Mayor & Commission Meetings

The meeting will be streamed live and available on-demand through YouTube (www.youtube.com/accgov), the YouTube app, and www.accgov.com/videos, as well as on- demand through the ACCGov Roku channel. WORK SESSION AGENDA UNIFIED GOVERNMENT OF ATHENS-CLARKE COUNTY, GEORGIA Tuesday, January 13, 2026 – 1:00 PM Planning Auditorium I. Call to Order (1:00 p.m.) Mayor Kelly Girtz II. Items for Future Consideration A. GOC Recommendation – Leasing Policy ................................... Andrew Saunders Interim-Assistant Manager B. Recommendation from GICH Committee ........................................... Melinda Lord For Affordable Housing Housing & Community Development Director C. National EMS Semi-Annual .......................................................... Chief Nate Moss Performance Update Fire Chief III. Adjourn NOTE: All reports are draft. No final action is taken at this work session. The Work Session is open to the public; however, public comments are not received. LEASING POLICY UPDATE Andrew Saunders January 13, 2026 Purpose: To Review Changes to the Unified Leasing Policy as Recommended by the Government Operations Committee Overview • History • Current Policy • Challenges • Proposed Changes • Next Steps 2  HISTORY 2019 2021 - 2022 2024 Mayor Tasks GOC with Creating Rent Deferred Rent Deferred a Policy Rent Deferred M&C Adopt Policy Recommended by GOC Topic Returned to GOC GOC Recommends Rent Deferred GOC Recommends Policy Update Rent Deferred for Initial Year Topic Returned to GOC GOC Recommends Policy Update 2020 2023 2025 3  Addresses Tenant Rents Category • For-Profit: Market Rate Unless Affiliated with ACCGov Economic Development Activities • Federal or State Agency: As Recommended by the Manager • All Others: Formulaic THE CURRENT POLICY Establishes Other Uniform Provisions • Utility Payments • Maintenance Expectations • Rental Revenue Share • Short Term Leases 4  THE FORMULAIC APPROACH • Base Rents Calculated Using: Location, Size, Space Type, Landscape Services • Rental Caps • No Agency Shall Pay More Than 25% of Average Annual Income • Agencies Receiving $60,000+ in Annual ACCGov Funding Have Rents at $1 • Rental Reductions • Agencies Receiving Between $1 and $59,999 in Annual ACCGov Funding Have Rents Discounted by 25% • Agencies with a M&C Accepted Community Benefits Agreement Have Rents Discounted 80% 5  • Aligned with the Strategic Commitments of ACCGov • Intentionally Open Ended The strategic commitment and goals of the Mayor & Commission of the Unified Government of Athens-Clarke COMMUNITY County include: 1) Healthy, Livable, Sustainable Athens-Clarke BENEFITS County; 2) Transportation Mobility and Connectivity; 3) Shared AGREEMENTS Prosperity; 4) Safe and Prepared Community; 5) Informed and Engaged Citizens; and 6) Accountable and Responsive Government. How does your mission, goals, and services align with these goals? 6 BASE LEASE RATES – BEFORE TENANT-BASED REDUCTIONS Facility Location Size Base Cost Athens Neighborhood Theater 115 Grady Ave. 3,391 $40,692 Athens Regional Library 2025 Baxter St. 85,440 $961,200 Brumby House 280 E. Dougherty St. 3,381 $56,530 Central Medical Services Complex 345 N. Harris St. 26,040 $97,650 College Avenue Deck (Space B) 287 College Ave. 1,180 $16,142 Miriam Moore Center – Health Service Center 402 McKinley Dr. 9,132 $32,244 Miriam Moore Center – Suite A 410 McKinley Dr. 2,822 $9,030 Miriam Moore Center – Suite B 410 McKinley Dr. 3,883 $12,426 Miriam Moore Center – Suite C 410 McKinley Dr. 1,137 $4,548 North Avenue Building – North Wing 250 North Ave. 17,762 $53,286 Old Fire Hall #2 489 Prince Ave. 2,862 $10,296 Taylor-Grady House 634 Prince Ave. 12,320 $152,460 The Cottage 3019 Lexington Rd. 3,369 $40,428 West Broad Service Center 300 Henderson Ext. 1,611 $5,800 7  CHALLENGES Community Benefits No Differentiation Policy Does Not Account Agreement Risk of Being Between for Tenant Investments Arbitrary and Capricious Quasigovernmental that Offset ACCGov and May Not Sufficiently Agencies and Nonprofit Costs Demonstrate the Absence Agencies of a Gratuity 8  PROPOSED CHANGES • Group Quasigovernmental Entities with State and Local Agencies • Allow for Rental Reduction for Agencies that Make Capital Investments that Reduce ACCGov’s Costs • Price Nonprofit Leases Using a Flat Rate of $6/Square Foot • Allow for Nonprofit Lease Reductions for Agencies that Demonstrate a Substantial Public Benefit • 50% Reduction for Meeting 6 of 13 Criteria • 100% Reduction for Meeting At Least 9 Criteria • Replace Accelerated Wear and Tear Modifying Rates with a Damages Clause 9  1. Active Registration: The organization is registered as a 501(c)(3) with the Internal Revenue Service and is registered as a nonprofit corporation in the State of Georgia. 2. Board Oversight: The organization can provide a list of the Board of Directors, that includes relevant names, roles, and terms. 