Mayor & Commission Meetings

GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES Monday, March 17, 2025 Committee Members Present: Committee Members Absent: Commissioner Patrick Davenport, Committee Chair Commissioner Mike Hamby Commissioner Melissa Link Commissioner Dexter Fisher Commissioner Tiffany Taylor Staff: Andrew Saunders, Interim-Assistant Manager Marquita Swain, Affordable Housing Sherrie Hines, Deputy Chief Attorney Administrator Austin Jackson, Senior Assistant Attorney Jean Spratlin, Clerk of Commission (Phone) Courtney Davis, Senior Assistant Attorney Chinesia Thompson, Recorder Jeff Montgomery, Communications Director Committee Chair Davenport called the meeting to order at 12:04 p.m. A. Approval of Minutes: Commissioner Taylor made a motion to approve the Minutes of the December 9, 2024 meeting. Commissioner Fisher seconded the motion and it passed by unanimous vote. B. Commission Identified Items of Interest: Develop a plan to restart the Land Bank Authority (Mayor Girtz assigned to GOC on October 3, 2023) Interim Assistant Manager Andrew Saunders began by recapping the previous meeting’s discussion on the Land Bank. He presented the committee with a list from the Tax Commissioner’s Office identifying properties that have gone unsold for the past decade. Of these, two are potential candidates for infill development. The remaining properties are largely unsuitable due to issues such as lack of road frontage or public access, unbuildable dimensions, or utility challenges. Saunders noted that while most of the properties are not buildable, the Land Bank could still serve a role by working with adjacent property owners to combine parcels and create viable lots. He also shared a list of five properties currently held by the Land Bank. Among these, two are strong infill candidates, two are possible but present challenges, and one is encumbered by a utility right-of-way. He pointed out that these properties have favorable tax- assessed values, which could help seed Land Bank operations. However, he reminded the committee that if the goal is affordable housing, the properties would need to be sold below market value. Development would then be contingent on a commitment to maintain affordability. Saunders then presented a map of ACCGov-owned properties and highlighted a few that might be suited for Land Bank or affordable housing initiatives. He mentioned that duplexes near Creekwood Estates are county-owned and show promise. However, these are unmanaged, and without timely action, the structures will deteriorate and lose value. The committee discussed potential partnerships with organizations like Athens Land Trust, the Housing Authority, Habitat  for Humanity, or possibly a private developer using the housing strike fund for rehabilitation. Andrew recommended transferring the properties to nonprofit or for-profit entities. He also mentioned receiving occasional inquiries from interested buyers, suggesting the properties could sell if offered. When asked if there were enough properties to support a Land Bank Authority, Andrew responded that out of roughly 40 ACCGov properties, about 20 may have potential. He noted that the LBA could potentially act as a player in the private market. Attorney Courtney Davis shared insights from coordination with other communities, such as Macon and Savannah, which have established LBAs. These communities often pair the Land Bank Authority with an Affordable Housing Trust Fund, using the Land Bank to acquire and transfer properties for affordable housing development. She emphasized that this combined model seems most effective for cities like Athens, as an LBA operating alone would likely have limited impact. Marqueta Swain added that more properties may become available over time through acquisitions, transfers, or partnerships with the school district. Andrew concluded by presenting a draft resolution from the Attorney’s Office, prepared in case the committee chooses to recommend reactivation of the Land Bank Authority. The resolution does not immediately allocate funds but directs the Manager to direct staff to collaborate with the newly appointed Authority to develop an operational and staffing plan. He outlined two options: recommending the Commission designate funds without immediate allocation, or choosing not to designate any funds at this time. Commissioner Taylor made a motion to recommend reactivation of the Land Bank Authority and designate $250,000 in funding. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Link and passed unanimously. Recommend updates to BAC procedures as recommended by Manager’s Office, Public Information Office and the Clerk of Commission (Mayor Girtz assigned to GOC on July 19, 2022) Interim Assistant Manager Andrew Saunders provided a brief update on the committee’s progress regarding Boards, Authorities, and Commissions (BACs). He shared a draft of the BAC manual with tracked changes and mentioned he would forward it to the committee for their review and feedback. The committee reviewed and discussed several of the proposed changes, including those related to appointments, reappointments, and attendance policies. The topic of virtual interviews was also raised. It was noted that such interviews could not involve a quorum of either the committee or the Mayor & Commission. There was an in-depth discussion on the criteria for removal from a BAC. Proposed reasons for removal included: relocating out of the county, failure to complete required training, chronic absenteeism, or a formal recommendation for removal. The committee also reviewed the application process, suggesting a revision to limit applicants to selecting only two areas of interest. Government Operations Committee Meeting Minutes Page 2 03172025  Regarding stipends, Andrew presented a preliminary budget estimate of approximately $80,000. The committee reached consensus on a preferred compensation of $25 per meeting, to be paid on a quarterly basis. Social media management was discussed, with the committee supporting the idea of having the staff liaison manage BAC-related social media accounts. In the "Meetings" section of the manual, language was added concerning streaming. The committee reviewed legal requirements and clarified that while streaming is not mandated, written minutes and agendas are required. However, according to current policy, all Tier 2 BACs are required to stream their meetings. Andrew concluded by stating he would make additional refinements to the manual and resend it. The final portion of this discussion would be how the committee intends to manage Tier 2 BACs will be addressed at the next meeting. Lastly, the committee discussed the possibility of setting a cap on the number of members allowed to serve on each BAC. Lastly the committee discussed placing a cap on BAC members allowed per BAC. Commissioner Link made a motion to adjourned the meeting. Commissioner Taylor seconded. The motion passed by unanimous vote. The meeting adjourned at 1:32 p.m. Government Operations Committee Meeting Minutes Page 3 03172025