Mayor & Commission Meetings

Unified Government of Athens-Clarke County, Georgia Mayor and Commission Tuesday, October 19, 2021 6:00 p.m. City Hall The Unified Government of Athens-Clarke County, Georgia met this date in a special called session. Present: Mayor Pro tem Edwards; Commissioners Davenport, Parker, Link, Wright, Denson, Houle, Thornton, and Hamby. Absent: Mayor Girtz and Commissioner Myers. Mayor Pro tem Edwards presided. The purpose of the meeting was to consider several items of new business. Citizen input There was no citizen input. A motion was made by Commissioner Houle, seconded by Commissioner Davenport, to suspend Rules of commission for consideration items of new business. The motion passed by unanimous vote. A motion was made by Commissioner Wright, seconded by Commissioner Denson, to adopt the following ordinance (#21-10-100) which was presented by title only allocating up to $150,000 of General Fund Operating Contingency to cover deficits and remaining expenses for the Clarke County Sheriff’s Office FY21 Budget as per agenda report dated September 16, 2021. The motion passed by unanimous vote. AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND THE FY2021 ANNUAL OPERATING AND CAPITAL BUDGET FOR ATHENS-CLARKE COUNTY, GEORGIA SO AS TO PROVIDE FUNDING FOR EXPENSES RELATED TO HOSPITALIZATION AND PHARMACY COSTS OUTSIDE OF THE JAIL HEALTH SERVICES CONTRACT , AND OVERTIME DUE TO STAFFING SHORTAGES IN THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT ; 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 Operating Budget to provide funding for expenses related to hospitalization and pharmacy costs outside of the Jail Health Services Contract, and overtime due to staffing shortages in the Sheriff's Department. Said Operating and Capital budget is hereby amended as follows: General Fund : EXPENDITURES: Decrease: Other General Administration General Fund Contingency up to $150,000 Increase: Sheriff's Department Operating Expense up to $150,000 SECTION 2.. All ordinances or parts of ordinances in conflict herewith are hereby repealed. A motion was made by Commissioner Houle, seconded by Commissioner Denson, to a) Adopt the following ordinance (#21-10-101) which was presented by title only; b) Authorize the Transportation and Public Works Department (T&PW) to submit an application for the Regional Water Plan (RWP) Seed Grant Funds by Georgia Environmental Protection Division (EPD), in the maximum amount of $75,000, to fund needed stormwater infrastructure improvements as per attachment #1 of agenda report revised October 19, 2021; and c) Authorize the Mayor and appropriate staff to execute all related documents. The motion passed by unanimous vote. AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND THE FY2022 OPERATING AND CAPITAL BUDGET FOR ATHENS- CLARKE COUNTY, GEORGIA SO AS TO PROVIDE GRANT FUNDING, IF AWARDED, FROM THE GEORGIA ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION DIVISION REGIONAL WATER PLAN SEED GRANT PROGRAM FOR EXPENSES RELATED TO STORMWATER INFRASTRUCTURE; 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 Grants Special Revenue Fund to provide grant funding, if awarded, from the Georgia Environmental Protection Division Regional Water Plan Seed Grant program for expenses related to stormwater infrastructure. Said Operating & Capital budget is hereby amended as follows: Grants Special Revenue Fund: REVENUES: Increase: State Grants: EPD Regional Water Plan Seed Grant $75,000 EXPENDITURES: Increase: Transportation & Public Works Capital Expenses $75,000 SECTION 2. All ordinances or parts of ordinances in conflict herewith are hereby repealed. A motion was made by Commissioner Houle, seconded by Commissioner Parker, to a) Approve the proposed project concept for Sub-Project #2, Structural Turnout Gear for SPLOST 2020, Project 05 – Fire Department Equipment, as generally described in Attachment #1 of agenda report revised October 19, 2021; b) Approve purchase of 75 Sets of Globe Structural Turnout Gear (per ACCFES Specs) to Bennett Fire Products Co. Inc., in the amount of $213,658 as per Attachment #2; c) Confirm Athens Cultural Affairs Commission’s recommendation that SPLOST 2020, Project 05 – Fire Department Equipment, Sub-Project #2 - Turnout Gear is not appropriate for inclusion of a public art element as per (Attachment #3); 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 Davenport to HOLD the eviction prevention program until November 2, 2021. The motion died for lack of a second. A motion was made by Commissioner Denson, seconded by Commissioner Parker, to approve proposal submitted by Athenian First Development Corporation as an agency partner to coordinate with the Magistrate Court, landlords, and tenants to prevent evictions and to provide rental assistance to households in need; and authorize the manager to negotiate the scope and budget with a return to Mayor and Commission at the November 2, 2021 meeting. A substitute motion was made by Commissioner