3. Organizational Governance: The organization can provide a copy of bylaws that have been adopted or affirmed within the past five years. COMMUNITY 4. Service Cost: The organization can provide an annual report, BENEFITS CRITERIA scholarship documents, program document, or affidavit that they have at least 3 significant programs that are offered at no cost to participants. 5. Programmatic Utilization: The organization demonstrates that at least 75% of the facility will be used to provide programs and services (i.e. not administration). 6. Facility Access: The organization provides evidence of a MOU with another agency or a public use policy that defines how the facility will be available to meet other community needs. 10  7. Facility Utilization: The organization demonstrates that the leased facility will be in use either directly, or via a formal agreement with community partners, for programs or services at least 25 hours per week. 8. Fiscal Stewardship: The organization can provide budget documents or meeting minutes indicating they adopt a budget on an annual basis. 9. Diversified Financial Support: The organization can demonstrate that at least 50% of their funding originates from sources not awarded by ACCGov, as determined by the most recent fiscal COMMUNITY year or using a three-year average. BENEFITS CRITERIA CONTINUED 10. Financial Filings: The organization can provide evidence of filing Form 990 or a Form 1023 for the most recently completed tax year. 11. Fiscal Accountability: The organization receives annual audits or financial statements prepared by a 3rd party CPA. 12. Service Access: The organization provides evidence that they offer bilingual or ADA-accessible programs. In the context of ADA accessibility, the focus is programmatic and not based on facility access. 13. Performance Transparency: The organization prepares and shares annual summaries of organizational outcomes. 11  CHANGES TO LEASE RATES Prior New Moderate High Base Base Community Community Facility Location Size Cost Cost Benefit Benefit Athens Neighborhood Theater 115 Grady Ave. 3,391 $40,692 $20,346 $10,173 $1 Athens Regional Library 2025 Baxter St. 85,440 $961,200 Occupied by a Quasigovernmental Agency Brumby House 280 E. Dougherty St. 3,381 $56,530 $20,286 $10,143 $1 Central Medical Services Complex 345 N. Harris St. 26,040 $97,650 Occupied by a Quasigovernmental Agency College Avenue Deck (Space B) 287 College Ave. 1,180 $16,142 Occupied by a Quasigovernmental Agency Miriam Moore Center – Health Service Center 402 McKinley Dr. 9,132 $32,244 $54,792 $27,396 $1 Miriam Moore Center – Suite A 410 McKinley Dr. 2,822 $9,030 Occupied by a Quasigovernmental Agency Miriam Moore Center – Suite B 410 McKinley Dr. 3,883 $12,426 $23,298 $11,649 $1 Miriam Moore Center – Suite C 410 McKinley Dr. 1,137 $4,548 $6,822 $3,411 $1 North Avenue Building – North Wing 250 North Ave. 17,762 $53,286 Occupied by a Quasigovernmental Agency Old Fire Hall #2 489 Prince Ave. 2,862 $10,296 $17,172 $8,586 $1 Taylor-Grady House 634 Prince Ave. 12,320 $152,460 $73,920 $36,960 $1 The Cottage 3019 Lexington Rd. 3,369 $40,428 $20,214 $12,128 $1 West Broad Service Center 300 Henderson Ext. 1,611 $5,800 $9,666 $4,833 $1 12  NEXT STEPS January - Agenda Setting Session February - M&C Voting Meeting February-April - Tenant Engagement May/June - Lease Renewals 13 QUESTIONS 14 Expand Access to Homeownership Housing Solutions for a Growing City  Zoning Defined At a basic level, zoning is how government regulates land uses and densities on private land in most US cities and suburbs. That is to say, zoning controls how big of a building you can build on a particular lot and whether you can use that building for any given residential, commercial or industrial use.  The Effects of Zoning Housing Affordability: Zoning restricts the supply of housing in desirable areas, leading to soaring prices and an affordability crisis. Segregation and Inequality: Single- family zoning effectively excludes lower-income families and people of color from affluent neighborhoods with better opportunities and services. Urban Sprawl: Mandates for large lots and the separation of residential and commercial areas The earliest zoning map created by Athens Planning Commission force car dependency, increasing was in 1955. emissions and making communities less walkable.  What is legal to build in Athens 7,100 Square Foot Single Family 760,000 Square Foot Mixed Use What is ILLEGAL to Build in Athens Workforce Housing Cottage Courts 528-1582 Square Foot Homes Six Suggestions for Zoning Reforms to Increase the Housing Supply and Affordability for Athens  1. Permit accessory dwelling units on all parcels zoned “single family” (all RS-zones) • Remove the ban on “kitchen cooking facilities” (stoves) in guest houses • Allow attached as well as detached guest houses (guest suites, or “mother-in-law suites”). 