Commission - Regular Meeting

Tuesday, May 5th, 2026. And uh first order of business is actually to formally uh adjourn from the executive session that uh that we just have done. Can I hear a motion to adjurnn from the executive session? So move second. All right. I've got a motion from Commissioner Link. I have a second from Commissioner Myers. All in favor, please say I. I. Any opposed? All right. That uh that stands in adjournment. Um now I I do need the clerk to do a roll call for our monthly voting meeting of the Athens clar county mayor and commission. Davenport here. Link here. Taylor here. Wright present. Fisher here. Johnson here. Co Pepper here. Meyers

here. Then Hamby here. We have a call. my we special call.

Yes. Yeah. Let let the record reflect that, please. Uh all right, everyone. Uh as we do always, uh I'll just note our civility pledge provided to us by the Georgia Municipal Association. Uh that indicates that the way we govern ourselves is often as important as the positions we take. That our collective decisions will be better when differing views have had the opportunity to be fully vetted and considered. that all people have the right to be treated with respect, courtesy, and openness. That we value all input and commit to conduct ourselves at all times with civility and courtesy to each other, even on Cinco de Mayo when there's a margarita with your name on it waiting for you. Uh so, um first order of business is to approve the minutes of meetings of Tuesday, April 7th, Tuesday, April 21st, and non- voting meetings of Tuesday, April 14th, Thursday, April 16th, and Tuesday, April 21st. Do I hear such a motion?

So move. Second. All right. I've got a motion from Commissioner Wright. I have a second from Commissioner Taylor. All in favor, please say I. Any opposed. All right. Hearing none. Motion carries. Madam clerk, do we have any written communications this evening? We do not.

All right. Um, want to talk to everyone who's in the room about public input because we're going to have many opportunities for public input tonight. Um, we're going to have an opportunity for public input on the consent agenda. We're going to have separate public input opportunities on each of the planning and zoning items. And then we're going to have an opportunity for public input on old and new business. And then at the conclusion of the evening, we'll have an opportunity for public input on anything that's not on our agenda tonight. Um with one little exception. All of those are threeinut opportunities for public input. And you see the crafty light in front of the clerk. It will begin turn green when you provide your name and place of residence. It will turn yellow when you have 30 seconds remaining and then it will turn red when your three minutes have concluded. And I will thank you for your time with us tonight because we got to get on to the next speaker. The only exception to that is there is an opportunity regarding planning and zoning projects for somebody to sign up for up to I'm going to note this up to Mr. Ellison, a 10-minute opportunity uh in advance and uh you don't have to take that full 10 minutes, but you've signed up for that. And so I will acknowledge you when it comes time to talk about uh the 1185 Ogle Thorp Avenue project. Uh first thing I need to do tonight is ask members of the body, uh would you like to remove any item from the consent agenda that you did such a marvelous job cementing at our agenda setting meeting? All right. Hearing none, I'm going to go ahead and I'm going to ask uh uh Attorney Drake to read the ordinances before I call for public input.

Uh agenda items 1 through 8 have ordinances with them. So here we go. Agenda item number one, an ordinance to amend the FY2027 operating and capital budget for Athens, Clark County, Georgia, so as to provide grant funding if awarded from the housing and urban development HUD economic development initiatives via congressionally directed spending through the office of US Senator John Osaf for expenses related to rehabilitation of affordable housing units and for other purposes. Agenda item number two, an ordinance to amend the FY2026 operating capital budget for Athens, Clark County, Georgia, so as to provide grant funding if awarded from the congressionally directed spending for the Cooks Trail project and for other purposes. Agenda item number three has two ordinances. An ordinance to amend the code of Athens, Clark County, Georgia with respect to internal auditor and office of operational analysis and for other purposes. The second ordinance related to agenda item three, an ordinance to amend the code of Athens, Clark County, Georgia with respect to the public safety civilian oversight board and for other purposes. Agenda item number four, an ordinance to amend the FY 2026 operating capital budget for Athens Clark County, Georgia so as to provide grant funding if awarded from the Georgia Department of Transportation GOT aviation programs grant and for expenses related to rehabilitation of the airport terminal, apron, and for other purposes. Agenda item number five, an ordinance to amend the FY2026 operating capital budget for Athens, Clark County, Georgia, so as to provide grant funding if awarded from the Georgia Criminal Justice Coordinating Council CJCC Accountability Court Grant and for other purposes. Agenda item number six, an ordinance to amend the FY2026 operating capital budget for Athens Park County, Georgia, so as to provide grant funding if awarded from the Georgia Emergency Management, GEMA, and the Federal Emergency Emergency Management Agency, FEMA Hazard Mitigation Grant Program for

support of communication systems, mitigation plan updates, and mitigation actions to reduce or eliminate damages from high winds or flooding, and for other purposes. Agenda item number seven, an ordinance to amend the noise code of Athens, Clark County, Georgia with respect to noise control and for other purposes. And finally, agenda item number eight uh relates to the residential park parking permit program and has three ordinances. The first ordinance, an ordinance for the establishment of a control parking area on Lacant Avenue between University Drive and Hampton Court. Agenda item uh number the second agenda item related to agenda item eight. An ordinance for the establishment of a control parking area on Pinerest Drive between University Drive and Hampton Court. The third ordinance, an ordinance for the establishment of a control parking area on University Drive between South Village and Lacant Avenue. And did I read I did the noise control, right? Yes.

All right. Well, that's all of them. All right. Fortunately, we got fire and emergency services in the room. So, if you need oxygen, Jud, we can get you taken care of there. Uh, all right. Uh, I'd now like to ask members of the public that if you would like to speak to any of the consent agenda items, which are 1 through 16, now is that time and you can line up right at the podium.

All right, just quiet observers in the room tonight. All right, I'll entertain a motion for the consent agenda. So move. Second. All right, I've got a motion from Commissioner Wright and I have a second from Commissioner Taylor. All right, all in favor, please say I. Any opposed? Hearing none. Motion carries. Good job, everyone. All right, we're going to move on uh to item 17 and this regards 155 Wit Davis Road. All right, I'll uh entertain any public input on item 17. regarding Whit Davis Road.

All right. Seeing none, I'll go ahead and ask attorney Drake to read the ordinance for us. Ordinance to amend the code of Athens, Clark County, Georgia, respect to reszoning one parcel of land comprising approximately 2.068 to excuse me, 2.06 06 acres located at 155 Wit Davis Road from C-N commercial neighborhood to RM-3 mixed density residential and for other purposes. All right. Uh I I do note that there was a request to withdraw. Uh I believe this is in district 1. Would you like to uh make a motion to allow withdrawal of this item? Make a motion to allow withdrawal. Second. All right. I've got a motion from Commissioner Davenport. Second from Commissioner Link. Any remarks, Commissioner Davenport? No. All right. Anything, Commissioner Link? Um, no, I don't think so.

All right. All in favor, please say, "I." I.

Any opposed? All right. Hearing none. Motion carries. All right. Uh, now it's time for public input on item 18, which is 4190 Lexington Road, 150 Pine Cone Place, and 120 Merch Lane. Any public input on this item tonight? Good evening, commissioners. I'm Jeff Carter with Carter Engineering. Um, we are the civil engineering firm that's handling this project and uh we we are or would like to request a table to give us a little bit more time to work through this project and um we would appreciate your support there. We just feel like uh we just need a little bit more time to to make this the very best project uh for the county. So, we'd appreciate your support. Thank you.

Thank you. I appreciate it. Uh anyone else here to speak to? 4190 Lexington Road. All right. Hearing none, I'll go ahead and come and ask attorney Drake to read the ordinance for us.

