Council adopts legislation authorizing funds to purchase security cameras
The Atlanta City Council adopted legislation during Tuesday’s meeting to authorize the transfer of funds from the District 12, 1, 11 and 4 consulting/professional services account (Participatory Budget Pilot Program funds) in a total amount not to exceed $175,000 to the Atlanta Police Foundation for the purchase of security cameras within the respective districts (Legislative Reference №21-O-0024). The ordinance was introduced by Council member Joyce Sheperd and co-sponsored by Council members Carla Smith, Marci Collier Overstreet, Andrea Boone, and Cleta Winslow.
The Council also immediately adopted a resolution condemning hate and extremism and affirming the City of Atlanta’s ongoing commitment to cultivating an inclusive, safe, and just society and culture that values the diversity of the city’s community, works to ensure equitable opportunities in all major facets of society, and celebrates both individuality and commonality.
Other items approved Tuesday include:
• A resolution requesting three Council committees conduct a feasibility study and compile recommendations regarding the establishment of the Department of Public Safety and Wellness in Atlanta. (Legislative Reference №21-R-3006). As outlined in the legislation, the Council’s Public Safety and Legal Administration, Community Development and Human Services, and Finance/Executive committees would be tasked with examining the creation of the new department and holding at least two work sessions with community partners, experts in public safety, and members of the public to solicit feedback.
• A resolution requesting the City’s chief operating officer coordinate with the Department of City Planning, Invest Atlanta, Atlanta BeltLine Inc., Atlanta Housing, and the Atlanta-Fulton County Land Bank to create a comprehensive, action-based plan to expedite the development of affordable, workforce and supportive housing on vacant publicly owned land (Legislative Reference №21-R-3008).
• A resolution approving an intergovernmental agreement between the City of Atlanta and Atlanta Public Schools for the School Bus Stop-Arm Camera Enforcement Program and authorizing the collection and sharing of fines resulting from offenses (Legislative Reference №21-R-3005).
• An ordinance amending the City of Atlanta’s Code of Ordinances to remove kiosks from the public property vending program and implement a new process for vendors (Legislative Reference №20-O-1697).
• A resolution requesting the Department of Parks and Recreation collaborate with the Department of Procurement to develop and engage in a procurement process by which more than one proponent could be selected to provide tennis services to the City (Legislative Reference №21-R-3009).
• A resolution to execute an agreement with Renascent/CERM LLC for the demolition of the Sheraton Hotel Complex at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport in an amount not to exceed $9.8 million (Legislative Reference №21-R-3024). The Department of Aviation has made plans to redevelop the site after demolition.
Legislation was introduced to be considered in committee next week, including:
• A resolution to accept an offer to establish a partnership with the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) Division of Violence Prevention to utilize its expertise and scientific approach as an additional resource to identify the causes and stem the rise of violent crime in the city.
• A resolution requesting that the chief judges of the Superior Courts of Fulton and DeKalb counties share information with the City of Atlanta on how they have adapted court functions to resume operations with the COVID-19 challenges.
• An ordinance authorizing the mayor or her designee to abandon a portion of Capitol Square SW located between Washington Street and Capitol Avenue, execute a quitclaim deed of the abandonment to the state of Georgia, and waive Sections 138–9 and 2–1578 of the City of Atlanta Code of Ordinances.
• A resolution to establish the City of Atlanta Alcohol Technical Advisory Group III (ATAG III) for the purpose of making recommendations to implement the ATAG II report and additional recommendations for changes to the City of Atlanta’s alcohol beverage licensing process and the enforcement of laws pertaining to the licensing, sale and regulation of alcoholic beverages in the City of Atlanta, as a result of its review, for ATAG III to provide recommendations to the mayor and the Council within six months of its first meeting.
• An ordinance to create the BeltLine Special Services District, designate the boundaries of such district, provide for definitions, and provide for reports to the Council to complete the 22-mile loop of the project.
• An ordinance to request the establishment by the Atlanta Development Authority of the City of Atlanta of a master program for financing or refinancing the acquisition, development, construction, equipping, and installation of the BeltLine Trail Completion Project through the authorization by the authority of its master draw-down special services district tax revenue bond in the aggregate principal amount not to exceed $1 million.
• An ordinance to amend the City of Atlanta Code of Ordinances to adopt a new tree protection ordinance for the City of Atlanta.
• An ordinance to amend the 1982 Atlanta Zoning Ordinance, as amended, to amend Section 16–26.003, entitled “Conditions of Granting a Variance” and to create a new Section 16–26.008 entitled “Administrative Zoning Setback Variances for the Preservation of Trees.”
• An ordinance to amend the City of Atlanta Code of Ordinances to repeal the requirement that prospective employees who are not applying for employment in safety sensitive positions undergo a post-employment offer physical examination or a drug test.
• An ordinance to amend the City of Atlanta Alcohol Code to clarify requirements for reporting sales at annual renewal and to amend the mandatory penalties for due cause findings of violations of the Alcohol Code.
