Council to consider funds for “access to legal counsel” pilot program
The Atlanta City Council will consider legislation during Tuesday’s meeting authorizing the City of Atlanta to donate a total amount not to exceed $500,000 to the Atlanta Volunteer Lawyers Foundation to support the foundation’s “access to legal counsel” pilot program that will provide eviction defense services to eligible Atlanta residents (Legislative Reference №22-R-3862). The foundation is the largest provider of pro bono legal services in Atlanta and provides more than 5,000 Atlantans with free legal services with the support of their staff and the other professionals and students who volunteer their services.
Other items on Tuesday’s agenda include:
• A resolution requesting that the Fulton County District Attorney investigate opportunities to criminally charge property owners and landlords who are in violation of the City of Atlanta’s Housing Code and grossly negligent in providing the minimum standards related to maintenance and security for leased and rented residential housing (Legislative Reference №22-R-3855).
• A resolution establishing the City of Atlanta Procurement Reform Task Force for the promotion of public trust (Legislative Reference №22-R-3712).
• A resolution urging the Georgia General assembly to amend Georgia state law regarding the Sexual Offender Registration Review Board to adopt “Mariam’s Law,” which expands the requirements for individuals currently on the sex offender registry to better protect Georgia residents (Legislative Reference №22-R-3852).
• An ordinance amending the regulations of the Greenbriar Special Public Interest District by amending regulations to align with the Campbellton Road Corridor plan and the Reimagine Greenbriar Plan that supports redevelopment of the Campbellton Road corridor (Legislative Reference №22-O-1017).
• An ordinance to amend the City’s Zoning Ordinance to create an overlay district for the Campbellton Road corridor, an area of residential, commercial, and mixed-use land uses that function as a main corridor of Southwest Atlanta (Legislative Reference №22-O-1019).
• A resolution requesting the Department of Finance and Department of Public Works conduct a cost efficiency study for street-based sanitary services and general common good sanitary services and provide a report of study findings and recommendations to the City Utilities Committee (Legislative Reference №22-R-3858).
• An ordinance authorizing the Department of Watershed Management to expand the Care and Conserve Program to include funding to persons eligible for assistance under the program who have experienced certain property impact related to water infrastructure (Legislative Reference №22-O-1456).
• A resolution to encourage all the professional sports franchises of Atlanta find every way possible to partner together with the Department of Parks and Recreation to support and strengthen youth sports programming in the city to amplify the positive benefits attained through participation in youth sports (Legislative Reference №22-R-3854).
• A resolution urging the mayor or his designee to conduct a feasibility study to provide recommendations regarding the establishment of a unit of park rangers to serve as dedicated enforcement to ensure the safety of City of Atlanta parks (Legislative Reference №22-R-3857).
• An ordinance authorizing to enter into Amendment №3 of an agreement with Partners for Home Inc. to extend the term through June 30, 2024, to add funding for continued care of the homeless residents of the city, to be funded by American Rescue Plan funds in an amount not to exceed $6.2 million (Legislative Reference №22-O-1421).
• An ordinance authorizing the City of Atlanta to donate American Rescue Plan Act funds to the Urban League of Greater Atlanta in an amount not to exceed $1 million in order to administer grants to youth-serving nonprofits to increase capacity to serve students disproportionately impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic (Legislative Reference №22-O-1450).
• An ordinance authorizing an amendment to the 2021 Annual Action Plan to accept an additional award of American Rescue Plan funds made available to Atlanta through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Home-ARP grant to assist individuals or households who are homeless, at risk of homelessness, and other vulnerable populations, by providing housing, rental assistance, supportive services, and non-congregate shelter and to amend the Home Investment Partnerships Program fund budget totaling $7.9 million (Legislative Reference №22-O-1455). A public hearing will be held on this item during Tuesday’s meeting.
The Council will present proclamations in recognition of “Chronic Disease Day” and DJ Toomp.
The Council’s Committee Chairs briefing will be held in person during the week of full Council at 9:30 a.m. in the Council Chamber.
The Committee on Council will convene in Committee Room №1 at 11 a.m. ahead of Tuesday’s full Council meeting.
The full Council meeting will be held in person at 1 p.m. in the Council Chamber at City Hall. All meetings will be conducted in accordance with the City of Atlanta’s Charter, City Code of Ordinances, and the rules of Council as adopted for in-person meetings. The meeting will be simulcast on the Council’s website, YouTube channel, Facebook and Twitter pages, and Channel 26. Closed captioning will be available on the Council’s Facebook page.
In-person public comment procedures will be held as previously conducted and adopted by the Council in accordance with City Charter Section 2–104 and 2–105.
Following the mayor’s executive order and in observance of guidance from health and facilities professionals, several safety protocols are in place, including mandatory mask wearing in the chamber, the observing of room capacity limits, and increased cleaning protocols.
