Mayor & Commission Meetings

Unified Government of Athens-Clarke County, Georgia Mayor and Commission Special Called Session Tuesday, August 17, 2021 6:02 p.m. City Hall 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, Houle, Edwards, Myers, Thornton, and Hamby. No one was absent The purpose of the meeting was to consider several items of old and new business and enter into executive session for discussion of threatened or pending litigation, real estate acquisition and/or disposal, and personnel matters. Citizen input There was no citizen input. Old business - Discussion A motion was made by Commissioner Parker, seconded by Commissioner Link, to amend the Intergovernmental Contract between ACCGov and the Classic Center Authority dated February 19, 2020 as per Attachment #1 of agenda report revised August 13, 2021 with the following addition to Item C, Attachment #1, Section 2c, paragraph 2 so that it reads: "The Authority shall incorporate a Living Wage category into the RFP for the Hickory/Willow Development Project to be a portion of the grading rubric for said Project. A review committee shall be designated with responsibility for reviewing the proposals for the Hickory/Willow Development Project. The review Committee shall consist of two (2) community stakeholders representing the interests of local economic justice and/or labor organizations, designated by the Mayor, two (2) members of the Commission of Athens-Clarke designated by the Mayor, two (2) members of the Classic Center Authority designated by the Authority, the Manager of the Unified Government, the Executive Director of the Authority, and the Director of Arena and Ancillary Services for the Authority."; and a) Grant the Classic Center Authority the discretion to develop the hotel site for a use other than as a hotel development; b) Approve conveyance and incorporation of 1.08 acres between Hickory and Willow Streets (Attachment #2); and c) Authorize the Classic Center Authority to proceed with efforts to advance development of the property including issuance of a Request for Proposals (RFP) from developers and evaluation of proposals informed by the proposed use of the property as recommended by the Classic Center Authority and detailed in Attachment #3. The motion passed by unanimous vote. A motion was made by Commissioner Davenport, seconded by Commissioner Wright, to adopt the following ordinance (21-08-84) which was presented by title only. The motion passed by unanimous vote. AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND THE CODE OF ATHENS-CLARKE COUNTY, GEORGIA WITH RESPECT TO PARKING RESTRICTIONS ON FALLING SHOALS DRIVE; AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES. The Commission of Athens-Clarke County, Georgia hereby ordains as follows: SECTION 1. Pursuant to Section 3-3-50 of the Code of Athens-Clarke County, Georgia, parking is hereby prohibited on the south side of Falling Shoals Drive beginning at the southeast corner of its intersection with Falling Shoals Trail and continuing on the south side of Falling Shoals Drive in an eastwardly direction for a distance of 3,930 feet up to its second intersection with Lacebark Drive, as more fully delineated on the drawing attached hereto, labeled Attachment #1, entitled “Falling Shoals Drive No Parking” and incorporated herein by reference.  SECTION 2. Pursuant to Section 3-3-50 of the Code of Athens-Clarke County, Georgia, parking is hereby prohibited on the north side of Falling Shoals Drive beginning at a point on the north side of Falling Shoals Drive located 130 feet east of the southeast corner of its intersection with Falling Shoals Trail and continuing on the north side of Falling Shoals Drive in an easterly direction for a distance of 342 feet, as more fully delineated on the drawing attached hereto, labeled Attachment #1, entitled “Falling Shoals Drive No Parking” and incorporated herein by reference. SECTION 3. Pursuant to Section 3-3-50 of the Code of Athens-Clarke County, Georgia, parking is hereby prohibited on the north side of Falling Shoals Drive beginning at a point on the north side of Falling Shoals Drive located 1,259 feet east of the southeast corner of its intersection with Falling Shoals Trail and continuing on the north side of Falling Shoals Drive in an easterly direction for a distance of 200 feet, as more fully delineated on the drawing attached hereto, labeled Attachment #1, entitled “Falling Shoals Drive No Parking” and incorporated herein by reference. SECTION 4. Pursuant to Section 3-3-50 of the Code of Athens-Clarke County, Georgia, parking is hereby prohibited on the north side of Falling Shoals Drive beginning at a point on the north side of Falling Shoals Drive located 3,241 feet east of the southeast corner of its intersection with Falling Shoals Trail and continuing on the north side of Falling Shoals Drive in an easterly direction for a distance of 450 feet, as more fully delineated on the drawing attached hereto, labeled Attachment #1, entitled “Falling Shoals Drive No Parking” and incorporated herein by reference. SECTION 5. All ordinances or parts of ordinances in conflict herewith are hereby repealed. New business – Consider under suspension of Rules A motion was made by Commissioner Denson, seconded by Commissioner Myers, to suspend Rules of Commission for consideration of items of new business. The motion passed by unanimous vote. A motion was made by Commissioner Wright, seconded by Commissioner Thornton, to, a) Authorize staff to submit an application to the Georgia State Fiscal Recovery Program portion of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) for the Broadband Enhancement allotment supplementing funding opportunities for the SPLOST 2020, Project 22 - Broadband Connectivity Enhancements per agenda report dated July 23, 2021; b) Confirm the Proposed Alternative Analysis Statement appropriateness as stated in Facts and