2. Legalize infill townhomes (single-family attached units) • Permit townhomes/ “attached single family” homes for sites less than 2 acres (currently allowed only on sites greater than 2 acres) • Allow up to 3 units per normal lot  3. Remove barriers to smaller, less expensive homes, including manufactured homes • Remove minimum square footage requirement for single and multi-family units • Direct planning staff to develop a proposal to allow modern manufactured homes in all residential zones 4. Permit homeowners to subdivide their lot, by reducing or eliminating “minimum street frontage” requirements • Legalize access easements for up to 5 lots, or flag lots, to allow owners to subdivide deep parcels (this will create more buildable lots close to jobs, schools, and amenities) • Permit use of easements for sewer and water connection  FLAG LOTS a In the top left picture above, A, B, and C are flag lots, (while D and E are “front lots.”) The other two pictures show how an access easement or courtyard development can be used to create more homes on existing land. 5. Legalize and encourage “starter homes” in all residential districts • Expand housing choices by allowing small- lot subdivision for single-family homes throughout all residential zones • Incentivize construction of smaller (and thus, less costly) new homes by allowing more units on smaller lots for local builders who build smaller homes. 6. Reduce Parking Minimums Review the city's parking requirements and identify areas where reductions may be feasible to support smaller-scale infill development. Off street parking mandates greatly increase housing prices; reductions help small local developers and keep neighborhoods more livable. DRAFT 11/07/25 To: GICH A*ordable Homeownership Subcommittee From: Charles Smith, Danielle Gilmer, Matthew Hall Re: Family-friendly changes to the ACC Zoning Ordinance to reduce cost barriers to homeownership At our last subcommittee meeting, Commissioner Thornton charged the three of us with developing a list of zoning code revisions to address aDordable homeownership. This memo summarizes our proposals for the subcommittee’s consideration. We have identified six proposed changes for the Subcommittee’s consideration, which are summarized on p.2 and discussed more extensively thereafter. History/Background: The original purpose of Zoning was to promote the health, safety, and welfare of residents, by separating residential uses from industrial or other noxious uses. But after the U.S. Supreme Court held that racial segregation in housing was unconstitutional, America cities changed course: They used zoning to achieve economic and racial segregation by outlawing less expensive forms of housing (such as townhomes, backyard cottages, small apartments, and others) in most neighborhoods. This approach has eDectively kept people with low and moderate incomes out of most neighborhoods. It has also created a housing shortage which driven housing prices and rents higher and higher. Athens has layers of government rules that restrict what can be built – with the eDect of banning the most aDordable housing types. And those government rules have stifled the creation of adequate housing supply to keep up with our growing local economy and population. Single-family detached homes are the most expensive type of housing to build and to buy, and they require large property tax increases to pay for maintaining their sewer, water, and road infrastructure. Single-family detached homes are popular – but they should not be the ONLY available housing type. Yet ACC’s zoning code has banned every other type of housing on nearly 85% of our residential land. The proposals in this memo are designed to “RE-LEGALIZE” a variety of smaller, more aDordable, types of housing, to provide greater choice and meet the needs of Athens’ population. This is just the first step. A complete revision of our zoning code is a large task that would require a significant commitment of staD time from the city government and significant opportunities for public input. But there are a handful of simple tweaks that could begin to address the problem with very minor changes to our zoning code. This 1 DRAFT 11/07/25 package of suggestions is not a complete fix, but they represent “low-hanging fruit” – simple, small changes that could facilitate creation of more housing units at lower prices. Summary of Proposals: (1) Permit accessory dwelling units on all parcels zoned “single family” (all RS-zones) • Remove the ban on “kitchen cooking facilities” (stoves) in guest houses • Allow attached as well as detached guest houses (guest suites, or “mother- in-law suites”). (2) Legalize infill townhomes (single-family attached units) • Permit townhomes/ “attached single family” homes for sites less than 2 acres (currently allowed only on sites greater than 2 acres) • Allow up to 3 units per normal lot, perhaps with square footage limits • Reduce required lot width for attached homes to 20 feet, and lot size to 1/3 of the underlying zoning lot size (already allowed on lots 2 acres or more) (3) Remove barriers to smaller homes, including manufactured