Mr. Mayor, there's two ordinances. The purchase a future land use map amendment and then there is a uh resoning. The future land use map, an ordinance to amend the code of Athens, clar county, Georgia, respect to amending the future land use map of Athens, clar county by changing the designation of four crosses of land comprising approximately 11.33 acres located at 4190 Lexon Road. 150 Pine Cone Place, one 120 Merch Lane, and 140 Merch Lane from general business and single family residential to mixed density residential and for other purposes. Second ordinance uh is the the resoning request uh an ordinance to amend the code of Athens, Clark County, Georgia, respect to reszoning three parcels of land comprising approximately 4.4 4 acres located at 4190 Lexon Road, 150 Pine cone place and 128 Merch Lane from CG Commercial General and R and RS-8 Single Family Residential to RM-1 mixed density residential and for other purposes. Thank you, Attorney Drake. And of course, uh by ordinance, uh planning and zoning item can be held for up to 40 days, which really translates to a single cycle. So, I'd entertain a motion to hold this until our June voting meeting. A motion to hold until June boarding meeting.

Second. I've got [clears throat] a motion from Commissioner Davenport, second from Commissioner Link. Any remarks, Commissioner Davenport? No. I thank um Jeff Carter for having a uh conversation and look forward to seeing seeing this back in June. Anything else, Commissioner Link? Um no, no, thank you. All right. Motion is to hold until our next cycle. All in favor, please say I. I. Any opposed? Right. Hearing none. Motion carries. All right. Now it's time for public input on item 19, which is 1165 Ogulthorp Avenue. Is there anyone here to speak to that item tonight?

Yes, David Ellison here to speak on item number 19. Uh my main uh emphasis tonight is to walk through some of the conditions we're proposing. Uh the first condition is that all units shall be age restricted for individuals who are aged 55 years or older. Uh that will last for 30 years after this received COS. Uh the original language that came to the planning commission tracked the language of the restrictive covenants uh that would be recorded with the land and there's some language about [snorts] 80% uh involving caregivers surviving spouses and children uh that cause some confusion and concerns for the neighbors. Uh but the developer is not going to lease to people who are under age of 55 years. Just want to clarify that. Uh the second condition is that all units shall be leased to residents earning less than 80% of AMI uh for 30 years after receiving COS. Uh we requested a slight revision because the planning commission had uh quote unquote limited to 80% AMI and we're actually going to be leasing below 80% AMI. We'll be leasing to 50% 60% and 70%. And we want to clarify that to capture that we're actually getting below 80%. Uh all structures within the proposed development will be limited to two stories in height. Uh before the planning commission, we suggested setbacks uh because we thought the neighbors would be more concerned about that uh versus the threetory heights. It became apparent uh after talking with the community that they'd rather have two stories. And so what we're willing to do is uh we would go down to two stories about what the setbacks govern by code. Um but we managed to come up with a new site plan that actually allows us to move further away from Breen Ridge uh by swapping the location of the pedestrian pathway. Uh we're also proposing as a condition that we'll provide a landscape buffer of at least 15 feet and opaque fences at

least 6 feet high along the western lot lines of the subject parcel. Uh by code it's either 20 ft or 10 ft and a fence. Uh our goal is provide 20 ft plus a fence along that Breen Ridge subdivision, but there's a pinch point uh where there's a parking lot uh down in the south portion that's going to be less than 20 ft. We may be less than 20 ft. Uh so we want some flexibility there, but our goal is provide uh to exceed the buffers uh required by the ordinances. Uh there's also some conversations in the community about rock. Our client did a pit study and there's no concerns about rock. Um so we'd ask that you please approve uh this reszone tonight. Uh we are on a timeline for tax credits uh that's due next week. Uh we think this satisfies uh meets the objectives of your comprehensive plan. And if you do approve this tonight would ask that uh the mayor please sign the ordinance tonight since that will help us facilitate uh getting a zoning verification letter to turn around the application next week. Uh the developers here if you'll have any questions and thank you all for approve of recommending this. Thank you for receiving us tonight. We ask that you please approve it. Thank you.

Thank you Mr. Ellison. Any other members of the public here to speak to this item regarding 1165 Oglethorp Avenue? Good evening.

Good evening. Uh my name is Justin Sanders. I live at 125 Breen Ridge Lane. Um, I was expecting to come here to complain about a three-story building, but um, thanks to uh, Commissioner Fiser and the developer taking um, public input, uh, I'm a lot of our concerns about uh, having threetory building have been mitigated by their design changes. So, I'm I appreciate their their efforts in doing that. Um the I guess I would just like to lament the the existing plan development uh was kind of a cool idea with mixed use commercial space and uh I'm a little sad that this will um take that because u or take over that plan since I think uh mixed use would be useful to the forest sites community um as it was pro proposed but um the revised plan by the developer is I I think would be fine for I know we have a lot of housing needs right now. So anyway, just thanks again to listening to the community and uh trying to make something that works for everyone. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Sanders. And if anybody else is here for 1165, you just line up at the podium. Good evening.

Good evening. Um, my name is Susan Brooks and I live at 155 Landor. I am directly across from the proposed apartments in Fars Heights. I want to begin by saying that I am not here in opposition of this development. I understand firsthand the importance of affordable housing. It it's what made it possible for me to call Forest Heights my home because it was affordable. However, I do want to emphasize a specific concern that I hope you will carefully consider. Even though it's not on the plan, I don't want it to be put back to be put on the plan. And so, Landor is in the street that I live on. Landor is an active residential street. It's used daily by families, joggers, walkers, and children going to and from school. So, I do not want a entryway placed on landor to leave the apartment area. And so, that's my concern. And um it's my concern because of the safety of the neighborhood and the character of the neighborhood because that street is used so often. So I respectfully ask that the same level of thoughtfulness and care you've given to the planning this development [clears throat] also be extended to protecting the surrounding community. Please consider solutions that preserve the safety and integrity of Landor for those who live and move through it every day. Thank you for your time, your service, and your commitment to balancing growth with the well-being of the of the existing neighborhoods. I trust you will make a decision that reflects both progress and protection for all of us.

Thank you, Mr. Brooks. All right. Uh, Commissioner Fischer, this is in District 5, so ask you to place a motion on the floor. Yeah, I want to um go ahead and [clears throat] put this on the floor to um be approved with the conditions that was listed. Also, um Miss Brook, we also look at the Landor area to make sure we keep that area protected and not having a cut through from that perspective. But I do want to put a motion on the floor that we move forward and um and vote affirmative. And this is senior housing when we talking about housing in this community. So we'll fill a gap with our senior um citizens in this community that will help with some of our housing needs and will be affordable for that perspective. Got a measure from Commissioner Fischer and we've got a second from Commissioner Link.

All right. Any further remarks, Commissioner Fischer? No, sir. All right. Commissioner Link. Yeah, I mean I think this is the kind of modestly scaled um apartments, senior affordable apartments that we really need more of in our community. Um, you know, we we have kind of smaller scale apartment complexes like this in some of our older in town neighborhoods and this offers even more opportunity and the affordable housing for seniors is much needed. I have lots and lots of friends who will be knocking on those doors asking to move in soon enough. There's a lot of Gen Xers who are are going to be retiring soon.

Commissioner David. Yes. So, I would like to see more projects like this because um it's welcoming to see a development like this that is b um binding to two stories. You know, I had one that was um removed that was like four stories out in, you know, near a R zone and our S zone. So, this is this is a blessing to have. Um and plus, it's senior housing. You're not going to get the college students not going to get all the traffic. Um, so it's not going to be noisy. And the buffer, I mean, just the 15 to 20 foot buffer of landscape around it. This is a a much needed project for that for that area. I did like the mix mixuse that was prior to um I really did enjoy that project because of what it potentially could bring, but I think this is a suitable um a suitable alternative. [clears throat]

Commissioner Myers. Yeah, I'm supportive of the project um and appreciative of the 55 and older housing as well as the 80% um median income um limiting it to residents in that income uh area uh for 30 years. And I do have a question. Who who what entity is going to be keeping up with this for 30 years? Like who who oversees this to check that this is actually happening? Do we have any anyone help me with that? Planning director uh Lonnie in the room who has engaged with some of these uh components before.

Yeah, that's a very good question. So, with a 30-year time frame for tracking performance, um if it's part of an ordinance that is resting with the zoning action, it will fall to the planning department to coordinate uh and keep up with that paperwork. The practice that staff is prepared to follow is going to be very similar to that that's in the inclusionary zoning ordinance chapter of the code um that deals with administration of projects that that have an inclusionary component. Um so we'll follow th that rigor that comes with that which would be an annual reporting of performance.

