The latest updates from SDOC Publishing Internet Solutions for our clients, our community, and the web design field. Our Dunwoody, Georgia studio serves clients all over the United States and Canada.
Friday, April 29, 2016
Monday, April 25, 2016
Websites need spring cleaning too! 5 Tips to stay up to date
The pollen season has passed; the scrub-the-pollen-off-of everything season is in progress.
Over the past couple of weeks I've done audits and website upgrades for some clients who took a look at their websites and realized they needed a refresher.
You can follow these tips too and decide if you should spruce up your website:
1) Make sure your design is current
Yes, I'm going to be a broken record on this one. If I've said it once, I've said it a thousand times, websites have to accommodate both large and small mobile screens to be relevant to today's user. If your design is more than 3 years old, or does not display well on small screens, it's time for a makeover.
Here's one I did for long-time SDOC client and Dunwoody CPA Susan Renegar. Her first website was a single billboard, and it did the job for a number of years:
Over the past couple of weeks I've done audits and website upgrades for some clients who took a look at their websites and realized they needed a refresher.
You can follow these tips too and decide if you should spruce up your website:
1) Make sure your design is current
Yes, I'm going to be a broken record on this one. If I've said it once, I've said it a thousand times, websites have to accommodate both large and small mobile screens to be relevant to today's user. If your design is more than 3 years old, or does not display well on small screens, it's time for a makeover.
Here's one I did for long-time SDOC client and Dunwoody CPA Susan Renegar. Her first website was a single billboard, and it did the job for a number of years:
Then 2009 and the Mobile Explosion hit. Susan's website was still just one page, but it needed a fresh look to the still-current content:
Here's the result:
Best of all, this new version is easy to use on all devices, including an iPhone.
2) Sit and read your content. And look at your pictures.
You wanted to manage your own website to save money. But it was hard to schedule time to update your text and pictures, or even your store inventory. How's that working for you? Your search engine results are probably saying, "Not so much". Search engines just looooooooove text content that changes frequently. Spend some time reading your website, or get a friend or relative to do it for a really fresh insight. Then either use your control panel to change your text, or get back in touch with your webmaster to update it.
3) Are your add-ons up to date?
If you are using a popular open-source content management system like WordPress, Joomla, or Drupal, then you probably have some add-on functionality to add more features to your site. These are called Plugins, Extensions, or Modules, respectively. All of these CMS connect to a central database that scans your plugins and versions to make sure they are up to date. Take a look at what you are using to generate a contact form or a calendar, or a store, or whatever. Consult with your webmaster to see if there's a better way of displaying or integrating your content. Ask them to get rid of duplicate functions, or if your features can be added more efficiently. Keeping your website software up to date is a key defense against hacking.
4) The hands-on database cleanout.
For those of you who are CMS afficianados. You probably know how to install your plugins, etc. You also know how to "uninstall" them. But did you know that the data gets left behind in the database after you delete an obsolete plugin? Just because you follow the advice above and delete unneeded plugins (even going through the uninstall process) doesn't mean that the space-hogging database entries are gone. Most plugins do not "clean up after themselves" upon uninstall, even though they are supposed to. (WordPress is notorious for this.) A database administrator should access the database directly and make sure that obsolete "orphan" data is gone from the database tables. You'll be amazed at how much faster your website runs without unneeded data getting loaded. (WARNING: this task is NOT a DIY project, or for a casual web designer. This requires a skilled database administrator who knows how to make a backup before starting work and knows how to remove data without damaging anything.)
5) The obvious: check your contact information
Company employees get added, other employees leave but their email addresses can last forever. make sure your email links or contact forms so that data doesn't go to people who are no longer with your organization. Always check your website if you change email addresses so you don't miss important customer leads.
Bonus Tip: make Spring Cleaning a quarterly affair. Schedule a reminder to evaluate these steps every quarter. Stay in touch with your web developer to keep your software from going out of date or content from going stale. Maintenance is a lot easier when you only have to do a little at a time to stay on top. Just like at home.
Thursday, April 21, 2016
(UPDATE) Hail Caesar Truck on fire on I-85 Dunwoody food Truck Thursday - April 21
We interrupt this Food Trucks menu for some announcements.
Happy Anniversary to my husband and best friend Patrick!
Now for the not so happy news....
AP wire just announced that Prince has died....