homes a. Remove minimum square foot requirements for single and multi-family units • Reduce/eliminate the 600-1000 square foot minimum for single family homes, to allow “tiny homes” • Reduce/eliminate the 450 square foot minimum for multi-family units to allow smaller, cheaper apartments b. Direct staP to develop a proposal for Commission consideration, to allow modern manufactured homes in residential zones (4) Permit homeowners to subdivide their lot, by reducing or eliminating “minimum street frontage” requirements • Legalize access easements for up to 5 lots, or flag lots, to allow owners to subdivide deep parcels (this will create more buildable lots close to jobs, schools, and amenities) • Permit use of easements for sewer and water connection (5) Legalize and encourage “starter homes” in all residential districts • Expand housing choices by allowing small-lot subdivision for single-family homes throughout all residential zones • Incentivize construction of smaller (and thus, less costly) new homes by allowing more units on smaller lots for builders who build smaller homes. (6) Direct staP to review our parking requirements and recommend areas where reductions in required parking spaces may be advisable (current parking requirements prioritize parking for cars over housing for people). 2 DRAFT 11/07/25 Discussion and Explanations: (1) Permit additional or accessory dwelling units on parcels zoned “single family” (in all RS-zones) The Problem: our zoning code allows backyard cottages, but ONLY if they do not have a stove. This is backwards. Owners can build a guest house suitable for guests or Airbnb use, but not suitable for long term occupancy by Athens residents. This prevents homeowners from providing a home for an aging parent, an adult child, or a teacher, nurse, city employee, or other moderate income member of our community. Many people have extra land in the backyard, or extra square footage within their existing home, and would like to either build a new accessory dwelling unit or convert an existing accessory structure or portion of their home into a dwelling unit. These new units could house a family member (either an aging parent or young-adult child) at low cost, or could be rented to other members of the community at relatively low cost, thus generating income to help the homeowner aDord their mortgage, property taxes, and other expenses. It also can help residents of these smaller units reduce their living costs to facilitate saving for a downpayment to enable them to pursue homeownership. Our code currently allows new accessory residential structures (“guest houses”), provided that they do not have “kitchen cooking facilities.” In other words, a homeowner can build a small backyard cottage today in every zoning district, so long as it does not include a stove. We believe this is perverse – a stove simply makes the unit suitable for long term occupancy. It does not make sense to allow such cottages to be built for short-term occupancy (as an Airbnb, or for the homeowner’s out of town guests), but not for long-term occupancy. Our proposal is to simply change the definition of “guest house” – which is already a permitted use in all residential districts – to remove the ban on “kitchen cooking facilities.” Also, guest houses are currently defined as detached accessory structures. But some homeowners may wish to build an attached guest house or guest suite (such as a room over an attached garage, or a separated portion of their existing house with its own entrance). To accommodate this choice, we would also propose modifying the definition of “guest house” in Code section 9-2, to include an attached guest house or suite. This has the same advantages as the first part of the proposal, but expands the opportunity to more 3 DRAFT 11/07/25 people, and can also often be done at a lower cost, since it uses existing square footage in an existing structure.1 (2) Legalize infill townhomes (“attached single family” units) for smaller, infill lots (currently allowed only on lots larger than 2 acres, which eEectively bans them in existing neighborhoods) The Problem: our zoning code ePectively prohibits townhomes on nearly all of our residential zoned land, thus denying an aPordable choice to buyers who would prefer a more aPordable option. Townhomes are often the first step on the homeownership ladder for buyers. Attached units such as townhomes have lower construction costs per unit, and also reduce the costs of the land under each unit, by enabling more than one unit to be built on a parcel that would otherwise have only one home. Townhomes (also called “single-family attached” units) are very familiar and common in many cities – but not in Athens. The simple reason is that our zoning code forbids them entirely in RS-15, RS-25, and RS-40 zones (63% of all residential land in Athens), and eDectively forbids them in all existing neighborhoods, by permitting them only on 2-acre or larger parcels.2 Banning attached single-family homes is diDicult to justify – it does not protect the health, safety, or welfare of Athenians, and it has the eDect of removing this relatively aDordable housing product from most of our city. A builder wishing to build townhomes in Athens currently would have to seek numerous variances, or a Planned Development (PD) rezone to allow townhomes – and this process is so expensive and uncertain that most builders simply will not do it. 1 Note: re possible owner-occupancy requirement. Some cities that have legalized “accessory dwelling units” or guest houses/suites in this manner have chosen to limit the issuance of such permits to owner-occupied properties. This is something for the subcommittee to consider. 