially troubled agency is closing the Dunwoody Carrier Annex at 4444 North Shallowford Road and is moving those operations to the Dunwoody Post Office. That move will begin on Friday, May 18, according to a supervisor at the North Shallowford Road address who referred further questions to the main Atlanta Post Office. Officials at the main branch did not return a call requesting comment.

Back in August 2011 - almost 9 months ago - I posted this article:

Opportunity Knocking:  Dunwoody Needs a Permanent Community Marketplace

From the blog post:

US Post Offices are by definition federal land. City ordinances don't apply. So while the DGM is in the Post Office's good graces, the market opens every Wednesday - legally. 

How lucky do you feel existing at the whim of the Feds? I wouldn't. The USPS can revoke its permission at any time. They can close that location and sell the land, which they routinely threaten to do.

The land isn't going to be sold, but it is going to be used by the rightful owners.  The article from Patch goes on about how vendors were told casually by federal employees that they are going to be evicted in just under three weeks and that city officials are taken by surprise.  You can moan and complain to the sky about how slimy and uncouth that (lack of) legit communication is.  You'd be right.  But here's the problem:  the USPS has every right in the world to do so.  The DGM has been operating at the feds' pleasure and pleasure time is up.  IMHO, no one has any right to be surprised.

So the recommendation from August 2011 is more urgent than ever:  a landlord or other entrepreneur has a huge incentive to open a permanent community marketplace where the farmers, artisans, other businesses can pay a proportional rent and set up shop weekly.  The blog post above had the complete list of advantages.

So what have we learned here?

• Don't rely on the feds or other government agency to just *give* you what you need to run your business.  The USPS scenario is Exhibit A.  The land the DGM was camped on was considered a long-term solution rather than a short-term stopgap.  Big mistake.  Always have a plan in place for long-term land/property use.  If your Plan B involves continued squatting, you're setting yourself up for scrambling again and again.
  
• Take your business sense seriously and work accordingly.  Microbusinesses, home businesses, family farms, artisans, other sole proprietors, are all part of the legitimate business community and all have a legitimate role to play in the economic development of Dunwoody.  If you want Dunwoody and your customers to take you seriously, you have to act the part.  Get a license.  Pay your share of taxes.  Find a venue that can accommodate the amount of business you conduct.  Pay your rent to the landlord, if it isn't you.  Or buy the property you want to operate from.  DGM has been dragging their feet on this one and now they're in a panic.  Will history repeat itself or will a permanent market be established?  Stay tuned.

I'm a little concerned about DGM proprietors discussing their future in terms of "we'll just see where we land".  How about "let's decide where we will go"?  I don't know of any successful business plan that leaves their location up to the four winds and the good will of government.  Even food truck operators have a route and location plan mapped out in advance.  Choose a location, negotiate a price, and work to build it.

Although I prefer to have as few strings as possible attached to free enterprise, the City of Dunwoody government can play a role in acknowledging the contributions uber-small businesses make to the community.  I can't imagine too many people would be upset if Dunwoody provided city-owned land for a market.  (I can think of a spot on North Shallowford that's open at the moment.)  Conversely, the City also has to hold these businesses responsible for paying their share of revenue just like any other business.

New Additions to Our Family!

Mr. & Mrs. Brown Thrasher of Briers North announce the recent hatching of four two chicks in their lovely, spacious nest inside the Duncans' backyard rose bush.  Mrs. Brown Thrasher would like to state that she will give the stink eye to anyone visiting while she is warming the babies.

Mom & Dad are gathering food.

If you look really closely and at the right angle, you can see one of the parents in their nest  

What?  What did you think a "new addition" meant??

*No one touched or disturbed the chicks.  The first picture was pure luck when I held my camera phone over the rose bush and hoped for the best.  The one below was trying to get a shot of the adult on the nest from the side.  Mom is back on the nest (with stink eye) and a handful of birdseed was tossed in the area so there's no danger of the adults leaving.

BOLO - Neighbor accosted this morning

A neighbor just posted an alert to our neighborhood messaging list.

This morning, his wife took his child to school and she was followed back to the neighborhood.  Instead of returning home she went down an adjoining cul-de-sac.  The person following her blocked her in with his truck and verbally accosted her.  He got out of his truck and so she dialed 911.  (And was routed to Gwinnett county because she was on a cell phone.  Always specify you're calling from City of Dunwoody when you have to use your phone to call for help.)  He eventually took off.

The details posted to the list were:

Red Chevy pickup truck

GA plate # BQ706Q

Man was wearing camoflage/army fatigues.

Dunwoody PD has been notified. If you see this person and/or their truck steer clear of them, because they obviously don't have both oars in the water.

Opportunity Knocking: Is Dunwoody "Camera Ready"?

