Mayor & Commission Meetings

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the October 20 Mayor and Commission session was remote. The meeting can be viewed live at www.accgov.com/videos, on YouTube awww.youtube.com/accgov, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/accgov, and on ACTVCable Channel 180 or the live ACTV stream at www.accgov.com/actvlive Unified Government of Athens-Clarke County, Georgia Mayor and Commission Tuesday, October 20, 2020 Special Called Session 6:00 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. Purpose of meeting: consider Firefly Trail project; ratification of local emergency order; and enter into executive session for discussion of real estate acquisition and/or disposal and an attorney/client conference to discuss threatened or pending litigation. New Business – Consider under suspension of Rules A motion was made by Commissioner Davenport, seconded by Commissioner Parker, to suspend Rules of Commission for consideration of two items of new business. The motion passed by unanimous vote. A motion was made by Commissioner Herod, seconded by Commissioner Wright, to a. Approve a designation of Astra Group, LLC as the apparent lowest responsible and responsive bidder and authorize staff to negotiate a unit price Construction Services Contract with Astra Group, LLC for the TSPLOST 2018 Project 06 - Firefly Trail Project, Sub Project #4 - Bridge Over Trail Creek; b. Authorize staff to evaluate cost savings measures and budget considerations for the TSPLOST 2018 Project 06 - Firefly Trail Project, Sub Project #4 - Bridge Over Trail Creek; and c. Authorize the Mayor and approriate staff to execute all related documents. The motion passed by unanimous vote. A motion was made by Commissioner Parker, seconded by Commissioner Edwards, to adopt the following ordinance (#20-10-72) that was presented by title only. The motion passed by unanimous vote. AN ORDINANCE TO RATIFY A LOCAL EMERGENCY ORDER ISSUED BY THE MANAGER ON OCTOBER 15, 2020, RELATED TO THE SUSPENSION OF PROVISIONS OF THE ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE ORDINANCE RELATING TO OUTDOOR RETAIL AREAS; AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES. LOCAL EMERGENCY ORDER WHEREAS, beginning in late 2019, the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, SARS- CoV-2, emerged causing a novel coronavirus disease, COVID-19, which has now become a worldwide pandemic; and WHEREAS, on March 14, 2020 Governor Brian Kemp declared a Public Health State of Emergency in Georgia and renewed his declaration on April 8, 2020, April 30, 2020, May 28, 2020, June 29,  2020, July 31, 2020, August 31, 2020, and again on September 30, 2020 so that it will remain in effect at least through Monday November 9, 2020; and WHEREAS, on March 16, 2020, the Mayor and Commission of the Unified Government of Athens-Clarke County, Georgia adopted an Ordinance for the Declaration of Local State of Emergency related to COVID-19; WHEREAS, on March 19, 2020, pursuant to their authority under the Athens-Clarke County Emergency Management Ordinance, the Athens-Clarke County Mayor and Commission adopted a Second Declaration of Local Emergency activating certain emergency powers in order to allow Athens-Clarke County to quickly respond to the COVID-19 pandemic and renewed that declaration on April 21, 2020, June 2, 2020, July 7, 2020, July 30, 2020, August 18, 2020, September 15, 2020 and again on October 6, 2020; and WHEREAS, the COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in disruptions to resident and community affairs as well as changes to how governmental services are provided; and WHEREAS, Athens-Clarke County’s businesses, including thousands of small businesses, have also been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic through business closures and reduction of hours; and WHEREAS, the temporary suspension of certain provisions of the Alcoholic Beverages Ordinance will assist local businesses in responding to and coping with COVID-19 Emergency; and WHEREAS, I believe it is in the best interest of Athens-Clarke County, its residents, and its businesses to temporarily suspend the enforcement of certain provisions of the Alcoholic Beverage Ordinances in order to assist local business and residents coping with the COVID-19 IT IS HEREBY ORDERED, that the order related to the suspension of provisions of the alcohol beverage ordinance relating to Outdoor Retail Areas issued by the Manager on October 15, 2020 are hereby ratified and adopted by the Mayor and Commission of Athens-Clarke County. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED, That any provisions of the Alcoholic Beverages Ordinance which prohibit any person from having in his or her possession any alcoholic beverages in any open container be temporarily suspended as it applies to patrons or employees of any licensee possessing a Class D (retail liquor by the drink), D1 (retail liquor by the drink, low volume restaurant), E (retail beer by drink), or F (retail wine by the drink) license who is participating in the Outdoor Retail Area Program pursuant to policy number MGR-008A entitled “A Policy to Establish Outdoor Retail Areas for Event Weekends During the COVID-19 Pandemic,” attached hereto as Exhibit A, and who are transporting, serving, or consuming alcoholic beverages in the Outdoor Retail Area as approved by the Athens-Clarke County Central Services Department or who are transporting alcoholic beverages across public streets, sidewalks or rights-of-way for the purpose of serving or consuming said beverages in said Outdoor Retail Area. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED, that this Ordinance shall become effective at 8:00 a.m. on the next day following the Mayor’s approval, and will continue to be in effect until 11:59 p.m. on Friday, November 20, 2020, or until it is extended, superseded, or amended by an ordinance of the Commission. A motion was made by Commissioner Edwards, seconded by Commissioner Denson, to enter into executive session for discussion of real estate acquisition and/or disposal and an attorney/client conference to discuss threatened and pending litigation. The motion passed by unanimous vote. The meeting adjourned at 6:40 p.m. ____________________________________ Clerk of Commission