2 ACC Ordinance section 9-7-2, footnotes L(2) and L(3) state that “attached single family” units are allowed in RS-5 and RS-8 zones, but only on a subdivision of 2 acres or more, and only if they are more than 100 feet from the perimeter lot line – thus, they are eDectively banned except on large greenfield subdivisions. This excludes this form of housing from our existing neighborhoods entirely. 4 DRAFT 11/07/25 Our proposal is to permit townhomes in single-family districts, and to permit up to 3 of them on a normal-sized lot. Allowing more, and smaller, housing units in our existing neighborhoods will enable first-time homebuyers, and others looking for a “starter home” to find one anywhere in Athens. The required text changes are small: we would revise the use table in section 9-7-2 and the “General Regulations” in section 9-7-3 to permit “single-family attached” units on existing lots in all single-family zones, where they meet the other requirements of our code, and to state that the minimum lot size for such units is 33% of the minimum lot size for the zoning district. It would also state that the required lot width for such units is 20 feet, and permit them to be built with the same setbacks from adjacent properties that apply to single-family detached homes. This will have several benefits for Athens: It will provide more housing choices at lower cost for aspiring homeowners; it will enable Athens to more eDiciently use its existing road, sewer, and water infrastructure, and provide more property tax revenue to maintain that infrastructure; and it will enable builders to more eDiciently use our limited available land to provide new housing opportunities on the lower rungs of the housing ladder, in existing neighborhoods, close to schools, jobs, parks, and other amenities. (3) Remove barriers to smaller, less expensive homes, including manufactured homes a. Remove minimum square footage requirements that arbitrarily ban smaller, more aEordable units The Problem: our zoning code prohibits small homes and apartments. Many existing homes in Athens would be illegal to build under current “minimum square footage” rules. Code section 9-15-15 requires that every single-family residential unit must be at least 1000 square feet in most zoning districts, and 600 square feet in others. Multifamily units (apartments) must be at least 450 square feet. This prohibits construction of “tiny homes”, and it also applies to modular and manufactured homes. Although we believe that most housing units will be larger than those figures, because that is what most people want, some people would prefer a smaller home at a lower price – such as a “tiny home.” Those are less expensive to build, and thus naturally more aDordable. The sole purpose of setting arbitrarily high minimum square footage requirements is to increase the cost of housing – which does not serve the health, safety, or welfare of 5 DRAFT 11/07/25 Athenians. A housing unit can comply with all building and sanitation codes without exceeding 200 square feet. We would therefore suggest the committee allow greater housing choice by eliminating the minimum square footage requirements and allowing people to build housing units that fit their needs. b. Direct planning staE to develop a proposal to allow modern manufactured homes in residential zones The Problem: Our zoning code bans manufactured homes in nearly all of our residential zones. This deprives Athenians of access to a high-quality, and relatively inexpensive alternative to on-site construction. Modular and manufactured homes are, on average, smaller and much more aDordable than site-built homes. Many decades ago, Athens banned manufactured homes from most residential areas because – at that time – manufactured homes had a reputation for low quality and poor design. The technology, quality, and design of manufactured homes has advanced a great deal in recent decades, but Athens’s zoning code has not been updated, and still forbids them, with only narrow exceptions. In order to give Athenians access to more aDordable housing options, we propose to direct staD to review the appropriateness of permitting manufactured homes in some or all of our residential zones. (4) Allow homeowners to