1 00:00:19,359 --> 00:00:28,000 Everybody, it's good to have you here. Uh friends, we have arrived at Tuesday, 2 00:00:25,359 --> 00:00:31,840 November 4th, 2025, and we're glad to have everybody here in 3 00:00:29,679 --> 00:00:35,120 city hall. Um we'll go ahead and begin by having the clerk call roll for us. 4 00:00:34,399 --> 00:00:36,320 here. >> Lee 5 00:00:35,600 --> 00:00:38,800 » here. >> Taylor 6 00:00:37,600 --> 00:00:40,160 » here. >> Wright 7 00:00:39,520 --> 00:00:41,360 » present. >> Fisher 8 00:00:40,719 --> 00:00:44,000 » here. >> Johnson. 9 00:00:42,719 --> 00:00:45,680 » Co Pepper >> here. 10 00:00:44,800 --> 00:00:47,680 » Meyers >> here. 11 00:00:46,399 --> 00:00:49,840 » Thornon >> ob is here. 12 00:00:49,120 --> 00:00:51,680 » Handy >> here. 13 00:00:50,559 --> 00:00:55,039 » We have a quorum. >> All right. Thank you, Madam Clerk. All 14 00:00:53,280 --> 00:00:58,719 right. Uh we'll begin with the civility pledge that was provided to us by the 15 00:00:56,719 --> 00:01:02,320 Georgia Municipal Association and dozens of cities across the state have adopted 16 00:01:00,960 --> 00:01:05,760 and that indicates that the way we govern ourselves is often as important 17 00:01:03,840 --> 00:01:08,560 as the positions we take. That our collective decisions will be better when 18 00:01:07,200 --> 00:01:12,080 differing views have had the opportunity to be fully vetted and considered that 19 00:01:10,799 --> 00:01:15,840 all people have the right to be treated with respect, courtesy and openness. 20 00:01:13,920 --> 00:01:20,960 That we value all input and we commit to conduct ourselves at all times with 21 00:01:17,840 --> 00:01:24,720 civility and courtesy to each other. Um, first formal order of business tonight 22 00:01:22,960 --> 00:01:29,200 is approval of the minutes of meetings of Tuesday, October 7th, Tuesday, 23 00:01:26,880 --> 00:01:33,920 October 21st, and non- voting meetings of Tuesday, October 14th, and Tuesday, 24 00:01:31,439 --> 00:01:36,000 October 21st. Do I hear a motion for approval of those? 25 00:01:34,880 --> 00:01:39,040 » So move. >> I've got a motion from Commissioner 26 00:01:37,280 --> 00:01:42,240 Thornton. Is there a second? >> Second. 27 00:01:40,159 --> 00:01:44,159 » Second from Commissioner Fiser. All in favor, please say I. 28 00:01:43,360 --> 00:01:48,399 » I. >> Any opposed? Right. Hearing none. Motion 29 00:01:46,640 --> 00:01:50,720 carries. All right. Uh, madam clerk, are there any written communications this 30 00:01:49,759 --> 00:01:56,399 evening? >> Yes, sir. Mr. Mayor, 31 00:01:54,320 --> 00:02:00,719 on behalf of the transportation and public works department, we'd like to 32 00:01:58,960 --> 00:02:04,880 enter into the record notice of acceptance of Britney Way, which 33 00:02:03,280 --> 00:02:10,399 includes the right-of-way deed, right-of-way plat, attorney's title opin 34 00:02:07,680 --> 00:02:16,720 opinion, lender's release, and owner's affidavit. We also have um 35 00:02:14,800 --> 00:02:21,360 for the Athens Housing Authority, North Downtown Athens development, the minor 36 00:02:19,440 --> 00:02:25,280 subdivision plat for the Athens Housing Authority. All required improvements and 37 00:02:23,599 --> 00:02:28,400 impertinances have been deemed acceptable by Athens Clark County 38 00:02:27,040 --> 00:02:31,200 Transportation and Public Works Department. 39 00:02:29,840 --> 00:02:34,080 » All right. Thank you, Madam Clerk. I appreciate that. Uh all right, friends. 40 00:02:33,040 --> 00:02:37,440 There are going to be several opportunities for public input tonight. 41 00:02:36,239 --> 00:02:41,440 Uh there's going to be an opportunity for public input on the consent agenda. 42 00:02:39,760 --> 00:02:45,920 Uh then there will be an opportunity for public input on old and new business. 43 00:02:44,480 --> 00:02:49,840 There will be separate opportunities for public input on each of the planning and 44 00:02:47,840 --> 00:02:53,040 zoning items tonight. And at the conclusion of our meeting, since we're 45 00:02:51,599 --> 00:02:56,560 at the first Tuesday of the month in our voting meeting, we'll have an 46 00:02:54,400 --> 00:03:00,800 opportunity for general public input on any item that was not on tonight's 47 00:02:58,319 --> 00:03:04,239 agenda. The format for public input will be the same for all of these 48 00:03:02,000 --> 00:03:07,840 opportunities. Every individual will get to speak for three minutes. You see 49 00:03:06,640 --> 00:03:11,280 light in front of the clerk. It will turn green when you begin speaking. and 50 00:03:09,599 --> 00:03:14,879 you provide your name and place of residence. That light will turn yellow 51 00:03:13,200 --> 00:03:18,159 when you have 30 seconds remaining and then it will turn red when your three 52 00:03:16,400 --> 00:03:23,120 minutes is concluded. And I'll thank you for your time with us tonight. Uh so at 53 00:03:20,959 --> 00:03:28,879 this point, is there anyone who would like to speak to any item on the consent 54 00:03:25,040 --> 00:03:31,680 agenda? Those are items 1 through 12. Is there any member of the public who would 55 00:03:30,159 --> 00:03:35,280 speak like to speak to any of those items 1 through 12? 56 00:03:38,959 --> 00:03:44,480 All right. Hearing the crickets in the room, I want to turn to the commission 57 00:03:42,640 --> 00:03:48,959 and ask, is there any commissioner who would like to remove an item from the 58 00:03:45,920 --> 00:03:50,959 consent agenda for discussion? >> No. 59 00:03:49,599 --> 00:03:54,319 » Motion to approve. >> All right. I've got a motion to approve 60 00:03:52,400 --> 00:03:57,519 the consent agenda from Commissioner Wright. 61 00:03:55,519 --> 00:04:00,640 » And I have a second from Commissioner Thornton. I'm going to ask the attorney 62 00:03:59,120 --> 00:04:05,200 to read the ordinances associated with the consent agenda for us. Ordinance 63 00:04:03,040 --> 00:04:10,080 associated with agenda items 1, two, three, and four. Agenda item one, an 64 00:04:07,280 --> 00:04:13,360 ordinance to amend the FY 2026 operating capital budget for Athens, Clark County, 65 00:04:11,840 --> 00:04:16,400 Georgia, so as to provide grant funding if awarded from the Georgia Department 66 00:04:14,799 --> 00:04:20,079 of Transportation local maintenance improvement grant, Elmeigg for 67 00:04:18,479 --> 00:04:23,199 resurfacing roadways and for other purposes. Agenda item number two, an 68 00:04:21,600 --> 00:04:28,000 ordinance for establishment of a yellow curbing on Herring Street between the 69 00:04:26,080 --> 00:04:31,520 intersection of Peter Street and Derby Street and for other purposes. Agenda 70 00:04:30,320 --> 00:04:34,560 item three, an ordinance for the establishment of yellow yellow curving 71 00:04:33,280 --> 00:04:38,400 on Reese Street between the intersections of North Poke Street and 72 00:04:36,320 --> 00:04:43,280 North Street Church Street and for other purposes. Agenda and item number four, 73 00:04:40,560 --> 00:04:47,199 an ordinance to amend the FY2026 operating capital budget for Athens, 74 00:04:44,960 --> 00:04:51,840 Clark County, Georgia, so as to provide funding for solid waste charm processing 75 00:04:49,440 --> 00:04:56,400 and for other purposes. >> All right, I appreciate that. All right. 76 00:04:54,320 --> 00:04:59,520 Uh with the motion from Commissioner Wright, the second from Commissioner 77 00:04:57,840 --> 00:05:03,199 Thornton, and reading of those ordinances by Attorney Dre. All right. 78 00:05:01,520 --> 00:05:07,280 All in favor of the consent agenda approval, please say I. 79 00:05:05,120 --> 00:05:11,440 » Are there any opposed? All right. Hearing none. Motion carries. All right. 80 00:05:09,440 --> 00:05:17,840 We're going to move forward to our three planning and zoning items. U first one 81 00:05:14,880 --> 00:05:22,320 of those is item 13 regarding 480 South Mill Avenue. Is there anybody here 82 00:05:19,840 --> 00:05:28,120 tonight who'd like to speak to 480 South Village Avenue? 83 00:05:24,560 --> 00:05:28,120 Good evening, sir. 84 00:05:30,160 --> 00:05:38,400 » I'm Brett Thurman, uh, engineer at Armit Matheni Thurman, um, 330 Research Drive 85 00:05:35,919 --> 00:05:41,840 Athens. I represent Alpha Z Delta along with Dave Matheni who's here in the 86 00:05:40,080 --> 00:05:47,520 audience and I appreciate all the input from staff during this process as as 87 00:05:44,720 --> 00:05:51,360 well as unanimous unanimous support from the planning commission. After tableling 88 00:05:49,840 --> 00:05:55,840 the project for a month at planning commission, we resubmitted a much 89 00:05:53,039 --> 00:05:59,199 improved plan for the site. The fire marshall was very pleased with the 90 00:05:57,600 --> 00:06:03,600 increased width of the existing drive aisles to 12 ft, the increased space on 91 00:06:02,000 --> 00:06:08,160 the parking lot side so that their ladder truck could put down stabilizers 92 00:06:05,840 --> 00:06:11,440 without having to move cars and the three fire department connections we 93 00:06:09,680 --> 00:06:15,280 proposed at the front so that the pumper truck does not have to go on the 94 00:06:12,960 --> 00:06:19,199 property to fight a fire. We designed a storm water solution under 95 00:06:17,280 --> 00:06:24,240 the parking lot to detain the rainfall recharge amount. All larger storms are 96 00:06:21,600 --> 00:06:28,319 also contained in the gravel bed so there's no increase in storm water from 97 00:06:26,000 --> 00:06:32,000 the site. In fact, we will now be directing that water to the private 98 00:06:29,919 --> 00:06:36,000 alley thereby reducing storm water flow into Millage Avenue. 99 00:06:34,160 --> 00:06:40,080 There is sufficient parking on site for the number of members living on site 100 00:06:37,759 --> 00:06:44,319 plus the house mother. Our parking falls within the range of on-site parking for 101 00:06:42,080 --> 00:06:47,199 other fraternities and sororities. For additional parking, Clark Central High 102 00:06:45,919 --> 00:06:52,560 School will be approached for an additional 45 spaces for use during 103 00:06:50,080 --> 00:06:55,759 chapter meetings and special events. We believe this is sufficient parking for 104 00:06:54,080 --> 00:07:01,039 the sororities needs as they have a transportation policy limiting 105 00:06:57,360 --> 00:07:04,319 automobile access to the site. Um there are seven variances that we have 106 00:07:02,479 --> 00:07:08,960 requested. Mainly are a lot of them are related to the site size and the 107 00:07:06,319 --> 00:07:12,080 existing conditions. The site of course was already non-conforming and the 108 00:07:10,639 --> 00:07:16,400 planning commissioners agreed that all the variances were acceptable. 109 00:07:14,960 --> 00:07:20,000 The front apartment building would be demolished for a larger chapter house. 110 00:07:18,319 --> 00:07:23,919 The apartment building just cannot be renovated to provide the space required. 111 00:07:22,240 --> 00:07:26,560 The new chapter house design has been before the historic preservation 112 00:07:25,280 --> 00:07:30,319 committee and we will receive a certificate of appropriateness. Uh 113 00:07:28,800 --> 00:07:33,840 street trees are provided in front of the new chapter house. They're placed a 114 00:07:32,160 --> 00:07:38,400 little further back than normal because we have to be 30 feet behind the power 115 00:07:35,599 --> 00:07:43,120 lines. Um, also finally, my client agrees with the 116 00:07:40,560 --> 00:07:46,800 two conditions in the staff report. We will provide the sidewalk access to the 117 00:07:44,960 --> 00:07:50,639 Millage Avenue sidewalk and we will obtain a parking agreement with Clark 118 00:07:48,479 --> 00:07:54,319 Central and have it recorded before the project can receive a certificate of 119 00:07:52,400 --> 00:07:58,720 occupancy. Thank you. >> Thank you, Mr. Thurman. Is there anyone 120 00:07:56,080 --> 00:08:02,639 else here to speak to 480 South Village Avenue tonight? 121 00:08:00,560 --> 00:08:09,440 » Good evening. And I'm David Matheni, also with Armen Trap Matheni Thurman at 122 00:08:04,800 --> 00:08:14,080 3:30 Research Drive. Um, basically what I wanted to say and as Brett has already 123 00:08:12,400 --> 00:08:20,479 um reiterated said that uh the 124 00:08:18,479 --> 00:08:26,479 um the 125 00:08:22,160 --> 00:08:32,640 well just lost my words, but um that's I've never had a loss for words. 126 00:08:28,879 --> 00:08:37,200 No, Vita will uh will say that, but the actually the historic preservation 127 00:08:34,240 --> 00:08:42,320 commission uh did approve our plan with some minor conditions and so just wanted 128 00:08:39,519 --> 00:08:48,720 to bring that up again. Also, I wanted to say that um 129 00:08:45,200 --> 00:08:56,320 because of the site changes, there's not going to be any new impact on either 130 00:08:52,720 --> 00:09:02,080 side of this new uh house. Um either right or left. So I think that's a good 131 00:08:58,720 --> 00:09:08,959 thing and I'm very happy that we are at this point and can introduce a new 132 00:09:05,360 --> 00:09:15,040 facility for the Alpha Z Delta sorarity who has been looking for a presence on 133 00:09:11,920 --> 00:09:22,080 um in Athens. Currently they are just part of the panelic uh building and um 134 00:09:19,279 --> 00:09:28,160 so they're anxious to have their visible presence on Millage Avenue. Thank you. 135 00:09:26,560 --> 00:09:34,040 Thank you, Mr. Mathem. Is there anyone else here to speak to 480 South Village 136 00:09:31,040 --> 00:09:34,040 tonight? 