A friend reported to me via text that the Hail Caesar food truck was on fire on she shoulder of I-85 at Clairmont. The driver was laid out on the side of the road with medical team attending him, while a fire truck was hosing down the engine of the truck. No word on if this will affect Pressed for Time as (I believe...) they are owned by the same company. If anyone has updates, please post them in the comments.
Happy Anniversary to my husband and best friend Patrick!
Now for the not so happy news....
AP wire just announced that Prince has died....
A friend reported to me via text that the Hail Caesar food truck was on fire on she shoulder of I-85 at Clairmont. The driver was laid out on the side of the road with medical team attending him, while a fire truck was hosing down the engine of the truck. No word on if this will affect Pressed for Time as (I believe...) they are owned by the same company. If anyone has updates, please post them in the comments.
Musical Guest: Highbeams
Adult Beverages: Moondog Growlers.
Dinner Trucks:
Desserts:
See you at Brook Run Park, 5 - Dark
Thursday, April 7, 2016
Dunwoody Homeowners Association meeting April 10
Note location change:
City Hall - Council Chambers
41 Perimeter Center East Suite 250 Dunwoody, GA 30346
April 10, 2016 | 7:30 PM
(North Dekalb Cultural Center meeting room was already booked)
DHA was going to take a break in April due to Spring Break, Passover, Easter, etc. However the Crown Towers proposal needs a board discussion and a vote, so here we are.
Lots more on the agenda so get there early to get a seat. DHA meetings are the key venue in Dunwoody to learn first about events and upcoming development in city limits. You can meet the key players in person and gain an informed opinion before requests go before City Council and other city commissions.
The Agenda:
1. Announcements and introduction of distinguished visitors
2. Approval of minutes for March 6, 2016 meeting—Lindsay Ballow
3. Discussion – Crown Holdings development proposal for 244 Perimeter Center Parkway (Goldkist site)— Board discussion
4. Redevelopment Presentation—1660 Mt. Vernon (Former Wells Fargo) in Dunwoody Village at the intersection of Mt. Vernon and Dunwoody Village Parkway –Den Webb, Jeff Kerker
5. DeKalb Blueprints 2 (form of government study group) Update – Kathie Gannon, DeKalb County Commissioner
6. Discussion – Memorial Day Banners
7. Funding Requests:
Community Assistance Center Food N Fun Fest – Pam Jones, Robert Wittenstein
Woman’s Club Home Tour – Gerri Penn
Board only session: Votes as needed on any motions including:
Support (with conditions) or Oppose Crown Holdings development proposal. (If with conditions, what conditions?)
CAC funding request
Woman’s Club funding request
Adjourn
Next meeting: Sunday, May 1, 2016, 7:30pm
(North Dekalb Cultural Center meeting room was already booked)
DHA was going to take a break in April due to Spring Break, Passover, Easter, etc. However the Crown Towers proposal needs a board discussion and a vote, so here we are.
Lots more on the agenda so get there early to get a seat. DHA meetings are the key venue in Dunwoody to learn first about events and upcoming development in city limits. You can meet the key players in person and gain an informed opinion before requests go before City Council and other city commissions.
The Agenda:
1. Announcements and introduction of distinguished visitors
2. Approval of minutes for March 6, 2016 meeting—Lindsay Ballow
3. Discussion – Crown Holdings development proposal for 244 Perimeter Center Parkway (Goldkist site)— Board discussion
4. Redevelopment Presentation—1660 Mt. Vernon (Former Wells Fargo) in Dunwoody Village at the intersection of Mt. Vernon and Dunwoody Village Parkway –Den Webb, Jeff Kerker
5. DeKalb Blueprints 2 (form of government study group) Update – Kathie Gannon, DeKalb County Commissioner
6. Discussion – Memorial Day Banners
7. Funding Requests:
Community Assistance Center Food N Fun Fest – Pam Jones, Robert Wittenstein
Woman’s Club Home Tour – Gerri Penn
Board only session: Votes as needed on any motions including:
Support (with conditions) or Oppose Crown Holdings development proposal. (If with conditions, what conditions?)
CAC funding request
Woman’s Club funding request
Adjourn
Next meeting: Sunday, May 1, 2016, 7:30pm
Tuesday, April 5, 2016
Dunwoody Food Truck Thursdays Returns in 2016
This Thursday, April 7, Dunwoody Food Truck Thursdays starts our fourth season, 5:00 pm - dark!
