Council set to vote on deployment plan for Equitable Growth Grant
The Atlanta City Council will consider legislation during Monday’s remote meeting to approve a deployment plan for the Equitable Growth Grant Program that focuses on the creation and attraction of high-quality, middle wage jobs (Legislative Reference №20-R-4318). The plan is centered on projects that are considered a high public benefit for all Atlantans, including hiring disadvantaged residents who are unemployed or in low-wage jobs. As part of a budget amendment adopted this year, the Fiscal Year 2021 budget includes $1.6 million for Invest Atlanta to begin the grant program.
The Council will also consider a resolution urging the Georgia General Assembly to adopt House Bill 1203 to amend state law to prohibit arrests by private citizens or other authorities not identified as a peace officer (Legislative Reference №20-R-4370). The House bill was introduced following the death of Ahmaud Arbery, an unarmed 25-year-old Black man, who was pursued by two white men and fatally shot while jogging near Brunswick. Arbery’s killing and the arrests of the suspects sparked debates about racial inequality and calls to repeal the state’s citizen’s arrest law. The Council’s resolution notes it is incumbent on the state legislature to support laws that serve to expand and protect all human and civil rights.
Other items on Monday’s agenda include:
• An ordinance to amend the City’s code to allow tenants to have the choice of providing rental security insurance and installment payments as an alternative to traditional security deposits in residential rental agreements, while ensuring that landlords are reasonably protected against damages and unpaid rent (Legislative Reference №20-O-1423).
• A resolution supporting the establishment of a comprehensive food truck program in Atlanta (Legislative Reference №20-R-4315). Companion legislation is expected to be introduced by the Department of City Planning to govern the regulations of food trucks operating on public property. After submission of an ordinance by City Planning, a review period will be opened to solicit comments from each Neighborhood Planning Unit (NPU), followed by a public hearing by the Council’s Public Safety and Legal Administration Committee.
• A resolution to express support for Georgia House Resolution 164, which allows voters to authorize the Georgia legislature to pass legislation establishing special funds with dedicated revenue sources to fund statute specific projects (Legislative Reference №20-R-4376). House Resolution 164 was approved by the General Assembly and signed by the governor in August.
• A resolution requesting the Department of City Planning Commissioner conduct a study of the feasibility of allowing all NPUs to continue allowing virtual meeting attendance when the City of Atlanta reopens and resumes normal operations (Legislative Reference №20-R-4374).
The Council’s Zoning Committee and the Committee on Council will be held in committee of the whole during the meeting.
The Oct. 5 meeting will take place remotely at 1 p.m. in response to the telework protocol activated for City Hall. The meeting will be simulcast on the Council’s website, YouTube channel, Channel 26, as well as the Council’s Facebook and Twitter pages.
Media and the public can tune into the remote meeting by dialing (877) 579–6743 and entering the conference ID number 8315991256.
Pursuant to 20-R-4119, remarks from the public for all remote meetings will be accepted between the hours of 4–7 p.m. on the day before the scheduled meeting.
Residents can participate in the public comment portion of the meeting by calling (404) 330–6001 and leaving a voicemail, including their name and contact information.
Public comments for the Zoning Committee may be left by calling (404) 330–6035, and for Committee on Council by calling (404) 330–6069. No public comments are allowed on legislative items that have gone before or will go before the Zoning Review Board.