137 00:09:34,480 --> 00:09:38,800 » All right, seeing none, I'll go ahead and turn to Commissioner Wright for a 138 00:09:38,320 --> 00:09:41,279 motion. >> Motion to approve. 139 00:09:40,240 --> 00:09:43,040 » I'll second. >> All right, got a motion 140 00:09:42,320 --> 00:09:45,760 » with conditions. >> Commissioner Wright for approval with 141 00:09:44,640 --> 00:09:49,040 conditions. >> Second from Commissioner Link. 142 00:09:47,600 --> 00:09:53,920 Commissioner Wright, any remarks? >> Uh, no. Just happy to have them um have 143 00:09:52,240 --> 00:09:57,680 their presence and out of the tape center. meetings. 144 00:09:56,160 --> 00:10:02,160 » I'm ready to vote. >> All right. Any others from the bottom? 145 00:10:00,480 --> 00:10:04,320 » All right. Have Ty Drake read the ordinance. 146 00:10:02,800 --> 00:10:08,160 » Ordinance to amend the code of Athens, Clark County, Georgia with respect to 147 00:10:05,839 --> 00:10:11,920 special use approval in the COM commercial office millage avenue quarter 148 00:10:10,080 --> 00:10:15,920 special district overlay for one parcel of land located at 480 South Millage 149 00:10:13,839 --> 00:10:20,480 Avenue and for other purposes. All right. Motion and a second are on the 150 00:10:18,640 --> 00:10:22,640 floor. All in favor, please say I. >> I. 151 00:10:21,040 --> 00:10:28,000 » Are there any opposed? All right. Hearing none. Motion carries. All right. 152 00:10:24,480 --> 00:10:32,640 Uh item 14 uh is a request uh to amend section 9-15-16 153 00:10:30,880 --> 00:10:37,600 of the code regard regarding home occupations and accessory structures and 154 00:10:35,360 --> 00:10:41,040 cottage food industry allowances effectively to come into concert with 155 00:10:39,200 --> 00:10:45,399 state code. Uh is there any member of the public who would like to speak to 156 00:10:42,079 --> 00:10:45,399 item 14? 157 00:10:47,279 --> 00:10:50,240 All right, seeing none, would the commissioner like to place a motion on 158 00:10:49,600 --> 00:10:54,160 the floor? >> I'll move to approve. 159 00:10:52,079 --> 00:10:56,640 » Is there a second? Second. 160 00:10:55,279 --> 00:10:59,279 » All right. Got a motion from Commissioner Link. Second from 161 00:10:57,839 --> 00:11:01,120 Commissioner Myers. Commissioner Link, any remarks? 162 00:11:00,000 --> 00:11:02,720 » No. >> Commissioner Myers? 163 00:11:02,160 --> 00:11:04,560 » No. >> All right. Attorney Drake, I'll have you 164 00:11:03,839 --> 00:11:07,519 read this ordinance. >> Ordinance to amend the Code of Athens, 165 00:11:05,920 --> 00:11:11,360 Clark County, Georgia with respect to home occupations and for other purposes. 166 00:11:09,760 --> 00:11:13,200 » All right. There's a motion and a second on the floor. All in favor, please say 167 00:11:12,720 --> 00:11:15,600 I. >> I. 168 00:11:13,760 --> 00:11:21,600 » Are there any opposed? All right. Hearing none. Motion carries. All right. 169 00:11:18,399 --> 00:11:24,959 Uh item 15 uh regards an amendment to chapter nine of the code of ordinances 170 00:11:23,200 --> 00:11:28,000 regarding the definition and permitted locations of veterinary clinics and 171 00:11:26,560 --> 00:11:33,480 kennels. Is there any member of the public who'd like to speak to item 172 00:11:29,519 --> 00:11:33,480 number 15 tonight? 173 00:11:35,279 --> 00:11:41,200 Usually the animals draw a crowd, but not tonight. All right. Would a 174 00:11:39,519 --> 00:11:43,360 commissioner like to place a motion on the floor? Commissioner Davenport, I 175 00:11:42,480 --> 00:11:49,120 know you have a commission defined adoption. 176 00:11:43,680 --> 00:11:51,680 » Yeah. CO um approved. Davenport CDO. All right, I've got a motion from 177 00:11:50,399 --> 00:11:55,040 Commissioner Davenport for the commission defined option. Is there a 178 00:11:53,040 --> 00:11:58,240 second? >> I'll second because I have a question. 179 00:11:57,040 --> 00:12:00,959 » All right, a second from Commissioner Wright. Uh, Commissioner Davenport 180 00:11:59,680 --> 00:12:05,680 remarks, you may want to just outline the modification. just slight 181 00:12:03,200 --> 00:12:11,920 modification in that keeping a status quo where if you want um 182 00:12:09,120 --> 00:12:20,800 uh a vet clinic are not allowed in AR residential neighborhood zones and that 183 00:12:16,560 --> 00:12:27,200 if um in AR zones to get a permit for a kennel you have to keep it um you have 184 00:12:23,600 --> 00:12:32,079 to go through special use so that's it the rest stays the same 185 00:12:30,880 --> 00:12:35,519 » commissioner Right. >> I had a question. It didn't It wasn't 186 00:12:34,079 --> 00:12:40,560 clear to me that this went through the planning commission. It didn't have the 187 00:12:37,040 --> 00:12:44,560 pink sheet that the one ahead of it did, and I I was curious if this sort of 188 00:12:42,720 --> 00:12:48,399 modification might need to loop back through. 189 00:12:45,440 --> 00:12:51,200 » Um I I'm seeing from planning director Bruce Lonnie that that this is 190 00:12:49,839 --> 00:12:55,600 sufficient to go through. >> Okay. All right. 191 00:12:52,959 --> 00:12:57,519 » Any other remarks from the body? Commissioner Myers, 192 00:12:56,480 --> 00:13:01,519 » it was he sent it. >> I'm just I know I saw the CDO in our 193 00:13:00,399 --> 00:13:04,880 email, >> but I'm looking at the publicly 194 00:13:02,800 --> 00:13:08,399 available >> amendment. 195 00:13:06,560 --> 00:13:11,920 » He sent it last week. >> No, I know. I saw I saw it there. I'm 196 00:13:10,000 --> 00:13:16,160 just saying it's not Is it Is it on the public one as well? 197 00:13:12,800 --> 00:13:20,160 » It's It's on the agenda page. >> It's towards the bottom. 198 00:13:17,360 --> 00:13:22,240 » It's page 212 starts. 199 00:13:20,800 --> 00:13:25,519 » Yeah. I'm I'm just talking about the one that's publicly lit. I just clicked on 200 00:13:23,920 --> 00:13:27,440 it. You just want to make sure that it's public 201 00:13:25,920 --> 00:13:31,040 » that it's publicly available. Yeah, that's all I just want to make sure that 202 00:13:28,800 --> 00:13:34,320 it's there. >> All right. And our understanding is that 203 00:13:32,800 --> 00:13:38,160 that's publicly available on the web portal version, which frankly I've not 204 00:13:36,800 --> 00:13:43,600 looked at. I just downloaded the version from our internal portal. 205 00:13:39,200 --> 00:13:46,560 » No, I'm looking at the web portal. >> So, it's the first page of the web 206 00:13:44,880 --> 00:13:49,279 portal version. >> Is that right? 207 00:13:47,600 --> 00:13:53,440 » Okay. Perfect. All right. Any other questions? 208 00:13:51,600 --> 00:13:55,839 » All right. Uh, I'll have attorney Drake read the ordinance for us. 209 00:13:54,480 --> 00:13:59,040 » Ordinance to amend the code of Athens, Clark County, Georgia in respect to 210 00:13:57,120 --> 00:14:03,120 veterary clinics, uses in the zoning ordinance of Athens, Clark County, 211 00:14:00,399 --> 00:14:06,800 Georgia, and for other purposes. >> All right, we've got a motion, a second 212 00:14:04,959 --> 00:14:11,600 on the floor for the commission to find adoption. All in favor, please say I. 213 00:14:08,720 --> 00:14:15,519 » I. Are there any opposed? >> All right, hearing none, motion carries. 214 00:14:14,079 --> 00:14:22,000 All right, we're going to move on to old and new business. And tonight, that is 215 00:14:18,639 --> 00:14:25,360 numbers 16 through 20. And so if any member of the public would like to speak 216 00:14:23,279 --> 00:14:29,760 to any item of old or new business, you can go ahead and line up the podium. And 217 00:14:27,600 --> 00:14:32,760 uh rules of input are as as described earlier. 218 00:14:46,880 --> 00:14:52,880 It's a it's a generous community. Everybody wants to let everybody else 219 00:14:49,519 --> 00:14:57,680 go. very polite. Chris Ward, I'm a 140 Beverly Drive. I also picked a terrible 220 00:14:55,040 --> 00:15:02,399 day to get my eyes dilated, so I apologize. I did extra large font so I 221 00:15:00,240 --> 00:15:07,680 could try to get through this. Uh, good evening, mayor, commissioners. So, when 222 00:15:05,360 --> 00:15:12,480 I first looked at the proposal on 295 East Dohy Street, I honestly thought I 223 00:15:10,480 --> 00:15:16,320 had opened the wrong file because it looked like it belonged in Chicago, not 224 00:15:14,079 --> 00:15:20,399 in Athens. It's big, it's cold, it's boxy, it looks like it's ready for a 225 00:15:18,240 --> 00:15:25,839 Starbucks logo. and a Tesla store to move in the bottom of it. But Athens is 226 00:15:22,639 --> 00:15:30,399 not Chicago. We build community and we don't specialize in concrete. 227 00:15:28,720 --> 00:15:35,519 Anytime we are asked to approve a project like this, we should address 228 00:15:32,720 --> 00:15:40,079 three simple questions. First, does this bring well-paying jobs for Athenians to 229 00:15:37,760 --> 00:15:44,800 have a future right here at home? Second, does this move the needle to 230 00:15:42,560 --> 00:15:49,920 create accessible and affordable housing for working people and professionals who 231 00:15:46,800 --> 00:15:53,519 already live here? And third, does this expand the delivery of the exceptional 232 00:15:51,600 --> 00:15:57,839 public service that Athens prides itself on and make it to avail available to 233 00:15:55,759 --> 00:16:02,480 more citizens? Unfortunately, this project does not hit 234 00:15:59,519 --> 00:16:09,120 any of those marks. What this project really builds is a 235 00:16:04,160 --> 00:16:12,720 wall, a literal wall between Lelay Park and some of the most vulnerable 236 00:16:10,320 --> 00:16:17,120 communities in Athens. It cuts off access for families and kids who rely on 237 00:16:14,480 --> 00:16:21,680 that park every day during the summer. It replaces a public space with private 238 00:16:19,040 --> 00:16:26,880 parking and asks tax taxpayers to backs stop a project that serves almost no one 239 00:16:23,839 --> 00:16:31,680 outside of the tenant list. We are being asked to pay interest over 5% for 15 240 00:16:29,519 --> 00:16:34,959 years to finance a parking deck that I cannot see improving mobility. It 241 00:16:33,519 --> 00:16:38,320 doesn't expand services. It doesn't create opportunity. And it actually 242 00:16:36,720 --> 00:16:42,480 opens new issues that we have done little to make sure our citizens feel 243 00:16:39,759 --> 00:16:47,360 welcome using new facilities that this plan purports to address. 244 00:16:45,360 --> 00:16:51,920 Even the project itself acknowledges how tonedeaf it is to build something like 245 00:16:49,040 --> 00:16:57,360 this when shutting out local Athenians. And this is a wall that we are building 246 00:16:54,399 --> 00:17:00,560 and we are paying for. I was talking with my aunt. She worked 247 00:16:59,120 --> 00:17:04,319 with Commissioner Thornton back in her days at Head Start and she said, "If 248 00:17:03,279 --> 00:17:09,199 we're going to build something here, build something that helps the kids." 249 00:17:06,640 --> 00:17:11,839 And she's right. If public money is on the table, let's make sure that this 250 00:17:10,480 --> 00:17:15,280 project addresses the needs of the community. Let's make sure that this 251 00:17:13,919 --> 00:17:18,319 project builds something like a tech center, a community tech and learning 252 00:17:16,720 --> 00:17:21,439 center. Partner with Athens Tech, partner with University of Georgia. Put 253 00:17:20,319 --> 00:17:26,240 something in the bottom of this building that's actually going to help the people 254 00:17:22,480 --> 00:17:29,440 that need it the most in this community. I'm going to say something a little less 255 00:17:27,520 --> 00:17:33,440 serious, but it's still true. The building doesn't look like Athens. The 256 00:17:31,600 --> 00:17:35,120 facade is completely wrong. >> Thank you, Mr. Ward. Appreciate it 257 00:17:34,799 --> 00:17:38,280 tonight. >> Thank you. 258 00:17:39,679 --> 00:17:45,840 » Good evening. Good evening, mayor. Good evening, 259 00:17:43,760 --> 00:17:49,440 commissioners. I'm Reverend Dr. Pippen Whitaker. I am the minister of the 260 00:17:47,600 --> 00:17:54,160 Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Athens and I live in Commissioner Co 261 00:17:52,160 --> 00:18:00,480 Pepper's district, not far from the congregation off Timothy Road. 262 00:17:57,039 --> 00:18:06,799 I am here to speak on item 20 and I want to thank you all for including this on 263 00:18:02,799 --> 00:18:13,200 the agenda, the payment or the dispersal of funds to the food bank in the amount 264 00:18:10,720 --> 00:18:17,760 of $150,000. As you know, there's a lot of people 265 00:18:15,679 --> 00:18:23,520 that are food insecure right now, people that are hungry. There was a recent bill 266 00:18:20,559 --> 00:18:27,039 at the national level that could be it's estimated that about three million 267 00:18:25,280 --> 00:18:35,200 people across the country are going to go without their food stamp benefits. 