Okay. So, so there's someone in your department who will be responsible for following that up in that position, a position obviously that's a long time. Uh, right. So, um, keeping up with this is is our administrative challenge, but we will and we'll coordinate with probably HCD and making sure that we keep the content aligned with what our normal reporting practices would be so that we're treating this the same as what we would do any other project with that requirement. Great. Thank you. Thanks. I appreciate Bruce. Anyone else?

I just want to confirm I I spoke with the plan director and there are, you know, this is a reasonzoning. They're currently on the project concept. No entryways on andor drive shown, you know, but you know, I didn't want there to be any issues. So, it's not a condition right now. No entryways on Andor Drive. It will depend. The plan director says is once the fire marshall does his review on whether there could be the possibility fire marshall says that's required for safety reasons, but you know the concept of emergency access but it doesn't show that but I didn't want you know I wanted what you're saying is you want staff to be mindful of that you're not okay got emergency only emergency only

well that's a big deal you know that's not what he's saying either I don't think so we need to we don't need I don't have any issue on that because we got here and you say well I thought we agreed right now it's not listed as a condition so yes it's not a condition of the co that you offered uh if if it's helpful. That was a condition that came from the planning commission. I think it was the first condition that was recommended by by the planning commission to have any potential landor connection to be for emergency access only. Okay, that is a condition. Yeah, that's okay. I want to not it's not a part of the CDO. It was part of what came from planning commission, right?

But that wouldn't if the CDO is what's voted on, that condition is not part of what's been proposed. Would you like to make an amendment, commissioner, to add that to the CDO as previously included in the planning commission recommendation? Sure. Yes. Yes. Is that okay with second? Okay. There we go. There we are. All right. Anything else? Right. All in favor, please say I. Read the ordinance, Mr. Mayor. Oh, I'm sorry. Go ahead and read the

Oh, there's two ordinances. The first one is to terminate the uh planned de current existing planned development and then to do the reszoning ordinance to amend the code of Athens Clark County, Georgia respecting a plan [clears throat] development comprising approximately 3.885 3.85 acres located 1165 Over Avenue in the C-MPD commercial neighborhood plan development district by removing the planned development and for other purposes. Second ordinance, an ordinance to amend the code of Athens, Clark County, Georgia with respect to reszoning one parcel of land comprising approximately 3.85 85 acres located 1165 Oakor Avenue from CN Commercial Neighborhood to RM-1 Mix Residential and for other purposes.

All right. Uh motion, a second to approve the ordinances as read by the attorney. All in favor, please say I.

Any opposed? All right. Hearing none, motion carries. All right. We're going to move on to item number 20. Is there any member of the public here to speak to item 20, which is 1930 new Jimmy Daniel Road? If so, please line up the podium at this point. Good evening. I'm Jeff Carter with Carter Engineering. We're the civil engineers on this uh project and I just wanted to let you know I'm here to answer any questions that you may have. I really feel like this is a good location uh for some residential housing and feel feel like it's a really good product [clears throat] for the county. So, we would appreciate your support and I'll be happy to address any concerns that you have. Thank you very much.

Thank you, Mr. Carter. Appreciate it. Anyone else here to speak to New Jimmy Daniel Road? All right. Seeing none, uh, Commissioner Johnson, I go ahead and ask you to place a motion on the floor for us. I make a motion to approve. Second. All right. I've got a motion from Commissioner Johnson, second from Commissioner Taylor. All right. Attorney Drake, I'll have you read the ordinance just so we have that done.

Uh, there is a future land use map amendment and also a resoning future land use map. An ordinance to amend the code of Athens, Clark County, Georgia with respect to amending the future land use map of Athens, Clark County by changing the designation of one parcel of land comprising approximately six acres located at 1930 New Jimmy Daniel Road from employment center to mixed density residential. The reszoning an ordinance to amend the code of Athens, Clark County, Georgia, respect to reszoning one parcel of land comprising approximately six acres located at 1930 New Jimmy Daniel Road from EI employment industrial to RM-2 mixed density residential and for other purposes. Thank you, Attorney Drake. Further remarks, Commissioner John.

Yes. I wanted to share [clears throat] some brief details about this project. This is a new housing community community that's going to be built out in w in in in not waves but stages and the first will be 32 units of their condo um properties and this provides density this housing density it provides housing variety and it is much needed in that area and I wanted to also share that I had a concern at the last meeting about the entrance and exit of the coming in and out of the the neighborhood. But after speaking to um the planning [clears throat] planning department's director as well as um Jeff Carter, we you know there's some flexibility there after they get further along in the project to move it up or down depending on the speed of the traffic and just in order to improve um and ensure safety um on that road because it's a busy road. Um, just wanted to just highlight the benefits. This is going to increase the tax base and it's going to create, like I said, that diversity in housing. I think the smallest home is um, 1,500 square [clears throat] f feet and that's a great starter home for a lot of people. Um, one wonderful thing I read, and this is the last comment I have, is that this is going to be a short-term construction project. you know upon approval the they will start um the the project in six to 12 months and then it and the full project will be completed in three months according to the report. So that's all I have.

Thank you commissioner. Uh anything further commissioner Taylor? Yes, I support this um this development as well because for one we need housing and it's um different types of housing as well as um density and and also because that area though it's zone um employment it's a lot of residential in that area and so you know I used to work at Telinet and so I saw it coming so can't fight it. Thank you commissioner. Anything else? Commissioner um Johnson, do we have a price point on those um condos and mixuse to we know what the pricing will be? I I do not recall seeing that in the report. Okay.

I might have overlooked it. Was I'm not sure if it was included. All right. Uh uh first vote uh will be on the future land use map. There's a motion from Commissioner Johnson, second from Commissioner Taylor. All in favor, please say I. I. Any opposed? All right. Uh, second vote. Uh, Commissioner Johnson. Motion again. A motion for for the zoning change. For the zoning change. I would I would like to make a motion for the zoning change. Second. All right. Uh motion second on the floor. All in favor, please say I.

Any opposed. All right. Hearing none. Motion carries. All right, friends. We're moving on to old and new business. Those are items 21 through 30 on our agenda. So, if you're here to speak to any of those items 21 through 30, line up at the podium now and we will go ahead and begin. Good evening. Good evening. Did you miss me? [laughter]

Joan Rhoden. Uh, speaking to number 22, uh, please be advised that the Athens Tutorial Program, Inc. has a 40 plus year honored history. Since the death of founder Aaron Herd, there has been a very interesting and insightful five-year story that has yet to be told widely. Within those five years, the operation of the Athens tutorial program has not only survived the death of its founder, there have been a number of notable and unexpected dynamics. Onslaught of a pandemic that closed down Athens as a whole, impacting ATP. Impromptu changes of school superintendent impacting ATP. Implementation of an AC gov youth development initiative YDI mimicking the precise model created by Mr. Ernest Elder impacting ATP students previously active and engaged with the astitutorial program inc as well as the community and youth development organization sports program a natural conduit for academically struggling students at CCSD engaged in earnest sports program to be funneled into tutoring by the Athens tutorial program. Each of these aspects affected the Athens Tutorial Program, Inc. in some manner and at some juncture when director Interstelder had built these programs to be a symbiotic cohort effectively servicing struggling Clark County students. It is at this time that ACC with YDI along with CCSD duplicated the above programs even though the public programs were actively thriving. The community youth development organization CYDO was in progress and successful when the students suddenly began being funneled away from the community organized programs regardless of an active and thriving tutorial program beloved by students and parents alike. As these hurdles have had a varied and strategic impact on a program that has been a staple in the East

Athens Nellybe and other East Athens neighborhoods since 1981. It is important to keep the ATP in your sights and in play as budgets and appropriations are considered. Uh you got from me this morning or at least yesterday uh some uh some information about that. The other thing I'm going to speak to is about the 19 foot deer with large antler uh roundabout at Taly Road that is going to be put there as a huge distraction and a liability as far as the amount of traffic going around that that particular area. Uh we're now getting um uh Elmwood subdivision as well as the Islamic Community Center that's going to be on that same area. And so it is going to be a a very difficult and I' I've got 11 pages here if anybody's interested. You got it. Showing the dangers of that. Thank you very much.

