CCI Policy Updates: November 12, 2021

The Center for Civic Innovation's mission is to increase civic participation and elevate more effective solutions in Atlanta by inspiring people to take action, investing in the work of local community leaders, and advocating for policy change. We believe that informed and civically-engaged residents are the key to making Atlanta the city we all know it can be.

We started this Weekly Policy Update series to provide our community with important and relevant policy updates. Each post recaps the past week and provides a look ahead at what's on the agenda next week, including opportunities for everyone to engage within the community. We hope you’re inspired to take action, support and invest in local community leaders, and advocate for public policy that reflects the needs and voices of everyone who calls Atlanta home.

Policy Update – November 12, 2021

Election Results Certified & Early Voting Scheduled

The Fulton and DeKalb county elections boards met to certify the results of the November 3rd election. Early voting for the November 30th runoff election will be Wednesday, November 17th through Wednesday, November 24th including Saturday and Sunday.

Fulton County Early Voting

DeKalb County Early Voting

City Enters COVID-19 Green Zone

Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms lifted the city-wide mask mandate based on positive data regarding COVID-19 cases. While the City has entered the “Green Zone” of its reopening plan, the mask requirement remains in all City of Atlanta facilities, the residential eviction moratorium on City-sponsored housing remains, and City boards continue to meet remotely.

Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms Announces City Advances to Green Zone of Reopening Plan (press release)

City Council Legislation

The Atlanta City Council meets on Monday to consider a charter amendment to require 2% of the general fund be allocated to affordable housing, donating $2 million to a Guaranteed Income Pilot Program, donating $2 million to support Child Savings Accounts, clarifying alcohol licensing procedures, and recognizing “Columbus Day” as Indigenous People’s Day.”

On the Agenda: Atlanta City Council Significant Legislative Items for Monday, Nov. 15

State Redistricting

The Georgia General Assembly approved a new map for State House districts along party lines. The legislature still must approve State Senate and Congressional district maps. 

Georgia House legislative redistricting map heads to governor (GPB News)

Opportunities to Engage Next Week:

Monday, November 15

• 8:30am – Atlanta Fulton County Recreation Authority (AFCRA) Board of Directors Meeting

• 12:00pm – Atlanta Board of Education (APS) Budget Commission Meeting

• 1:00pm – Atlanta City Council Meeting

• 3:00pm – Invest Atlanta and Urban Finance Redevelopment Authority (URFA) Finance Committee Meetings

• 4:00pm – Atlanta Water and Sewer Appeals Board Hearing

• 7:00pm – NPU F and NPU Y

Tuesday, November 16

• 9:00am – DeKalb County Board of Commissioners Meeting

• 11:45am – Atlanta Board of Education (APS) Accountability Commission Meeting

• 2:00pm – Development Authority of Fulton County Meeting

• 4:45pm – Atlanta Tree Conservation Committee Business Meeting

• 5:00pm – Atlanta License Review Board Hearing

• 6:00pm – ATL Zoning 2.0 Ideas Labs 3: Urban Ecology/Coding for Mobility and Access

• 6:00pm – NPU University: Membership Has its Privileges (Parliamentary Procedures III)

• 6:30pm – Atlanta BeltLine Southwest Study Group Virtual Public Meeting

• 6:30pm – NPU O

Wednesday, November 17

• Early Voting – 8am-6pm in DeKalb County and 9am-6pm in Fulton County

• 10:00am – Atlanta Housing Commission Meeting

• 10:00am – Fulton County Board of Commissioners Meeting

• 3:00pm – Atlanta Housing Board of Commissioners Meeting

• 4:00pm – Fulton County Library System Board of Trustees Meeting

• 6:30pm – Atlanta Tree Conservation Commission Appeal Hearing

• 7:00pm – NPU I

• 7:30pm – NPU W

Thursday, November 18

• Early Voting – 8am-6pm in DeKalb County and 9am-6pm in Fulton County

• 9:00am – Invest Atlanta Board of Directors Meeting

• 9:30am – MARTA Board of Directors Committee Meetings

• 12:00pm – Atlanta Board of Zoning Adjustment Hearing

• 6:00pm – Atlanta Zoning Review Board Hearing

• 6:30pm – NPU Q

• 7:00pm – NPU G and NPU S

Friday, November 19

• Early Voting – 8am-6pm in DeKalb County and 9am-6pm in Fulton County

• 10:00am – MARTA Board of Directors Audit Committee Meeting

Saturday, November 20

• Early Voting – 9am-6pm in DeKalb County and Fulton County

• 10:00am – Atlanta Planning Advisory Board Meeting

Sunday, November 21

• Early Voting – 9am-6pm in Fulton County and 12pm-5pm in DeKalb County

Other On-Going and Upcoming Opportunities:

NPU University: Membership Has Its Privileges

November 16, 2021 – 6:00pm-9:00pm

Would you like to know more about the rights, privileges, and obligations you may have as a member of your NPU or neighborhood organization? If you didn’t know that the chief decision-makers in an organization are its members, this class is for you.

WB 1003.003 - Membership Has its Privileges (Parliamentary Procedures III)

Atlanta Department of Parks and Recreation Master Plan

The Department of Parks and Recreation has begun the public comment period for the Activate ATL: Recreation and Parks for All Comprehensive Master Plan. The plan is available for review online at https://www.activate-atl.com. Activate ATL is a comprehensive parks and recreation system plan that provides recommendations for provision of facilities, programs and services; parkland acquisition and development; maintenance and operations; and administration and management over the next ten years. Comments are welcome through November 19th. Activate ATL will be presented during the CDHS Quarterly CDP Public Hearing on November 29th. Send comments via the website, email to activate-atl@atlantaga.gov.

MARTA Bus Network Redesign

MARTA has released a survey to get feedback on the future of its bus network. The concept scenarios are focused on either providing more-frequent service in fewer routes or less-frequent service on more routes. 

https://www.marta2040nextgenbus.com/home

What We’re Reading:

• Atlanta has highest inflation rate among major US cities (AJC)

• Atlanta's next mayor could overhaul housing authority leadership. Will some get the axe? (Atlanta Civic Circle)

• Atlanta's surveillance network keeps growing, and growing, and… (Atlanta Magazine)

• Analyzing the relationship between major public investments and neighborhood change in Atlanta (ATL Studies)

• The Surprising Greatness of Jimmy Carter (Washington Monthly)

• The Atlanta Braves won the World Series. But they face a tougher opponent off the field (CNN)

• Liberal Hypocrisy is Fueling American Inequality. Here’s How. (New York Times)

• Is This the Future of Civic Engagement? (Strong Towns)

• Why Cities Can't Afford to Put the Squeeze on Airbnbs (Governing)

• What is gentrification? It's not the problem you might think it is. (Vox)

To make these updates better, we need your input! What was most informative or helpful? What did we miss? Please email us at policy@civicatlanta.org.