Call to order, start meeting recording.
Part 1 Public Official Updates and Voting Items (Zoom and In-Person). September 9, 2025 Meeting Minutes approved without dissent. September 2025 Treasurer Report approved without dissent.
Public Safety Update
Zone 6 Update: New Lieutenant Chris Brown: Flat Shoals & Glenwood, Shots Fired September19 -, Have info on truck (stolen), still investigating. 2000 Flat Shoals Road, shooting, victim was hit in the butt. Crime is down in Zone 6, with few car crimes and break-ins. Question: What is the status of the person on Flat Shoals that was shooting into the street? Answer: Someone was detained but not arrested. Question: How is APD enforcing illegal food tents in Village, recommendation for illegal vendors, using dumpsters, restrooms, and setting up on public streets. APD didn’t seem to be able to enforce these types of code violations, how to enforce, in past, APD not able to identify if they had permits or issue citations. Can they ask for business license, food permits, etc.? Answer: Call 911, citations are issued, will get Supervisor out to area, vendors should have permits. Request for Townhall with Zone 6 Commander and Councilmember Bakhtiari. Various Crimes (E-bikes, breaking into sheds), Perp has been arrested, activity has declined but not stopped. Rotation of Officers: Lieutenant Maldenado has been promoted. Liquor License Vote: 529 Flat Shoals Avenue, Myron Polster, EACA and NPU-W Public Safety Lead. Alcohol License: Change of Agent (529 Flat Shoals Avenue), Applicant stated keeping everything the same, music venue, not serving food, no opposition.
Dekalb Commissioner Nicole Massiah’s Office – Isaac White: Unincorporated Dekalb is open to collaborating with APD to keep community safer. Data Centers; Dekalb County having a town hall with Commissioner prior to voting with the Board. EACA members noted we could use Massiah’s support and the DeKalb County Health Department’s support to deal with illegal food vending, which goes on each weekend in the Village and was the source of a man shooting at a vehicle a few weeks ago. White requested we send a detailed email asking for help. He also said he is very familiar with the issues and will discuss with commissioner and said residents can speak at weekly Tuesday Board of Commissioner Meeting with concerns. It was mentioned that legitimate street food trucks might be an asset and perhaps an EACA committee could look into that Council Member Bakhtiari October 29 (11:00am), Parks and Rec celebration in Brownwood Park (e.g., new basketball courts, playground, tennis courts, pavilion). Gresham Avenue to the park, working on better accessibility to the park. Glenwood Avenue signaled crosswalks (Branan Towers and Haas), Completed by end of 2025. Flat Shoats Fired (September 19), APD still investigating, will provide update asap. Georgia Works, Funding update next month. More APD Presence, working on this request with APD and Public Safety Committee. Question: TAD (tax allocation district), will have negative impact on property taxpayers, funding does not go into General Fund as stated by Courtney English. Answer: City wants to extend 30 years, only if Fulton County and Schools come to table, $5.5-5.6B reduction to $1.5B. We never see this funding in District 5, want to see project list, how much revenue since inception, paper held in CDHS for 2 weeks to allow for more questions. If voting today, vote would be no, especially if raising property taxes next year. Question: Why have you not endorsed someone for City Council? Answer: Want constituents to decide. Works well with Marci Overstreet; Rohit has some really good ideas. Special guest candidates: Rohit Malhotra, Candidate for Atlanta City Council President (Note: EACA invited both candidates in the race. Overstreet was unable to attend) Malhotra has a policy degree from Harvard, worked in the Obama administration, wants the council president’s office to support public advocacy, notes that role reports to the people vs Mayor or City Council, early voting started today until 10/31 (including weekends), listen to meeting recording for more info. Question: Issues and confusion for people that live on the border of City of ATL and Unincorporated Dekalb (public safety, Kroger, food vending, etc.) Answer: How do we measure “public safety,” broad definition, need an honest conversation on safety regarding the presence of police, security cameras and absence of harm and violence. Question: Why running for City Council President, no City Council experience? Answer: President is NOT on City Council, intended to be independent office, less bias (e.g., selection of committee members). Person leading the committee needs to have prior experience (financial, utilities, public safety), issue if not independent. Look at last 10 years of experience/public service vs elected office. Royce Mann: (surprise guest) At-large candidate for Atlanta Board of Education, listen to meeting recording for more info. Matt Rinker: (surprise guest) Candidate for City Council Post 1 at-large, listen to meeting recording for more info.
