DeKALB | The DeKalb City Council considered a proposal created by ReNew DeKalb to grant up to $10,000 per business to paint and repair building facades.

The Architectural Improvement Plan allotted $300,000 for exterior improvements but to date, only $62,000 has been used. ReNew DeKalb is proposing using $100,000 of the remaining funds for grants.

While the group regularly offers 50-50 grants with businesses splitting the costs, this program is a one-time only effort to encourage improvements in businesses which may not have the resources or desire to improve exteriors without the extra help, according to Jennifer Groce, executive director of ReNew Dekalb.

“This is a more aggressive approach,” Groce said.

She addressed concerns voiced by some council members, including 3rd Ward Alderman Steve Kapitan and 6th Ward Alderman David Baker, about accountability and fund disbursements. She said the council will have authority to approve each project on a case-by-case basis and the city would pay contractors directly.

Groce expects the plan to be brought before the council at the next meeting.

ReNew DeKalb was also brought up during the regular council meeting. Planning Commission chairman John Guio asked council members to update the commission’s code of ethics to more broadly restrict what commission members may discuss outside of public meetings.

“We’re trying to level the playing field here,” Guio said.

One example Guio used was a phone call he received from the ReNew DeKalb organization. He said the group called him and wanted to promote its plan. He said he was in the uncomfortable position of receiving information ahead of the rest of the commission and the public in general. The pre-meeting conversations could also bias commissioners before they get to the meetings in the first place.

The code of ethics currently restricts members from discussing only certain types of projects, such as re-zoning and annexation, with members of the public if the issue is due to come before the planning commission.

Most council members voiced concerns over restricting commissioners’ access to public comment and vis versa.

“This may be overly restrictive,” said 7th Ward Alderman James Barr, noting that he and Kapitan were in agreement, a rare occurrence Barr said with a laugh.

The item was sent back to the planning commission to be reworked and submitted at a later date.