Heneghan’s Dunwoody Blog

Dunwoody City Council Budget meeting is now available via web live streaming.

John@JKHeneghan.com (John Heneghan) — Wed, 30 Sep 2026 08:50:22 -0400

This was added, please join if interested.

DUNWOODY CITY COUNCIL MEETING

SPECIAL CALLED MEETING

SEPTEMBER 30, 2026 - 8:30 AM

DUNWOODY NATURE CENTER - NORTH WOODS PAVILION

Join from PC, Mac, iPad, or Android:

https://dunwoodyga-gov.zoom.us/j/82190966309

Phone one-tap:

+14703812552,,82190966309# US (Atlanta)

+14702509358,,82190966309# US (Atlanta)

City of Dunwoody releases Proposed 2027 Budget - Council reviews Wednesday morning at Public Meeting at Dunwoody Nature Center's North Woods Pavilion

John@JKHeneghan.com (John Heneghan) — Mon, 28 Sep 2026 23:51:55 -0400

DUNWOODY CITY COUNCIL MEETING
SPECIAL CALLED
SEPTEMBER 30, 2026 - 8:30 AM
DUNWOODY NATURE CENTER - NORTH WOODS PAVILION
5343 ROBERTS DRIVE DUNWOODY, GA 30338

City of Dunwoody Releases Proposed FY2027 Budget

The proposed budget reflects disciplined stewardship while funding community priorities.

Dunwoody, GA – September 28, 2026 – The City of Dunwoody has released its proposed Fiscal Year 2027 Operating and Capital Budget, a $64.4 million plan with a focus on public safety and customer service. The FY2027 Proposed Budget represents an 18.2% decrease from the amended FY2026 Budget, reflecting slow revenue growth and lean operations.

“The City remains in a strong financial position as it heads into FY2027, with a focus on staying adaptable for the future,” wrote Mayor Deutsch and Mr. Linton in their budget letter. “However, some major revenue sources are showing slow revenue growth while inflationary pressure continues to push expenditure categories higher.”

The proposed budget, presented by Mayor Lynn Deutsch and City Manager Eric Linton, will be presented and discussed during a Special Called Dunwoody City Council Meeting on Wednesday, September 30, starting at 8:30 a.m. at the Dunwoody Nature Center’s North Woods Pavilion. This will be followed by two required public hearings before final adoption later this fall.

Key Highlights of the FY2027 Proposed Budget include the following:

· Public Safety Investment – Police Department funding of $17.5 million, supporting personnel, operational, and capital needs

· Infrastructure & Public Works – $13.4 million in combined funding, including SPLOST and grants, to advance road, stormwater, and capital improvement projects

· Parks & Recreation – $5.9 million allocated for facilities, programs, and capital improvements

· Strong Reserves – Maintains six months of fund balance, exceeding the City Charter’s four-month reserve requirement to ensure stability in emergencies

The FY2027 Proposed Budget is available for public review on the City’s website using this link. Public hearings will be held on November 16 and November 30 at 6 p.m. at Dunwoody City Hall.

FY2027 PROPOSED BUDGET

2027 Budget Overview from Mayor & City Manager

Dunwoody City Council Agenda for Monday September 28, 2026 (Rezoning for Townhomes at Lifesouth, Indoor Pickleball at JCC, Drive thru for Medical, AI Policy and Athletic Assoc Facility Usage Agreements)

John@JKHeneghan.com (John Heneghan) — Fri, 25 Sep 2026 22:00:45 -0400

DUNWOODY CITY COUNCIL MEETING
Monday, September 28, 2026
6:00 PM
DUNWOODY CITY HALL - DUNWOODY HALL
4800 ASHFORD DUNWOODY ROAD
DUNWOODY, GA 30338

Agenda 6 pm - City Site Agenda

City Council meetings are live-streamed on the City of Dunwoody’s Facebook page.

They are also available for viewing (no two way communication) on Zoom,
https://dunwoodyga-gov.zoom.us/j/83080467641 or phone +14703812552,,83080467641#

You can access the video after the meeting on the City of Dunwoody’s YouTube page.

Invocation and Pledge of Allegiance

PUBLIC COMMENTS - Public Comment allows the City Council the opportunity to listen to the public (3 minutes per speaker / 30 minutes total).