Don't miss our first week back at Brook Run Park and Playground.
Looks like great weather for the start this year!
Moondog Growlers will be there along with musical guest, Josh Jeffords Music!
Dinner Trucks:
Cattywampus Grill (new to Dunwoody FTR)
Dessert Vendors:
**DWG tested and approved
Editor's note: Where's the required lobster truck???
Monday, March 28, 2016
Defining Public Expression
Consider this unexpected find as I cruised North Peachtree through Kingsley at lunchtime:
What is it?
Is it inappropriately placed trash?
A code violation?
A practical joke?
House flipping debris?
A First-Amendment-protected expression regarding the state of the world or our community today?
Or even a public art installation?
Who decides?
Who enforces the decision?
Who is allowed to express their emotions about the subject and who is required to stay quiet?
Food for thought for your Monday in advance of tonight's City Council meeting.
What is it?
Is it inappropriately placed trash?
A code violation?
A practical joke?
House flipping debris?
A First-Amendment-protected expression regarding the state of the world or our community today?
Or even a public art installation?
Who decides?
Who enforces the decision?
Who is allowed to express their emotions about the subject and who is required to stay quiet?
Food for thought for your Monday in advance of tonight's City Council meeting.
Friday, March 18, 2016
RIP Father Peek
Almighty Father, strong to save,
Whose arm hath bound the restless wave,
Who bidd'st the mighty ocean deep
Its own appointed limits keep:
O hear us when we cry to thee
For those in peril on the sea.
O Trinity of love and power,
Our brethren shield in danger's hour;
From rock and tempest, fire and foe,
Protect them whereso'er they go,
Thus evermore shall rise to thee
Glad praise from air and land and sea.
Ill priest answers the call to heal
Beloved Dunwoody priest with leukemia passes away
Whose arm hath bound the restless wave,
Who bidd'st the mighty ocean deep
Its own appointed limits keep:
O hear us when we cry to thee
For those in peril on the sea.
O Trinity of love and power,
Our brethren shield in danger's hour;
From rock and tempest, fire and foe,
Protect them whereso'er they go,
Thus evermore shall rise to thee
Glad praise from air and land and sea.
Tuesday, March 15, 2016
The Dunwoody Homeowners Association has NOT voted to endorse the Crown Towers Proposal as of March 15.
The article printed in last week's Crier was disputed the moment the exec board became aware of it.
The DHA posted the following statement to its website and social media:
http://www.dunwoodyga.org/Corrections-to-Reports-of-DHA-Meeting-of-March-6-by-Dunwoody-Crier
A more accurate account was posted in the Dunwoody Reporter newspaper.
http://www.reporternewspapers.net/2016/03/07/dunwoody-homeowners-association-compiling-list-conditions-crown-towers/
The DHA's intent has always been to determine if the developers were willing to negotiate standards that would enable the DHA to endorse the development. To date, that has not happened.
Any reports in other outlets claiming the DHA has issued endorsement or approval of this project based on the Crier's report are just as inaccurate.
The DHA posted the following statement to its website and social media:
http://www.dunwoodyga.org/Corrections-to-Reports-of-DHA-Meeting-of-March-6-by-Dunwoody-Crier
The Dunwoody Homeowners Association (DHA) wishes to correct errors reported in an article published today in the Dunwoody Crier newspaper.A letter was printed in today's Crier repeating this statement but the Crier has decided to stand by the story.
The DHA has been negotiating with Crown Properties the terms by which the DHA may or may not endorse a zoning change which would allow for the construction of two residential towers on property that was formerly the home of the Gold Kist company. These negotiations are ongoing and no conclusion has been reached as of this date.
The Crier incorrectly reported that the DHA board voted to endorse the residential construction.
The Dunwoody Homeowners Association wishes to correct this report. The DHA has not voted to take any action to endorse or oppose the zoning changes that would allow the residential additions.
The DHA voted to develop a list of potential conditions. The DHA’s approval was and remains contingent on reaching an agreement with the developer on those conditions. Some of these conditions involve concessions it is unlikely that the developer will agree to make.
When the DHA board takes a vote on this matter, it will distribute a statement of the result on its website, social media, and via email.
For further information, please contact the DHA.