Anyone else here to speak to older new business tonight before we go ahead and move to voting? Good [clears throat] evening. Hello. My name is Rita Shakerbarti. Um I'm speaking here today about the community enhancement program fund. Um so I understand that you guys are planning to increase to to which agenda item are you speaking? Oh, sorry. Um J

J. So, at the conclusion of our meeting, we have separate public input on anything that's not on the agenda tonight. So, it's coming up in just a little bit. Hang tight. Hang tight. Anyone else here to speak to old or new business tonight? All right. We'll go ahead and move to commission action. Item 21 is a T-Swash 2018 project. Uh, part of our standard public art process. Uh, entertain a motion from the body. I move to approve. Second. All right. Got a motion from Commissioner Link, a second from Commissioner Hamby. All right. Commissioner Link, any remarks?

Yeah. Um, this is a really magnificent piece of art from a fairly renowned artist of African descent. Um, it's it's going to be it's really going to put um that area on the map. I believe I encourage everybody to look at the agenda packet and look at this item. And um I I heard the concerns about you know it being a distraction. Um the design is actually quite brilliant for its placement and that it's a very permeable piece. Um you know it's supposedly stands 19 feet tall but that's spread out antler type um form and then the legs of the piece you'll be able to see through. Um, I think the Cultural Arts Commission did a really great job in selecting this piece and it was a citizen input process. Um, I sat on the Cultural Arts Commission many years ago and helped, you know, write the bylaws and procedures for that entity. Um, I think this community is going to be really, really proud of this. It's going to be a really stunning piece.

Commissioner Hy. No.

Anyone else? Commissioner. Well, but since it's my since it's my district and I travel that role a lot with that roundabout and I asked this in the work session and our agenda said um I had concerns about the hy and I really didn't really get any answer about the um he and the um obstruction um of that um art and I'm not against the art but again you all have to understand the traffic that's on Taly Road um not only in the morning and afternoon. I even talked with chief about people coming just flying through that yield sign. So with a structure there, it could obstruct sight. So that's one of my concerns um about that. Again, and I I think I never did get anything really from staff about the size of that involved. Maybe you can answer that for me. And and did we think about sight lines when we was trying to um

tell are there some kind of engineering standards around? Excuse me. installation issues

there are um mostly guidance so is what they provide and the TPW staff has actually done the line of sight uh calculations and assessments and this will not block the line of sight so if you think about a roundabout you're actually observing effectively to your to your left because you're looking to merge into the roundabout traffic the guidance actually that is referenced in some of the information even goes so far as to suggest that it it is often appropriate in center of a roundabout to actually mound the roundabout as much as six feet high so that you actually have the the view through blocked because you really are trying to concentrate on those moves coming in from the left piece of it. So, they've done the line of sight piece. The the areas that are required to be line of sight are not blocked by by this particular um sculpture or by anything else that's going into the into the centerpiece. And so, um so yes, they they have done that. Now, they'll do that again because what they're you're doing, of course, is looking at specifically kind of the the style of the art. They will um once the final designs come in for it, they're going to be looking at two things. They'll verify the line of sight, again, it's still met. They will also be ensuring that any concerns that they might have regarding reflectivity of headlights because you don't want you don't want headlights shining on it, bouncing back at you. So, they'll be looking at that piece as well. Those will come with the final design component of it. So, yes. Okay. Thank you. Anyone else? Commissioner Johnson.

So, District 6 residents have to travel through that area to get home. So, I received a lot of phone calls from um District 5, but mostly District 6 residents all weekend about this and their concerns. So, it's 18 feet tall and it's 3,000 lbs. And there is some reflectivity um concerns, especially at the the end of the day when the sun sets and at in the morning when the sun goes up. And so, so for the people that live in that community, this is who I'm hearing from. I also agree it's beautiful. I think it's a phenomenal piece of artwork. the placement of it um has caused many people to reach out to me to for me to voice my concerns on their behalf. I I don't know if there's um an an alternate location. Um but this is what the people say that drive there and Dexter is Commissioner Fischer is correct. People do not slow down. They barely yield. They zoom. They they look so far ahead and they just they they wing it when they get to that arterial and they go right through and they try to beat the neck the car that's coming around the curve. And so there's just so much busyiness with that intersection that it's really not the best arterial like it doesn't um serve the function that arterials are supposed to like slow traffic down and keep people safe. Um, but another thing that's really important to just share, that particular street has dozens and maybe hundreds and hundreds of deer accidents every single year. And it's just something that would I I would imagine someone that is not in the community but visit someone in the community would be surprised by that. I don't know what um do you have any suggestions or options, commissioner? Did you get any from your constituents?

And and again to [clears throat] Commissioner Johnson's point, um I'm sorry, mayor, you need to recognize me. Well, just Yeah. Yeah. You had a specific question. Be glad to hear from you.

Okay. Yeah. [clears throat] to Commissioner Johnson's point, I think it, you know, again, um I've been there 13 years and I I I understand the traffic patterns, but again, um a structure there um um I think it may call, and again, I'm not an expert, but it could cause more accidents um coming off that roundabout. So, um I do have concerns um about that, you know, from and again, I brought those concerns up at our last meeting. So, for me, um um I just I got some concerns about um what that would look like. And again, I'm not against the art per se. I'm just um the location is a concern for me. Anything further, Commissioner Johnson, before I

One last thing I I just recall that I had in my notes that when you're driving up to and driving from e from both directions um into town or or home away from town, there is a a slight incline. And so it it it builds. So you you don't really see it until you kind of you will see it because it's 18 feet tall. You will see it, but you you'll be surprised like you're going to come up on it and it's going to be, you know, for the first for the first, you know, experience something shocking, but I I just think it's it will be very distracting. And people have asked us to speak on their behalf about other alternatives for that art piece. Commissioner Davenport.

Yeah. So, so [clears throat] just for the the the public and for the colleagues, um, so I think this is a beautiful project and I like the artwork as well and I think you will complement that that area. So, currently at White Hall Road and South Village, um, we have a similar art. It's 16x4. Um I remember when um Commissioner Mariah Parker um because it was supposed to be metallic with a reflective um leav like structure but she did a CDO to change that to make it more I forget what it's called but non-reflective or matted

non matted. So, but that's a perfect example for residents to go take a look at cuz a lot of people had the same concerns about site u site visibility. Um, and I think TPW can tell you that before that roundabout and the artwork was placed there, there were more accidents coming off of Whiteall Road and most of those residents and who going through that roundabout are actually coming from a going to South Mill to UG. Um we got a a few district 8 district one residents who travel south towards that road to get get into UG but um traffic is calmer. Um it does takes a little bit to get used to cuz you know my mom I know she hit that curve but several times. Um but it does take get to used to but um with the artwork like the manager said it is with the it kind your main focus when you're going into a roundabout is making that right turn or going through the circle versus looking at the you know the artwork. But just perfect example is White Hall Road in South Mill. Is that an option?

Sorry. Uh well, staff has indicated already that um kind of a non-reflective surface is is part of their analysis. Is that right? Yeah, def definitely one of the things they'll be looking at is the re the reflectiveness of the item for for that purpose. The original design isn't is designed to be lighter in reflection, but that will be something they'll be checking again as the final design comes in as well. Commissioner Myers.

Yeah. uh Commissioner Davenport um you know beat me to it, but I just want to echo that that uh roundabout is district 8 with the art which is 15 or 16 feet tall. Um I go by it regularly. Um it there's been no issues that I've known about that have happened because of that. And it's and it's really just a wonderful addition to that um to that intersection there. So um this piece of art looks absolutely amazing. Um, and I think it's a, you know, there's some differences and a change and people aren't used to that. Um, but this one down at Whiteall is a great example of a a large, tall piece of art that's been uh, very successful in the roundabout.