268 00:18:30,400 --> 00:18:42,720 Food stamps save lives. They are needed. You all know people got to eat. 269 00:18:38,960 --> 00:18:46,960 So I I appreciate that with very little time that you got this on the agenda so 270 00:18:45,200 --> 00:18:52,160 that you could discuss this really important issue. I know you're all doing 271 00:18:49,760 --> 00:18:57,280 other things to address food insecurity and to address hunger and the spectre of 272 00:18:55,360 --> 00:19:02,559 rising hunger and I want to thank each of you for doing this. Thank you for 273 00:18:59,760 --> 00:19:07,840 taking care of our community. I don't even know what all of you all are doing 274 00:19:06,000 --> 00:19:12,400 but I want to thank you for what you are doing and I want to thank everybody in 275 00:19:09,440 --> 00:19:16,640 this room. I hope that you are all doing a little more than you have done because 276 00:19:14,880 --> 00:19:20,480 we're going to need all of us in this. We're going to need working across our 277 00:19:18,799 --> 00:19:25,280 differences because we have these and other needs 278 00:19:22,480 --> 00:19:31,200 that are rising before us. So, thank you for considering this 279 00:19:28,240 --> 00:19:35,360 donation to the food bank. I personally am making my own dramatically increased 280 00:19:33,760 --> 00:19:40,880 contributions. I hope everybody else can look into 281 00:19:37,679 --> 00:19:44,240 that. We can call our elected officials. I know y'all are elected officials, but 282 00:19:42,559 --> 00:19:49,600 you can call your elected officials at the state level, too, and ask for them 283 00:19:46,640 --> 00:19:53,679 to do more because what we're doing here, what you're 284 00:19:51,200 --> 00:20:00,559 looking at is needed. It's impactful, and it's not enough, 285 00:19:56,880 --> 00:20:04,880 but keep doing what you can do. I know that's not super inspiring to say 286 00:20:03,039 --> 00:20:09,520 what you're doing may not be enough, but the fact is that just because 287 00:20:07,520 --> 00:20:13,440 what you can do isn't enough doesn't mean you can't do it. It doesn't mean it 288 00:20:11,600 --> 00:20:19,360 isn't needed and it doesn't mean it's not seen and appreciated. So, I see you 289 00:20:16,799 --> 00:20:22,720 and I appreciate each one of you. Thank you. 290 00:20:20,000 --> 00:20:26,960 » Thank you, Dr. Whitaker. >> Good evening. 291 00:20:25,039 --> 00:20:35,600 » Good evening, Mayor and Commission. I am Mocha Jasmine Johnson, PO Box 6713, 292 00:20:31,679 --> 00:20:40,159 Athens, Georgia. Um, we're here tonight in support of 293 00:20:38,159 --> 00:20:44,640 um, funding the food bank. Thank you guys for bringing this to the table and 294 00:20:42,480 --> 00:20:48,320 for taking action in such a short period of time, but we're also here to ask you 295 00:20:46,640 --> 00:20:52,960 to do more. Um, we're calling on our local and state 296 00:20:50,960 --> 00:20:57,280 leaders to explore every possible solution to protect Athens families 297 00:20:54,960 --> 00:21:03,280 impacted by the SNAP freeze and the ongoing government shutdown. As of 298 00:20:59,919 --> 00:21:08,720 November 2025, more than 9,100 households in Athens, Clark County rely 299 00:21:05,440 --> 00:21:13,840 on SNAP benefits. That's over 18,000 people, including children, seniors, and 300 00:21:11,520 --> 00:21:18,640 working families who depend on this assistance just to eat. Yet, Governor 301 00:21:16,240 --> 00:21:24,159 Kemp administration has stated that it will not release emergency funds to 302 00:21:20,960 --> 00:21:29,120 support food access during this crisis, claiming that the responsibility falls 303 00:21:26,320 --> 00:21:34,480 solely on federal relief and private charities. So, what do we do? What do we 304 00:21:32,080 --> 00:21:38,760 do after the $150,000 in local aid is spent? 305 00:21:40,000 --> 00:21:47,679 What do we do when thousands of Athens restaurant residents still still is left 306 00:21:45,520 --> 00:21:52,159 wondering where their next meal will come from? Hunger doesn't wait for 307 00:21:49,760 --> 00:21:57,120 political decisions. When families go hungry, it leads to illness, higher 308 00:21:54,480 --> 00:22:02,240 stress, poor school performance, and even increased crime and instability. 309 00:22:00,159 --> 00:22:07,039 Food insecurity is not just a moral issue. It is a public health and it's a 310 00:22:04,480 --> 00:22:11,200 public health and public safety issue. We're urging Athens, Clark County to 311 00:22:09,200 --> 00:22:16,000 just do more. We appreciate what you have done, but we're asking you to not 312 00:22:13,600 --> 00:22:21,440 just stop here because this is an issue that is going to go on beyond this next 313 00:22:18,799 --> 00:22:26,480 30 days. We're asking you to reach out to Governor Kemp and ask him to release 314 00:22:23,840 --> 00:22:31,039 those urg emergency funds. We're also asking you to put a plan of action in 315 00:22:28,640 --> 00:22:35,520 place and be prepared to help people that needs to file appeals because 316 00:22:32,960 --> 00:22:40,240 there's two things that's going on. One is that the freeze has happened on 317 00:22:37,760 --> 00:22:45,840 November 1st, but there's also changes in work requirements and eligibility. So 318 00:22:43,120 --> 00:22:49,840 even when the freeze free has even when the freeze has been released, there's 319 00:22:47,840 --> 00:22:54,799 still going to be people that is hungry and is going without food. So we have to 320 00:22:52,320 --> 00:22:59,120 prepare for this beyond 30 days. So again, we support the food bank. I 321 00:22:57,120 --> 00:23:03,200 encourage people to donate, volunteer, and do what they can. This is going to 322 00:23:01,120 --> 00:23:07,200 be a problem for the community. So, the community has to rise up and we're 323 00:23:05,120 --> 00:23:12,720 asking our local government to do more, to do everything you can to get more 324 00:23:09,760 --> 00:23:16,039 money to feed families and to support this community. 325 00:23:16,799 --> 00:23:20,120 » Thank you, Mocha. 326 00:23:20,880 --> 00:23:26,080 » Good evening. >> Good evening. I'm Jamaia Weidman here 327 00:23:24,400 --> 00:23:32,159 with the Athens Anti-Discrimination Movement, which is located on 3700 328 00:23:28,720 --> 00:23:36,880 Atlanta Highway, sweet 67. also here to talk about the um um ending of SNAP 329 00:23:34,640 --> 00:23:41,360 benefits. So, the end of SNAP benefits just before the holiday season has put a 330 00:23:38,559 --> 00:23:46,880 strain on millions of families. In 2022, in Clark County alone, there were 15,853 331 00:23:45,120 --> 00:23:51,760 SNAP recipients. And while we're appreciative of the $150,000 being 332 00:23:49,360 --> 00:23:57,280 allocated to food banks, the Food Bank of Northeast Georgia feeds about 91,600 333 00:23:54,880 --> 00:24:01,520 individuals, which means less than $2 a person. 334 00:23:58,559 --> 00:24:06,080 $2 is a is two cans of evaporated milk at Walmart or one rusted potato at 335 00:24:03,520 --> 00:24:11,279 Dollar General, one jar of peanut butter at Dollar Tree, or a pack of tortilla 336 00:24:08,559 --> 00:24:16,720 shells at Family Dollar. $2 is not a case of baby formula. $2 is not a pound 337 00:24:14,080 --> 00:24:20,559 of veggies or a pound of meat. $2 is not a healthy meal. Today, I ask the local 338 00:24:19,120 --> 00:24:24,320 government to take immediate and compassionate action by increasing 339 00:24:22,640 --> 00:24:28,559 support for the Food Bank of Northeast Georgia and local food providers to keep 340 00:24:26,640 --> 00:24:33,720 shelves stocked and food available for families in need. Thank you. 341 00:24:30,400 --> 00:24:33,720 » Thank you, Jamaa. 342 00:24:33,840 --> 00:24:39,679 » Good evening. >> Good evening. My name is Barbara Dane. 343 00:24:37,120 --> 00:24:46,799 Um um I'm coming to ask y'all to not to 344 00:24:42,960 --> 00:24:52,480 approve number 16. I'm asking because I know it seems like 345 00:24:49,600 --> 00:24:58,080 a lot of money and everything, a lot of stuff going to get done, but I can 346 00:24:54,720 --> 00:25:04,640 remember back in 2020, a lot of money got put out then and 347 00:25:01,200 --> 00:25:08,799 nothing hadn't gotten done. Um, affordable homes, we still don't have 348 00:25:07,279 --> 00:25:15,360 them. Student home, y'all still building them. 349 00:25:13,279 --> 00:25:21,679 kids is being pushed away. Not only elder 350 00:25:18,000 --> 00:25:27,760 people, middle-aged people, kids, they can't come outside to play because don't 351 00:25:24,720 --> 00:25:35,279 have any yard to play in. So, I'm asking y'all to let park stay lay so the kid 352 00:25:32,799 --> 00:25:41,600 can have somewhere to go. I'm looking at toward East Athens. 353 00:25:39,360 --> 00:25:44,320 We having problem there. Kids can't go there. 354 00:25:44,720 --> 00:25:55,840 This I say it over and over again, but I just don't understand why it takes 355 00:25:53,120 --> 00:26:00,720 so long for you all to buy to build affordable home for people, lowincome 356 00:25:58,400 --> 00:26:05,440 people, but yet you can come out here and build student housing. And every 357 00:26:02,960 --> 00:26:13,520 time I come here, that's all I hear is about student housing. My heart is full 358 00:26:10,480 --> 00:26:18,240 and it's making me very angry. But I trust and believe in God. And he said, 359 00:26:15,679 --> 00:26:26,400 "Stand still and I'll fight your battle." And I believe he will. But do 360 00:26:23,760 --> 00:26:31,279 y'all have a heart? Do y'all see what's going on out here? You ask for money for 361 00:26:29,039 --> 00:26:36,960 one thing, but you're doing something totally different. 362 00:26:33,360 --> 00:26:43,840 Why can't y'all help the poor people? I come up here and say this over and 363 00:26:38,960 --> 00:26:48,080 over and over, but it becomes a politic thing. 364 00:26:45,679 --> 00:26:51,960 I hear people talk about Democrat and I hear people talk about Republican, 365 00:26:52,159 --> 00:26:58,320 but neither one of y'all know better than the other one. 366 00:26:55,679 --> 00:27:02,320 So, I can't understand why can't you help people that need 367 00:27:00,640 --> 00:27:09,760 help. It's not asking for too much. It taking 368 00:27:05,600 --> 00:27:14,000 four and five years to build apartments. People are tired of apartment. Kids need 369 00:27:12,000 --> 00:27:19,360 to be in a place that they can run around, have fun, have their own yard. 370 00:27:17,120 --> 00:27:24,400 People get tired of being stacked on top of one another. People wants to be able 371 00:27:22,080 --> 00:27:29,200 to move around. But you're pushing 372 00:27:26,320 --> 00:27:33,840 all the people that were here away out of town and you bring the people from 373 00:27:31,279 --> 00:27:40,559 out of town here. When is this going to stop? I don't understand why it's so 374 00:27:37,360 --> 00:27:46,559 hard to y'all see this, but you keep talking about student homes. 375 00:27:43,919 --> 00:27:51,919 I don't get it, but I know it going to be it going to come pretty soon. Thank 376 00:27:49,360 --> 00:27:54,880 you. >> Good evening. 377 00:27:52,799 --> 00:28:00,480 » Good evening, Dr. Tuana Smith Maddox. Um, born and raised on Pitter Road. I 378 00:27:57,360 --> 00:28:06,159 represent all of Athens and my heart is heavy. Um, it's just a burden for me 379 00:28:03,120 --> 00:28:10,880 when I think about how I'm watching people having to move out of Athens, 380 00:28:08,960 --> 00:28:15,679 being displaced, and we are seeing watching you all, 381 00:28:13,760 --> 00:28:20,799 mayor and commission, you know, going into the business of student housing. 382 00:28:18,559 --> 00:28:24,720 That's how I see it. You shouldn't be in the business student housing. should be 383 00:28:22,399 --> 00:28:28,000 in the business of making sure that the people who are living here, who are born 384 00:28:26,480 --> 00:28:32,640 and raised here, people who've been here for a long time are able to afford 385 00:28:30,799 --> 00:28:35,760 housing and they are able to stay here because my main concern is the next 386 00:28:34,240 --> 00:28:39,360 generation. And the way that things are going, I 387 00:28:38,000 --> 00:28:42,480 don't know where my baby with these babies are going to be able to stay or 388 00:28:40,960 --> 00:28:47,120 if they going to even be able to live here and the decisions that you all are 389 00:28:44,880 --> 00:28:51,279 making. I just do not agree with that. And I understand, you know, it's a 390 00:28:48,880 --> 00:28:55,600 beautiful plan. I understand, you know, about the, you know, the $7.8 million, 391 00:28:53,520 --> 00:28:59,440 but to me, that's a slap in the face when you say, you know what, I'd rather 392 00:28:56,960 --> 00:29:04,159 give you $7.8 million than your black and poor ass to stay in my 393 00:29:00,880 --> 00:29:07,520 establishment. That's how I see it. So, just to have seven, you know, to give, 394 00:29:05,919 --> 00:29:11,679 you know, all of this money and we don't even have a plan like, okay, we got 395 00:29:09,279 --> 00:29:18,399 seven, we get to $7.8 million, I think we already have $5 million. I would have 396 00:29:14,240 --> 00:29:22,880 led with what is the plan? When are we going to start seeing some building some 397 00:29:20,799 --> 00:29:27,840 partnerships with you know partners who are building affordable homes? I would 398 00:29:25,360 --> 00:29:32,799 have started with that but there's no trust because we don't see any concrete 399 00:29:30,159 --> 00:29:37,760 plans for how we're going to keep people and allow people to be able to 400 00:29:34,960 --> 00:29:42,720 especially hardworking people to stay in Athens and it's not right. The next 401 00:29:40,559 --> 00:29:48,240 point, the next next item, the Tesla project um 2023. 402 00:29:45,600 --> 00:29:54,640 I want to say thank you to um Commissioner Link um and Miss Diane 403 00:29:50,559 --> 00:29:58,880 Jackson um and others who um had that that meeting. Um you know, it was after 404 00:29:57,120 --> 00:30:02,799 the fact, but and we have to do better with that. You know, we too reactive. 