Mayor & Commission Meetings

Prior to making a public comment, please fill out the form available on the table in the hallway to help ensure that your information is correctly entered into the minutes. Once you have spoken, please place your form in the public input box. TENTATIVE AGENDA UNIFIED GOVERNMENT OF ATHENS-CLARKE COUNTY, GEORGIA AGENDA SETTING SESSION TUESDAY, SEPTMBER 16, 2025 6:00 P.M. CITY HALL If business has not concluded by 8:15 p.m., there will be a 15-minute break. A. Public input. If you wish to address the Mayor and Commission on any item listed below on the consent agenda, please go to the podium and state your name and address. RULES OF THE COMMISSION STATE THAT MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC MAY SPEAK ONCE DURING THE FOLLOWING PORTION OF THE AGENDA FOR UP TO THREE MINUTES WITH A 30 SECOND REMINDER AT TWO AND A HALF MINUTES. B. Consent agenda. Recommended by Mayor, Mayor Pro tem, Manager, Assistant Managers, Attorney, Auditor, and Deputy Clerk for placement on the consent agenda for Tuesday, October 7, 2025. 1. Adopt: Ordinance for Recreational Trails Program (RTP) Grant for Southeast Clarke Park To request that the Mayor and Commission approve the submission and acceptance of funds if awarded, for the Recreational Trails Program (RTP) grant from the Georgia Department of Natural Resources. This grant will fund the trail improvements, which will convert a natural surface trail to a paved surface trail, creating a more accessible connection between Whit Davis and the Lexington Road side of Southeast Clarke Park. This will connect popular areas like the World of Wonder Playground, Athens Skate Park, and the future transfer station. 2. Adopt: Ordinance for Award Approval: Transit Department Fleet Surveillance System The Transit Department issued RFP 25035: Transit Fleet Surveillance Project to receive bids for the replacement of obsolete fleet surveillance equipment. Transit received bids from four vendors and evaluated the bids based upon approved criteria. 3. Adopt: FY 2027 Federal Transit Administration 5339 – Bus and Bus Facilities Authorizing Resolution The Federal Transit Administration 5339 – Bus/Bus Facilities Grant provides funding for bus and bus-related facilities, to include funding for capital projects to replace, rehabilitate, and purchase buses, vans, and related equipment, and to construct bus-related facilities, including technological changes. The Transit Department proposes to use FY 2027 5339 funds to replace the Computer-aided Dispatch/Automated Vehicle Locating system and Automated Passenger Counter system. 4. Approve: Airport Aviation Fuel Supplier Contract Enter into a Five (5) year agreement with Titan Aviation Fuels to supply the airport with aviation type fuel and provide the airport with AvGas and Jet A refueler trucks. 5. Approve: Standard and Heavy-Duty Wrecker On-Call Service Contracts  Requests approval for the award of contracts for police-initiated wrecker service tows, and to authorize the mayor and appropriate staff to execute all related documents. The wrecker service contract program was first authorized in 2005, and subsequently renewed, with towing services dispatched when: a vehicle is abandoned or illegally parked; motorists are unconscious, trapped, or unable to make a call for wrecker services; or when a vehicle is stranded in a roadway. 6. Approve: Renew a Maintenance Service Contract for PUD Generators Renew maintenance service contract with Yancey Brothers for generators located at the Public Utilities water and wastewater treatment facilities. 7. Approve: SPLOST 2020 Project 27 Facilities Equipment Systems Replacement, Subproject #5- FY26 Capital Project This agenda item proposes using $701,963 in funding, as designated as Sub-Project #5 for SPLOST 2020 Project 27, Facilities Equipment Systems Replacement Project, to replace roofing and HVAC systems at four public facilities. This amount represents approximately 11% of the total facility equipment life cycle needs for FY26. 8. Approve: TSPLOST 2023 Project 14 – North Athens Transportation Improvements – Professional Services Contract This agenda item requests Mayor and Commission (M&C) approval of Pond & Company as the design services firm, selected in accordance with ACCGov Procurement Policy, to provide design and construction administration services for the project. 9. Approve: Ratification of an Emergency Purchase Order for the Modernization of the Courthouse Parking Deck Elevator The purpose of this agenda item is to ratify the emergency purchase to modernize the Courthouse Parking Deck Elevator as is required by OCGA 36-91-22. 