Committee Updates
Arts & Culture Update: Maria Edwards: Celebrating Success: Our EACA Arts and Culture team successfully partnered with Greg Mike to implement a mural project on the fence behind the Brownwood Park playground. Be sure to take a look the next time you’re in the park. Hope to do more murals in EAV (e.g., Maynard Terrace round about). Thank you to Michelle Rice and STRUT Planning Team for an amazing 2025 STRUT.
Parks Update: Bill Gould: Celebrating Success – On Saturday, September 20, more than 30 neighbors and friends volunteered for International Coastal Cleanup Day by cleaning and removing trash from the Brownwood Park and Ormewood Forest. We removed over 1,000 pounds of trash and debris from our streams and green spaces. Special thank you to Grant Central East Pizza for graciously hosting our celebration afterward complete with prizes for volunteers. Brownwood Park Celebration: October 29, 11:00am. Community Garden Park Clean-Up day – Saturday, October 25 from 10:00am-1:00pm. Join us as we clean up and revamp the community garden in Brownwood Park. Kids welcome. Please bring some tools. Trees Atlanta – Trying to schedule course to learn about trees and invasives. Ormewood Forest Clean-Up – Scheduling more events to remove invasive plants this winter, TBD. Intown Cares – Ishita Chordia started in 2023, dedicated caseworker for outreach and housing, working with 50 persons, 35 are in housing queue. 2023, Michael housed 12 people. 2025, housed an additional 16 people. Many are getting housed in Ralph David House (old motel on I-20), 50 units with wraparound services (food, medical, etc.). Most popular activity is TLC Yoga at Eastside Church. More classes would be useful, so if anyone is interested in teaching yoga, mindfulness, etc., please reach out to Ishita.
Land Use and Zoning: Holly Sasnett: Annexation – 942 Gresham Ave (Z-25-064) Across the street from area already annexed. We will vote but rules set by State (info only vote). Comments: Process irrational, should not support, why not included in prior annexations, refuse to consider, should send a letter objecting to an uninformed process. Motion to abstain, 2nd received. Motion passed. Barbed Wire/Chicken Wire Ordinance (Z-25-063) City ordinance to prohibit these kinds of wires along public rights of way in all areas of City. Existing is grandfathered, if owner wants to replace, then must adhere to ordinance. Motion to support, 2nd. Motion passed unanimously.
Announcements
Thank you to the Iron Side Town Home Community in the Village, which donated $2,200 to Neighbor in Need. The money was raised during their Strut celebrations in September. We are so grateful for their generosity and will be reporting on the seniors that we are able to help with these funds. Thank you.
EACA Member BBQ and Pavilion Celebration: Wednesday October 28 from 5:30pm to 7:30pm. Please come out and help us celebrate our new pavilion by joining us for a BBQ and celebration. EACA will grill and provide the main dishes. Members are encouraged to bring a side dish and a friend to be a part of our efforts. Please save the date.
Entrenchment Creek Park: Joel Finegold gave some history on the park near Flat Shoals and Constitution and noted that in 2018-2019 DeKalb County agreed to swap approximately 50 acres with Blackhall Studios, which then sold studio business but kept the real estate. They want to sell the property to a Data Center. Finegold is trying to work with South River Watershed Alliance to fight this proposal in court and needs funding/ donations to support the effort. Contact him at theedje@icloud.com.
EAPN Costume Closet very successful, Fall Festival on November 9, 3:00pm-5:00pm, at Farmers Market, looking for sponsors and volunteers.
Save the Dates: Saturday, October 25 from 10:00am-1:00pm. Brownwood Park Community Garden cleanup day. Sunday, November 9 – Parents Network Fall Fest. 3:00pm-5:00pm in the Farmer’s Market Park. Saturday, December 6 – Annual Christmas Tree lighting in the village. Tuesday, December 9 – EACA Holiday meeting and end of year celebration. Sunday, December 14 – Hanukkah menorah lighting each night until Sunday, December 21.
