Council approves Center for Diversion and Services legislative items
The Atlanta City Council approved legislation Monday to waive any conflicting provisions in the City of Atlanta’s Code of Ordinances to support the efforts of the City of Atlanta, Fulton County, and other stakeholders in assisting the City of Atlanta’s chief procurement officer with related procurements associated with creating, establishing and operating the Center for Diversion and Services. (Legislative Reference №22-O-1101). The Council also approved an ordinance to amend the Fiscal Year 2022 budget in the amount of $2.95 million to fund the one-time capital costs necessary to build the Center for Diversion and Services within the Atlanta City Detention Center (Legislative Reference №22-O-1102).
Other items adopted Monday include:
• A resolution requesting the mayor or his designee establish the City of Atlanta’s “Pilot Workforce Program” for the retention and advancement of the City’s workforce through job training programs (Legislative Reference №22-R-3140).
• A resolution to establish a historical commission study group to make recommendations on amending the City’s charter to create a permanent historical commission that will support and expand the Urban Design Commission’s administration of Atlanta’s historic preservation program (Legislative Reference №22-R-3139).
• An ordinance to amend the City of Atlanta’s Code of Ordinances to revise the duties of the Urban Design Commission as it relates to the commission’s review of demolitions that have been ordered by the City’s In-Rem Review Board, a board that conducts public hearings on properties determined to pose a risk to the health, safety or welfare of Atlanta residents (Legislative Reference №22-O-1097).
• A resolution urging the Atlanta Police Department to consider implementing a policy to allow patrol vehicles to have a steady stream of blue lights during nighttime patrols to enhance police presence and deter criminal activity (Legislative Reference №22-R-3143).
• A resolution to authorize the City of Atlanta to accept the donation of a statue of Ambassador Andrew Young and the installation and the maintenance thereof for a period of up to 20 years from the National Monuments Foundation for placement in the Rodney Cook Sr. Park and to authorize the mayor or his designee to enter into any necessary agreements in connection with the Ambassador Young donation (Legislative Reference №22-R-3145).
Items were introduced to be considered in committee next week, including:
• A resolution requesting the Department of Finance to partner with MARTA to conduct an analysis to determine the feasibility of allowing Atlanta residents access to fare-free public transit within the city limits of Atlanta.
• An ordinance to amend Part 1 (Chapter and Related Laws), Subpart A (Charter), Article 2 (Legislative), Chapter 2 (President of Council) of the City of Atlanta’s Charter to amend Section 2–203 (Powers and Duties, Limitations) to prohibit appointments wherein a member of Council could contend for the same appointment.
• An ordinance to amend Chapter 150 (Traffic and Vehicles), Article X (Shareable Dockless Mobility Devices), Section 403 (Safety) of the City of Atlanta Code of Ordinances to add a minimum age for users of and an age-verification requirement for operators of shareable dockless mobility devices.
• A resolution in support of Senate Bill 403 to enact the “Georgia Behavioral Health Peace Officer Responder Act,” which will establish a collaboration between law enforcement agencies and behavioral health specialists to decriminalize mental health.
• A resolution requesting the city auditor conduct a study and analysis of the funds spent by the City of Atlanta with minority and female business partner vendors, including a comparison of the amount represented in original bids with amounts disbursed for completed work within the City of Atlanta’s Equal Business Opportunity Program from 2018–2021.
• A resolution to urge the Atlanta Police Department to establish a task force consisting of cooperating metro Atlanta law enforcement jurisdiction for the purpose of coordinating a response to targeted burglaries preying on metro Atlanta film equipment rental businesses and production companies.
• An ordinance imposing a moratorium on the acceptance of any application for special administrative permit, special use permit, special exception, land disturbance permit, or building permit for which a special administrative permit has not been applied for or relating to certain specified uses within the Upper Westside Improvement District Masterplan study area for a period not to exceed 180 days.
• An ordinance authorizing a donation in an amount not to exceed $1,000 for the maintenance of the Xernona Clayton Statue project.