405 00:30:01,120 --> 00:30:06,159 You know, we have to beg and plead for community meetings. And I'm tired of 406 00:30:04,080 --> 00:30:10,640 these sharetses. We need to have actual meetings where people can be educated 407 00:30:08,480 --> 00:30:15,440 and we can ask questions. And that was that kind of meeting when it came to the 408 00:30:12,399 --> 00:30:19,520 prioritization of these these projects and people from the community were able 409 00:30:17,279 --> 00:30:24,480 to ask questions and give their lived experiences because I don't know I I 410 00:30:21,600 --> 00:30:27,919 trust the staff but at the same time we have lived experiences and I don't know 411 00:30:26,159 --> 00:30:32,080 if if I don't know how many of the staff even live in Athens. So, you're making 412 00:30:30,000 --> 00:30:37,279 decisions that impact us in our lived experiences and I want us to have better 413 00:30:34,720 --> 00:30:41,840 communication um going forward. But I want to say thank you for for that and 414 00:30:39,200 --> 00:30:46,559 for um item number 17. >> Thank you, Dr. Maddox. 415 00:30:44,720 --> 00:30:52,960 » Good evening. >> Hello. My name is Shelby Branch. I live 416 00:30:48,640 --> 00:30:58,399 at 287 Morning Drive and I represent the Athens clar county Democratic Committee. 417 00:30:55,600 --> 00:31:05,039 And we echo the similar uh the remarks made earlier about um food insecurity in 418 00:31:01,840 --> 00:31:09,760 Athens and giving funds to the food bank and for the local government to do as 419 00:31:07,120 --> 00:31:13,200 much as possible to fill in the gap has the state and federal government fail 420 00:31:11,919 --> 00:31:16,399 us. Thank you. >> Thank you, Dr. Branch. Is there anyone 421 00:31:14,960 --> 00:31:20,960 else here to speak to any item of old or new business tonight? 422 00:31:19,840 --> 00:31:25,760 » Yes. >> Hello. My name is Eric Gistler. Um, I'm 423 00:31:23,440 --> 00:31:30,159 actually not a Clark County citizen. Um, but I am running to represent Clark 424 00:31:27,520 --> 00:31:34,720 County citizens um in the upcoming election in the state house. Uh, I just 425 00:31:32,960 --> 00:31:41,279 wanted to come and make a statement and express my gratitude for the mayor and 426 00:31:37,200 --> 00:31:47,039 commission uh for item number 20 uh the the money for the food bank. Um, the 427 00:31:45,279 --> 00:31:52,640 truth is that this really shouldn't be on your agenda. this is on your agenda 428 00:31:49,760 --> 00:31:57,440 because of a failure of government at the federal and state level. It's not 429 00:31:55,200 --> 00:32:02,159 really up to to you guys to have to to bail out the food bank in a time like 430 00:31:59,279 --> 00:32:06,320 this. Um so I just want to express my gratitude that you did rush to get it on 431 00:32:04,000 --> 00:32:11,519 the agenda and you are considering it. I hope that you you do pass it. Um the 432 00:32:09,519 --> 00:32:18,080 truth is people have to eat. We all got to eat. Um and and it really is due to 433 00:32:15,600 --> 00:32:22,640 uh dysfunction at the the higher levels of government. Um the only other thing 434 00:32:20,559 --> 00:32:26,000 that I'd like to say is uh whether or not I'm in the state house next year, I 435 00:32:24,559 --> 00:32:30,399 really hope that the state government will reimburse you and other uh 436 00:32:28,480 --> 00:32:34,159 communities around the state for having to do this. Um so thank you again and uh 437 00:32:33,360 --> 00:32:37,760 that's everything. >> Thank you, Mr. Yes. 438 00:32:36,240 --> 00:32:41,159 » Anyone else here to speak to older new business tonight? 439 00:32:45,679 --> 00:32:51,519 Good evening. >> Good evening. Erin Berger. I live here 440 00:32:48,480 --> 00:32:56,640 in Athens on Inveris Road. It's an honor to spend just a few minutes with you 441 00:32:53,120 --> 00:33:01,760 this evening. Um just would ask everyone in this room to take a deep breath and 442 00:32:58,720 --> 00:33:06,720 think about what um hundreds of people are doing right now, which is hopefully 443 00:33:03,760 --> 00:33:12,159 sitting around a family table and enjoying meal, talking about their day. 444 00:33:10,240 --> 00:33:17,679 thinking about the future, maybe talking about the upcoming holidays. Um, as the 445 00:33:14,799 --> 00:33:23,519 president and CEO of the food bank, I can testify not only from the data, but 446 00:33:21,120 --> 00:33:28,399 when I look in the eyes of our neighbors who have moved from food insecurity to 447 00:33:26,159 --> 00:33:33,919 food emergency, that we are in a dire state. This mayor 448 00:33:31,679 --> 00:33:39,440 and commission has been so generous with us. Earlier this year, you supported the 449 00:33:36,240 --> 00:33:44,080 food bank of Northeast Georgia. I can definitely testify to you that that has 450 00:33:41,600 --> 00:33:49,360 made a critical difference in Athens, Clark County. So, you have moved our 451 00:33:46,320 --> 00:33:54,799 neighbors in this area to greater food security and then SNAP cuts entered the 452 00:33:52,480 --> 00:34:00,320 picture. Um so to put this in perspective um if you compare year-to- 453 00:33:57,360 --> 00:34:06,559 date what the food bank has mobilized um this period in 2025 compared to the same 454 00:34:03,840 --> 00:34:14,800 period of time in 2023 we have mobilized 45% more food that was before SNAP 455 00:34:11,040 --> 00:34:20,000 benefits were cut this month also our neighbor survey reveals to us that we 456 00:34:17,200 --> 00:34:25,520 have moved from food insecurity to actual hunger more than onethird of 457 00:34:23,200 --> 00:34:32,240 respondents to our survey earlier this year reported that they are going an 458 00:34:28,240 --> 00:34:38,240 entire day without food. 40% of them experience this hardship chronically, 459 00:34:35,280 --> 00:34:44,320 monthly or more. So, I really have two things to say to you. Thank you for what 460 00:34:41,440 --> 00:34:49,760 you have done. And I think the decision before us tonight is clear. $150,000 461 00:34:47,839 --> 00:34:55,679 for the Food Bank of Northeast Georgia has tremendous impact. we will make the 462 00:34:52,800 --> 00:35:01,119 very most of it. Uh we have a plan to mobilize an additional 500,000 in 463 00:34:58,240 --> 00:35:06,160 resources in the month of November. We issued a call to action last Tuesday. 464 00:35:03,280 --> 00:35:12,079 Within 48 hours, we had raised half of that goal. So private philanthropy, 465 00:35:09,040 --> 00:35:16,400 corporate philanthropy, everyday people experience hunger and everyday people 466 00:35:14,720 --> 00:35:20,880 are working with us to solve this problem. We know that local government 467 00:35:18,400 --> 00:35:25,520 plays a role. We see you stepping up to the plate. We thank you and I'm happy to 468 00:35:23,520 --> 00:35:29,200 answer any questions that you have. Um, I did share some materials that 469 00:35:27,520 --> 00:35:32,960 hopefully put this in perspective. Thank you. 470 00:35:29,680 --> 00:35:36,000 » Thank you, Miss Barker. >> Good evening. 471 00:35:33,920 --> 00:35:43,119 » Good evening. How y'all doing? My name is Brian Middleton. Um, I'm from 110 472 00:35:38,800 --> 00:35:48,320 Irwin Court as Georgia 30607. Um, I think I have two um items on the 473 00:35:45,920 --> 00:35:57,920 agenda that I want to speak on. one was the item number 16. Um, Lelay Park is 474 00:35:54,320 --> 00:36:03,040 was um a big thing for that community. So, if you're going to get rid of that 475 00:35:59,920 --> 00:36:09,440 park, I would hope that you have a plan to do something for the kids that that 476 00:36:06,560 --> 00:36:14,240 uh would uh replace it because this this park was a very historical park for them 477 00:36:12,400 --> 00:36:17,680 and that that's a place where they went and they played and they was able to 478 00:36:16,160 --> 00:36:22,160 learn different things. So, if you're going to take that away, I would hope 479 00:36:19,520 --> 00:36:26,400 that you have a plan to um have something in in place of it to to do 480 00:36:24,720 --> 00:36:33,599 something about it. Now, the other one was um item number 20, which I I'm just 481 00:36:30,480 --> 00:36:39,839 hearing that um they raised uh money more money for the what um food bank. 482 00:36:37,119 --> 00:36:44,480 But, um I wanted to say that um in Birmingham City, if y'all check the 483 00:36:41,839 --> 00:36:48,800 news, Birmingham City itself had a million dollars in his reserve. Now, I 484 00:36:46,160 --> 00:36:55,200 don't know if y'all have a reserve or or anything like that, but um 150,000 for 485 00:36:53,359 --> 00:37:00,240 that amount of people is only going to go so far. So if y'all do have a 486 00:36:58,240 --> 00:37:04,160 reserve, that's or if y'all don't have a reserve and can create a reserve, that 487 00:37:02,560 --> 00:37:08,320 would be something that could be happen in the future where it can be an answer 488 00:37:06,320 --> 00:37:13,520 for uh different problems and stuff where if it does arise, you will have a 489 00:37:10,960 --> 00:37:22,880 reserve that you could go into and use that as a um a way a means of uh helping 490 00:37:17,599 --> 00:37:27,119 things. So, if um my my point is if you have 150,000, they're gonna have to 491 00:37:25,119 --> 00:37:31,680 stretch that for the amount of families that's that's going to be uh for the 492 00:37:29,280 --> 00:37:36,400 food. They would need more. But since she's saying that they uh raised more, 493 00:37:33,920 --> 00:37:42,000 then I think that problem is pretty much getting um solved. But I do think that 494 00:37:39,520 --> 00:37:45,200 this uh city should have a reserve and if you can go in the reserve, it'll be 495 00:37:43,599 --> 00:37:48,400 much easier. Thank you. >> Thank you, Mr. Middleton. Is there 496 00:37:46,880 --> 00:37:50,800 anyone else here to speak to any item of old or new business tonight? 497 00:37:50,240 --> 00:37:59,280 » Good evening. >> Hey, Mr. Mayor. Uh Russell Edwards, um 498 00:37:55,520 --> 00:38:06,960 Duncan Springs Road. Just wanted to uh speak on item 16 and and raise some some 499 00:38:02,800 --> 00:38:11,680 points perhaps to consider. Um, I' I've I've read information about 500 00:38:10,160 --> 00:38:17,599 uh the county commission planning to 501 00:38:14,079 --> 00:38:22,720 destroy Lelay Park and uh I'm not quite certain where that's founded, but that 502 00:38:20,640 --> 00:38:27,599 doesn't that doesn't appear in any of the 503 00:38:24,160 --> 00:38:35,359 materials that I'm looking at. Um, one point also I'd like to make is, you 504 00:38:30,240 --> 00:38:41,359 know, uh, for we're about 8,000 dwelling units behind where we need to be to 505 00:38:37,839 --> 00:38:47,520 currently fit fulfill the demand on our housing market. 8,000 dwelling units. 506 00:38:44,560 --> 00:38:51,440 It's a question of supply and demand. We have uh a growing community here. People 507 00:38:50,000 --> 00:38:54,400 love Athens. They want to live here. We're we're trying to grow the 508 00:38:52,960 --> 00:38:57,520 community. We're trying to increase investment in neighborhoods. We're 509 00:38:55,920 --> 00:39:01,520 trying to recruit businesses with high-paying jobs to come here. That 510 00:38:59,280 --> 00:39:06,720 means growth. And with growth comes a need for 511 00:39:04,480 --> 00:39:10,640 housing. So, if we're already 8,000 dwelling units behind and we have some 512 00:39:08,560 --> 00:39:17,280 growing industries, some new businesses coming here, you can imagine that uh 513 00:39:14,240 --> 00:39:25,920 folks are competing for homes and it's driving up the price of housing across 514 00:39:20,400 --> 00:39:33,839 the county. here. One proposal, 1,400 units in one proposal to help well to 515 00:39:31,119 --> 00:39:39,520 help meet that demand. When it comes to UG students, um UG is the number one 516 00:39:37,119 --> 00:39:45,040 employer. Uh some students can be annoying, but uh thousands of students 517 00:39:42,880 --> 00:39:49,440 are basically what helped keep the economy going here in large part in this 518 00:39:48,000 --> 00:39:54,640 community. Uh there's been a lot of hate and shade 519 00:39:52,160 --> 00:40:02,000 thrown on students. I would say unfairly. Um 520 00:39:57,440 --> 00:40:06,880 1,400 students living downtown is 1,400 students not competing for housing in 521 00:40:04,960 --> 00:40:11,599 other neighborhoods. Maybe something to consider. 522 00:40:08,320 --> 00:40:18,000 uh allowing the students to live on private property that pays property tax 523 00:40:15,359 --> 00:40:24,160 uh is perhaps superior to having the university acquire more land putting it 524 00:40:22,160 --> 00:40:29,680 off of the tax roles and building dormitories. 525 00:40:25,760 --> 00:40:33,440 So here we will collect uh funds. uh students living in private housing, 526 00:40:31,839 --> 00:40:37,280 they're not going to be going to our elementary schools, but they will be 527 00:40:35,280 --> 00:40:44,400 contributing property tax that support those schools. Uh also, uh having 1,400 528 00:40:41,599 --> 00:40:48,720 more residents downtown where all of our services exist for the largest part is 529 00:40:46,480 --> 00:40:53,599 going to be good for downtown business. It's going to be good for downtown 530 00:40:50,160 --> 00:40:59,359 restaurants and venues, the creative culture. uh these folks are not going to 531 00:40:56,640 --> 00:41:02,319 be driving cars uh creating more traffic in your neighborhood because they're 532 00:41:00,640 --> 00:41:03,760 going to be able to walk uh where they need to go. Something to consider. Thank 533 00:41:03,599 --> 00:41:07,760 you. >> Thank you, Mr. Edwards. Anyone else here 534 00:41:06,160 --> 00:41:12,599 speak to any item of old or new business this evening before we continue with 535 00:41:09,280 --> 00:41:12,599 commission deliberation. 