CCI Policy Updates: November 26, 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 26, 2021

The municipal runoff election is on Tuesday, November 30th. Polls are open from 7:00am until 8:00pm.

The Atlanta City Council meets in committees this week before the final regularly-scheduled full council meeting next Monday. Items of particular interest are:

The Zoning Committee is scheduled to vote on legislation seeking to create more affordable housing that would make changes to “missing middle” housing regulations, eliminate minimum parking requirements for residential developments, and allow for attached accessory dwelling units (ADUs). The legislation was opposed by 17 out of 25 NPUs but supported by the Zoning Review Board (ZRB).

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The Public Safety & Legal Administration Committee will discuss a resolution for the Atlanta Police Department to receive training and medical kits from Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities to stop opioid overdose emergencies.

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The City Utilities Committee will be reviewing two proposals to overhaul how the City collects money for solid waste removal. One would charge property owners a fixed amount based on the value of their property (an ad valorem tax) and the other would charge a fixed fee per residence or “equivalent residential trip generation unit.”

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21-O-0876 (ad valorem)

The Community Development and Human Services Committee is scheduled to vote on whether to sell the City-owned parking deck across from State Farm Arena to CIM Group for the Centennial Yards/Gulch redevelopment in exchange for a new learning center at John A. White Park.

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The Transportation Committee is anticipated to vote on putting the renewal of the TSPLOST 4/10ths-of-a-cent sales tax on ballot in May 2022. A proposed list of projects was presented at a series of virtual public meetings before the Thanksgiving holiday.

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The Finance & Executive Committee will vote on the City’s legislative package for the 2022 session of the Georgia General Assembly. Priorities include keeping Buckhead in the City, maintaining ownership of the airport, maintaining housing affordability, protecting voting rights, allowing virtual meetings without an emergency declaration, and 

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Opportunities to Engage Next Week:

Monday, November 29

Tuesday, November 30 – Runoff Election Day

Wednesday, December 1

Thursday, December 2

Friday, December 3

Saturday, December 4

Other On-Going and Upcoming Opportunities:

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. Virtual public meetings are scheduled for December 2nd and 7th.

https://www.marta2040nextgenbus.com/home

What We’re Reading:

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.

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