2027 Athletic Association Facility Usage Agreements

SECOND READ: RZ 26-02, 1369 Spalding Drive & 5646 Roberts Drive: The Providence Group of Georgia, LLC requests a rezoning from the R-100 district to the R-60 district to allow the creation of 3 lots.

SECOND READ: RZ 26-06, 4891 Ashford Dunwoody Road: Lennar Georgia, LLC requests a rezoning from the O-I (Office-Institution) district to PC-3 (Perimeter Center) district to allow the development of up to 33 townhomes.

SECOND READ: SLUP 26-02, 125 Perimeter Center W: SmartMed, LLC requests a Special Land Use Permit to allow a drive-through medical office.

SECOND READ: SLUP 26-03, 5342 Tilly Mill Road: The Marcus Jewish Community Center requests a Special Land Use Permit to allow an indoor pickleball facility.

Adoption of Artificial Intelligence (AI) Policy for the City of Dunwoody

Resolution to Surplus Eleven Police & other City Vehicles

In other news, there will be a Special Called City Council Meeting to discuss the proposed 2027 Dunwoody Budget. The meeting will take place Wednesday at the Dunwoody Nature Center and I am unsure if it will be live streamed to the internet but it is open to the public. More information including a draft budget will be available in a day or so.

Special Called Dunwoody City Council Meeting
Open to the Public
Wednesday Morning - Dunwoody Nature Center Pavilion

Date: 09/30/2026 8:30 a.m.
Location: Dunwoody Nature Center, North Woods Pavilion
5343 Roberts Drive. Dunwoody, Georgia 30338
Introduction: This meeting will focus on the proposed 2027 budget.

Notice is hereby given that Dunwoody City Council will hold a special called meeting 8:30 a.m. on Wednesday, September 30, 2026. The meeting will be held at Dunwoody Nature Center, North Woods Pavilion, 5343 Roberts Drive, Dunwoody, GA 30338. The purpose of the meeting is to discuss the FY2027 proposed budget.

Dunwoody City Council Agenda for Monday September 14, 2026 (Rezoning for Townhomes at Lifesouth, Indoor Pickleball at JCC, Drive thru for Medical, AI Policy and Athletic Assoc Facility Usage Agreements)

John@JKHeneghan.com (John Heneghan) — Sat, 12 Sep 2026 22:00:00 -0400

DUNWOODY CITY COUNCIL MEETING
Monday, September 14, 2026
6:00 PM
DUNWOODY CITY HALL - DUNWOODY HALL
4800 ASHFORD DUNWOODY ROAD
DUNWOODY, GA 30338

Agenda 6 pm - City Site

City Council meetings are live-streamed on the City of Dunwoody’s Facebook page.

They are also available for viewing (no two way communication) on Zoom,
https://dunwoodyga-gov.zoom.us/j/86452715091 or phone +14703812552,,86452715091#

You can access the video after the meeting on the City of Dunwoody’s YouTube page.

Invocation and Pledge of Allegiance

Administration of Oath of Office to Officer Lincoln Bailey

Public Comment

City Manager's Monthly Report (Eric Linton)

FIRST READ: RZ 26-02, 1369 Spalding Drive & 5646 Roberts Drive: The Providence Group of Georgia, LLC requests a rezoning from the R-100 district to the R-60 district to allow the creation of 3 lots.

FIRST READ: RZ 26-06, 4891 Ashford Dunwoody Road: Lennar Georgia, LLC requests a rezoning from the O-I (Office-Institution) district to PC-3 (Perimeter Center) district to allow the development of up to 33 townhomes.

FIRST READ: SLUP 26-02, 125 Perimeter Center W: SmartMed, LLC requests a Special Land Use Permit to allow a drive-through medical office.

FIRST READ: SLUP 26-03, 5342 Tilly Mill Road: The Marcus Jewish Community Center requests a Special Land Use Permit to allow an indoor pickleball facility.

