Mayor & Commission Meetings

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the August 11 Mayor and Commission session was remote. The meeting could be viewed live at www.accgov.com/videos, on YouTube at www.youtube.com/accgov, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/accgov, and on ACTV Cable Channel 180 or the live ACTV stream at www.accgov.com/actvlive Unified Government of Athens-Clarke County, Georgia Mayor and Commission Special Called Session Tuesday, August 11, 2020 5:30 p.m. City Hall/WebEx The Unified Government of Athens-Clarke County, Georgia met this date in a special called session. Present: Mayor Girtz; Commissioners Davenport, Parker, Link, Wright, Denson, Edwards, Herod, Thornton, and Hamby. No one was absent. The purpose of the meeting was to consider a resolution reference Coronavirus Relief Fund; enter into executive session for discussion of real estate acquisition and/or disposal and an attorney/client conference to discuss threatened or pending litigation; and consider any other item in proper order. A motion was made by Commissioner Hamby, seconded by Commissioner Link, to amend the agenda to include a resolution and budgetary allocation. The motion passed by unanimous vote. New business – Consider under suspension of Rules A motion was made by Commissioner Hamby, seconded by Commissioner Denson, to suspend Rules of Commission for consideration of one item of new business. The motion passed by unanimous vote. A motion was made by Commissioner Hamby, seconded by Commissioner Thornton, to adopt the following commission defined option which includes, before September 1: 1. Adopt the following CARES Resolution; 2. Direct staff to seek reimbursement for Phase I amount of $6,643,602.00 for eligible expenses; 3. Authorize staff to immediately transfer $5,293,860.00 from fund balance for the purposes and organizations in attachment 1 to be used by December 30; 4. Upon receiving state reimbursement transfer $5,293,860.00 back to fund balance; and 5. Determine how to utilize the assumed additional 15 million from CARES to meet community needs in a work session before September 30. The motion passed by unanimous vote. A RESOLUTION OF THE UNITIED GOVERNMENT OF ATHENS-CLARKE COUNTY, GEORGIA, (THE "CITY"), TO AUTHORIZE THE EXECUTION OF THE CORONAVIRUS RELIEF FUND (CRF) TERMS AND CONDITIONS AGREEMENT; TO AUTHORIZE THE ACCEPTANCE OF GRANT PAYMENTS, INCLUDING ALL UNDERSTANDINGS AND ASSURANCES CONTAINED WITHIN SUCH AGREEMENT; TO DIRECT AND AUTHORIZE THE PERSON IDENTIFIED AS THE OFFICIAL REPRESENTATIVE OF THE CITY, OR THE DESIGNEE OF THE CITY TO ACT IN CONNECTION WITH THE GRANT APPLICATION; AND TO PROVIDE SUCH ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AS MAY BE REQUIRED.  WHEREAS, in an effort to mitigate the effects of COVID-19, the United States government has made available grant funding through the Coronavirus Relief Fund (CRF) to the State of Georgia, which was established within Section 601 of the Social Security Act, as added by Section 5001 of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act); WHEREAS, Governor Brian P. Kemp has authorized the sharing of CRF allocations and disbursements in a phased, measure approach with local governments across the State of Georgia; WHEREAS, Governor Kemp has acknowledged the critical need that such CRF funding be released to local governments experiencing immediate need as quickly as possible and has directed the Governor’s Office of Planning and Budget (OPB) to coordinate with local governments to achieve allocation and disbursement of such CRF funding; WHEREAS, OPB has created and will administer a grant management system, Georgia CARES, which local governments, including the City shall utilize in order to received allocations and disbursements of CRF funding; and WHEREAS, the OPB and the State of Georgia, require formal, official action of the City governing authority to that the CRF funding may be disbursed to the City. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE MAYOR AND COUMISSION OF THE CITY: Section 1. Execution of Coronavirus Relief Fund (CRF) Terms and Conditions. The Mayor and Commission hereby authorize the execution, delivery, and performance of the Coronavirus Relief Fund (CRF) Terms and Conditions (Agreement) in substantially the form attached hereto as a composite Exhibit A and the acceptance of payments, including all understandings and assurances contained herein. Section 2. Other Actions Authorized. The City hereby directs and authorizes the Mayor of the City or the designee of the Mayor to act in connection with the Grant application and to provide such additional information as may be required by OPB, federal, or state government. Section 3. City Attorney. The City, by and through its governing authority, hereby acknowledges that is has had its legal counsel review the Agreement and that the members of the governing authority itself have reviewed the Agreement and further acknowledge that any rule of construction to the effect that any ambiguities are to be resolved against the drafting party shall not be employed in the interpretation of the Agreement. Section 4. Repealer. All motions, orders, ordinances, bylaws, resolutions, and parts thereof inconsistent herewith are hereby repealed to the extent only of such inconsistency. This repealer shall not be construed as reviving any motion, order, ordinance, bylaw, resolution, or part thereof. Section 5. Effective Date; Severability. This resolution shall become effective immediately, and should the Agreement have been executed by the Mayor or designee before the effective date of this resolution, then this resolution shall stand as an official act of the governing authority of the City approving of such execution of the Agreement. If any section, paragraph, clause, or provision hereof be held invalid or unenforceable, the invalidity or unenforceability thereof shall not affect the remaining provisions hereof. A motion was made by Commissioner Hamby, seconded by Commissioner Thornton, to adopt the following ordinance (#20-08-55) which was presented by title only. The motion passed by unanimous vote. AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND THE FISCAL YEAR 2021 ANNUAL OPERATING AND CAPITAL BUDGET FOR ATHENS-CLARKE COUNTY, GEORGIA SO AS TO PROVIDE FUNDING FOR “ATHENS CARES” COVID-19 COMMUNITY RELIEF PROGRAMS; AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES. The Commission of Athens-Clarke County, Georgia hereby ordains as follows: SECTION 1. The Commission of Athens-Clarke County, Georgia desires to amend the General Fund to provide funding for “Athens Cares” COVID-19 Community Relief Programs. Said Operating and Capital budget is hereby amended as follows: General Fund: DECREASE: Fund Balance (Unassigned) ($5,293,860) INCREASE:  Athens Cares COVID-19 Community Relief Programs See Attachment #1 for program listing $5,293,860 SECTION 2. All ordinances or parts of ordinances in conflict herewith are hereby repealed. A motion was made by Commissioner Wright, seconded by Commissioner Davenport, to enter into executive session for discussion of real estate acquisition and/or disposal and attorney/client conference to discuss threatened or pending litigation. The motion passed by unanimous vote. The meeting adjourned at 6:04 p.m. ________________________________ Clerk of Commission