10. Approve: Low Income Assistance Program for Water Utility Customers through an Alliance Agreement with Gas South Retail Service This agenda item is requesting approval to enter into an Agreement with Gas South to fund a low-income assistance program for Athens-Clarke County water and sewer customers, with program administration provided through a Memorandum of Understanding with Action, Inc; 11. Approve: Georgia Outdoor Stewardship Program (GOSP) Grant: Memorial Park Master Plan Implementation To request that the Mayor and Commission approve the submission and acceptance of funds if awarded, for the Georgia Department of Natural Resources – Georgia Outdoor Stewardship Program grant. If awarded, this opportunity would fund the Leisure Services Master Plan for Memorial Park. Matching dollars will be met through SPLOST 2020 projects and the department’s capital expenses. 12. Approve: Appointments to Keep Athens-Clarke County Beautiful C. Receive staff reports and public input, item by item, on recommendations from the Athens-Clarke County Planning Commission. Following each staff report, public input will be received; however, this is not the required public hearing, which is tentatively scheduled for Tuesday, October 7, 2025. If you wish to address a zoning related item, at the appropriate time, please go to the podium and state your name and address. RULES OF THE COMMISSION STATE THAT MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC MAY SPEAK ONCE DURING THE FOLLOWING PORTION OF THE AGENDA FOR UP TO THREE MINUTES WITH A 30 SECOND REMINDER AT TWO AND A HALF MINUTES.  13. Request of William J. Diehl / Thompson, O’Brien, Kappler, & Nasuti, PC, Owner: FAE Clarke LLC., for rezoning from AR to E-I on 233.09 acres known as 0 Old Elberton Road. Proposed use is Industrial. This will require an amendment to the Future Land Use from Rural to Employment Center. Type I District 3 Planning Commission recommendation: Future Land Use: Denial (unanimous) Rezoning: Denial (unanimous) 14. Request of Jennifer Howard / Boulevard Animal Hospital, Owner: Douglas C. Henson, Jr. / Nelms L. Bell, Sr, Trust, for Special Use in C-O on 0.97 acres known as 600 Oglethorpe Avenue. Proposed use is Veterinary Clinic. Type II District 5 Planning Commission recommendation: Approval w/ condition (unanimous) 15. Request of Peter Mazur Owner: The Princeton Corporation for Rezone from RS-5 to RM-1 on 2.63 acres known as 780 Macon Highway. Proposed use is Multifamily Residential. Type II District 7 Planning Commission recommendation: Approval (unanimous) 16. Request of Scott Haines / W&A Engineering Owner: Lawrenceville Land Holdings, LLC., for Rezone from RM-2 to C-G on 25.04 acres (subject area 0.353 acres) known as 135 & 150 McClung Road. Proposed use is Commercial Driveway. This will require an amendment to the Future Land Use from Mixed Density Residential to General Business. Type I District 9 Planning Commission recommendation: Future Land Use: Approval (unanimous) Rezoning: Approval (unanimous) D. Public input. If you wish to address the Mayor and Commission on any item listed below under old and new business, please go to the podium and state your name and address. RULES OF THE COMMISSION STATE THAT MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC MAY SPEAK ONCE DURING THE FOLLOWING PORTION OF THE AGENDA FOR UP TO THREE MINUTES WITH A 30 SECOND REMINDER AT TWO AND A HALF MINUTES. E. Old business 17. TSPLOST 2023 Project 26, W. Broad and Hancock Neighborhood Pedestrian Improvements Program (Tuesday, September 2, 2025) This agenda item requests Mayor and Commission approval of the Proposed Project Concepts for TSPLOST 2023 Project 26, W. Broad & Hancock Neighborhood Pedestrian Improvements Program. It also requests authorization to advance the Project Concepts to the Preliminary Plan Phase and the use of Pond & Company to complete the work. 18. SPLOST 2020 Project 06, Fire Station 5 Replacement, Property Acquisition (Tuesday, September 2, 2025) The proposed action is to grant the Mayor authority to sign the Option Purchase Agreement for approximately 7.52 acres from identified as tax parcel 303 010J (4730 Old Lexington Road) to meet the needs of the Fire Station #5 Relocation Project. 19. Hawthorne Avenue and Oglethorpe Avenue Intersection Improvement Project – ROW Acquisition and Eminent Domain Resolution (Tuesday, September 2, 2025)  This agenda item requests Mayor and Commission adopt a resolution authorizing the use of eminent domain, as necessary, to acquire of rights-of-ways and/or easements to support the Hawthorne Avenue and Oglethorpe Avenue Intersection Improvement Project. F. New business 20. TSPLOST 2023 Project 15, Sycamore Drive Pedestrian Improvements Project – Preliminary Design Approval The function of the project is to provide sidewalks and cross-walks to provide transit connectivity and ADA access improvements in the area. This agenda item requests Mayor and Commission (M&C) take the following action: 1) approve of the Proposed Preliminary Design for the Sycamore Drive Pedestrian Improvement Project (TSPLOST 2023 Project 15); 2) authorize staff to acquire necessary right-of-way and easements; 3) authorize staff to advance the project to the Bid & Award Phase. 21. TSPLOST 2023 Project 17, Stonehenge Neighborhood Area Pedestrian Improvements Project (Sub- Project #1), Proposed Project Concept This agenda item request Mayor & Commission approval of the Proposed Project Concept for the Stonehenge Neighborhood Pedestrian Improvements, which focuses on sidewalks, safe crossings, and traffic calming measures along Old Monroe Road and other major street in the neighborhood. 22. Water & Wastewater Connection Fee Exemption for Meissner: Substantial Economic Development and Employment Growth This item requests a water and wastewater connection fees exemption for Meissner, which is creating substantial economic development and employment growth by investing $250 Million into a new campus in Athena Industrial Park and creating 1,785 new jobs in Athens-Clarke County. 23. Middle Oconee Water Reclamation Facilities Operations Building – Design Approve a task order to design a new operations building for the Middle Oconee Water Reclamation Facility. 24. Leaf and Limb Contingency Funding Request for New FY26 Positions The Solid Waste Department is requesting the use of contingency funding to expedite hiring of the four new positions that were approved in the FY26 Annual Operating and Capital Budget to expand the Leaf and Limb Program. 25. Athens-Clarke County Local Emergency Operation Plan Adoption This agenda item seeks the approval and adoption of the Local Emergency Operations Plan that has been created to provide guidance and direction for response to and recovery from all levels of disaster. This plan defines roles and responsibilities held by local government and state partners to respond to emergencies, both planned and unplanned. 26. GOC Report: Recommend Updates to BAC Procedures This report details the recommendations of the Government Operations Committee as it relates to the structure and operations of locally controlled Boards, Authorities, and Commissions of the Unified Government. 27. LRC Report: Noise Ordinance Recommendation for AR-Zone The Legislative Review Committee recommends adoption of the text amendment to the noise ordinance, which extends noise ordinance restrictions to commercial entities operating in the Agricultural Residential (AR) zoning district. 28. Family Connection-Communities in Schools of Athens request to update their Neighborhood Leaders Program performance metrics  Staff is seeking approval for the Family Connection-Communities in Schools of Athens Neighborhood Leaders program to change their performance measures for the duration of their renewal contract currently ending in FY27 (June 30, 2027 and subject to funding), to more accurately represent the work being done post the COVID- 19 Pandemic. 29. Classic City Heights Project Affordable Housing Cooperation Agreement This agenda items requests approval of an intergovernmental agreement between Athens-Clarke County and the Athens Housing Authority to support development of the Classic City Heights LIHTC affordable housing development project. The proposed agreement includes an annual Payment In Lieu of Taxes (PILOT) arrangement, reduction of sewer and water request, and terms for an Affordable Housing Fund loan. 30. North Downtown Athens Phase 2 Intergovernmental Agreement This agenda report proposes an intergovernmental agreement needed to support Phase 2 of the North Downtown Athens Redevelopment Project. To support this $64.5 million public-private-partnership project, the Mayor and Commission are being asked to approve a $3.5 million soft-pay loan from the Affordable Housing Special Revenue Fund, a utility connection fee waiver, and a payment in lieu of taxes agreement. A qualified interpreter for the hearing impaired is available upon request at least 10 days in advance of this meeting. Please call (706) 613-3031 (TDD {706} 613-3115) to request an interpreter or for more information. Wireless access will be available for general use shortly before, during, and shortly after each Mayor and Commission meeting. Connect to ACC_Guest Free parking deck vouchers for citizens attending the monthly Regular Voting Meetings, Work Sessions, and Agenda Setting Meetings of the Mayor and Commission held at City Hall are available on the 2nd floor of City Hall.