subdivide their lot, by reducing or eliminating “minimum street frontage” requirements (allow flag lots and access easements) The Problem: Many lots in Athens are large enough to fit multiple homes. But our zoning code forbids most of them from being divided, because we require that each lot have a large “frontage” on a street—at least 50 feet, and in many neighborhoods up to 100 feet. This prevents owners from subdividing large lots, and thus artificially restricts the supply of buildable land in our existing neighborhoods. Permitting “front/back” lot splits is a way to add new homes in existing neighborhoods – usually smaller, and more aPordable homes. It also allows homeowners who would like to pull money out of their homes the flexibility to pull some wealth out of their land without selling their home. Athens has a street grid that was laid out a century ago, at a time when many people kept domestic livestock and grew significant amounts of their own food. Thus, there are many parcels that are very deep, and with yards far bigger than modern households may need or want. 6 DRAFT 11/07/25 We can’t create more land in this county, but we can create more buildable lots by allowing homeowners to divide their large lots. This will serve aDordability in two ways: First, it will enable construction of more new homes on smaller parcels; second, it will enable existing homeowners to deed a part of their lot over to a family member to build their own home on it, or even to sell a part of their lot to someone else, creating generational wealth to support themselves or help their family. The problem is our “minimum street frontage” rules in Code section 9-7-3. Because most large lots are far deeper than they are wide, subdividing them often requires creating one or more “flag lots.” A “flag lot” is one that is shaped like a flag flying on a pole. (See image below, for three diDerent ways that a large lot might be subdivided to create more housing opportunity for more people). In the top left picture below, A, B, and C are flag lots, while D and E are “front lots.”) The other two pictures show how an access easement or courtyard development can be used to create more homes on existing land. Athens outlawed flag lots very recently – approximately 15 years ago – by adding a provision to Code that required that every lot must have a minimum street frontage of 50 to 7 DRAFT 11/07/25 75 feet (in RS-5, RS-8, and RS-15 zones), and even more in RS-25 and RS-40. The sole purpose of this rule is to prevent subdivision of large lots. This harms aDordability and reduces the available choices in housing, while also creating an unsustainable burden on our road, sewer, and water infrastructure. And it does nothing to promote the health or welfare of Athenians. Our proposal is to eliminate or substantially reduce the “minimum street frontage” requirements, so that large lots can be divided to allow more homes to be built in our neighborhoods. Each lot created should have access to the street for cars and underground utility service, as well as firetruck access as may be required by the fire marshall, but these safety and sanitation concerns are served by a 15 foot access. Accordingly, we would suggest reducing the lot-width/street frontage requirements to 15, or at most 20 feet. Relatedly, although many homes in Athens are served by sewer and water via easements across their neighbor’s parcel, our public utilities department has forbidden this practice in recent years. This rule makes it much more diDicult to subdivide large in- town parcels, and to build tiny homes or “kinda tiny” homes. We suggest directing Utilities staD to conduct a cost-benefit analysis on this rule, and to develop a revised policy to permit utility easements in order to facilitate development of smaller homes on smaller infill lots. (5) Legalize and encourage “starter homes” in all residential districts The Problem: our zoning code requires a large (and expensive) piece of land for every home –which makes large, expensive homes the only home type that is economically feasible to build. Allowing smaller lots would enable builders to build smaller homes – which are naturally more aPordable. Many people would prefer smaller, more aPordable homes, but our zoning code makes them impossible to build at a profit. Similar zoning provisions were adopted in many U.S. cities for the purpose of racial and economic segregation, and they have had that ePect here in Athens. Large single-family detached homes, on large lots, are great for some people – particularly families with children. But nearly half of Athens’ households consist of only 1 or 2 people, and many of those would prefer a smaller home. This includes older couples wanting to downsize but stay in their neighborhood, young couples, and individuals living alone. Many of those households would choose smaller homes on smaller lots if given the choice. But our zoning code eDectively bans those types of homes, which results