A more accurate account was posted in the Dunwoody Reporter newspaper.
http://www.reporternewspapers.net/2016/03/07/dunwoody-homeowners-association-compiling-list-conditions-crown-towers/
The DHA's intent has always been to determine if the developers were willing to negotiate standards that would enable the DHA to endorse the development. To date, that has not happened.
Any reports in other outlets claiming the DHA has issued endorsement or approval of this project based on the Crier's report are just as inaccurate.
Saturday, March 5, 2016
Meet the Developers and the Neighbors at Dunwoody Homeowners Association this Sunday
Last month, the DHA heard from Crown Developers, who had the Goldkist property (on I-285, just south of Best Buy and Rooms to Go on Hammond) zoned for office towers prior to Dunwoody's incorporation.
Their plan for that new development is in place and they intend to go forward with what they have already obtained by right from DeKalb county.
Now that the economy is back they wish to add two residential towers to the development (visualize The Manhattan in Perimeter Place). This will require a zoning variance and they will go through that process just like anyone else. Crown came to the DHA first to show the community what they intend.
This Sunday, they're back to review their presentation and answer questions from the community.
This is your chance to be part of the conversation and make your voice heard before the official rezoning and development request goes through its government process.
Come out on Sunday, March 6 at 7:30 pm to meet Charlie Brown and Doug Dillard in person, hear their proposals and tell them what you think. Everyone is welcome to visit and participate in the public portion of the Board Meeting.
In addition, the DHA will hear requests from Kingsley ES, the Dunwoody Preservation Trust, and the Dunwoody Nature Center for funding.
See you there!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dunwoody Homeowners Association
Board of Directors Meeting
Sunday, 6, 2016 @ 7:30 P.M.
2. Approval of minutes for February 15, 2016 meeting—Lindsay Ballow
3. Discussion – Crown Holdings development proposal for 244 Perimeter Center Parkway (Goldkist site)—Charlie Brown (to answer any questions)
4. Discussion – Dunwoody Farmers Market— Bill Grossman
5. Discussion – October Chili Cook-off – Bill Grossman
6. Funding Requests:
Dunwoody Nature Center – Alan Mothner
Kingsley Elementary – Erika Harris and Ana Crisbilbao
Dunwoody Preservation Trust (Lemonade Days)— Hope Follmer
Board only session: Votes as needed on any motions including:
Support (with conditions) or Oppose Crown Holdings development proposal. (If with conditions, what conditions?)
Bike/Walk Dunwoody support and funding request
Nature Center funding request
Kingsley Elementary funding request
Dunwoody Preservation Trust funding request.
Stage Door Players funding request
Adjourn
Next meeting: Sunday, May 1, 2016, 7:30pm (no meeting in April)
Friday, February 26, 2016
Watch out, Thumbtack! LinkedIn is about to debut Profinder
About a year ago, TV commercials for a contractor-finding service entitled Thumbtack started popping up in our sitcoms. Thumbtack was innovative (as compared to Yelp, Angie's List, or Kudzu) because it was more than just a directory with feedback from customers. Thumbtack also offered an interactive marketplace where customers could be matched with willing contractors based on the type of work needed, location, and price range.
This week I was in a phone conference with some developers from LinkedIn who are rolling out their own service, Profinder.
Profinder works on a similar principle. It is easier to use than the other directories because Profinder draws on your currently-available LinkedIn profile information. Customers can submit their job information, price, etc, and professionals in that field can bid on their work. Or, a customer can visit a LinkedIn member's Profinder page and request a bid for free.
Here's my Profinder page: https://www.linkedin.com/pro/sdocpublishing
Profinder is currently live in San Francisco and New York. SDOC was asked to test-drive the new service in Atlanta and chat with the developers as they fine-tune the user interface and features. In my phone conference, the folks in charge say they will be expanding Profinder to the Atlanta area in about a month-ish.
If you're on LinkedIn, keep your eyes open for this new way for your enterprise to connect with customers.
Learn more now: https://www.linkedin.com/profinder
This week I was in a phone conference with some developers from LinkedIn who are rolling out their own service, Profinder.
Profinder works on a similar principle. It is easier to use than the other directories because Profinder draws on your currently-available LinkedIn profile information. Customers can submit their job information, price, etc, and professionals in that field can bid on their work. Or, a customer can visit a LinkedIn member's Profinder page and request a bid for free.
