OpenGov
will share your budget priorities with the City of Decatur staff. Do you also want your budget priorities shown on this website?
Yes -
show it with my name
Sign in and be yourself
Sign in and let others know who you are and what you think. You can sign in now or after you submit your budget priorities. You'll be able to read your budget priorities on this website and change it if you change your mind.
Yes - show it without my name
Sign in and be someone
Sign in and let others know what you think. Only OpenGov will know who you are. You can sign in now or after you submit your budget priorities. You'll be able to read your budget priorities on this website and change it if you change your mind.
No - just show it without my name to staff
* required
We recommend against this option. Even though your budget priorities will be shared with staff, it won’t be shown on this public website so other community members won’t have the opportunity to see it.
Concerned about sharing your contact information with OpenGov?
What is a disruptive statement?
A statement
containing personal attacks, profanity, commercial advertising or content which is entirely off-topic, and/or
from a user who has falsified their registration information with the intent to post multiple statements in one topic or to misrepresent their city of residence.
Why does Open Town Hall monitor for disruptive statements?
OpenGov is a non-partisan company dedicated to building public trust in government and broadening civic engagement. Many people will not participate if the forum has disruptive statements.
Does Open Town Hall find many disruptive statements?
No. Disruptive statements are quite rare - less than one in a thousand statements are disruptive.
What does Open Town Hall do if they find a disruptive statement?
Open Town Hall
moves the statement to a different web page,
describes the problem in an email to the author, and
invites the author to change the statement.
Does Open Town Hall ever edit or delete statements?
Never. Only the statement's author can edit or delete a statement.
If I disagree with someone, can I post my opinion?
Yes. Open Town Hall encourages open dialog which, by necessity, includes disagreements.
How do I know if my statement is a 'disagreement' or a 'personal attack'?
Personal attacks are disparaging remarks which impute motives to a person's action. Statements of fact, or of your own opinion are generally not personal attacks.
Here are some examples of statements which are, and are not, personal attacks.
Personal Attack
Not A Personal Attack
He lied.
He said he did X, but in fact he did Y.
She misrepresented the truth.
I don't trust her.
He is greedy.
He is making plenty of money.
It is merely a power play on her part.
She will announce her candidacy soon.
Open City Hall has two participation channels :
The Registered Channel: Sign in before or just after you submit your budget priorities. Either way, Open Town Hall will show your budget priorities on this website.The Unregistered Channel: Don't sign in and remain anonymous. Open Town Hall will just share your budget priorities with Decatur staff.
Note: The first time you sign in, you'll need to register (establish an account on Open City Hall). Registration is free.
The City of Decatur has contracted with Open Town Hall to monitor budget priorities shown on this website.
To prevent any single user from dominating the forum, the City of Decatur restricts the number of budget priorities any one user can post on selected topics. Registration helps Open Town Hall enforce this restriction.
Users, staff and government leaders often want to know the neighborhood from which a budget priorities is posted. Open Town Hall uses registration to show the neighborhood next to each budget priorities (not the address).
If a user posts a budget priorities that does not meet the City of Decatur guidelines for civility , Open Town Hall uses the user's email address to invite the user to resolve the issue.
Open Town Hall will get your contact information. The company is under contract with the City of Decatur to hold it in strict confidence per their privacy policy .
Since you'll see your own budget priorities on Open City Hall, you'll be able to confirm that your budget priorities was posted as you intended.
You'll be able to change and/or delete your budget priorities as long as the topic is open.
Yes. Sign out, then set your privacy preference to be "No - just show it without my name to staff". You won't need to register.
While no authentication procedure can perfectly detect every fraudulent registration, Open Town Hall is able to secure the registered channel against systematic fraud : cases where users submit enough statements with fraudulent registrations to sway the overall interpretation of the feedback.
Open Town Hall is unable to secure the unregistered channel against systematic fraud, because unregistered users are anonymous.
Neither the registered nor the unregistered channel represent a certified voting system or ballot box - and that caveat is footnoted on every page of feedback. Instead, both are additional channels for feedback to government.
Users can participate on the registered channel (by signing in) or on the unregistered channel (by remaining anonymous). The City of Decatur offers both channels in order to broaden participation and maximize decision makers' insights.
The registered channel enables users to assure decision makers that their feedback comes from a real person in a specific neighborhood. It also enables users to participate in a public discussion on the website, as well as manage their own budget priorities after posting it.