in a lack 8 DRAFT 11/07/25 of housing choice for residents. A few statistics illustrate the point that Athens’s zoning code does not fit the needs of our current population: • 85% of Athens’ residential land is zoned for single-family detached houses only. These are the most expensive type of home, because they have the highest land costs for any home type. And high land costs require builders to build larger homes on each parcel in order to make a profit. • 63% of the residential land in Athens is zoned for very large lots (15,000 square feet of land, or more, required for each home).3 With a rapidly-growing population, requiring so much land for each household artificially restricts the supply of new housing, and thus drives up the price of housing beyond what most Athenians can aDord. • The smallest lot allowed under our zoning code is 5,000 square feet (RS-5). And only 5.5% of the residential land in Athens is zoned RS-5. • Roughly half of households consist of 1 or 2 people, while many Athens neighborhoods contain exclusively 3 to 4 bedroom, or larger, homes. Our proposal is to permit builders to subdivide large parcels served by city sewer and water into new lots smaller than the underlying zoning district’s minimum, provided that the homes built on those parcels are smaller (and thus more aPordable for more of Athens’ residents). This “small lot subdivision” approach has been successful in cites around the country. It makes smaller “starter” homes legally permissible, and just as important, it makes them financially feasible for builders to build at a profit, by reducing the land cost for each new home. The proposal would require a text amendment stating that existing lots in any residential zoning district could be subdivided according to the following criteria: Infill small-lot subdivision: Minimum lot size shall be reduced Provided that the homes to be to the following percentage of the built on the newly-created lots underlying zoning district’s do not exceed the following minimum lot size: number of square feet: 80% 2000 65% 1700 50% 1400 33% 1200 3 22.5% of the residential land is zoned RS-15 (requiring 15,000 square foot lots), and over 40% is zoned RS-25 or RS-40 (requiring lots of 25,000, or 40,000 square feet). 9 DRAFT 11/07/25 [Note: these percentages and square footage figures are a starting point for the Subcommittee’s consideration. The committee may want to change the details, but the basic idea is to incentivize builders to build smaller homes on smaller lots, which will be naturally more aEordable.] (6) Reduce or eliminate required parking minimums The Problem: Athens requires significant amounts of parking for all residential developments. For smaller households who want to live in smaller units, such as townhomes, cottages, ADUs, or tiny homes, the current parking requirements may be excessive and may make certain kinds of housing impossible to build on existing lots. Alternative types of housing, such as ADUs, townhomes, tiny homes, etc., are often occupied by 1 or 2 people. Those households often own only 1 car, yet Athens’ zoning code requires at least 2 parking spots per unit for almost all unit types. For smaller homes, this may mean that driveways and parking take more square footage on the lot than housing for people. These requirements also increase required impervious surface, which increases stormwater runoD and stormwater control costs. Many cities around the country have reduced or eliminated parking requirements, and have found that production of new housing increased as a result. Thus, we propose that the Mayor and Commission direct planning staD to consider whether reductions in parking requirements in our code would be appropriate in light of Athens’ priorities of improving aDordability while promoting the health, safety and welfare of Athenians. 10 Memorandum Of Understanding agreement with Piedmont-Athens Regional Medical Center Semi-annual performance presentation to Mayor and Commission This quarterly update provides a summary of EMS performance elements for Athens-Clarke County, highlighting key data points and observed trends. The intent is to keep the Mayor and Commission informed of service levels, response performance, and any emerging patterns that may influence future EMS needs.  EMS SystemProcess KeyPerformance Indicators FY26 Q1 July 25 – Sept. 25 OUR MISSION Help our community become safer and more resilient by providing professional services and protection with integrity. Honesty Dependability Teamwork Professionalism Camaraderie  System Structure Key Performance Indicators Total Number of 24hr. *Medical First Responder Vehicles: 15 . Apparatus Type Apparatus Available for EMS Calls Engine 9 HazMat Unit 1 Rescue Unit 1 Support Apparatus 1 Truck or Aerial 3 Total 15 Station Apparatus Type Station 1 Station 2 Station 3 Station 4 Station 5 Station 6 Station 7 Station 8 Station 9 Engine 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 Aerial 1 1 1 Rescue Unit 1 HazMat Unit 1 Support Apparatus 1 *Medical First Responder Vehicle - means a motor vehicle registered by the Department for the purpose of providing response to emergencies.  