Here's my Profinder page: https://www.linkedin.com/pro/sdocpublishing
Profinder is currently live in San Francisco and New York. SDOC was asked to test-drive the new service in Atlanta and chat with the developers as they fine-tune the user interface and features. In my phone conference, the folks in charge say they will be expanding Profinder to the Atlanta area in about a month-ish.
If you're on LinkedIn, keep your eyes open for this new way for your enterprise to connect with customers.
Learn more now: https://www.linkedin.com/profinder
Tuesday, February 23, 2016
Donate to the Lemonade Days Flea Market Finds and Support Dunwoody Preservation Trust
Your donation will be sold in the Flea Market Finds at our Country Store during Lemonade Days. One-hunded percent of proceeds go toward the Donaldson-Bannister farm restoration.
Suggestions of carry away items include plant stands, side tables, rocking chairs, stools, benches, chairs, lamps, chandeliers, sconces, frames and decorative accessories.
Deliver your finds on Saturday, March 5th from 9am to noon to the Donaldson-Bannister farm at 4831 Chamblee-Dunwoody Road.
Suggestions of carry away items include plant stands, side tables, rocking chairs, stools, benches, chairs, lamps, chandeliers, sconces, frames and decorative accessories.
Deliver your finds on Saturday, March 5th from 9am to noon to the Donaldson-Bannister farm at 4831 Chamblee-Dunwoody Road.
Monday, February 22, 2016
Nancy Jester Reports: The Pension Legacy Tax - Bad for DeKalb
Nancy's office distributed the following item this morning.
A DeKalb legislator wants to financially penalize DeKalb cities for incorporating. But not ALL cities. Just the ones that incorporated in this century in order to stem the financial hemorrhage due to corruption and mismanagement.
I wonder what Mary Margaret Oliver stands to gain from this little trick if it is allowed to pass....
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~`
I am writing to alert you to a potential property tax increase coming from the Georgia General Assembly. House Bill 711, sponsored by Rep. Mary Margaret Oliver (D-Druid Hills), seeks to add a special tax district to cities formed after 2005. Rep. Oliver believes that newly formed cities owe, what she refers to as, "pension legacy costs". The notion that these legacy costs exist is false and here's why.
1. Newly formed cities continue to pay fully into the General Fund and the Fire Fund. Embedded in these funds are the costs for benefits, including pensions for the employees providing these services.
2. Newly formed cities continue to pay fully into the self-sustaining funds of Sanitation and Watershed. Embedded in these funds are the costs for benefits, including pensions for the employees providing these services.
3. DeKalb County lowered the millage rate for the Police Fund (a fund newly formed cities do not pay into) in the 2015 budget.
4. DeKalb County did not reform the pension benefit system until December 2015 - 7 years after the formation of Dunwoody.
5. DeKalb County used unrealistic actuarial assumptions that negatively impacted funding.
If DeKalb County believed there was a crisis in the pension plan, chiefly driven by the new cities no longer paying into the police fund, why would the county lower the police fund millage rate in 2015? If the county believed that the crisis was caused by newly formed cities, why did pension reform not occur until just a few months ago in December of 2015?
House Bill 711 is only directed at newly formed cities. It is punitive, based on false assumptions, and is not congruent with the facts. Make no mistake about it, it is a discriminatory tax aimed at Brookhaven and Dunwoody. It is a bailout that would allow DeKalb County to continue poor fiscal management.
Read the full post - with facts on Understanding DeKalb's Millage Rate System here: http://ow.ly/YAgSH
A DeKalb legislator wants to financially penalize DeKalb cities for incorporating. But not ALL cities. Just the ones that incorporated in this century in order to stem the financial hemorrhage due to corruption and mismanagement.
I wonder what Mary Margaret Oliver stands to gain from this little trick if it is allowed to pass....
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~`
The Pension Legacy Tax
Punitive and Based on False Assumptions
I am writing to alert you to a potential property tax increase coming from the Georgia General Assembly. House Bill 711, sponsored by Rep. Mary Margaret Oliver (D-Druid Hills), seeks to add a special tax district to cities formed after 2005. Rep. Oliver believes that newly formed cities owe, what she refers to as, "pension legacy costs". The notion that these legacy costs exist is false and here's why.
1. Newly formed cities continue to pay fully into the General Fund and the Fire Fund. Embedded in these funds are the costs for benefits, including pensions for the employees providing these services.
2. Newly formed cities continue to pay fully into the self-sustaining funds of Sanitation and Watershed. Embedded in these funds are the costs for benefits, including pensions for the employees providing these services.