536 00:41:12,880 --> 00:41:19,040 » Good evening. >> Uh Alan Jones, uh Xavier Drive. Uh thank 537 00:41:16,000 --> 00:41:23,680 you, Russell. I echo those thoughts. I'm going to speak on one of the less sexy 538 00:41:20,880 --> 00:41:26,720 items that are up uh for a vote and it sounds like it's going to get pushed off 539 00:41:24,880 --> 00:41:32,319 until next time, but the board and commission uh issue. I serve on the 540 00:41:29,680 --> 00:41:38,000 Athens in motion uh and the Tesla oversight uh committees and I also have 541 00:41:34,880 --> 00:41:42,880 a day job. Uh I work with the Department of Defense. I'm in the some of the 542 00:41:40,160 --> 00:41:47,440 leadership that's uh modernizing some of their bureaucratic systems and it to me 543 00:41:45,200 --> 00:41:54,560 it's kind of important but I make time for my community and I drive down to 544 00:41:51,359 --> 00:42:00,240 these uh the the T-Loss meeting in the late afternoon take off work early show 545 00:41:57,119 --> 00:42:04,560 up and over half the time we don't have a quorum so it's a worthless drive so I 546 00:42:02,240 --> 00:42:09,280 go home there's another meeting right after the T-splast in the same building 547 00:42:06,960 --> 00:42:15,440 for the splast group and they have a hard time getting quorum. So I thank you 548 00:42:12,720 --> 00:42:20,880 uh for this uh proposal where you would be combining those groups and making it 549 00:42:17,920 --> 00:42:27,680 so that the citizens of the community can participate in the process wi 550 00:42:23,760 --> 00:42:33,040 without it being a an undue burden. Um so thank you for that. Uh I may be 551 00:42:30,560 --> 00:42:37,520 retiring early so I may be able to be more involved and not have to worry 552 00:42:34,640 --> 00:42:42,319 about that but that's yet to come. Um, I also appreciate that that cottifies the 553 00:42:39,839 --> 00:42:47,680 Athens in motion and the land bank and local ordinances making them permanent. 554 00:42:44,480 --> 00:42:52,000 So, that is great. Patrick and the rest of the GOC people. Uh, you've done a 555 00:42:49,680 --> 00:42:56,880 great job with that. And Patrick, you also mentioned at one of the last 556 00:42:54,000 --> 00:43:02,400 meetings, speaking of Splast and Tesla, about the fact that we fund those 557 00:42:58,640 --> 00:43:06,480 backward, which I wholly agree with. We wait until we have all the money for 558 00:43:04,560 --> 00:43:11,200 these T-Loss projects before we do anything with them because we don't want 559 00:43:09,119 --> 00:43:17,760 to do bond funding because there's there's interest. Well, 10% interest on 560 00:43:14,480 --> 00:43:22,160 a loan to get something moving right now is a whole lot more effective than 561 00:43:19,680 --> 00:43:28,079 waiting five years for the price of that asset to over double due to inflation 562 00:43:25,760 --> 00:43:34,079 because we wouldn't pay for it earlier. The community wants these things that 563 00:43:30,560 --> 00:43:40,560 are on splast and t-plast built during the period that they are paying for 564 00:43:36,560 --> 00:43:45,839 them, not 10 to 20 years down the road. So please um support the the BAC 565 00:43:44,079 --> 00:43:50,640 commission and when it comes around time for the next bloss 566 00:43:47,920 --> 00:43:53,839 reconsider the funding mechanisms. >> Thank you Mr. Jones. Is there anyone 567 00:43:52,400 --> 00:43:58,640 else here to speak to any item of old or new business today? 568 00:43:56,640 --> 00:44:04,560 Good evening. >> Good evening. Uh I'm Michael McClendon. 569 00:44:01,440 --> 00:44:09,920 I live at 2011 Hamilton Road, Athens. Um I'm here to encourage you to table item 570 00:44:06,880 --> 00:44:15,119 16, attending adequate commission and public works sessions to fully address a 571 00:44:12,720 --> 00:44:21,119 range of really significant issues and questions. And I note Russell Edwards 572 00:44:18,240 --> 00:44:26,079 brought up four or five policy issues in what he was suggesting which have never 573 00:44:22,960 --> 00:44:31,920 been yet talked about. Uh this proposal was born in secrecy over a period of 574 00:44:29,200 --> 00:44:38,079 months then advertised as being about parking when it's really about 575 00:44:34,960 --> 00:44:43,760 consequential unreoverable uh actions that will impact Athens Clark 576 00:44:41,119 --> 00:44:48,720 County for years. Uh we just learned last week that this has actually been in 577 00:44:45,920 --> 00:44:53,359 work for a year. And when you look at that and you look at when the property 578 00:44:50,560 --> 00:44:57,599 was transferred uh just a few months before that, it makes one wonder what 579 00:44:55,520 --> 00:45:04,720 the real game plan is here and who's been involved in this. And uh last week 580 00:45:00,560 --> 00:45:08,880 at the uh what I call a showand tell. You know, there were a lot of questions, 581 00:45:06,319 --> 00:45:13,680 a lot a lot of brochures, posters, but there's no accountability for those 582 00:45:10,560 --> 00:45:19,520 things. And it reminded me very much of we've been here before. 583 00:45:16,000 --> 00:45:24,480 We were here with the mall fiasco 31 months ago. 584 00:45:21,520 --> 00:45:28,720 We've been here with the arena where a parking deck was promised and now we are 585 00:45:26,960 --> 00:45:34,400 millions and millions of dollars in debt. So it sounds like Athens Clark 586 00:45:31,520 --> 00:45:38,960 County kind of ignores red flags then presses ahead without competent due 587 00:45:36,800 --> 00:45:44,319 diligence and without a care as to the consequences. In my view we are 588 00:45:41,280 --> 00:45:49,680 repeating behavior here. If this proposed agreement cannot withstand 589 00:45:46,720 --> 00:45:55,119 being tabled for a comprehensive scrutiny by commissioners and the public 590 00:45:52,079 --> 00:45:59,920 in open forums, then it does not merit any consideration. 591 00:45:57,200 --> 00:46:04,079 What's the secret? What are people trying to hide? There are a lot of 592 00:46:02,160 --> 00:46:09,040 policy issues with this. I won't go into all of them, but let me just hit a few. 593 00:46:06,880 --> 00:46:13,839 This is a sole source agreement to give public land to a developer without any 594 00:46:11,920 --> 00:46:19,040 competition. ACC has no business enabling one 595 00:46:16,400 --> 00:46:25,119 developer over another to gain a competitive advantage in the real estate 596 00:46:20,880 --> 00:46:30,480 market. This also sets a bad precedent. ACC is telling two contradictory 597 00:46:27,440 --> 00:46:36,560 stories. On the one hand, you want to enable them tearing down a hotel, but on 598 00:46:33,440 --> 00:46:42,640 the other hand, the classic center authority spends money to go do hotel 599 00:46:39,599 --> 00:46:47,280 studies that continue to show that there's a shortage of hotel space in 600 00:46:44,560 --> 00:46:52,079 Athens. So, the question I would ask to you is what's Athens, Clark County 601 00:46:49,440 --> 00:46:56,480 government's policy on hotel capacity and the needs? Seems like here you're 602 00:46:54,480 --> 00:47:04,960 you're you're taking action that's against what Classic Center is trying to 603 00:46:58,560 --> 00:47:10,640 do. ACC's own data shows that 19,464 beds have been added in the Clark County 604 00:47:08,079 --> 00:47:14,359 since 2018 through August of this year. >> Thank you, Mr. Clinton. 605 00:47:16,560 --> 00:47:19,520 Is >> there anyone else here to speak at any 606 00:47:18,079 --> 00:47:23,079 item of old or new business before we come to commission deliberation? 607 00:47:23,200 --> 00:47:30,720 Hello, my name is Tammy Foot and I'm at 223 Fairvy Street. I'm here in regards 608 00:47:27,680 --> 00:47:35,920 to the item number 16. Um, as Mr. McClennon stated, the public needs the 609 00:47:33,200 --> 00:47:41,599 opportunity to find out and see what is really going on with this development. 610 00:47:38,160 --> 00:47:45,280 Um, the the liquidation or the tearing down of the playground for the kids and 611 00:47:43,440 --> 00:47:49,920 everything. As Mr. McClennon stated, that is not being totally clear to the 612 00:47:47,760 --> 00:47:54,800 public. We need to table this and do a work session with the public so we can 613 00:47:52,160 --> 00:47:59,040 know what's going on as well. Thank you. >> Thank you, Mr. Foot. 614 00:47:56,720 --> 00:48:02,040 » Any other input on old or new business tonight? 615 00:48:05,520 --> 00:48:09,680 » Good evening. >> Good evening, commissioners. I'm Andy 616 00:48:07,760 --> 00:48:16,560 Seavoy with Core Spaces. We are the developer um uh that is um doing the 617 00:48:14,319 --> 00:48:21,040 development at 295 East already item 16 on tonight's agenda. This is my fourth 618 00:48:18,560 --> 00:48:25,760 time in front of you guys, and typically I go through a spiel of different public 619 00:48:24,000 --> 00:48:28,880 benefits, millions of dollars of public benefits, off-site sewer work, all that. 620 00:48:27,760 --> 00:48:33,359 Tonight, I'd like to talk about something a little different. It occurs 621 00:48:31,359 --> 00:48:38,240 to me that many of you may not understand what makes this vote such an 622 00:48:35,520 --> 00:48:43,680 urgent one for us, and that's that's on us because we haven't really messaged 623 00:48:39,760 --> 00:48:48,000 it. Um, and so I believe we've been pretty forthcoming about the majority of 624 00:48:45,839 --> 00:48:53,680 the residents uh in this project are expected to be students at UG. Because 625 00:48:50,559 --> 00:48:57,760 of that fact, we need to deliver in the summer and the current target is the 626 00:48:55,599 --> 00:49:01,440 summer of 2028. Um, 627 00:48:59,440 --> 00:49:04,800 in order to deliver in the summer of 28, we need to start construction of in 628 00:49:03,200 --> 00:49:08,319 March of next year. And in order to start construction in March of next 629 00:49:06,160 --> 00:49:13,920 year, we need to start our plan review pretty much now because that takes about 630 00:49:10,240 --> 00:49:19,599 four and a half months. And so for that reason, we're pushing up on a point 631 00:49:17,440 --> 00:49:23,280 where if it goes much further than this, we'll have to delay an entire year. So 632 00:49:21,680 --> 00:49:27,839 that's a year delay on all of that public benefit on the off-site sewer 633 00:49:25,040 --> 00:49:32,960 work on the $7.8 million, which would be a shame. 634 00:49:29,680 --> 00:49:37,040 And uh that's not it because a lot can happen in a year. Um tariffs can happen 635 00:49:35,280 --> 00:49:41,599 in a year. Wars that cause shortage of material can happen in a year. Um there 636 00:49:39,920 --> 00:49:45,040 are you know agreements with the hotel operator that we would need to sort 637 00:49:43,040 --> 00:49:49,520 through. So worst case scenario the whole deal could die and we could be 638 00:49:46,319 --> 00:49:53,520 forced to pursue more of a buy option. And so I wanted to just make that clear 639 00:49:51,280 --> 00:49:58,400 to everybody about why this is all of the sudden so urgent. We plan to be here 640 00:49:55,839 --> 00:50:01,040 in September. It's November. everything takes longer than you think, right? 641 00:49:59,680 --> 00:50:06,960 That's not that's not your fault, but here we are. And so, I just wanted to 642 00:50:03,839 --> 00:50:10,960 put that out there. Um, and just kind of reinforce to you guys that, uh, this is 643 00:50:09,119 --> 00:50:15,760 kind of an urgent matter for us. We'd like you to I'd like to humbly ask you 644 00:50:13,040 --> 00:50:20,000 to approve this agreement or short of approving it, um, if you can't find it 645 00:50:18,480 --> 00:50:25,680 in yourselves to do that, can you do whatever you can to keep us on track? Uh 646 00:50:22,880 --> 00:50:30,079 that would include selecting a precise date for a public workshop that is soon. 647 00:50:28,240 --> 00:50:36,720 Uh allowing for the resoning of the butterfly lots to proceed and also um 648 00:50:34,640 --> 00:50:41,040 allowing staff to start reviewing our plans uh while all of that goes on. That 649 00:50:39,040 --> 00:50:43,920 would keep us on track. Thank you very much. 650 00:50:41,520 --> 00:50:48,960 » Thank you, Mr. Seavoy. Any other input tonight on older new business? 651 00:50:47,200 --> 00:50:53,920 » Good evening. >> David Ellison, 2500 Daniels Road. uh 652 00:50:51,760 --> 00:50:58,960 here to speak on behalf of item number 16. Uh we welcome any opportunity to 653 00:50:57,040 --> 00:51:03,200 answer any questions or explain the benefits of this project and how they 654 00:51:00,880 --> 00:51:07,200 exceed what we can do by right. Uh this is our ninth uh uh meeting public 655 00:51:05,440 --> 00:51:11,359 meeting for opportunity to answer those questions. We welcome any opportunity to 656 00:51:08,960 --> 00:51:15,119 do so. Uh while we request that you please uh approve the development 657 00:51:13,119 --> 00:51:20,319 agreement, we understand there is a commission define option uh on the table 658 00:51:17,440 --> 00:51:26,000 tonight and we would request uh two revisions to that in order to give this 659 00:51:23,200 --> 00:51:32,480 project an opportunity for success. Uh the first one is the elimination of the 660 00:51:29,680 --> 00:51:36,400 condition that this is tabled until all related staff and mayor authorizations 661 00:51:34,720 --> 00:51:44,240 indefinitely until the satisfaction employment conditions that is subsection 662 00:51:39,520 --> 00:51:49,680 A3 of the CDO. Uh the reason why we're asking for that is two reasons. Uh one 663 00:51:47,119 --> 00:51:54,000 is uh Mr. Seavoy referenced uh we need to get concept review and plans review 664 00:51:51,920 --> 00:51:57,280 going now to give this project a chance of success. 