2. System Saturation Commitment Avg. # of Units Count Duration Total EMS Capable Apparatus: 1 2942 0:16:29 15 2 1829 0:16:21 3 891 0:17:23 4 451 0:18:22 0 High Utilization Events (HUE)* 5 265 0:18:34 6 182 0:18:59 7 140 0:20:37 8 100 0:21:17 9 50 0:16:28 Full Saturation: 0 Times 10 29 0:16:43 11 17 0:15:59 12 4 0:13:24 Incident Types Include: Fire and 13 1 0:22:45 EMS *A high utilization event is any period in time that more than 90% of apparatus are on calls 4. Coverage Zones Number of EMS Incidents: Year over Year 541 556 512 530 493 430 2025 2026 2025 2026 2025 2026 Jul Aug Sep Incident Type Breakdown Incident Type Group FY26 Q1 FY25 Q1 2026 - 1st Qtr. 600 Good Intent 700 False Alarm 100 Fire 100 - Fire 73 102 16% 3% Call 10% 200 - Overpressure Rupture, Explosion, 1 2 200 Explosion (No Overheat Fire) 0% 300 - Rescue & EMS 1579 1483 500 Service Call 400 - Hazardous Condition 205 208 5% 500 - Service Call 135 149 600 - Good Intent Call 279 243 300 EMS 58.46% 700 - False Alarm 419 430 800 - Severe Weather & Natural Disaster 5 6 400 Hazardous 900 - Special Incident 5 4 Condition (No Fire) 8% Grand Total 2701 2627  System Process Key Performance Indicators 2. Total Response Time 96% 7:41 1579 of EMS EMS Response Responses Under Time 90% of the EMS Incidents 9 Minutes Time 4:45 Average Response Time 2184 EMS Apparatus Responses System Process Key Performance Indicators 3. Concurrent Incidents Incidents # of Occurrences Avg. Duration 1 1183 0:21:24 2 263 0:22:29 3 32 0:21:18 4 3 0:20:57 There were 3 times that there were 4 or more EMS calls happening at the same time. System Process Key Performance Indicators 5. Chief Complaint : Top 10 Chief Complaints Chest Pain / Discomfort 53 Shortness of breath 37 Seizure 28 General symptoms 16 Unconscious 2 No Complaints 2 Adult General Exam 1 System Clinical Care & Outcome KeyPerformance Indicators 1. Bystander CPR 2. Bystander AED 5. CPR Performed BYSTANDER CPR BYSTANDER AED CPR PERFORMED 3 0 16 PATIENTS TREATED WITH NARCAN 6  National EMS Key Performance Indicators FY26 Q1 July 25 - Sept. 25 Blue Cross/Blue Shield in network 9/1/2025  System Structure • 1A. Total Response Vehicles: Number of 24/12 Hour Ambulance in Service: Nine with one 12-hour QRV with Paramedic response and One Paramedic Supervisor in QRV. • An additional five ambulances are available to the system; they are 12-hour trucks that are primarily IFT; however, they can be used in the system for overload. Station Location Total Number Type Total Center Station 4 QRV 2 East Side Station 4 Transporting 11 Head Quarters 2 Ambulance West Side 1  Total Response Vehicles by Type 1B ALS-Paramedic BLS-Advance Level Location 301/302-24/7 311-12hr Eastside 307-12hr 304/305-24/7 308 12hr Center 310-13hr QRV-1 12hr float 325 (Supervisor) Headquarters 401/403-24/7 402 24/7 West Side 4. Coverage Zones Station Units Center 304,305,310,308, QRV-1 West 402 East 301,302,311,307 HQ 325,403,401 2. System Saturation System Saturation 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0 System Saturation • During the previous quarter, there were 12 times that no unit was available to respond or had a prolonged response due to distance. Calls Per Month Total Calls Sept Aug July 1600 1650 1700 1750 1800 1850 Total Calls Raw Data • July 2025-1671 July 2024-1582 • August 2025-1809 August 2024-1811 • September 2025-1795 September 2024-1627 3. Percent ALS vs. BLS • ALS Units Staffed: 77.8%(Staffed with Paramedic/AEMT) • BLS Units Staffed: 22.2% (Staffed with AEMTs) • 911 Ambulance- Ambulance dedicated to 911 response • IFT- Interfacility Ambulance (Not dedicated to 911, but are able to respond to 911 if system backs up) • 24-hour 911 unit is staffed with two 12-hour crews (AM/PM) System Processing-Urban • 1. Alarm Processing Time- Athens-Clarke: 91.8% • 2. Total Response Time (90%)- 08:58 (P1 and P2 Calls) • 3. Average Response Time: 6:37 (P-1 Calls) • 4. Total of Non-Transport 31.7% • 5. Total number of Concurrent incidents: 102 System Processing-Non-Urban • 1. Alarm Processing Time- Athens-Clarke: 90.6% • 2. Total Response Time (90%)-11:31 (P-1 and P-2 Calls) • 3. Total of Non-Transport 28.6% • 4. Total number of Concurrent incidents: 102 • Average total response time is 09:14 (Priority 1 Calls) Top 10 Chief Complaints Top 10 Chief Complaints Sick Person- 947 Falls-686 Breathing Problems-517 Well Person Check-443 Unconscious/Fainting- 403 Traffic Accidents- 342 Chest pain- 323 Psychiatric Problems-253 Convulsions/Seizures-192 Abdominal Pain-133 Clinical Care and Outcome • 1.Bystander CPR- 4 • 2.Bystander AED-1 • 3.Utstein Survival-1.16% • 5. CPR Performed-91 Athens-Clarke County Central Dispatch FY26 Q1 *APCO 15 Sec ACC911 Assisted CPR July 88.4% 1 August 87.4% 2 September 86.6% 5 Total: 87.9% 8 *Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO)