Catherine Lautenbacher represents District 1, the western third of Dunwoody, on the Dunwoody City Council and is Program Director of Leadership Perimeter. She talks about the police department’s drones and real-time command center, the sidewalk and trail plan, Perimeter’s role in the city budget and handling neighborhood requests like crosswalks and traffic calming.
Catherine Lautenbacher never saw herself running for office. But after years leading the Leadership Perimeter program, she found herself pulled into public service. Now representing District 1 on Dunwoody City Council, she focuses on community safety, connectivity and building future leaders.
She shares what she’s experienced over her four years on council. Public safety tops the list. Dunwoody police use drones to respond faster and see situations from above before officers arrive, and the city built a high-tech command center with live video feeds for emergencies, traffic and big events like the Fourth of July parade. It’s about being proactive, not just reactive.
She also mentors the next generation through Leadership Perimeter and pushes to make Dunwoody more walkable, one sidewalk at a time.
Listen on Apple Podcasts.
What District 1 Covers
Picture Dunwoody cut into three vertical slices. District 1 is the western slice, running from Dunwoody Club Drive down to the Perimeter Mall area, including neighborhoods like Dunwoody Club Forest and the Branches.
Public Safety: Drones and a Command Center
Catherine Lautenbacher is proud of how the Dunwoody Police Department has grown. Drones give officers a fast aerial view, and the new real-time command center lets staff watch cameras and coordinate resources live. The goal is to get ahead of problems by adding officers and the right technology.
Leadership Perimeter
Catherine is Program Director of Leadership Perimeter, which used to be Leadership Sandy Springs and now includes Dunwoody and Brookhaven. Participants learn about local and state government, schools, economic development and more, meet their elected officials and get a mentor.
Teams do real projects, like teaching “adulting” classes in high schools on budgeting, resumes, credit cards and mortgages. There’s also a youth track. Catherine went through the program herself before ever thinking about running for office. Here’s my episode with Rosalyn Putnam on Leadership Perimeter.
Sidewalks, Trails and Walkability
Catherine supports the city’s trail and sidewalk plan to connect neighborhoods, parks and shopping. She said the much-debated 12-foot sidewalk width was a planning placeholder, not a standard for every street. Improvements near Brook Run, Wildcat Park and Austin Elementary are moving forward.
Why Perimeter Matters to Dunwoody’s Budget
The offices and restaurants around Perimeter fund a big part of the city’s budget, which helps keep residential property taxes lower. With office vacancy a concern, walkable mixed-use places like High Street and Campus 244 help attract companies like TriNet and Marketwake.
Hyperlocal Requests
A lot of the job is neighborhood stuff. A resident asked for a crosswalk light at Redfield, she called Public Works, and a few months later it was installed. She also talked about traffic calming on streets like Peeler Road and Nandina Lane, and about new welcome signs so people know they’ve arrived in Dunwoody.
My Take
Whatever your politics, it’s worth knowing who represents your district and what they’re working on. Go to a council meeting or reach out to your councilmember. And if you want to get involved, look into Leadership Perimeter.
Thinking About Moving to Dunwoody?
Read my Moving to Dunwoody guide, search Dunwoody homes for sale, or text me or call 404-502-8683. Find council info at the City of Dunwoody.
Frequently Asked Questions About Catherine Lautenbacher
Who is Catherine Lautenbacher?
A Dunwoody City Council member representing District 1 and Program Director of Leadership Perimeter.
What area does Dunwoody District 1 cover?
The western third of the city, from Dunwoody Club Drive down to the Perimeter Mall area.
What is Leadership Perimeter?
A community leadership program, formerly Leadership Sandy Springs, that now includes Dunwoody and Brookhaven and teaches residents about local government and civic life.
How does Dunwoody police use drones?
Drones give officers a quick aerial view of emergencies, and a real-time command center helps coordinate response and big events.