Mayor & Commission Meetings

LEGISLATIVE REVIEW COMMITTEE Thursday, March 7, 2024 City Hall Conference Room 301B Committee Members Present: Committee Members Absent: Commissioner Carol Myers, Chair Commissioner John Culpepper Commissioner Ovita Thornton Commissioner Jesse Houle Commissioner Allison Wright Staff: Niki Jones, Assistant Manager Brad Griffin, Planning Director Sherrie Hines, Deputy Chief Attorney Mike Wharton, Sustainability Officer Courtney Davis, Senior Attorney Stephanie Green, Ecological Resource Coordinator Chinesia Thompson, Recorder Commissioner Myers called the meeting to order at 1:01 p.m. A. Public Input: There was none. Commissioner Myers revised the agenda to allow for public input to be received last. However, there was no public input. Commission Identified Items of Interest: B. Examine modifications to the code of ordinances related to invasive plant species, specifically identify means by which bamboo and other plant species in the ordinance can be mitigated (Mayor Girtz assigned to LRC on September 5,2023) Assistant Manager Jones briefly summarized prior discussions on the topic before handing over the meeting to Deputy Chief Attorney Sherrie Hines. Attorney Hines proceeded to provide a detailed overview of the changes made to the invasive plant ordinance. She delved into the concept of weeds, explaining the terminology used to define an "invasive plant owner." Attorney Hines clarified that the ordinance was not intended to mandate the removal of all invasive plants but rather to prevent their spread onto neighboring properties. Furthermore, Attorney Hines explained the rationale behind adding specific language to the ordinance, such as Japanese Honeysuckle and Bradford Pear, to the list of regulated species. She also addressed the newly incorporated height restrictions, specifying that herbaceous weeds, vining weeds, and turf grasses should not exceed ten inches in height. Following the discussion, Commissioner Thornton motioned to recommend approval of the Invasive Plant Ordinance, and Commissioner Wright seconded the motion. The motion was unanimously approved. C. Revise the ACC smoking ordinance, using recommendations from the American Heart Association as a model (Mayor Girtz assigned to LRC on October 3, 2023)  Laura Bracci, a representative from the American Heart Association (AHA), presented to the committee on "Strengthening the Athens-Clarke County Smoke-free Ordinance." She began by briefly describing secondhand smoke and its impacts, highlighting the health disparities as a significant motivator for ensuring a smoke-free workplace for all. Bracci mentioned that Athens- Clarke County is currently protecting their workforce due to the strong existing ordinance that is already in place. However, she mentioned that the AHA cannot hold conferences in locations that do not have comprehensive smoke-free policies in place. Bracci shared a map illustrating that currently, there are 11 smoke-free counties and cities in the state of Georgia. The map also revealed that neighboring states like Mississippi, Alabama, and South Carolina have more widespread smoke-free policies than Georgia. Bracci stated that for Athens to achieve comprehensive smoke-free status, three areas need to be addressed: restaurants, bars, and workplaces. She identified that the missing component for Athens-Clarke County is the inclusion of workplaces, specifically employee break rooms where smoking is currently allowed. Bracci suggested that the only change required to the existing smoking ordinance would be to remove the entire exemption #5, which permits smoking in employee break rooms. She noted that these designated smoking break rooms are majority not currently in use. However, Attorney Sherrie Hines raised concerns about potential conflicts with state law, referring to O.C.G.A. 3-12A-6(10) & (11), which addresses banquet and meeting rooms used for private functions, a common practice. The committee acknowledged the need for further research and discussion on the matter. They agreed to take additional time to review the proposed changes and their implications thoroughly. D. Other Discussions Assistant Manager Niki Jones informed the committee that at the next scheduled meeting, staff members will be prepared to have an in-depth discussion regarding the Neighborhood Traffic Management Program. Assistant Manager Niki Jones provided a quick update on the Festival Zones. He mentioned that a pilot project was initiated in August 2021 to address open containers and alcohol consumption in the downtown area during permitted festivals. Initially, the project did not work as intended, necessitating changes. The approach that was ultimately settled on involved creating a restricted access area spanning 1 to 4 blocks. In 2021, two festivals took advantage of this Festival Zone concept. The following year, in 2022, four festivals utilized the Festival Zones. In year 2023, six festivals took advantage of this initiative, indicating an increasing trend of participation. Assistant Manager Jones reported that there was no noticeable uptick in open container violations or public intoxication violations during these events. The police department generally expressed that the Festival Zones have been working out well. However, business owners and festival operators have expressed a desire for some adjustments, particularly regarding the geographic boundaries of the Festival Zones. The police department and Central Services believe they may have a solution to address these concerns. The committee expressed interest in surveying business owners and festival operators to gather their feedback on the matter. However, to proceed with such a survey, the committee would need to be reassigned this task by the mayor. The committee discussed the possibility of presenting this idea to the mayor and requesting a reassignment to conduct the survey. Regardless of the reassignment, Assistant Manager Jones stated that he would survey business owners and festival operators, as this feedback is necessary to improve the Festival Zone. E. Schedule/Agenda Changes The next LRC meeting is scheduled for April 4, 2024 at 1:00 p.m. Legislative Review Committee Meeting Minutes Page 2 03072024  Commissioner Wright made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Commissioner Houle seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 2:29 p.m. Legislative Review Committee Meeting Minutes Page 3 03072024