Thank you, Commissioner. Right, we'll do a roll call beginning with Commissioner Link. Yes. Taylor, yes. Right. Yes. Fisher, no. Johnson, no. Co Pepper. Yes. Meyers, yes. Thornton. Handy. Yes. Davenport. Yes. Seven. Yes. Two. No. All right. Thanks everyone. That motion carries. Item 22 is the FY27 community development block grant annual action plan. Um to entertain a motion from the body. So move. Second. Got a motion from Commissioner Hamby. Second was from Commissioner Wright. Commissioner Hammy, any remarks?

No. No. Good presentation. Commissioner Wright, I just want to thank everybody who spent so much time in this process, this annual process that gets us here today, staff as well as our vision committee of which we had a lot of people interviewing for that. And we look forward to having more interviews to keep the vision committee um at full um capacity. That is exactly the word I was looking for. capacity so that they can continue to help us with this decision making and and work with staff on the appropriation of these funds. Thank you, commissioner. Any further remarks? Right. There's a motion second on the floor. All in favor, please say I. I. Any opposed?

And mayor, if I may, just uh add to the item that was mentioned earlier that was provided to you all via email will actually be incorporated into the public comments that are forwarded to HUD. So, it it gets incorporated into the record. I just want to make that clear. Thank you for that, man Cal. I appreciate it. All right. Uh similarly, uh federal funds flow to us in the uh form of home investment partnership program funds. I'll entertain a motion regarding 23. So move. Oh, second. Second. All right. Got a motion from Commissioner Hamby. Second from Commissioner Taylor. Commissioner Hamby. Anything else? No. Commissioner Taylor?

No. I just know that other counties um when I was at the geek um conference, they were like, I wish we were on the same level as Athens, Clark County, so we don't have it that bad. You know, there are other counties in Georgia that has it a lot [snorts] worse than us. They don't get home funds. Those are my two cents. I learned that, you know, I appreciate you noting that we were an exemplar for many. There you go. Appreciate that. Uh anything else? All in favor, please say I. I. Any opposed? Hearing none. Motion carried. All right. Uh third third round of federal funds. I entertain a motion regarding the home ARP funding recommendations. So move. Second. All right. I've got a motion from Commissioner Hamby.

Second from Commissioner Taylor. Commissioner Hamby. Anything on these? Nope. Commissioner Taylor. Nothing else. You don't have two. All in favor, please say I. I. Any opposed? Hearing none. Motion carries. Right. Uh, item 25, following up on a recent work session, is the North Downtown Athens phase 3 master plan revision and funding commitments. Do I hear a motion? Move to approve. Second. All right. Got a motion from Commissioner Link. I have a second from Commissioner Taylor. Commissioner Link.

Um, yeah. I just would like to thank the housing authority for all their work on this project. We're going to see a couple hundred more bedrooms downtown affordable housing units um, and brand new homes for all the folks who live in Bethl. Uh, anything else? Ditto. All right. Units on the ground look very good. Looking forward to the next set of them. That's for sure. Anything else from the body? All in favor, please say I. Question. Question. Yeah. I'm sorry I didn't get a chance to finish this, but I was curious about um inclusionary zoning. Was that a part of this? Uh so they excuse me

the planning director has ruled that they're eligible for inclusionary zoning which means that they can do fewer ground floor commercial uh square feet and in lie do more units. Uh we'll still be working with the housing authority. One of the things we heard from the work session was that this body would would maybe be interested in a variance greater than that. So, we'll continue to work with the housing authority and see what works for them financially and if further variances are needed, circle back with y'all. Thank you. So, decided after the inclusionary zoning conversation is going to happen after the

Well, inclusionary zoning is by right and so, um, Miss Crisp is here today. If you want to ask if there's a most recent update, the last thing that we heard was that they were having to just make sure that they could still fit it within their proposed construction budget to get those extra units versus shelf space. Gotcha. Miss Chris, you speaking on behalf of the housing authority, is there the anticipation of potentially greater use of our um the theme that's embedded in our inclusionary?

That would be the plan. Um currently the application will be submitted at 92 units and if this um commission here would approve that additional um um reducing the retail space that would be able to um input more units into the project. Thank you. Thank you for that question. I appreciate it. Thank you. All right. Uh there's already affirmative vote, so we're going to move on. U entertain a motion regarding 26. Patrick has a question. Okay. So now um so do we need to make that motion now to reduce that retail space? No. Okay.

What what would happen is if they do determine that they ultimately would like something in excess of what's in code then they may return to us but you know they are still kind of in the process and so it may be that that they work within the existing contours of code. Thank you. and and we did you might remember that way back when we approved the kind of larger scale master plan you know we already reduced the amount of required commercial space uh kind of within northtown [clears throat] just recognizing that the nature of whole street for example is very different than the nature of Washington street or Hancock okay [clears throat] entertain a motion regarding 26 so move second

all right got a motion from commissioner Wright a second from commissioner Taylor. Commissioner Wright. Any remarks? Ready to move. Commissioner Taylor. So am I. Anyone else? I'm I'm going to vote against this. Mayor, so but I don't I don't have any just don't have any comments on it. I guess I feel the same way that when we when the vote came up for a raise for ourselves. So I just, you know, so Okay. Don't want to label the point.

Yeah. I just wanted to [clears throat] emphasize that this what we're all what we're simply doing here is making a recommendation to start discussing it again. So we're not voting on anything and at all nor are we saying that this is the best the details in here are the best way to go about anything. It's just bring up the discussion again. So you'd end up and and to Commissioner Meyer's point you would see an additional agenda report at the end of the year ahead of the legislative session. Commissioner Johnson,

I'm also going to um vote no for this. And I do understand nothing's happening right now, but what I fundamentally disagree with is, you know, having the mayor serve as a a member of the committee, self-appoints himself, and then votes. that's I just do not see that being the best way to um show leadership and maybe an extra person but not yourself and these type of decisions are why I I want to um revisit the charter and some other commissioners have said they also wanted to but for these type of reasons I mean just to imp improve transparency u actions like that don't improve transparency I'm not alluding alluding to anything that you did wrong or I don't know what you did but I'm saying specifically when it comes to transparency we all started in January last year saying that we want to improve we want our citizens to trust us but when we have our mayor selfappoint himself and then is a voting member in ad hoc committees that come up and then go back down it's there's no um you know dissemination or information to the public they don't get to watch they don't get to under see and a lot of people have expressed concern about it, but I I had concern before that and I that's why I'll be voting no.

I'll make two notes, Commissioner. Uh one is that uh any impact from the the changes that are outlined here would not impact any elected official until 2031. So certainly far beyond my tenure, but I do benefit from the tenure of seven and a half years in the mayor's seat and an additional 12 years as a commissioner. uh and and have observed the very high volume of work that lands in the mayor's office, thus the assignment. Secondarily, if you have some specific interests in other charter components, my recommendation would be to commit those to text and disseminate those among the body for consideration. Commissioner,

I I I did understand the first time when Commissioner Meyer said that it's not going to happen right now. I'm talking about the process of how this started and how it it it it came to us. I don't like the process. I don't agree with the process. And I think if your goal is to actually improve transparency and increase the trust with our with our residents, then actions like this could be easily avoided if you wanted them to. I hear you, Commissioner. Commissioner Hamby, I'm good, Mayor. We'll just Okay. All right. Uh I I I just to the public I I believe I'm trying to find it now but I can't because but I believe that these um meetings were all are all on YouTube.

Is that correct? Does someone know? Yeah, they are. Yeah, because that you know they're not. But just so the public knows that they can go watch them if they want to. Thank you, Commissioner. All right, we'll do a roll call beginning with uh Commissioner Wright. Yes. Yes. No. Yes. Myers, yes. Hamby, yes. Devonport, yes. Link, yes. Taylor, yes. Eight, yes. One, no.

All right. Uh, thank you, Madam Clerk. All right. As we do recurrently, we have a nominating report. I really want to appreciate all those commissioners um who had availability in their schedule to perform interviews. It is a lengthy report and you have it in front of you and I will be reading from it and then drawing from the same uh vial of oxygen that attorney Drake needed earlier. Um but uh first I'll entertain a motion to accept the nominating committee report. So move. Second. All right. I've got a motion. Oh, apologize. We we need first a motion for suspension of rules because this is new business. Can I get that from you first?

All right. I've got a motion for suspension of rules as this is new business. Second from Commissioner Fiser. All in favor of suspension of rules, please say I. All right. Now on to the report itself. Motion from Commissioner Link. Second from Commissioner Fiser. All in favor, please say I.

Any opposed? All right. We have a bumper crop of great residents here who are going to be serving us in a variety of capacities. On the airport authority, we are going to be uh enjoying the continued support of Sunny Wilson and the benefit of David Dwire. On the Athens Clark Library report, library board, excuse me, we're going to have Lynette Caseaseman, George Crane, Jason Hasty, and Caroline Pasowski. On the Athens, Clark County uh Downtown Development Authority, we'll have Drew Deal and Jason Leonard for additional terms. On the Classic Center Authority, Dale Begardis on the Clark County Department of Family and Children's Services, Joel Bacon and Michelle Tate. On the Georgia Innovation Corpor Joint Development Authority, Susan Beardis on the Historic Preservation Commission, James Crowe and Katie Maragas on the Human Relations Commission, Antoine Stevens, Anita Everheart Shaw, Mocha, Jasmine Johnson, and William Reading on the Planning Commission, Jennifer Calabria, and Taylor Pass. on the public safety civilian oversight board, Jay Gary Adcock, Elaine Pratt, Felix Bell, Joselyn Crumpton, and Aljiman Acy. On the residential care facility for the elderly, Julia Vin, and on the vision committee, Joe Hill, Mallerie Ostein, Mark Warren, and Ryan Tomzek. So, uh, thank you everyone and I appreciate very much, uh, their willingness to serve. All right. Uh, uh, let's see. Now is that time friends when we do have public input on any item that was not on tonight's agenda. So this is Jay. So if anybody would like to speak to any item that was not on tonight's agenda, now is that time you may line up at the podium and the same threeminut provision as described earlier applies. So come on down and show us your tricks.

All right. Good evening.

Good evening, y'all. I'm Timmy Connley. Uh live at Spalding Circle Athens. Um I'm here to speak on the fiscal year 27 budget that you guys are going to be really busy with. Um on behalf of Special Events Collective that we've formed whose membership includes the events Afest, Twilight Criterium, Hot Corner Fest, Wild Rumpus, Latin X, U MLK Day Parade, Athens Film Festival, Athens Comedy Fest, Pridefest, Nucci Space, and some others. All right. So, our collective is asking for the FY27 suggested budget to be adjusted to allocate $500,000 in hotel motel funding for events. So, um speaking on that, Athens events are not a product of Athens culture. They create the culture that they're a big part of the soul of our city which is the magic, the charm, what makes Athens Athens and a huge economic driver for the city. I want to say for example, the Wild Rumpus, that's my event, received $35,000 from the city last year. um the economic impact calculations that we made on that, we did two separate calculations that uh put our economic impact to uh revenues to downtown Athens at one to $1.3 million. So that's a 30 times the investment that the city made in revenues for the city. So our festival culture makes Athens vibrant and exciting and cool and drives tourism. events are front and center on our city's tourism marketing and it's a reason why people want to come here, hold their conventions here, and even move here to live. Um, in our research, we've discovered that other cities comparable to Athens around the country prioritize their festival culture with elaborate strategic plans, which we don't have, and far greater investment.

Here's an example. Gainesville, Florida, $1.2 million. Denton, Texas, $2.9 million. St. Pete, three million. Scottsdale, Arizona, $2.6 million. So, reminder, we have uh $300,000 in the proposed budget this year. So, um Athens events have largely been put built on local business sponsorships, but um that money is starting to dry up. So, this public funding is going to become very important for us. the path forward uh in sustaining and actually advancing our events and our festival culture, including the tourism and all everything that brings to downtown is going to depend on the the funding from this hotel motel fund. So, I want to thank those of you that came to our forum on April 1st. That was really appreciated. Um and appreciate the rest of you and looking forward to working with you on it. Um just uh one one note on the hotel motel fund. It has $7 million this year. We're only asking for less than 7%.

Thank you, Mr. Con. Thank you so much. Can I give Thank you so much. Just hang on to this. We'll get [clears throat] Good evening.

Good evening, y'all. I am Lzette Malberg. I'm actually speaking on behalf of the director for Dign Immigrant in Athens today, Mr. Cario. Um, we respectfully ask the mayor and commissioners of Athens, Clark County to consider increasing C funding for community- based cultural festivals such as Latinfest organized by the immigrant in Athens. These events play a vital role in celebrating the diversity of our community, supporting local small businesses, and creating inclusive spaces for families. Unlike larger events such as at the classic center, many grassroot festivals operate with a limit with limited resources despite their significant cultural and economic impact. We understand that much of the current funding comes from the hotel motel taxes which are specifically intended to promote tourism and benefit the local economy not to burden taxpayers. Community festivals like Latinfest do exactly that. Attract visitors, encourage local spending, and showcase the unique cultural identity of Athens. We ask that you allocate a more equitable portion of these funds to support locally organized cultural events that reflect and serve the full diversity of our community. Thank you for your time and consideration.

Thank you, Miss Lzette. Good evening.

I made it. It's the right time now. Um, so similar to the folks from before, I want to talk about the community enhancement fund. Uh, again, my name is Rita Chakraarti. I'm speaking on behalf of the Athens Pride and Queer Collective. Um, and similar to what the folks have said before, just thinking about how the culture and the community in Athens is so incredibly important, but also thinking about how Athens is known as the hub, right, to a lot of other rural counties. we have tons of resources for folks already to access. Um, and it's just sort of been a joy to witness that in our community. Um, but with an increase in funding, not only can we continue to support Athens and the queer um, Athenians that live here, but also support those that are in our rural surrounding counties um, who may not be as supportive of, um, the LGBTQIA plus community. Uh also wanted to talk a little bit more about how with an increase um in the budget uh we could book bigger performers and also promote them from people promote them for folks all over Georgia to come and visit them, right? So I have a little a little just in my brain makes sense, right? But more people is more revenue from the tickets, right? And that also includes promoting local vendors and places so people want to come back, right? Um, and then ideally it just means we're putting more money back into the Athens community, right? Um, and also thinking about paying the performers as well, um, what they're worth, right? A lot of times it can be really do a lot of work, right? Um, on stage and, um, you know, not being compensated for that is is kind of tricky, right? And a lot of times it's harder to say yes to things like that. Um, so yeah, I think that's all I've got. Thank you.

Thank you, M. Shakari.

Good evening.

My name is Chuck Griffin. I'm the executive director for the Athens Film Festival. Um certainly um am in support and very grateful for what we received from the C. Um would certainly appreciate um a consideration for increased funding. Um and uh at the Athens Film Festival, we've only been around for about two years. We're on year three. Um but we've become the only um film festival in North Georgia. And our partnerships with Trillis Studios, Trill Studios, the biggest studio in the world. It's in Fagatville. Um our media partnerships with Georgia Entertainment, they're kind of the driving force behind uh film in Georgia, the film industry. you know, they kind of um are able to keep this engine running um for tax breaks um that everyone is in favor with in the Georgia legislature every year. Um and certainly we've we've built up a hub in Athens for independent filmmakers. Um it certainly creates an aspirational energy for filmmakers to shoot their projects here and that only equals more um uh revenue for businesses in in the city in general. Um we had 50 filmmakers last year. Um showed over a 100 films. Um and uh just it's it's heavily volunteer-based. Um but we we receive a lot of uh support from the community. Our sponsorships with Rock Lobsters, New Cheese Space, Creature Comforts, uh CNA. Um it's just a huge benefit um to have a festival like that in Georgia that's um has has such a strong international reach. Um, and I uh just appreciate um all the support uh so far. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Griffin. Good evening.

Hi there. I'm Lizzie Zooker Salts and I'm here to discuss the hotel motel tax allocations that are part of the city's budget. The hotel motel tax revenue has increased in recent years with more hotel beds. And with that, so is the amount that's gone to the CVB and the Classic Center, some of which is required by the state. But the classic center receives approximately 54% of the hotel motel tax calculations whereas it was only required that it get 42.85%. So you've got a bunch of wiggle room in there to do something new and exciting related to the arts and related to tourism other than giving it all to the classic center plus more. Meanwhile, our city's nonprofit event organizations, as Timmy was just talking about, receive a scant proportion of the hotel motel tax compared to what they could. Groups like Afest, Hot Corner, Wild Rumpus, and more enrich our city's tourism appeal and our community's cultural quality. A significant portion of what goes to those events goes back to the city in terms of security rentals and barricades and the like. So, we're sort of by giving to events, we're also giving to ourselves because we they require them to purchase these things. I urge you to reconsider the allocations of hotel motel funds that could go to events operators. It could be increased to help them survive and if they received a fair amount over and above the portion that goes to the classic center above federal required state amount, they would thrive instead of struggle. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Secrets. Good evening.

Hi, [snorts] good evening. Uh my name is Debbie Watson. I'm the executive director of Nucci Space uh at 396 Okone Street. Um this past April, NI Space launched its signature fundraising event uh called Athens Business Rocks uh in a new format. Uh ABR has been strong for over 15 years and has raised over $170,000 to support our mission of suicide prevention. um highlighting in equal parts both the music scene and the broader business community of Athens. AVR has remained a beloved annual event in the Athens area community since its inception. Participating B sorry businesses benefit in [clears throat] the form of publicity and promotion in addition to a fun collaborative and engagement engaging event. Um as as part of this several businesses participate in AVR year after year including uh TSAV uh New West Records Styles um HBAC and Jedma Construction this year in an effort to meet increased interest levels in the event for the local businesses and musicians alike. Nucci space brought Athens business rocks out into the downtown community. Approximately 20 businesses hosted bands running the gamut for from musical venues such as Nowhere Bar, Paloma Park, museums like TRR Cobb House, uh restaurants like The Grill, Ideal Bagel, uh nonprofits, um like Historic Athens, and even the Athens Chamber of Commerce. Um music acts ranged in age, range, sorry, genre, and style culminating in an after hours party featuring some of Athens most popular uh current events. Uh the day was a a success celebrating the unique talent and uh enterprising spirit that the classic city is known for with over hund with over 1,000 attendees throughout the day visiting downtown establishment establishments that may not have otherwise learning what

services, programs and opportunities each of the from each of these businesses. A proven example of how Nichi Space has made this a significant economic impact on the city of Athens is our week-long homecoming event that we partner with Drop by Truckers um and their fan fan base uh Three Dimes Down with this three-day when this event started it was a three-day pro event is now over a week long. It has raised over $500,000 for Nichi Space. Um, and in addition to that, the economic impact on our town and this oneweek e event is close to now over a million dollars. Fans from all over the world travel back to the um travel back over and over uh visiting the clubs, the venues, the retail outlets um sorry, I lost my spot. Um and even more um during the entire week um NUI Space is the hub of that. I'm requesting from you that the CP funding be increased to $500,000 so that we at Ninjispace and the other remarkable and culture driven organizations you have heard from tonight can continue what we do best. Thank you.

Thank you. [clears throat] Good evening.

Good evening Mr. Mayor, respected commissioners. My name is Peter Norris. I reside at 460 Sunset Drive. For over 20 years, I've been involved in Athfest. First as a shift volunteer, then department head, and now I'm honored to be the event coordinator. The Afest Music and Arts Festival is a fundraiser, as you know, for AFEST educates, whose mission is to fund music and arts education in K12 youth in Athens, Clark County. Athfest is also a public service put on by over 150 volunteers who believe in the mission and recognize the value of this and other festivals bring to Athens. We provide a public venue for local musicians and artists to share their creative work and gain a following that in turns that in turn enables them to be compensated for their efforts. We also boost the economy during the business doldrum of summer, drawing in tourists from across the region. Athens is nationally recognized for its creative spirit. This spirit is also recognized in our comprehensive plan and by the Georgia Department of Economic Development's report on music tourism in Athens. Both documents specifically mention the need to support festivals as part of making Athens a travel destination. The mayor and commission has spent a lot of money improving the infrastructure and aesthetics downtown. Festivals provide the reason for tourists to experience our fantastic city. We appreciate the funds provided via ADDA to support AFEST [snorts] and other festivals. We along with everyone else are experiencing the neverending c cost increases and decreases and revenues that make

these years difficult. We note that the mo hotel and motel tax revenues is estimated to be over $7 million in FY27. I urge you to consider the social and economic benefits that festivals provide as you allocate these funds. As always, I thank you for your support. Thank you, Mr. Norris.

Good evening. Hopefully, I'm the last person keeping you from margaritas. [clears throat] I'm Jean Dixon. I do produce the Twilight, which um have most of the my things I were going to say have been said already. So, I'm not sure which one of these to pick through, but um our bike shop that we opened in 1973 was now 50 years old or 53 years old. Geez. But the Twilight's now 46 and I'm hoping we might make it to 50. Um as a quick overview of the Twilight, you know, it's a it's a unique event. It's a unique event. um world recognized worldwide. This year we had 48,000 viewers of our live stream um which is not your typical uh sports person. It again there were it cycling is the number two sport worldwide right behind soccer. So a lot of our viewers are not American. Um but anyway, um to get to my I guess maybe in the more specifics of this, the reason we think we do need more additional money, um the police bill this year for the Athens for the Twilight was $27,000. It was up $5,000 from last year. Um a lot of this was due to the new dispatch and RTC real-time crime center that was imposed on special events. So this is a real cost that for any event that's fairly large. Part of that was the increase from our police cost from $60 to $65 an hour. So that's another 10% of that increase. But um I'm not the only one experiencing this with these costs increase. There's a couple other issues here that are kind of secondary to to this funding request and that is that um the G-day game this year was scheduled March 19th. That's one month out from the when the event actually happened. [clears throat] It's impossible for an event like ours to to work around that. Somehow there

has to be better coordination with UG on how to do this. um you know no longer over the last whatever you pick the number of years but last 10 years the Athens community has grown 20,000 people uh it's no longer strictly a university town and somehow or another this has to be addressed because it it it impacted our revenue tremendously this year um what else have I got on here this list I do think that one of the other things that needs to be addressed with additional funding is how you allocate this funding. I don't know that a really good, clean, clear way of how events get picked, why they get the funding they get. Um, and I think that's something that needs to be developed as we ask for more increased funding. Um, you know, the special events collective is really hope is that we can enhance uniqueness of Athens by providing quality of life enhancements along with cultural and social benefits to residents and visitors is what everybody else said. So, I'm going to go get my margarita. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Dixon. I hope it's tasty. All right, everyone. I've got just a couple of things tonight. Um, I do want to note the reappointment of Judge David Sweat to the Advanced Behavioral Health Board of Directors for a three-year term. Also want to note the reappoint of commissioners to Athens Housing Authority, which include Valden Daniel for a five-year term and Jacqueline Ascu in the resident commissioner slot for a one-year term as uh detailed by their charter. Uh then I have uh two assignments to the legislative review committee. Uh the first is to uh pursue the recommendation of the citizen solid waste committee uh to have a ban of plastic bags at points of sale. And the second is to examine a potential modification of the definition of family in single family properties that are that feature a homestead exemption uh where the resident owns the home. Uh there's my two. I want to go ahead and turn to the manager to ask if there's anything tonight. Uh just a reminder to the commission that next week we have two very important work sessions on the 12th and on the 14th involving budget judicial center sandy creek basin. Plenty to talk about. So thank you.

Thank you. Anything from the attorney? Anything from the auditor? All right. We'll go ahead and uh we'll begin with commissioner Davenport and then uh moments premargita. Commissioner Hamby will close us out.

All right. So, it was [clears throat] kind of fun to have written down because there's a lot of discussion in the community about the issue of single family. So, it's nice that you are [clears throat] Yeah, good luck with that, LRC. All righty. Um, first of all, happy Mother's Day um to all the mothers. Happy CO de Mayo. Congratulations to all the graduates. Um, Mary Girtz, next time you're at Lowe's on the east side, drive to Bojangles. Check out those trees. That's why I keep bugging you about the tree ordinance. Just take a look. Um employee lunchon tomorrow. So hopefully um everybody is aware of that. All the staff and um commissioners get out and let's fellowship together and um look forward to the prayer breakfast this Thursday. Most importantly, vote May 19th. Early voting has begun. Check out the ACC gov um board of elections to find out more. Oh, and get a sample ballot. And what's um Christine, can I get a copy of the nomination committee? I didn't get one. Melissa stole mine.