3. DeKalb County lowered the millage rate for the Police Fund (a fund newly formed cities do not pay into) in the 2015 budget.
4. DeKalb County did not reform the pension benefit system until December 2015 - 7 years after the formation of Dunwoody.
5. DeKalb County used unrealistic actuarial assumptions that negatively impacted funding.
If DeKalb County believed there was a crisis in the pension plan, chiefly driven by the new cities no longer paying into the police fund, why would the county lower the police fund millage rate in 2015? If the county believed that the crisis was caused by newly formed cities, why did pension reform not occur until just a few months ago in December of 2015?
House Bill 711 is only directed at newly formed cities. It is punitive, based on false assumptions, and is not congruent with the facts. Make no mistake about it, it is a discriminatory tax aimed at Brookhaven and Dunwoody. It is a bailout that would allow DeKalb County to continue poor fiscal management.
Read the full post - with facts on Understanding DeKalb's Millage Rate System here: http://ow.ly/YAgSH
Tuesday, February 16, 2016
And the Winner is.... (Win Two FREE VIP Tickets to Taste of Dunwoody 2016)
This afternoon, right around dinner time, we had the official drawing. Names on pieces of paper in the Tupperware bowl and the winner was ceremoniously chosen by my 5 year old son (who has the least amount of interest in this contest, so he is clearly unbiased.)
And the name he chose is........
Rick Callihan!
Rick - email or call me I have to submit names to the guest list tonight.
Thanks everybody for playing. Please try again next year when SDOC will be sponsoring again.
Taste of Dunwoody 2016 is coming up THIS Saturday, February 20. SDOC is offering two FREE VIP tickets to our supporters. If you are in the Dunwoody/North Atlanta area and would like to attend the community event of the year here's all you have to do:
1) Like SDOC's Facebook page
2) Post your name to the page
3) I will pick a winner at random from the list of visitor posts.
(Required disclaimer: I acknowledge that this giveaway is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with, Facebook.)
And... GO!!!
SDOC is proud to support Taste of Dunwoody and Dunwoody Friends of CHOA as a platinum sponsor
And the name he chose is........
Rick Callihan!
Rick - email or call me I have to submit names to the guest list tonight.
Thanks everybody for playing. Please try again next year when SDOC will be sponsoring again.
Taste of Dunwoody 2016 is coming up THIS Saturday, February 20. SDOC is offering two FREE VIP tickets to our supporters. If you are in the Dunwoody/North Atlanta area and would like to attend the community event of the year here's all you have to do:
1) Like SDOC's Facebook page
2) Post your name to the page
3) I will pick a winner at random from the list of visitor posts.
(Required disclaimer: I acknowledge that this giveaway is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with, Facebook.)
And... GO!!!
SDOC is proud to support Taste of Dunwoody and Dunwoody Friends of CHOA as a platinum sponsor
Friday, January 29, 2016
DeKalb Super Visits Dunwoody HS February 9
Tuesday, February 9
5:30 PM
5:30 PM
Dunwoody High School
Do we have a volunteer to webcast the meeting via Meerkat / Periscope / YouTube?
Thursday, January 21, 2016
Dunwoody Town Hall January 21 - LIVE
UPDATE: Meeting and broadcast ended at 7:50 EST.
Thank you John Heneghan for installing Periscope.
Thank you John Heneghan for installing Periscope.
Periscope video just won't embed in a frame - I tried.
Hit the link and listen in.
Commenting is available if you watch on your iPhone or Android via the app.
Wednesday, January 13, 2016
City of Dunwoody Meetings and How to Participate
Last night, Dunwoody held a meeting to discuss an updated plan for our city's parks and the outreach that would go along with that.
It was at exactly the same time as the Planning Commission meeting at City Hall where several zoning variance requests were discussed, including those involving a proposed townhome development in Dunwoody Village.
Next week is the first Town Hall of this administration. Topics for discussion are being accepted at www.connectdunwoody.com.
These meetings have some traits in common:
1) They are all held in the early evening during prime commuting or family care hours.
2) There is no live broadcast of the meetings so those unable to attend cannot observe and be informed.**
3) There is no mechanism for remote feedback from the community outside the meeting room.