665 00:51:55,440 --> 00:52:00,960 The second issue is that there are several title defects that have been 666 00:51:59,040 --> 00:52:05,839 identified in the development agreement and we want to get those resolved before 667 00:52:03,520 --> 00:52:09,520 any development agreement is signed. If that those title defects do not get 668 00:52:07,680 --> 00:52:16,079 satisfied that any closing will be delayed indefinitely and that will delay 669 00:52:11,680 --> 00:52:20,960 this project. By omitting that section that gives uh this project an 670 00:52:18,880 --> 00:52:25,440 opportunity for success by allowing plans review, concept review, but also 671 00:52:23,680 --> 00:52:30,880 allows us to try to get these title issues cured. Uh so we request that you 672 00:52:27,920 --> 00:52:35,280 eliminate that and authorize uh staff and andor the mayor whoever to at least 673 00:52:33,440 --> 00:52:39,599 allow us to proceed through that and specifically allow us to cure all title 674 00:52:37,599 --> 00:52:45,119 titled effects identified in the development agreement. Uh the second 675 00:52:41,680 --> 00:52:49,280 issue is the elimination of the uh condition that the mayor and commission 676 00:52:46,960 --> 00:52:52,640 have approved the resoning of the ACC conveyed property in the manner 677 00:52:51,359 --> 00:52:56,640 necessary to allow for the implementation of the development 678 00:52:53,760 --> 00:53:03,280 agreement. That is subsection A lowercase B. And the reason why we're 679 00:53:00,079 --> 00:53:07,920 asking for you to eliminate that is that um your hands are tied under your local 680 00:53:06,079 --> 00:53:12,240 code and state law as to zoning procedures. uh y'all have complete 681 00:53:10,319 --> 00:53:15,280 discretion as to if you're going to approve the development agreement and 682 00:53:14,000 --> 00:53:19,680 when you're going to approve the development agreement. However, under 683 00:53:17,359 --> 00:53:24,240 the zoning procedures law, you have certain timelines in which there any 684 00:53:21,599 --> 00:53:28,000 kind of zoning action can occur. Under your ordinances, every sort of zoning 685 00:53:26,400 --> 00:53:35,119 action has to go before the planning commission. And so if you condition a 686 00:53:32,319 --> 00:53:39,200 table on requiring the reszone of the ACC convey property, it has to go 687 00:53:37,599 --> 00:53:42,079 through the planning commission first and you could have the planning 688 00:53:40,319 --> 00:53:46,160 commission tie up this project definitely and kill it and take it out 689 00:53:43,760 --> 00:53:50,800 of your hands. And so we ask that you please eliminate that subsection B 690 00:53:49,119 --> 00:53:56,160 because no matter what, if this project's going to be approved, this 691 00:53:53,680 --> 00:53:59,280 property has to be reszoned. But if you approve that, it takes it out of your 692 00:53:57,359 --> 00:54:01,680 hands and we ask that you please revise it. 693 00:53:59,520 --> 00:54:04,800 » Thank you, Mr. Alison. >> Anyone else here speak to any item of 694 00:54:03,280 --> 00:54:08,800 old or new business before we continue with commission deliberation? 695 00:54:07,359 --> 00:54:12,960 » All right, seeing none, we'll go ahead and move on to old business number 16. 696 00:54:11,440 --> 00:54:16,240 Somebody like to lay a motion on the floor. 697 00:54:14,480 --> 00:54:21,680 » I'll make a motion that we'll approve the um CDO um development agreement for 698 00:54:20,160 --> 00:54:27,359 the redevelopment of public and private properties around 295 East Dory Street. 699 00:54:24,800 --> 00:54:33,280 um along myself, Commissioner Johnson, Meyers, Taylor, and Thornton. 700 00:54:30,960 --> 00:54:36,599 » A motion for the CDO as written. Is there a second? 701 00:54:36,800 --> 00:54:42,880 » Right. Second from Commissioner Johnson. Commissioner Fischer, any remarks? 702 00:54:40,880 --> 00:54:46,960 » Yes. Um you know, we've been going back and 703 00:54:44,160 --> 00:54:51,440 forth um with this development project. And let me say a couple things so the 704 00:54:48,720 --> 00:54:57,280 public will know. Um Tom Lelay is not going to be torn down. Um that's not 705 00:54:54,640 --> 00:55:02,640 that's not nowhere. Um Mr. Edwards made that I'm coming and that it's not going 706 00:54:58,640 --> 00:55:07,200 to be torn down at all. Um where I'm going with this and and the developer 707 00:55:04,240 --> 00:55:13,599 made a point, you know, it took them a year to come up um with this um 708 00:55:10,240 --> 00:55:19,040 particular agreement. Um, we finally got it um several months ago and um and I 709 00:55:17,440 --> 00:55:25,920 think and I said this in our general city that um for us as um elected 710 00:55:22,880 --> 00:55:30,240 officials, we owe it to our public first of all for them to understand what we're 711 00:55:27,760 --> 00:55:35,680 doing, what impact this is going to make on the Tom Lace Center and and and the 712 00:55:33,359 --> 00:55:40,880 benefits that we're going to um get from this particular development. Keep in 713 00:55:37,680 --> 00:55:45,839 mind now the developer by right can build student housing. So my question is 714 00:55:43,760 --> 00:55:49,920 if you can build student housing why do you need you know actually why would you 715 00:55:48,559 --> 00:55:53,599 need delay if you want to build student housing build it. 716 00:55:52,000 --> 00:55:58,960 My thing is when we talking about requiring um public property to um to 717 00:55:57,200 --> 00:56:03,839 get into the student housing building business um I don't think that's a role 718 00:56:01,839 --> 00:56:10,720 that we should play as a government. However, um I'm willing and I I said 719 00:56:07,119 --> 00:56:16,160 this in the um CDO for the um developer and our staff to come before the public 720 00:56:14,000 --> 00:56:20,240 with a work session and get all these things lay them out on the table and and 721 00:56:18,000 --> 00:56:23,920 and it bothers me that people got a problem that we want the public can know 722 00:56:22,559 --> 00:56:28,559 exactly what we're getting and what we're not getting. And that's all I'm 723 00:56:26,000 --> 00:56:32,319 asking for as elected official for the people who voted to put me here. Say, 724 00:56:30,480 --> 00:56:36,400 "Hey, this is what's going on in this community. this is what development is 725 00:56:34,559 --> 00:56:39,920 going to provide. This is what is going to happen and what impact it's going to 726 00:56:38,000 --> 00:56:44,960 have on Tom Lake. There's going to be some impact. Um when we look when I read 727 00:56:42,480 --> 00:56:48,880 that um agreement, you know, there was some negative things that we talked 728 00:56:46,960 --> 00:56:53,280 about what was going to impact, but one thing that was left off there was 729 00:56:50,559 --> 00:56:57,440 programming. We talked about parking, talked about drop off, but we didn't 730 00:56:54,880 --> 00:57:01,839 talk about programming. So how is that Tom layer going to affect programming 731 00:56:59,760 --> 00:57:06,160 for those young people and the elderly who go there? What's going to be the 732 00:57:03,520 --> 00:57:10,000 impact on that? Is it going to decrease um demand there um for the people in 733 00:57:08,400 --> 00:57:15,920 that community or even for the community for that matter? So again for me um and 734 00:57:13,760 --> 00:57:20,160 I'm one commissioner but for me I think we put all the cards on the table. Let's 735 00:57:18,079 --> 00:57:25,440 hear all the information and the mayor assist the um work session. he can do it 736 00:57:22,720 --> 00:57:31,760 as fast as he want to do it. But um you know the timetable um is not on us. 737 00:57:29,760 --> 00:57:36,000 Our thing is to this public and to this community what we should be providing 738 00:57:34,079 --> 00:57:41,119 and how what we should be delivering. So that's sort of my spill on this and why 739 00:57:38,640 --> 00:57:45,119 I did the co to table it to get public input get all the commissioners on 740 00:57:43,280 --> 00:57:49,920 questions answered then we can move forward. 741 00:57:46,799 --> 00:57:54,079 » Commissioner Johnson followup. I have I do have followup tonight. I 742 00:57:52,160 --> 00:58:00,319 however I would allow I want to allow someone else to speak until I um am 743 00:57:56,960 --> 00:58:07,440 ready to do so. Please >> Commissioner Co Pepper. 744 00:58:02,319 --> 00:58:14,559 » So the CDO as it's written um does it allow y'all allow staff to move forward 745 00:58:10,480 --> 00:58:21,680 with everything? um you know with the title work for uh plans review um and 746 00:58:18,799 --> 00:58:28,160 all that I think time I want the public to have a chance to be heard but I also 747 00:58:24,799 --> 00:58:33,720 don't want to delay this project >> as I understand how the CDO is prepared 748 00:58:30,400 --> 00:58:33,720 at this pointing 749 00:58:34,240 --> 00:58:41,200 because incorporated in the CDO is the the discussion of the resolution in 750 00:58:38,880 --> 00:58:45,760 order to allow the the reasoning to proceed seed, which would effectively 751 00:58:43,760 --> 00:58:49,839 have um a piece of the resoning coming back if everything stays on schedule in 752 00:58:47,680 --> 00:58:55,200 January and another piece of it coming back in February or March um with it. Um 753 00:58:53,680 --> 00:58:58,720 and that was consistent with the original timeline or what was in 754 00:58:56,720 --> 00:59:03,520 envisioned in that in that piece of it. So the work session that's referenced 755 00:59:00,640 --> 00:59:09,200 would fit in between today and then. Um and um as far as as far as I know and as 756 00:59:06,640 --> 00:59:14,400 far as what I'm anticipating is during that time plan review can can occur and 757 00:59:11,920 --> 00:59:18,720 take place. It it occurs at risk that obviously they're spending the money on 758 00:59:16,240 --> 00:59:23,119 preparing those plans and those plans proceed forward and the project is not 759 00:59:20,640 --> 00:59:26,640 approved which of course then the plans don't have any meaning at that point. As 760 00:59:24,880 --> 00:59:30,480 far as the title piece, I'm probably going to look to the attorney because I 761 00:59:28,640 --> 00:59:34,000 don't know I don't know what the defects in the title that are attempting to be 762 00:59:31,839 --> 00:59:37,119 cleaned and how those may or may not be inhibited by by the action. 763 00:59:35,680 --> 00:59:40,400 » Attorney Drake, any perspective on the title piece? 764 00:59:38,079 --> 00:59:45,520 » Well, the defects the title relate to the fact that there's currently a 765 00:59:41,839 --> 00:59:48,880 covenant on the property uh with the with the federal agency saying 766 00:59:47,359 --> 00:59:54,000 that we're about to get their approval to remove that so 767 00:59:51,440 --> 00:59:58,640 uh so this project can go forward. And uh 768 00:59:56,000 --> 01:00:02,319 I mean I I respectfully wish that attorney for 769 01:00:00,799 --> 01:00:05,440 developer had contacted me before tonight to share all this because I 770 01:00:03,920 --> 01:00:08,400 don't I'm not sure how exactly that plays out, you know, because I mean I 771 01:00:06,960 --> 01:00:11,119 think the development agreement has to be approved. I mean for y'all to be able 772 01:00:09,839 --> 01:00:13,520 to release that, you know, I wouldn't do that. I wouldn't allow the mayor I don't 773 01:00:12,319 --> 01:00:16,559 think mayor has authority to do that. I think it has to come to y'all, you know, 774 01:00:15,359 --> 01:00:19,760 and this development agreement gives that authority, you know, to do that. 775 01:00:18,319 --> 01:00:24,400 And so uh >> and you'd earlier you were indicated 776 01:00:21,200 --> 01:00:28,720 that at at least in concept federal agency had said that that would proceed. 777 01:00:26,480 --> 01:00:32,319 » Yeah. But I I read those emails to say they wanted something they wanted the 778 01:00:30,079 --> 01:00:37,520 development agreement approved before they would release it, you know, but so 779 01:00:34,799 --> 01:00:41,119 I I'm not sure what the attorney for developer is 780 01:00:39,280 --> 01:00:48,640 asking for is going to move this forward any quicker to be honest with you. But 781 01:00:44,880 --> 01:00:53,839 Mr. Co Pepper, anything else? Um, is it possible to put dates around uh, 782 01:00:52,160 --> 01:00:57,119 you know, for us to put a date for a work session for us to be able to vote 783 01:00:55,839 --> 01:01:00,079 on January 6? >> If if this motion passed, I would 784 01:00:58,799 --> 01:01:03,319 schedule the work session for a week from tonight. 785 01:01:03,440 --> 01:01:07,200 » Say again, mayor. How do you >> If this motion passed, I would schedule 786 01:01:05,920 --> 01:01:10,200 the work session for a week from tonight. 