Council approves legislation calling for firearm lock box program
The Atlanta City Council approved legislation Tuesday to request that the mayor’s Office of Violence Reduction and the Atlanta Police Department develop a program to provide firearm safety storage, or lock boxes, free of charge to qualifying Atlanta residents to deter accidental shootings and reduce the theft of unsecured firearms and related crimes (22-R-4798).
Legislation was also approved authorizing a special procurement agreement with Grady Memorial Hospital to operate the Center for Diversion Services. The agreement is for a one-year term with two consecutive two-year renewal options in an amount not to exceed approximately $1.46 million for the first year (22-R-4522).
Other items approved during the meeting include:
• A resolution authorizing the creation of a study group to review national best practices and provide recommendations for the creation of an e-bicycle rebate program for Atlanta (22-R-4801).
• A resolution urging Congress to re-introduce and approve the Youth PROMISE (Prison Reduction through Opportunities, Mentoring, Intervention, Support, and Education) Act to fund and support programs and initiatives to assess, develop, and implement evidence-based practices to deter juvenile delinquency, youth violence, and criminal gang activity (22-R-4797).
• A resolution requesting the mayor’s Office of Violence Reduction create and implement a biennial comprehensive crime reduction plan to promote safety in Atlanta (22-R-4785).
• A resolution requesting and authorizing the City’s auditor and audit committee to conduct a performance and financial audit of the City’s Municipal Court (22-R-4794). The report would relate to budgeting, staffing, caseloads, and the number of failures to appear in court, among other areas.
• A resolution authorizing the mayor or his designee to apply for and accept a total of $250,000 in Local Maintenance Improvement Grant funding from Georgia’s Department of Transportation for the reconfiguration of Bill Kennedy Way between the BeltLine’s Eastside Trail and Southside Trail (22-R-4786).
• A resolution authorizing the mayor or his designee to enter into a project framework agreement with Georgia’s Department of Transportation and a project management agreement with the Atlanta Downtown Improvement District for the I-75/I-85 capping study — The Stitch — and to authorize the execution of all agreements related to the project (22-R-4792).
• A resolution adopting the strategic delivery plan for the Moving Atlanta Forward 2022 Infrastructure Program on behalf of the Atlanta Department of Transportation (22-R-4827).
• A resolution urging the 2022–2023 regular session of the Georgia General Assembly to support the City of Atlanta’s 2023 legislative package (22-R-4694). The package contains legislation related to protecting city boundaries, transportation, housing, and economic development.
Proclamations were presented in recognition of Office of Budget and Fiscal Policy Chief Charles Bell, WSB-TV investigative reporter and anchor Richard Belcher, and WSB-TV chief meteorologist Glenn Burns.
Items were also introduced to be considered in committee, including:
• An ordinance extending the moratorium on the acceptance of any application for certain administrative, building, and other permits relating to specified uses within the Upper Westside Improvement District Masterplan Study Area for a period not to exceed 180 days.
• A resolution to oppose federal and state legislation allowing for increased truck weights and lengths on interstates, state routes, and local streets, support legislation freezing current truck weight and length limits, and to urge Congress and the state legislature to pass such legislation.
• An ordinance to amend the City of Atlanta Code of Ordinances to establish the mayor’s Office of Policy. The legislation seeks to ensure the efficient and effective development and implementation of the mayor’s policy agenda and initiatives and to authorize the chief financial officer to create the appropriate department organizations and anticipate and appropriate the necessary funding to create the office.
• An ordinance to amend the City’s Code of Ordinances chapter to establish procedures and requirements to prevent the theft of motor vehicles and parts, including catalytic converters and other precious metal car parts and to impose penalties for non-compliance.
• An ordinance to amend Part III Code of Ordinances — Land Development Code, Part 16 — Zoning, Chapter 36 “BeltLine Overlay and District Regulations,” Section 16–36.008 Permitted and Prohibited Uses and Structures, to prohibit the addition of new drive-through and drive-in facilities within the BeltLine Overlay District.
• An ordinance to amend Part III Code of Ordinances — Land Development Code, Part 16 — Zoning, Chapter 36 “BeltLine Overlay and District Regulations,” Section 16–36.008 Permitted and Prohibited Uses and Structures, to prohibit the addition of new service stations within the BeltLine Overlay District.
• An ordinance to amend Part III Code of Ordinances — Land Development Code, Part 16 — Zoning, Chapter 36 “BeltLine Overlay and District Regulations,” Section 16–36.020 Off-Street Parking and Loading Requirements, so as to require no minimum amount of parking.