The unregistered channel is for users who want to provide quick feedback without registering, and/or whose privacy concerns would prevent them from participating if required to register. Because many users with valuable insights will only share them anonymously, this channel gives decision makers the option to consider those insights in their deliberations.
OpenGovl is a non-partisan company whose mission is to broaden civic engagement and build public trust in government. The City of Decatur has contracted with OpenGov to administer Open City Hall.
Principle A: Manage Growth While Retaining Character
(Click on each choice for more information.)
Task 2B: Continue to focus marketing and advertising efforts designed to support and enhance the "Decatur brand"
Task 2B: Continue to focus marketing and advertising efforts designed to support and enhance the “Decatur brand,” to attract quality new business that meet the community’s vision, and to assure the success of existing businesses.
Task is underway.
Make this the
Task 4E: Increase public awareness of historic buildings and places
Task 4E: Increase public awareness of historic buildings and places and provide appropriate staff support to accomplish the historic preservation goals of the community.
Task is underway.
Make this the
Task 2A: Develop a recruitment strategy that targets business and restaurants
Task 2A: Develop a recruitment strategy that targets retail businesses and restaurants that meet identified community needs or new service businesses that respond to specific requests like a downtown boutique hotel.
Task is underway.
Make this the
* required
Feedback regarding the three tasks remaining in Principle A.
Principle B: Encourage a Diverse and Engaged Community (Click on each choice for more information.)
Task 7B: Explore the opportunity for an event that educates citizens about their community
Task 7B: Explore the opportunity for an event that educates citizens about their community and connects them with community, institutional, and nonprofit organizations to promote community pride, volunteerism, neighborhood interaction, and communication with the public.
Task is incomplete.
Make this the
Task 5F: Adopt universal design guidelines
Task 5F: Adopt universal design guidelines to allow new commercial buildings, businesses, and homes to be visitable by those with mobility impairments.
Task is incomplete.
Make this the
Task 5E: Support programs that help elderly, low-income residents remain in the community
Task 5E: Support programs that help elderly, low-income residents remain in the community.
Task is underway.
Make this the
Task 5D: Support efforts to expand diversity in community leadership
Task 5D: Support efforts to expand diversity in community leadership roles.
Task is underway.
Make this the
* required
Feedback regarding the four tasks remaining in Principle B.
Principle C: Serve as Good Stewards of the Environment and Community Resources (Click on each choice for more information.)
Task 13I: Install additional dog waste bag stations in public areas
Task 13I Install additional dog waste bag stations in public places and along streets to reduce the amount of dog waste that pollutes streams.
Task is underway.
Make this the
Task 13B: Create an updated stormwater management plan
Task 13B Create an updated storm water management plan. Continue to upgrade the storm water system and pursue opportunities for shared storm water detention systems as well as shared retention systems that can serve as public amenities.
Task is underway.
Make this the
Task 9B: Explore annexation options in partnership with the City Schools of Decatur
Task 9B: Explore annexation options in partnership with the City Schools of Decatur that expand the property tax base and enhance school operations.
Task is underway.
Make this the
Task 13F: Conduct stream bank restoration and naturalization of stream channels
Task 13F Conduct stream bank restoration and naturalization of stream channels. Install signs along each creek to increase public awareness.
Task is underway.
Make this the
Task 13G: Remove all invasive plant species from city property
Task 13G Remove all invasive plant species from city property and ban the sale of invasive species on city property.
Task is underway.
Make this the
* required
Feedback regarding the five tasks remaining in Principle C.
Principle D: Support a Safe, Healthy, Lifelong Community (Click on each choice for more information.)
Task 14G: Continue to support other creative transportation options
Task 14G Continue to support other creative transportation options, like car sharing and scooters, through public education and by providing parking opportunities.
Task is underway.
Make this the
Task 14B: Continue to implement the Safe Routes to School program
Task 14B Continue to implement the Safe Routes to Schools program.
Task is underway.
Make this the
Task 15E: Support comprehensive efforts that go beyond the cost of rent and home price
Task 15E Support comprehensive efforts that go beyond the cost of rent and home price to keep Decatur affordable.
Task is underway.
Make this the
Task 14A: Implement the recommendations of the Community Transportation Plan
Task 14A Implement the recommendations of the Community Transportation Plan.