Issues #7; c) Confirm Athens Cultural Affairs Commission’s recommendation that SPLOST 2020, Project 22 - Broadband Connectivity Enhancement is not appropriate for inclusion of a public art element as stated in Attachment #1; and d) Authorize the Mayor and appropriate staff to execute all related documents. The motion passed by unanimous vote, A motion was made by Commissioner Denson, seconded by Commissioner Parker, with reference to eviction prevention and indigent services contract extensions. a) Approve the proposed Indigent Services Funding Recommendations as shown in Attachment #1 of agenda report dated August 10, 2021; b) Approve the proposed Indigent Services contract extensions for the Ark, Family Promise, and Project Safe to extend their current contracts until December 31, 2021; c) Authorize the Mayor and ACCGov staff to execute all related contracts and documents; d) Authorize ACCGov staff to issue a Request for Proposals (RFP) by September 3, 2021 to select an agency partner to coordinate with the Magistrate Court, landlords, and tenants to prevent evictions and to provide rental assistance to households in need. A vote to approve the selected agency partner will be held by September 21, 2021. The motion passed by unanimous vote.  A motion was made by Commissioner Wright, seconded by Commissioner Houle, to adopt the following resolution. The motion passed by roll call vote with Commissioners Davenport, Parker, Link, Wright, Denson, Houle, Edwards, Myers, and Hamby voting YES; and Commissioner Thornton voting NO. (9 YES; 1 NO) A RESOLUTION OF THE COMMISSION OF ATHENS-CLARKE COUNTY, GEORGIA TO APPROVE AND AUTHORIZE THE SETTLEMENT OF THE CLAIMS OF KIMBERLY BLEDSOE; AND FOR OTHER LAWFUL PURPOSES. WHEREAS, on or about January 23, 2020, Kimberly Bledsoe (“Bledsoe”) was terminated from her position of employment with the Athens-Clarke County Police Department; and WHEREAS, Bledsoe subsequently filed a Notice of Charge of Discrimination, EEOC Charge No. 410-2020-05311, against the Unified Government of Athens-Clarke County, Georgia (“A-CC”) related to alleged claims of pregnancy discrimination (Bledsoe’s Claims) and retained an attorney to represent her; and WHEREAS, A-CC and Bledsoe desire to voluntarily resolve Bledsoe’s Claims and all other disputes that may exist between them by compromise and without incurring additional attorney’s fees, expenses, and costs of litigation; and WHEREAS, without admitting liability or fault, the Commission finds it to be in the best interests of A-CC to resolve Bledsoe’s Claims as set forth below; NOW, THEREFORE, the Commission hereby resolves as follows: SECTION 1. The Commission does hereby approve and authorize the payment of the sum of Twenty Thousand and 00/100 Dollars ($20,000.00) to Bledsoe and her attorney in settlement of Bledsoe’s Claims. SECTION 2. The Attorney for A-CC and outside counsel retained for purposes of Bledsoe’s Claims shall have authority to take all further actions necessary to carry out the intents and purposes of this Resolution and to prepare, or to cause to be prepared, any and all documents necessary to effectuate the resolution of the Claims as described herein. SECTION 3. The Mayor of A-CC and other necessary A-CC staff shall have authority to take all further actions necessary to carry out the intents and purposes of this Resolution, including but not limited to, the authority to sign any documents as may be necessary or appropriate to effectuate the intents and purposes of this Resolution. SECTION 4. The Commission hereby declares that the foregoing preamble and whereas provisions set forth hereinabove constitute, and shall be considered to be, substantive provisions of this Resolution and are hereby incorporated by reference into this provision. SECTION 5. In the event scrivener’s errors shall be discovered in this Resolution or in the Exhibits hereto after the adoption hereof, the Commission hereby authorizes and directs that each such scrivener’s error shall be corrected in all multiple counterparts of this Resolution. SECTION 6. This Resolution shall become effective immediately upon its approval by the Mayor or upon its adoption into law without such approval. A motion was made by Commissioner Myers, seconded by Commissioner Denson, to approve a Memorandum of Agreement with the Clarke County Health Department for the Athens-Clarke County COVID-19 Vaccine Incentive Program as per Attachment #1 of agenda report dated August 13, 2021 with an amendment to Exhibit “A” changing “selecting one of the choices below” to “select all choices that apply”. The motion passed by unanimous vote.  A motion was made by Commissioner Thornton, seconded by Commissioner Denson to a) Authorize the Public Utilities Department to submit an application for State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds in an amount $29,700,000 to fund needed water and sewer infrastructure improvements as per Attachment #1 of agenda report dated August 16. 2021; b) Authorize the Transportation and Public Works Department to submit an application for State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds in an amount of $7,702,800 to fund needed stormwater infrastructure improvements; (Attachment #2); c) Authorize the Economic Development Department to submit an application for State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds in an amount of $1,040,000 to fund eligible negative economic impact initiatives; d) Authorize the Mayor and appropriate staff to execute all related documents. The motion passed by unanimous vote, A motion was made by Commissioner Davenport, seconded by Commissioner Edwards, to enter into executive session for discussion of threatened or pending litigation, real estate acquisition and/or disposal, and personnel matters. The motion passed by unanimous vote. The meeting adjourned at 7:09 p.m. _________________________________ Clerk of Commission