Atlanta City Council Approves Funding to Support Legacy Business Program
ATLANTA–The Atlanta City Council approved an ordinance to fund the Atlanta Legacy Business Program, which supports businesses operating for 30 years or more and contributing to the city’s history, culture, and identity (24-O-1372).
Other items that the Council adopted include:
· An ordinance approving the reallocation of approximately $25 million in Community Development Block Grant Program (CDBG), Emergency Solutions Grant Program (ESG), HOME Investment Partnerships Grants Program (HOME), and Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS Program (HOPWA) funds to grant subrecipients (24-O-1412). This item was sent to the Mayor’s Office post-haste.
· An ordinance authorizing the transfer of $13.8 million to fund an emergency procurement for the Chattahoochee Water Treatment Plant improvement program to replace four water treatment pumps (24-O-1402).
· A resolution authorizing payment of $17 million from the Affordable Housing Trust Fund for the following purposes in fiscal year 2025: $8 million for affordable housing production, $5 million for programs to support security, and $4 million for contingency services, debt service, and related transfers to Invest Atlanta and nonprofit partners (24-R-3852).
· An ordinance authorizing the application for a $7 million grant from the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement case management pilot program to provide responsive case management and related services to eligible non-detained noncitizens known to ICE (24-O-1405).
· A resolution calling for a $3.2 million grant agreement on behalf of the Department of Watershed Management to provide plumbing assistance to low- to moderate-income water and wastewater customers as part of the City of Atlanta’s Care and Conserve Program (CCP) (24-R-3858).
· An ordinance approving acceptance of $2.25 million in continuation funding from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Securing the Cities program (24-O-1404).
· A resolution authorizing the addition of approximately $1.3 million of FEMA funding to the Emergency Food and Shelter Grant Program with the Hispanic Alliance of Georgia (24-R-3837).
· A resolution allowing the Atlanta-Fulton County Recreation Authority (AFCRA) on behalf of the Stadium Neighborhoods Community Trust Fund (SNCTF) Committee, to award grants totaling almost $300,000 to fund various community service projects benefiting the Atlanta neighborhoods of Mechanicsville, Peoplestown, Pittsburgh, Summerhill, and a portion of Grant Park (24-R-3853).
· An ordinance enabling the City to apply for a $250,000 grant award of membership in the National Housing Crisis Task Force led by the Nowak Metro Finance Lab at Drexel University and Accelerator for America, which includes $150,000 in city matching funds, and to co-chair a two-year national housing task force (24-O-1400).
· An ordinance authorizing acceptance of a $75,000 donation from the Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta to support public art improvements to Folk Art Park, the Five Points Monument, and lighting at the Carnegie Pavilion (24-O-1403).
· A resolution approving an agreement with Norfolk Southern Corporation to access the Norfolk right-of-way for infrastructure improvements related to the Marietta Boulevard bridge deck repair and agreeing to pay Norfolk Southern Railway Company approximately $38,000 (24-R-3847).
· An ordinance to implement a process for terminating boards, authorities, commissions, and other similar bodies following two years of inactivity. BACEs may be created to perform duties such as making studies, conducting research and investigations, holding hearings, and preparing recommendations. There currently are more than 136 BACEs. (24-O-1399).
Items introduced for consideration include:
· An ordinance requiring applicants for event permits for gatherings of 75 people or more to notify the appropriate Neighborhood Planning Unit (NPU) at least two weeks before the event and provide verification of notification to the department reviewing the application.
· An ordinance approving the transfer of $5.5 million to the small meter installation project, which supports the installation of small water meters, detector checks, fire hydrants, and associated accessories.
· A resolution authorizing the City to apply for a $20 million U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Community Change grant. The funds would be used to implement environmental and climate justice activities that reduce pollution, increase climate resilience, and build community capacity.
· An ordinance authorizing the appointment of individuals or contractors whose functions require enforcement of the city code, including those designated by the City’s on-street parking management services contractor, as code enforcement agents who shall have the power to serve citations for violating any City ordinance.
· A resolution urging Mayor Andre Dickens to launch a blight condemnation program within six months to eradicate blight in the city through eminent domain powers.
· A resolution calling for service agreements totaling approximately $3.3 million to be paid from a FEMA Shelter and Service Grant to the Georgia Asylum and Immigration Network, Center for Victims of Torture, Latin American Association, Casa Alterna, Migrant Equity Southeast, Hispanic Alliance Georgia, International Rescue Committee, Inspiritus, and Inner-City Muslim Action Network.
· An ordinance authorizing $10.1 million to provide resurfacing for Andrew Young International Boulevard N.W., Centennial Olympic Park Drive N.W., Centennial Olympic Park Drive S.W., Pearl Street, Boulder Park Drive S.W. (Phase I), Campbellton Road, and University Avenue.
· An ordinance donating approximately $538,000 to the following nonprofit organizations working to reduce violence and support domestic violence initiatives: Atlanta Volunteer Lawyers Foundation, Inc.; Offender Alumni Association, Inc.; The 411 Brand, Inc.; and Injury Prevention Research Center, Inc.
· A resolution calling for a $415,000 donation to the nonprofit Hub404 Conservancy, Inc., to develop bike and pedestrian bridges as part of the Lenox Road Safe Street project.
· An ordinance authorizing acceptance of an approximately $831,000 Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) Youth Program Grant from the Technical College System of Georgia Office of Workforce Development.
· An ordinance authorizing acceptance of an almost $2 million WIOA Dislocated Worker Program Grant from the Technical College System of Georgia of Workforce Development.
· An ordinance authorizing acceptance of an approximately $752,000 WIOA Adult Program Grant from the Technical College System of Georgia of Workforce Development.