Agreements with Georgia Department of Transportation for the Georgetown Trail project

Contract with Bostic Associates for Sidewalk Ramp Upgrades

Resolution Appointing a Member to Serve on the Planning Commission - John Renals

Adoption of Artificial Intelligence (AI) Policy for the City of Dunwoody

2027 Athletic Association Facility Usage Agreements

My memory of September 11, 2001 by Dunwoody Councilman John Heneghan

John@JKHeneghan.com (John Heneghan) — Fri, 11 Sep 2026 08:34:28 -0400

I have posted this personal story on my blog several times previously but it has been a few years and with the 25th Anniversary upon us, it is time for me to retell my personal experience from September 11, 2001.

Twenty Five years ago today I was in Arlington, Virginia (near the Ballston Metro Stop) attending a training course which was scheduled to start at 9 a.m. As we were getting ready to start the class, a blackberry went off stating that a plane hit the World Trade Center and we were lucky enough that the location had a TV connected to cable and therefore it was immediately turned to CNN. The class watched as the reporters were unsure what they were seeing and we tried to figure out if it was small general aviation accident or something more serious. Just then on live TV we saw the second plane hit the tower and we knew that the first plane must have been similar. We sat in awe with the rest of the world as we watched that screen to try to comprehend what we were actually seeing.

At about 9:30 half of the class was on the telephone seeing what needed to be done as the other half watched the screen. The facilitator of the training class was a contractor who wanted to start the class (in order to get paid?) and after a 5 minute argument with most of the remaining students in the room, a supervisor made the call and said that the TV should be turned off and the class should go on. Not less than 2 minutes later, the person with the blackberry (in 2001 he must have been pretty special because they were probably rare.) stood up and yelled that "the Pentagon was just hit!”

The Pentagon is located in Arlington, Va the same city as the training course and my hotel was even closer as I was staying in the Crystal City area, just blocks from the Pentagon. People scrambled, everyone was dazed, cell phones didn’t work, locals jumped in cars to get home to their families and I decided to try to get back to my hotel since most of my co-workers had already left.

Thousands of people decided to go home the way they came and the Metro mass transit subway system wasn’t made to accommodate that level of traffic. People were reflective, several were crying, scared, shoulder to shoulder, a mass of humanity, now a hundred of feet below ground in a subway station that was build to be a fallout shelter in case of nuclear attack. On top of everything else, it seemed that the trains had now stopped running.

Underground, time had stopped. I might have been there an hour, but it seemed ten. What was happening up on the surface? Were we now at war? What was next? Babies were crying, mothers were holding them tight but there was very little other sound. A Metro conductor, held the microphone to his ear and yelled that the trains were now running again, the platform erupted in cheers; 10 minutes later I was on a train heading back to my hotel.

As I got out of the Crystal City Metro Station, I could smell the Pentagon burning less than a mile away and I was able to walk faster then the stream of cars who were trying to get out of the area. Back in the hotel, I sat alone in a very dark hotel room surfing channels to get as much information as I could absorb. I watched in horror on the Spanish Channel as they showed in graphic detail of people jumping to their death and then I watched as the towers fell. Finally I got a hold of my wife to let her know that I was fine and where I was located.

At the time Kristin was a United Airlines flight attendant, based out of Newark, NJ who was on medical leave because she was eight months pregnant with my son Gavin. Had she been flying, it is very likely that she would have been on United Flight 93 because it was one of her regular flights. Flight attendants obtain trips based on seniority and with Kris’s 12 years of seniority at the time, was able to hold the cross continental trip scheduled for San Francisco. Flying all of her trips from the Newark base while we lived in Atlanta meant that she shared a flop house with other flight attendants near the Newark airport. She and 15 other flight attendants shared a room at the Hampton Inn that contained a bunch of beds and was permanently set for them on a first come, first serve basis. Two of Kristin’s “roommates” in the shared hotel room were working Flight 93 that day and crashed in the field in Pennsylvania. From that day on, Kristin never flew again as a United Airlines Flight Attendant.

My return flight possibilities back to Atlanta were non-existent and I didn’t have a rental car since I was taking public transportation around D.C. Luckily my super social wife spread the word to her friends that I was stuck in Washington and the very next day I was picked up by the husband of one of her friends from a Dunwoody playgroup who was working in New York and passing through D.C.

As we departed Arlington we pulled onto I-395 and the Pentagon with the huge black hole in the side came into view, we knew from that day forward the definition of the word "normal" was forever changed.