Task is underway.
Make this the
* required
Feedback regarding the four tasks remaining in Principle D.
Is there a priority not listed that you believe city staff should consider as it develops the FY19-20 budget?
What is a disruptive statement?
A statement
containing personal attacks, profanity, commercial advertising or content which is entirely off-topic, and/or
from a user who has falsified their registration information with the intent to post multiple statements in one topic or to misrepresent their city of residence.
Why does Open Town Hall monitor for disruptive statements?
OpenGov is a non-partisan company dedicated to building public trust in government and broadening civic engagement. Many people will not participate if the forum has disruptive statements.
Does Open Town Hall find many disruptive statements?
No. Disruptive statements are quite rare - less than one in a thousand statements are disruptive.
What does Open Town Hall do if they find a disruptive statement?
Open Town Hall
moves the statement to a different web page,
describes the problem in an email to the author, and
invites the author to change the statement.
Does Open Town Hall ever edit or delete statements?
Never. Only the statement's author can edit or delete a statement.
If I disagree with someone, can I post my opinion?
Yes. Open Town Hall encourages open dialog which, by necessity, includes disagreements.
How do I know if my statement is a 'disagreement' or a 'personal attack'?
Personal attacks are disparaging remarks which impute motives to a person's action. Statements of fact, or of your own opinion are generally not personal attacks.
Here are some examples of statements which are, and are not, personal attacks.
Personal Attack
Not A Personal Attack
He lied.
He said he did X, but in fact he did Y.
She misrepresented the truth.
I don't trust her.
He is greedy.
He is making plenty of money.
It is merely a power play on her part.
She will announce her candidacy soon.
Fields marked with * are required
Translate
Principle A: Manage Growth While Retaining Character (Click on each choice for more information.)
Task 4E: Increase public awareness of historic buildings and places and provide appropriate staff support to accomplish the historic preservation goals of the community.
Task is underway.
Task 2A: Develop a recruitment strategy that targets retail businesses and restaurants that meet identified community needs or new service businesses that respond to specific requests like a downtown boutique hotel.
Task is underway.
Task 2B: Continue to focus marketing and advertising efforts designed to support and enhance the “Decatur brand,” to attract quality new business that meet the community’s vision, and to assure the success of existing businesses.
Task is underway.
Feedback regarding the three tasks remaining in Principle A.
No response.Principle B: Encourage a Diverse and Engaged Community (Click on each choice for more information.)
Task 5D: Support efforts to expand diversity in community leadership roles.
Task is underway.
Task 5E: Support programs that help elderly, low-income residents remain in the community.
Task is underway.
Task 5F: Adopt universal design guidelines to allow new commercial buildings, businesses, and homes to be visitable by those with mobility impairments.
Task is incomplete.
Task 7B: Explore the opportunity for an event that educates citizens about their community and connects them with community, institutional, and nonprofit organizations to promote community pride, volunteerism, neighborhood interaction, and communication with the public.
Task is incomplete.
Feedback regarding the four tasks remaining in Principle B.
No response.Principle C: Serve as Good Stewards of the Environment and Community Resources (Click on each choice for more information.)
Task 13B Create an updated storm water management plan. Continue to upgrade the storm water system and pursue opportunities for shared storm water detention systems as well as shared retention systems that can serve as public amenities.
Task is underway.
Task 13F Conduct stream bank restoration and naturalization of stream channels. Install signs along each creek to increase public awareness.
Task is underway.
Task 13G Remove all invasive plant species from city property and ban the sale of invasive species on city property.
Task is underway.
Feedback regarding the five tasks remaining in Principle C.
I'd like to see specific climate mitigation/adaptation strategies considered by the City of Decatur
Principle D: Support a Safe, Healthy, Lifelong Community (Click on each choice for more information.)
Task 15E Support comprehensive efforts that go beyond the cost of rent and home price to keep Decatur affordable.
Task is underway.
Task 14A Implement the recommendations of the Community Transportation Plan.
Task is underway.
Task 14B Continue to implement the Safe Routes to Schools program.
Task is underway.
Task 14G Continue to support other creative transportation options, like car sharing and scooters, through public education and by providing parking opportunities.
Task is underway.
Feedback regarding the four tasks remaining in Principle D.
No response.Is there a priority not listed that you believe city staff should consider as it develops the FY19-20 budget?
General Sustainability Programming