Key points:
• City staff recommends council partner with businesses to fund “No Loitering” signs.
• Tucker Mayor Anne Lerner said the changes could avoid escalation with business owners and loiterers.
• Tucker City Council will have a first read of the loitering ordinance on Feb. 9.
During the Feb. 9 Tucker City Council meeting, council members will consider a loitering ordinance that will align with recent ordinance changes at DeKalb County.
The council will give a first read to the ordinance that seeks to change the City of Tucker Code Chapter 30, Article III, Division 2, Sec 30-93 to mirror the updated DeKalb County loitering ordinance. Last March, DeKalb County updated its loitering ordinance in response to requests from the business community and began a new program to enforce it.
This code change would expand the partnership between the DeKalb County Police Department and local businesses in Tucker. Businesses would have the opportunity to sign up for the Loitering Enforcement Authorization Program.
By signing onto this program, businesses enable DKPD to enforce “No Loitering” on their property by providing written authorization and by placing public signage, Micah Seibel, assistant to the city manager, explained in a presentation at a special-called meeting on Feb. 2.
“This closes a loophole for the enforcement of loitering even at times when the business is closed or no representative of the business is present,” read an excerpt from the presentation.
Avoiding escalation
The program could provide a more efficient and proactive way to address concerns even when a business is closed and ensure the risk of escalation or confrontation between business owners and loiterers is removed, Tucker Mayor Anne Lerner said.
“We’ve heard directly from both business owners and residents that loitering can create situations where people feel unsafe,” Lerner said. “This update is about making our business districts safe and welcoming for residents, employees, and customers alike.”
City staff is recommending the council move forward with the ordinance and partner with businesses to fund the “No Loitering” signs to ensure they’re standardized and easily recognizable for officers.
Other agenda items for the Feb. 9 meeting include:
- Consideration of a resolution to amend the FY2026 budget;
- Consideration of a resolution to support Habitat for Humanity DeKalb’s application for Community Home Investment Program (CHIP) funding to provide critical home rehabilitation services for low-and-moderate income homeowners;
- Consideration of a contract for the construction of two roundabouts on Idlewood Road (at Fellowship Road and Sarr Parkway).
The council will hold its regular meeting at 7 p.m. Feb. 9 at the Tucker City Hall, 1975 Lakeside Pkwy, Suite 350B. Review the agenda here.