It looks like the few film shoots in Dunwoody may not just be lucky flukes.  A film crew working on a project tentatively titled "Trouble With the Curve" borrowed Dunwoody High School during spring break.  Earlier this year, a project titled "Parental Guidance" used a home on Vermack for some of their shots.

Then Channel 2 aired this:


I know someone out there is going to criticize Mike and City Council for establishing "film guidelines".  I don't believe that it's a bad idea to have fees and use guidelines in place.

When I was in college, certain parts of my urban campus at Boston University were regular locations for scenes from "Spencer for Hire".  The first couple of times you saw the film crew set up, it was cool - you got to see all the techies and what happens behind the scenes.  If you were lucky you got a glimpse of Robert Urich or Avery Brooks at work.  Some students made pizza-and-beer money working as extras.

But that's just a couple of times.  After a while you got used to it.  Then finally the time came when you were late for class in a rainstorm, and you had to walk an extra half-mile because the film crew blocked off your usual route.  Or commuter students got screwed out of their assigned parking lot because craft services and actors' trailers were camped out there.  Then the whole thing just got old.

So when a community actively courts  the film industry, you also have to take measures to keep the circus inside the ring.  City Council is voting whether to approve the Film and Video Policy (with fees, natch) to ensure that film crews understand and stay within the boundaries of activity that are required for a peaceful neighborhood.  (For now - said "boundaries" and everything else that falls under 'zoning' is up for discussion as part of the rewrite project.)

For the most part, the policy is fair.  You don't realize how intrusive a film crew can be until you encounter one while having "one of those days".  You've got your standards in here - your application requirement, anything that has to be reviewed by a county-based service, insurance and liability, etc.  I would recommend cleaning up the vague terminology regarding "hardship" and "practical solution" in that section.  It leaves a lot of room for interpretation based on individual taste instead of a reliable standard to operate by.  Fertile ground for the local jerkoff to draw a line in the sand for a chance at a little payola.   The phrase that lets the city slide on its 5-day response time without penalty, or without benefit to the applying production company seems slimy.

Would these ordinances be in force if the film crew is working on county property, as opposed to city or private property inside city limits?  The last film project (with Eastwood and Timberlake) took place at Dunwoody High, so it was the school system and the county who had the authorization to issue a permit and permission to use the site, not the City.  Would Dunwoody itself have been able to enforce any ordinances under these circumstances?

In one of the previous examples, ("Parental Guidance") the work took place in a residentially-zoned home.  If the homeowners receive compensation from the production company for the use of their home as a set, do they risk being penalized for commercial activity in a residence?  Is this another "don't ask, don't tell" scenario that is so common in Dunwoody today?  If so, that could put a wrench in the City's film dreams.  The policy acknowledges the possibility of filming on private property, but is silent on the compensation or "commercial use" issue.  Major contradiction, folks.   Very obvious one, too.

While on the residential subject, the policy states that no permits are necessary except for "...guns in display of the public; public nudity; special effects such as fire, explosives, or pyrotechnics;  nondomestic animals; or
filming outside the hours permitted by the City’s Noise Ordinance."
Hel-LO!!  Production vehicles parked in the street!  Random bitching and moaning about traffic and parking will crescendo!  Even if there's no "filming" on the street, there is going to be some serious parking.  Sounds permit-worthy to me, if for nothing else than having police on hand to prevent collisions.

When the policy passes and becomes the law of the land - then what?  Is there going to be active marketing to Hollywood et al for locations?  Or a more passive approach that relies on word of mouth?

Georgia rolled out the "Camera Ready Communities" initiative as part of their own marketing to the film industry.   This program identifies contact people by county - not by city - to be liasons to assist interested film companies in setting up shop.  I'd like to think DeKalb County would have some sort of partnership with Dunwoody, for communication if nothing else.  My cynical side kicks in when we remember how much DeKalb just loooooooooooooves Dunwoody.

It wouldn't take much to replicate the county-by-county program at the city level.  Identify a contact person who will be familiar with ordinances and permitting, and that has a comprehensive understanding of Dunwoody's neighborhoods, facilities, features, etc to assist with location scouts.

You also have an opportunity for the Chamber and CVB to get into the act.  Include with the city packet a letter to the effect of:  "Welcome to Dunwoody Georgia.  We wish you success in your project while you film in our city.  Attached is a list of local enterprises that are willing and able to assist you with products and services you may be in need of during your stay."  Break them out by category:  Lodging, Transportation, Talent Agencies, Lighting and Staging, Catering, and any number of other skilled craft services.

The policy is only Step One.  In order to make Dunwoody "camera ready", City Hall has to ensure that knowledgeable pros are at the front desk when film companies accept their invitations.  If you're going to enact a policy at City Council, be ready to back it up with adequate city staff.  If City Hall is planning more than just a policy vote, it could be a win-win for everybody.  Don't make the mistake of throwing out a policy without the human resources and infrastructure to make it work in real life, outside Council Chambers where everything is hypothetical.