Wright, seconded by Commissioner Hamby, to not approve funding for the September 13, 2021 proposal submitted by the Athenian First Development Corporation; and authorize ACCGov staff to issue a revised Request for Proposals (RFP) 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. The substitute motion failed by roll call vote with Commissioners Wright and Hamby voting YES and Commissioners Davenport, Parker, Link, Denson, Houle, and Thornton voting NO. (2 YES, 6 NO) A motion was made by Commissioner Houle, seconded by Commissioner Davenport, to amend the original motion to include a revised budget and scope of services. The motion passed by roll call vote with Commissioners Davenport, Parker, Link, Denson, Houle, Thornton, and Hamby voting YES; and Commissioner Wright voting NO. (7 YES; 1 NO) The original motion as amended passed by roll call vote with Commissioners Davenport, Parker, Link, Denson, Houle, Thornton, and Hamby voting YES and Commissioner Wright voting NO. (7 YES; 1 NO) A motion was made by Commissioner Parker, seconded by Commissioner Denson, to adopt the following resolution. The motion passed by roll call vote with Commissioners Davenport, Parker, Link, Denson, Houle, and Thornton voting YES; and Commissioners /wright and Hamby voting NO. (6 YES; 2 NO) A RESOLUTION OF THE COMMISSION OF ATHENS-CLARKE COUNTY, GEORGIA TO REQUEST THE ASSISTANCE OF THE ATHENS-CLARKE COUNTY BOARD OF ELECTIONS AND REGISTRATION IN DRAWING NEW COMMISSION DISTRICT BOUNDARIES; AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES. WHEREAS, on September 16, 2021, the United States Census Bureau released the 2020 Redistricting Summary Files consistent with Federal Public Law 94-171; and WHEREAS, on September 24, 2021, Mayor Kelly Girtz requested the assistance of ACCGov’s Geospatial Information Office in examining and drawing new Commission District boundaries (the “Redistricting Plan”) for approval by the Commission; and WHEREAS, on October 7, 2021, Representative Spencer Frye of the 118 th District of the Georgia State House of Representatives notified the Georgia Legislative and Congressional Reapportionment Office (the “LCRO”) that he would serve as the sponsor of ACCGov’s Redistricting Plan; and WHEREAS, pursuant to O.C.G.A. Sec. 28-1-14.1 (b)(3), a member of the local legislative delegation must authorize the LCRO to conduct a technical review of a local government’s redistricting plan; and WHEREAS, the purposes of the technical review is to ensure the Redistricting Plan complies with the Voting Rights Act of 1965 and the Constitution of Georgia; and WHEREAS, on October 12, 2021, in a Mayor and Commission work session, Chief Data Officer Joseph D’Angelo presented for consideration by the Mayor and Commission a list of options and proposed timeline for assurance of submittal of the Redistricting Plan to the Georgia General Assembly in time for the Governor to sign the new boundaries into law for use in local elections in 2022; and WHEREAS, also on October 12, 2021, in the same work session, Commissioners expressed their concerns about the proposed process and a desire to request the assistance of the Athens-Clarke County Board of Elections and Registration (the “Board of Elections”) with preparing the Redistricting Plan; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Commission of Athens-Clarke County, Georgia and it is hereby so resolved by the authority of same as follows: SECTION 1. The Commission requests the assistance of the Board of Elections in preparing and recommending the Redistricting Plan for the Commission’s review and approval prior to the Redistricting Plan’s submission to the LCRO. SECTION 2. In carrying out this Resolution, the Board of Elections shall ensure that the provisions of Section 6- 202 of the Charter of the Unified Government of Athens-Clarke County, Georgia, are upheld, along with, where practical, redistricting best practices recommended by the Georgia Municipal Association, to include prioritization of voter convenience, avoidance of dilution of likely voter affinity groups, preservation of compact and contiguous Districts, protection of incumbents, and avoidance of racial or political gerrymandering.  SECTION 3. The Mayor and Commission request that the Manager allow staff from ACCGov’s Geospatial Information Office to assist the Board of Elections in preparing the Redistricting Plan with the goal of delivering a Redistricting Plan for the Commission’s review and approval that depicts ten (10) Commission districts aligned as closely as possible to existing boundaries while taking into account 2020 decennial Census block boundaries and data. The draft map for Mayor and Commission review and approval shall be produced by the close of business on Thursday, November 11, 2021. SECTION 4. This Resolution shall become effective immediately upon its approval by the Mayor or upon its adoption into law without such approval. The meeting adjourned at 6:45 p.m. ___________________________________ Clerk of Commission