**City Council meetings and other meetings held in council chambers are streamed online via the city's SIRE system which organizes official calendars, agendas, and minutes. However, SIRE's video encoding permits the live feed to be viewed only on Internet Explorer, on a standard laptop or desktop. It is not possible to view it on any other browser, including the new MS Edge. They also cannot be viewed on any tablet or smartphone. The technology is so limited it is almost obsolete in 2015.
Meetings or other informal gatherings (eg, Coffee with a Cop) in the afternoons or evenings are an essential part of soliciting feedback from the public. But as I have posed elsewhere in DWG, meetings at this particular time frame self-selects for only that part of Dunwoody citizens that are not caring for families at home. Their time is their own.
Those of us who are meeting buses, running carpools, shuttling kids to activities and doctors' appointments, preparing dinner, managing homes, helping with homework and projects, getting younger children bathed and in bed, as well as working our tails off to earn and provide are not able to share their input in the context of the event because they cannot be in THAT place at THAT time.
I have made requests to city hall to make meetings and live feedback available via social media and streaming video. Others have done the same via Facebook. I haven't the foggiest idea whether that will happen or not.
In the mean time, SDOC has a solution.
It was at exactly the same time as the Planning Commission meeting at City Hall where several zoning variance requests were discussed, including those involving a proposed townhome development in Dunwoody Village.
Next week is the first Town Hall of this administration. Topics for discussion are being accepted at www.connectdunwoody.com.
These meetings have some traits in common:
1) They are all held in the early evening during prime commuting or family care hours.
2) There is no live broadcast of the meetings so those unable to attend cannot observe and be informed.**
3) There is no mechanism for remote feedback from the community outside the meeting room.
**City Council meetings and other meetings held in council chambers are streamed online via the city's SIRE system which organizes official calendars, agendas, and minutes. However, SIRE's video encoding permits the live feed to be viewed only on Internet Explorer, on a standard laptop or desktop. It is not possible to view it on any other browser, including the new MS Edge. They also cannot be viewed on any tablet or smartphone. The technology is so limited it is almost obsolete in 2015.
Meetings or other informal gatherings (eg, Coffee with a Cop) in the afternoons or evenings are an essential part of soliciting feedback from the public. But as I have posed elsewhere in DWG, meetings at this particular time frame self-selects for only that part of Dunwoody citizens that are not caring for families at home. Their time is their own.
Those of us who are meeting buses, running carpools, shuttling kids to activities and doctors' appointments, preparing dinner, managing homes, helping with homework and projects, getting younger children bathed and in bed, as well as working our tails off to earn and provide are not able to share their input in the context of the event because they cannot be in THAT place at THAT time.
I have made requests to city hall to make meetings and live feedback available via social media and streaming video. Others have done the same via Facebook. I haven't the foggiest idea whether that will happen or not.
In the mean time, SDOC has a solution.
I would like to contribute SDOC's infrastructure and social media assets to the cause of making public meetings available online to families unable to attend.
This effort will require some collaboration and logistic testing to determine the best method to stream events. There are options for streaming video via website and social media, as well as live chat for feedback.
If any Dunwoody citizen is interested in collaborating on this effort, please contact me at duncan@sdocpublishing.com.
Let's make Dunwoody's official events accessible to more of Dunwoody's citizens!
Thursday, January 7, 2016
Water will be shut off temporarily as part of Dunwoody Mt Vernon water main upgrade
From Reporter Newspapers:
Mount Vernon Road’s ongoing water main work requires water to be shut off on Fri., Jan. 8 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. for those homes and businesses on Vernon Ridge Drive, Vernon Ridge Court and Thornhill Court in Dunwoody.
The city of Dunwoody began working with DeKalb County on the water main pipeline replacement project in March. The project is part of a rehabilitation program by DeKalb County to address the aging water pipelines within Dunwoody and throughout the county. The Mount Vernon Road project will involve the replacement of two aging water mains with one new 16-inch diameter main.
Mount Vernon Road’s ongoing water main work requires water to be shut off on Fri., Jan. 8 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. for those homes and businesses on Vernon Ridge Drive, Vernon Ridge Court and Thornhill Court in Dunwoody.
The city of Dunwoody began working with DeKalb County on the water main pipeline replacement project in March. The project is part of a rehabilitation program by DeKalb County to address the aging water pipelines within Dunwoody and throughout the county. The Mount Vernon Road project will involve the replacement of two aging water mains with one new 16-inch diameter main.
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