By SPEAKIN’ OUT NEWS
Decatur city leaders will begin a series of district community meetings Tuesday evening to discuss the results of the city’s 2026 Community Survey and hear feedback directly from residents about local priorities.
The meetings, hosted by Mayor Kent Lawrence and city officials, will take place across all five council districts through early April. The first meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. Tuesday at Decatur Baptist Church for residents of District 5.
During each session, Lawrence will present a brief overview of the survey findings and provide updates on ongoing city projects and future priorities. Officials say the meetings are designed to create an open forum where residents can ask questions and discuss issues affecting their specific districts.
“As part of our commitment to transparency and accountability, we’re continuing the conversation in every district,” Lawrence said. “The survey established a benchmark. These meetings allow us to listen directly to residents and focus on delivering visible improvements.”
City leaders said the meetings will help guide decisions over the next one to three years following feedback gathered from the survey, which received 689 responses from residents.
According to the results, road conditions and traffic congestion were among the most frequently cited concerns, along with public safety and economic opportunity.
Survey participants were asked to select up to three issues they believe matter most. The top responses included:
• Public safety — 37.7%
• Traffic and congestion — 36.4%
• Jobs and economic growth — 32.2%
• Quality of life and events — 27.7%
• Streets and sidewalks — 24.8%
More than half of respondents said they were satisfied with city services. However, 38.2% said they were unsure whether Decatur is moving in the right direction, which city leaders said reflects residents who want to see continued progress.
Each meeting will begin with a brief presentation followed by an open question-and-answer session with residents. All meetings are scheduled from 6 to 7 p.m.
Upcoming meeting dates and locations include:
• District 5: March 11 — Decatur Baptist Church
• District 2: March 17 — Princess Theatre Listening Room
• District 3: March 24 — Burningtree Country Club
• District 4: March 31 — Decatur Utilities Auditorium
• District 1: April 7 — Turner-Surles Community Center
Residents who cannot attend may submit questions to questions@decatur-al.gov, and full survey results are available on the City of Decatur website.