Here, you can have this one. Okay, thank you. And um when is groundbreaking for the library? Um it's May. I get a got a lot of people who are anticipating that and I look forward to working with everybody on the budget. That's all. All right. Thank you, Commissioner Link. Thank you.

Yeah. Um I just want to wish happy Mother's Day to all the mamas out there. Um you know when you have the hardest job in the world. Um and I also want to say happy summer. It's pretty much begun. Um, graduations are over the next week or so, and this town's about to empty out, which is all the more reason for us to appreciate our festivals that bring people into town and bring people into our local businesses and into our hotels. So, I I want to make that plea that as we go forward with the budget, we really listen to these folks and um consider funding those events more. Um, and you know, we we heard all the reasons and we've, you know, we're paying our police officers more, which means they're paying the police officers more. Electricity is more expensive. They have to pay for that, too. Um, so I want us to really seriously consider that as we move forward. And I also want to remind everyone that um, we are in a pretty severe drought. The whole state and and Athens is is in one of the more severe areas. Um, so I want to remind everyone to please conserve water. Um, we don't need to be put on water restrictions. This summer's only going to get hotter and drier. Um, you know, so keep the showers shorter. Um, you know, try not to water your lawn or, you know, do it at night or in the early morning. Um, ACC's, uh, public utilities has some suggestions on how to conserve water, so please be mindful of that. Thank you.

Yes. So, just a few things. Um, first, thank you staff for all of the hard work that you do. We I really appre I'm just playing all of us. We all appreciate y'all. Um, and just a few announcements. So, this Saturday um the ACCPD is having a resource fair. Um, and it's going to be at the east side um precinct over on Fair View. So, that's going to be all day. There's also a CCSD student TED talk. Um some students are um going to hit the big stage and do some tech talks as well as the Margo parade and festival over in Winterville. Um as Patrick stated, we are in um early voting um Monday the rest of the precincts open up. Um so yeah, go to the voter my voter page or no um go print out the ballot. Yeah, print out the ballot so you know who to vote for. Um, vote for me. Can I say that from back here?

Apparently. [laughter] Apparently. Yes. No, I'm joking. Um, but yeah, that's it. Okay. Um, well, let's just say happy birthday to all of our moms.

Melissa, we can count that in, right? Um, I want to thank all the people who applied for one of our boards, authorities, and commission spots or two spots. Uh we had a two days of of interviews and we met a lot of neat people and um I would like to make sure those who weren't named tonight are not discouraged and that they continue to be on the lookout for the next posting for more opportunities to help us in an advisory way on a very um broad list and a variety of of areas that you could that community members can help us. And we do have um staff appreciation day which is always fun and drench the director starts at 11 to two. And um we'll see how much fun that is because it always is very entertaining to watch that. And I also want to thank all the poll workers, our elections department and staff because this is the very beginning of what will be a very long um election season through the starting now for the through the year through the different ones and runoffs. Um so I appreciate that. And so the details on ours are on the Department of Elections and then each voter is on the MVP. SOS, right? GA.

So, make sure your your registration is clear for this next round. And then the ballot does have a lot on it. And I do recommend that you look at what's on there and read up so that you can make your decisions. And I think that this Friday is a deadline to request your absentee ballot so that if you want it to come to your house so that you have that time to study, um, make sure you get the paperwork in. this Friday. I think the deadline on that.

All my colleagues didn't say what I was going to say, but but anyway, uh I do want to thank all the um the the residents that came out and u we interviewed for our board of authority commission. I think that's real important that um us as commissioners um take that seriously. I wish more of my colleagues have shown have shown up, but that wasn't the case. But um we appreciate all the people coming out and um going through this process and I want to thank the mayor for um announcing those names tonight and and we appreciate that. Um also staff appreciation will be tomorrow and the mayor will be in the Duncan booth so we need to make sure we um take care of that. Take your best shot around noon.

Yeah, noon. Mom's the word. Also on Relay for Life will be going on this weekend. Um um actually over at my church at Ebeneza. So if you're not doing anything, you want to walk um people who have cancer, please come by and um do that. Um also to follow up on Commissioner um um Taylor's point with the TED talks. We really need to go support those young people. First time they ever let young people do the TED talks. I'm really interested to see how that process work and and what they're going to present. and there's 15 amazing, you know, CCCSD students who will be doing this. So, I'm I'm really proud of what they're doing and and the effort they put putting forth in those TED talks. And again, thank our staff for your time and your effort and everything that you provide for us. And again, h happy Mother's Day to all the mothers and especially my colleagues um here um who sit behind this um rail with us, but happy Mother's Day to everybody out there in Clark County. Thank you, Mayor.

Thank you. Happy Mother's Day to all the um ladies out in the community and around our area. I want to thank um Desiree Henson with the neighborhood leaders program. We partnered for um a program last week and it went well. I also want to thank Alex Bond and Trevor Ross from the leisure services department that filled in um with a much needed and and fun activity at the last minute. So, thank you to to them both. and also thank code enforcement. I know I seemingly have been keeping them busy in district 6, but I appreciate all the work and all the effort and I know it is um sometimes it feels like tedium, but it's I got a phone call today, this afternoon, and someone said that the residents had, you know, I guess a conversation at the mailbox and they were um praising the efforts and the changes that they're seeing. um from the abandoned cars to the other things that um needed to be addressed. So, just thank you so much for that and um thank you to Stephen Bailey for always responding right away with the information I I need for um residents. That's all.

Um yes, I'd like to take a moment to recognize um ACC PD uh Solid Waste and the other ACC staff along with the UG PD. Um it's been a busy spring in Athens. We've had a lot of events downtown with the jam for CAM, the bike race, uh we had the concert at the stadium and Gday and there's a lot of other spring events over at UG and they have all done a fabulous job keeping traffic uh managing the crowds and the traffic and keeping our community uh clean and safe. So, thank you all for that. Uh also like to congratulate all the u seniors who are graduating this spring. We wish you all the best in the next phase of your journey and uh happy Mother's Day.

Um I want to say thank you to all of you who came out and spoke tonight about the special event funding. Um I appreciate how well organized you are in your advocate advocating for yourselves and you could you'll have the next turn. Okay. And and thanks also for all those festivals and special events. They really do add so much to like what Athens is. I was just at Twilight, what was it two weeks ago? And even when I'm not at those events, they also specials. So, I hope we can continue to to uh continue to support um the special events in comparable ways to other cities of our size. And that's another good reason why we might consider advocating with our local legislators for an increase of a 1% hotel motel tax so that we can put more of that towards uh a more variety of of uh causes or expenses here. Um out there in the public, you know, we've mentioned it. Budget is out there. It's available to read and all the dates you can come in here and speak to us and listen and learn. So you know just look for that budget uh fiscal year 2027. I also want to mention that tomorrow um there is a pedals and pathways mobility education mixture mixer for transportation organized by our one of our commissions Athens in motion um along with bike Athens and I think there'll be people from the greenway commission from our staff the electric bike group so anyone wanting to get an update on anything related to sidewalks and bike infrastructure um drop by there. And then lastly, I do want to thank our our mayor. Um, and actually encourage everyone to listen to uh his state of the community address. Um, you know, I listen to that. I some puts these podcasts on and other things on YouTube while I go out and get my steps

in trying to fall asleep at night. No. No. And I was just like, this is so good. You know, it's very discouraging that there's a that sometimes or it feels like where where are we getting anywhere? But if you there is so much that we have done with the help of staff, with the help of community and I appreciate that um that state of the community address because it reminds me of everything we're all doing together here in Athens. So thank you. Can I go now? Yeah. Sorry. Sorry. I'm just be careful what button you push on things. So uh I make a motion to adjurnn. Mayor second. All in favor, please say I. All right. Motion carries. Thanks everyone.