787 01:01:10,799 --> 01:01:13,760 » And it would actually be >> so 788 01:01:12,960 --> 01:01:16,480 » Tuesday, >> Wednesday. It would be Wednesday because 789 01:01:15,599 --> 01:01:20,000 of the holiday. >> Wednesday. I apologize. Yeah, Veterans 790 01:01:18,160 --> 01:01:23,119 Day holiday is Tuesday. So, >> week from tomorrow 791 01:01:21,200 --> 01:01:27,040 » because initially we thought that the vote we would do a work session in 792 01:01:24,720 --> 01:01:30,720 December with the work session. Um, but again, you said that you set the work 793 01:01:28,960 --> 01:01:36,960 session. So, that's that's your prerogative from that perspective. So, 794 01:01:35,200 --> 01:01:41,040 » Commissioner Myers. >> Yeah. Following up on this, um, I've 795 01:01:38,880 --> 01:01:45,040 been out of town and my name's on this and and I can also hear I have a cold 796 01:01:42,960 --> 01:01:51,200 here. Uh, but I do want to ask a question about that B on that. I guess 797 01:01:48,240 --> 01:01:55,599 it's a, you know, the one about the the appro the version I saw which I don't 798 01:01:53,599 --> 01:01:59,839 know if it had it in here yet about approving the resoning of the ACC 799 01:01:57,599 --> 01:02:05,839 conveyed the reasoning and not moving forward to that. I was wondering if the 800 01:02:01,920 --> 01:02:10,640 manager could speak to what the norm I mean I think for many of 801 01:02:08,400 --> 01:02:15,280 us it's you know the the you know we usually have those done first earlier. 802 01:02:13,040 --> 01:02:19,680 So what is how does this fit into a development cycle where this would come 803 01:02:18,240 --> 01:02:27,359 afterwards? >> Yeah. So the way this is envisioned in 804 01:02:23,599 --> 01:02:31,839 conversation with um Mr. Fiser is that there are two pieces of property that 805 01:02:29,920 --> 01:02:36,799 need to to be reszoned for this to occur. The first are the ACC gov owned 806 01:02:34,799 --> 01:02:42,240 properties parking lots. Those need to go from um currently G to CD. And then 807 01:02:40,240 --> 01:02:45,520 there is property that is currently zoned and owned privately CD that needs 808 01:02:44,400 --> 01:02:49,760 to be turned to G. That would be the future parking deck. So the way this is 809 01:02:47,599 --> 01:02:53,839 structured currently is there would be consideration of the reszoning by the 810 01:02:51,520 --> 01:02:58,319 planning commission of the two ACC gov owned properties and that would come 811 01:02:55,680 --> 01:03:02,319 back to you all for decision. If that resoning were approved then you would 812 01:03:00,240 --> 01:03:07,280 move to step two which is consideration of the development agreement. The reason 813 01:03:04,400 --> 01:03:11,599 for that is because the other reszoning since it's on private property really is 814 01:03:09,920 --> 01:03:15,039 is meaningless if the development agreement doesn't get approved because 815 01:03:12,880 --> 01:03:19,599 you would not reszone the property to G government on privately owned property. 816 01:03:16,799 --> 01:03:24,559 So right now that's how this ultimately gets structured. the big picture kind of 817 01:03:23,200 --> 01:03:28,000 » one of the things that development agreement, one of the things that 818 01:03:25,920 --> 01:03:31,599 complicates this a little bit is part of the reason I think for the um the 819 01:03:29,680 --> 01:03:35,680 sequencing of it is the development agreement in this case is actually 820 01:03:33,039 --> 01:03:39,359 spelling out what it would require for you all to be comfortable in 821 01:03:37,039 --> 01:03:43,760 transferring the ownership of the of the two parking lots. And so you're spelling 822 01:03:41,440 --> 01:03:47,760 out a lot of items relative to what the design would look like, what the 823 01:03:45,760 --> 01:03:52,079 requirements of the the development itself and so on because what's going to 824 01:03:50,079 --> 01:03:57,440 be requested in the resonings are straight resonings. These are not 825 01:03:53,440 --> 01:04:01,200 planned developments. And so um that that does create a little bit of an 826 01:03:59,119 --> 01:04:05,200 issue because there's resonings being considered that are independent of the 827 01:04:03,760 --> 01:04:09,520 development agreement. The planning commission clearly can see what the 828 01:04:07,039 --> 01:04:14,000 intent is associated with it. Um, but it will be a straight resoning from Gzoned 829 01:04:12,000 --> 01:04:17,520 property to CD just as the rest of their property is. So, I think that was 830 01:04:15,920 --> 01:04:21,440 playing into some of the sequencing is to get some of these details worked out 831 01:04:19,839 --> 01:04:24,559 to where you all were comfortable in making that transfer. That's why they 832 01:04:23,039 --> 01:04:27,440 were arranged that the way the way that they were. 833 01:04:25,280 --> 01:04:32,079 » And I would add we actually the manager communicated with Commissioner Fiser to 834 01:04:30,000 --> 01:04:37,920 allow that resolution so we could begin the process to try to to keep it moving 835 01:04:34,880 --> 01:04:42,079 forward. uh trying to balance the interests of those 836 01:04:40,240 --> 01:04:46,079 who support the project and those we know who don't, you know. So, and 837 01:04:44,480 --> 01:04:49,280 Commissioner Fischer agreed to that. >> Yeah. Correct. 838 01:04:46,799 --> 01:04:53,200 » Yeah. And that and that's though you can't see that in B that is 839 01:04:50,960 --> 01:04:57,599 actually embedded in that in item B is kind of that sequencing. So that the 840 01:04:55,359 --> 01:05:01,839 resolution the benefit of the resolution and moving forward with the ACC gov 841 01:05:00,240 --> 01:05:05,200 initiate reasonzoning is it shortens that time frame back to what was 842 01:05:03,839 --> 01:05:08,880 envisioned. And again, that's why I say it would come back to you all in January 843 01:05:07,119 --> 01:05:14,240 and then February or March for that next piece of that and trying to fit that 844 01:05:11,200 --> 01:05:20,799 work session in between those with it. >> So, so, so to clarify that for me. So, 845 01:05:17,119 --> 01:05:28,079 if the if we went to home ahead with this as B is laid out here, would we be 846 01:05:25,839 --> 01:05:31,119 voting on the resoning and the development agreement at the same time? 847 01:05:30,799 --> 01:05:35,920 You would >> and on Janu But it would have to 848 01:05:34,319 --> 01:05:39,200 by January, could it? I mean, doesn't it have to go the 849 01:05:36,720 --> 01:05:42,559 » the resoning the resoning of the two parking lots? So, of the butterfly lots, 850 01:05:41,039 --> 01:05:46,319 if you will, will go through the planning commission cycle under this 851 01:05:44,640 --> 01:05:51,599 scenario and will be in front of you all in January. So, yes, that that piece the 852 01:05:49,280 --> 01:05:56,160 the benefit of initiating the resoning is it accelerates the process because 853 01:05:54,240 --> 01:05:59,119 the staff's been actually reviewing aspects of this project for quite some 854 01:05:57,760 --> 01:06:04,000 time. So, yes, that piece would come back as soon as January. Right now 855 01:06:01,039 --> 01:06:10,240 you're saying that if we approve this, we would be coming back with the work 856 01:06:06,319 --> 01:06:13,440 session and the approval in January. >> Work session would happen before it 857 01:06:11,839 --> 01:06:17,119 » works session and it would get to the planning 858 01:06:15,520 --> 01:06:19,839 commission and go through them and then come to us in January. 859 01:06:18,480 --> 01:06:22,559 » Assuming Yeah. Assuming the planning commission forwards a recommendation, 860 01:06:21,520 --> 01:06:25,200 you would then consider >> So it must be on their agenda right now. 861 01:06:24,720 --> 01:06:27,599 it. >> No, 862 01:06:25,599 --> 01:06:32,240 » no, it's not yet because it it really can't be until 863 01:06:29,039 --> 01:06:37,839 » Okay. Okay. Got it. I got it. >> When y'all initiate a reasoning, it 864 01:06:33,920 --> 01:06:43,680 allows for a quicker time period. >> Commissioner Lincoln and Thor. Um, 865 01:06:40,720 --> 01:06:50,880 » so I I would ask that we consider the developers attorney's request to 866 01:06:46,559 --> 01:06:55,119 eliminate that A3 condition, the the all related staff and mayor authorizations 867 01:06:53,200 --> 01:06:59,599 indefinitely until the satisfaction of the following conditions. To me, that 868 01:06:56,960 --> 01:07:04,799 sounds like, you know, to pass this CDO would prohibit this even moving on for 869 01:07:02,160 --> 01:07:09,440 reasonzoning consideration. I mean, I'm I'm unclear about the title 870 01:07:08,079 --> 01:07:12,799 specifics. I don't know a whole lot about that, but that is such a broad 871 01:07:11,039 --> 01:07:16,760 statement that that seems to just freeze this right where it is. 872 01:07:17,359 --> 01:07:22,400 » Yeah, I think if I would could offer up one piece to that to kind of clarify 873 01:07:21,200 --> 01:07:25,520 because again I want to make sure everybody kind of understands what's 874 01:07:24,000 --> 01:07:29,760 what the expectations of how we would interpret this piece. I think under that 875 01:07:27,680 --> 01:07:34,000 section since we're specifically referring to authorizations, 876 01:07:31,839 --> 01:07:39,200 those would be effectively legal actions. So there's this would preclude 877 01:07:36,799 --> 01:07:42,799 understandably the mayor or staff actually doing any kind of final 878 01:07:41,119 --> 01:07:47,280 signatures if you will any kind of final legal approvals of documents until these 879 01:07:45,280 --> 01:07:51,599 steps have taken place. There are many many steps in between that that don't 880 01:07:49,359 --> 01:07:55,599 carry that same weight of authorization that we would be doing. That's why I 881 01:07:52,960 --> 01:07:59,280 don't feel limited in what we can have staff reviewing in terms of the plan 882 01:07:57,599 --> 01:08:04,640 review because there isn't any authorization attached to that prior to 883 01:08:02,240 --> 01:08:07,760 any any vote by the commission stuff. So I think to your point, yes, it is 884 01:08:06,319 --> 01:08:12,240 limiting, but I think what it is limiting is fairly narrow. And so, you 885 01:08:10,400 --> 01:08:15,280 know, manager Cowell, you know, it's something like the difference between 886 01:08:13,520 --> 01:08:20,719 saying, "Hey, here's your final stamped copy of where your inflow and outflow of 887 01:08:18,640 --> 01:08:23,839 storm water management would be versus, hey, we're going to look at the plans to 888 01:08:22,319 --> 01:08:26,319 figure out just functionally what makes sense in terms of water flow." 889 01:08:25,040 --> 01:08:29,679 » Correct. Now, the the catch to that again could be this discussion of the 890 01:08:27,920 --> 01:08:34,159 the title issues because I don't know what you know what authorizations would 891 01:08:31,759 --> 01:08:36,560 be necessary for that, but that's really tied to the development agreement 892 01:08:35,279 --> 01:08:40,480 anyway. So, >> anything further, Commissioner Link? 893 01:08:41,120 --> 01:08:48,000 I just I I'm Yeah, I was just kind of put it back by that broad statement and 894 01:08:45,520 --> 01:08:50,799 wondering if that could end up kind of being a poison pill. 895 01:08:49,199 --> 01:08:54,319 » Well, he Well, he he that is what what manager Cowell said was is what was 896 01:08:52,960 --> 01:08:58,960 intended by that. If you looked at the original agenda item, it it each one of 897 01:08:56,719 --> 01:09:02,640 the items, you know, like approve the development agreement says and allow the 898 01:09:00,799 --> 01:09:06,080 mayor the staff mayor and staff the authorization to take any other actions 899 01:09:04,560 --> 01:09:10,400 related there too. And it talks about the IGA with the ADA, it says the same 900 01:09:08,319 --> 01:09:14,799 thing. So rather than repeat that long thing, I was trying to just encapsulate 901 01:09:12,560 --> 01:09:19,359 what the mayor just said by making applicable all you know. 902 01:09:16,640 --> 01:09:24,239 » And so the AB statement that refers to the conveyed property 903 01:09:22,080 --> 01:09:28,640 um you don't see that as upholding this moving through the resoning process at 904 01:09:26,239 --> 01:09:31,359 all. >> AB is uh 905 01:09:29,920 --> 01:09:34,880 » the the >> the mayor approved resoning. I mean we 906 01:09:33,359 --> 01:09:39,920 we looked at that is speeding the process up. Uh 907 01:09:36,640 --> 01:09:44,080 » no no the a lowercase B the approve approve the reasoning of the conveyed 908 01:09:41,520 --> 01:09:49,520 property in the manner necessary to >> that was put in there trying to 909 01:09:47,839 --> 01:09:54,159 like I just said previously to allow it to kind of stay on the same track. So 910 01:09:51,199 --> 01:09:58,400 even if the devel approved and y'all approve the agenda 911 01:09:56,159 --> 01:10:01,440 item with the action items as they are all the reasonzonings have to come back 912 01:10:00,000 --> 01:10:03,280 here. If you don't approve those, the deal's dead anyway, 913 01:10:02,480 --> 01:10:06,800 » right? >> Yeah. I I think that's a good 914 01:10:04,640 --> 01:10:11,199 observation that, you know, a final action is not until vote by the mayor 915 01:10:08,960 --> 01:10:16,960 and commission around a zoning question, but initiation, hearing, discussion, 916 01:10:14,640 --> 01:10:23,280 evaluation, review by staff, all of that is preliminary to that final act. So, um 917 01:10:20,480 --> 01:10:26,480 got uh anything else, Commissioner Link, before I turn to Commissioner Thornton? 918 01:10:24,719 --> 01:10:30,159 » Um no, not right now. Commissioner Thornton, 919 01:10:27,040 --> 01:10:35,760 » I just want to be um clear and I kind of was whispering the mic to make sure I 920 01:10:32,080 --> 01:10:42,239 understood. Um attorney Drake, so the 921 01:10:39,840 --> 01:10:48,800 suggestions that came before us, some possibilities from the developers. This 922 01:10:45,440 --> 01:10:51,600 was probably the first time you heard some of this tonight. 923 01:10:50,080 --> 01:10:54,159 » That was the It was the first time I heard it. I mean, 924 01:10:53,600 --> 01:10:58,480 » so >> and we did share the CDO as soon as it 925 01:10:56,560 --> 01:11:04,880 went public yesterday afternoon. I sent it to the attorney, Mr. Ellison, but I 926 01:11:00,960 --> 01:11:08,960 agree with the manager. I'm not sure I don't I'm not sure I I agree the 927 01:11:07,280 --> 01:11:11,199 necessity of the changes at all, you know, but 928 01:11:10,719 --> 01:11:14,640 » so >> without hearing more perception from 929 01:11:12,800 --> 01:11:18,080 him, I can't just sit here and try to figure out all the details of what 930 01:11:16,480 --> 01:11:23,760 they're trying to accomplish, you know. That's why you Anyway, 931 01:11:20,800 --> 01:11:29,360 » so I guess my next question is and I think uh the mayor alluded well he 932 01:11:27,040 --> 01:11:36,960 didn't allude. He made a statement about when the um work session should be. So 933 01:11:34,480 --> 01:11:41,199 it can't be no later. It cannot be in December and still meet these 934 01:11:38,960 --> 01:11:46,239 benchmarks. Yeah, I think you have you currently have two two work sessions we 935 01:11:43,520 --> 01:11:51,840 anticipate having. Next Wednesday is the soonest and then December 9th 936 01:11:49,760 --> 01:11:57,280 » n correct right now we anticipate just 937 01:11:55,040 --> 01:12:02,480 just so you kind of know in terms of workload on for you all on those. So at 938 01:11:59,840 --> 01:12:07,040 your work session next week we anticipate two items. Um, one of those 939 01:12:04,640 --> 01:12:12,719 being the presentation and discussion of the capital delivery system followup and 940 01:12:10,560 --> 01:12:16,239 the other is the discussion relative to the collective bargaining agreement with 941 01:12:14,159 --> 01:12:19,920 fire and compensation. So that's November right now. December we have 942 01:12:18,159 --> 01:12:23,679 only one item currently scheduled and that's the the joint hopefully will be 943 01:12:21,920 --> 01:12:29,280 the joint meeting with Winterville and Bogart for the TOSS 26 discussion. So, 944 01:12:27,199 --> 01:12:33,920 but both of those are currently regularly scheduled work sessions before 945 01:12:31,840 --> 01:12:39,520 an item would come back to you all tied to the to the reszoning. 946 01:12:35,679 --> 01:12:42,800 » So, again, if we meet next 947 01:12:41,520 --> 01:12:45,440 » Wednesday, >> Wednesday, 948 01:12:43,840 --> 01:12:50,560 » Wednesday is Tuesday. >> Yeah. So, again, if we had that meeting 949 01:12:49,040 --> 01:12:56,719 in December, that is too late for for what 950 01:12:54,080 --> 01:13:01,040 what we're for trying to No, either one of those would be 951 01:12:58,800 --> 01:13:04,080 available and still meet the timeline that we've talked about, meaning you 952 01:13:02,480 --> 01:13:07,600 would have the work session before you were asked to actually consider any 953 01:13:06,080 --> 01:13:11,760 items. So, either one of those dates would accomplish that 954 01:13:08,640 --> 01:13:17,440 » in December December December 9th or the November the December the 9th. Okay. I 955 01:13:14,239 --> 01:13:21,280 you know I I I I think that next week, you know, it's just fast. If we're going 956 01:13:19,360 --> 01:13:26,560 to have a work session, give us the time. So, if December the 9th would give 957 01:13:23,679 --> 01:13:32,400 offer us the same opportunity, I especially with um Attorney Drake 958 01:13:29,199 --> 01:13:36,560 hearing some new information, I would I would support the work session for the 959 01:13:34,640 --> 01:13:41,440 December the 9th. >> I mean, I know that's but that's where I 960 01:13:39,280 --> 01:13:45,640 stand. >> Commissioner Johnson, were you prepared? 961 01:13:50,640 --> 01:13:59,280 » I do. I support this CDO and I actually worked with Dexter on the language. It 962 01:13:56,560 --> 01:14:04,480 was really important to me to draft this language because there is 963 01:14:02,560 --> 01:14:10,400 a process or standard that we should expect. I know that there are certain 964 01:14:07,120 --> 01:14:18,320 processes or or process orders that aren't required or our or our um say so. 965 01:14:16,159 --> 01:14:22,400 But at the same time, we also have the right to say we don't want, you know, we 966 01:14:20,640 --> 01:14:27,920 don't want to review something that we receive so quickly. And I do appreciate 967 01:14:25,040 --> 01:14:31,040 the 12 13 14 months of work you put into it and the conversations that you've had 968 01:14:29,600 --> 01:14:35,760 with the commissioner with one commissioner. However, um Bob, I will 969 01:14:33,920 --> 01:14:40,000 disagree with you that this none of this makes us feel none of the communication 970 01:14:37,440 --> 01:14:45,520 that your office has provided and I know you y'all are just trying your best has 971 01:14:42,239 --> 01:14:51,040 made me feel more comfortable at all. I it's made me actually read this document 972 01:14:47,679 --> 01:14:56,000 550 pages three times. That's why I just didn't know how to start because there's 973 01:14:53,120 --> 01:15:02,640 so much in my head. I would like to know though if the maybe I the mayor, can you 974 01:14:59,679 --> 01:15:07,600 answer this question? When the applicant submitted the propos the submission to 975 01:15:05,360 --> 01:15:11,760 the planning department, was there a subsequent meeting, a follow-up meeting 976 01:15:09,520 --> 01:15:17,280 to talk about expanding the vision of what they originally submitted? 977 01:15:16,159 --> 01:15:22,320 Can you restate that question, Commissioner? 978 01:15:17,760 --> 01:15:28,000 » Yes. When the core group originally submitted their plans agreement, was 979 01:15:25,760 --> 01:15:34,800 there a subsequent meeting with you and staff or maybe you not you and or other 980 01:15:30,800 --> 01:15:39,360 staff members about expanding their project concept? 981 01:15:37,280 --> 01:15:44,960 » Was there a meeting about expanding >> their project concept? Um, no. I I'll 982 01:15:42,719 --> 01:15:48,800 say that uh as I noted in the prior meeting when we had agenda setting a 983 01:15:46,480 --> 01:15:52,800 couple of weeks ago uh really this project is largely a byite activity and 984 01:15:51,360 --> 01:15:58,480 really this is just talking about swapping two triangles for a rectangle 985 01:15:55,679 --> 01:16:01,600 um so that we can both produce a public parking deck that's been sought by the 986 01:15:59,920 --> 01:16:06,960 downtown development authority since 2019. Uh as well as have a better layout 987 01:16:04,880 --> 01:16:11,760 that does the things that are outlined in the agenda report such as preserve 988 01:16:09,280 --> 01:16:17,199 the foundry building. Um, so it's it's really as simple as that. Um, 989 01:16:14,239 --> 01:16:22,400 » how did the conversation come about to have to consider the swap if there 990 01:16:19,920 --> 01:16:27,360 wasn't a subsequent meeting after after the submission? 991 01:16:25,120 --> 01:16:31,360 » The the anticipation from the very outset of the downtown development 992 01:16:29,600 --> 01:16:36,560 authorities's interaction with the Athens clar county commission in 2020 993 01:16:33,840 --> 01:16:41,760 was that there would be public parking on both triangles. 994 01:16:39,360 --> 01:16:48,080 Given that that proved fiscally infeasible, then we immediately 995 01:16:44,880 --> 01:16:54,480 went to the prospect of some property collaboration with the neighbor. Uh the 996 01:16:50,800 --> 01:16:58,560 prior owner of the property wasn't able to collaborate given the ownership 997 01:16:56,640 --> 01:17:01,920 structure that they had. They had this property packaged with a couple of dozen 998 01:17:00,320 --> 01:17:06,800 other properties and they weren't able to peel it out of that ownership. But 999 01:17:03,840 --> 01:17:10,719 when the property sold immediately they approached the now development authority 1000 01:17:08,800 --> 01:17:15,520 and said hey we understand that you've been seeking this public parking deck we 1001 01:17:13,199 --> 01:17:18,960 would be happy to engage in in this property exchange. 1002 01:17:16,880 --> 01:17:25,040 » So you're saying that core development group knew about this 1003 01:17:22,960 --> 01:17:29,679 adjacent owner and then on the record you're saying 1004 01:17:27,360 --> 01:17:32,080 that they approached ADDA and said if they can't we can. Is that what you're 1005 01:17:31,600 --> 01:17:36,320 saying? >> Yes. Uh those downtown development 1006 01:17:33,679 --> 01:17:40,080 authority meetings were public and uh we already had the development agreement 1007 01:17:37,920 --> 01:17:44,880 with uh between the downtown development authority and the Athens clar county 1008 01:17:41,520 --> 01:17:49,120 unified government. >> I want to share a conversation I had 1009 01:17:46,560 --> 01:17:56,159 this morning with a developer who stated that he presented a he presented plans 1010 01:17:53,040 --> 01:18:00,960 for a project. today his group and when they presented plans they were invited 1011 01:17:57,920 --> 01:18:05,440 into the office into a an Athens clar county office I want us to think about 1012 01:18:03,360 --> 01:18:12,480 the the overarching picture here there's nothing for free 1013 01:18:09,280 --> 01:18:18,800 7.9 millions million dollars is generous this development agreement it benefits 1014 01:18:16,480 --> 01:18:23,440 both sides but at the end of the day there's nothing for free Dexter Fischer 1015 01:18:21,280 --> 01:18:28,159 Commissioner Fischer asked last week is there any debt that the response was no. 1016 01:18:25,840 --> 01:18:35,760 That is completely untrue. The debt is up to 8.1 million if the partner decides 1017 01:18:33,920 --> 01:18:40,080 not to continue. There's a lot of skepticism when it's when it's 1018 01:18:37,679 --> 01:18:43,840 convenient. Someone mentioned earlier about 1019 01:18:41,840 --> 01:18:49,679 something negative and then the mall project but the negativity came from the 1020 01:18:46,640 --> 01:18:53,360 debt and someone said something about not incurring debt but we didn't have a 1021 01:18:51,679 --> 01:18:57,199 problem incurring debt with classic center and there are still conversations 1022 01:18:55,040 --> 01:19:03,360 about incurring debt about the classic center. No, this free money is not good 1023 01:19:01,040 --> 01:19:08,159 money. One, the end of the the the conversation the 1024 01:19:05,440 --> 01:19:11,520 gentleman group, the development group shared with me this morning is that when 1025 01:19:09,840 --> 01:19:16,880 they submitted their document, they were invited in and then they were courted or 1026 01:19:14,800 --> 01:19:22,560 there there was a conversation about enhancing the vision of their project 1027 01:19:19,760 --> 01:19:28,400 that they submitted. That was a year ago. That slowed this that slowed it 1028 01:19:24,640 --> 01:19:33,280 down. That slows projects down. But no one should speak on their behalf. they 1029 01:19:30,159 --> 01:19:38,239 have a a liaison. One thing they also said was that their 1030 01:19:36,480 --> 01:19:43,040 local because they're from out of town, their local representative from the 1031 01:19:40,000 --> 01:19:49,040 design firm that they hired promised them a unanimous vote from the planning 1032 01:19:46,080 --> 01:19:55,440 commission that he promised he said it'll pass. These are challenges that I 1033 01:19:52,080 --> 01:20:00,960 have. There is there is a reason why this is presented to us with four days 1034 01:19:58,000 --> 01:20:05,760 notice and then 19 days review after it's been worked on. I started 1035 01:20:03,520 --> 01:20:11,520 this with skepticism and I really try not to do that but I don't see any 1036 01:20:09,600 --> 01:20:17,679 benefit or reason why someone would be so philanthropic to just give the this 1037 01:20:15,199 --> 01:20:21,440 additional money. But last I'm going end with this. We have people come through 1038 01:20:19,600 --> 01:20:27,679 the podium every single Tuesday to speak. And especially for the people who 1039 01:20:24,800 --> 01:20:31,920 aren't talking or who never talk, they are asking us to care about them. We we 1040 01:20:30,480 --> 01:20:35,040 want them to care about us when we're running for an office, but they are 1041 01:20:33,520 --> 01:20:38,640 asking us to care about them. And when it comes to housing, affordable housing, 1042 01:20:37,120 --> 01:20:43,120 we don't have anything appreciable to show for it. And she is right. That one 1043 01:20:40,719 --> 01:20:49,120 person that spoke about it, we had 57 million 57.1 million in COVID relief 1044 01:20:46,320 --> 01:20:53,199 funding. And we still have a housing pro. Affordable housing. Yes. One 1045 01:20:51,600 --> 01:20:57,520 gentleman talked about we still need 8,000 homes. We We need affordable 1046 01:20:56,480 --> 01:20:59,600 homes, too. >> Commissioner, do you need additional 1047 01:20:58,719 --> 01:21:03,040 time? >> I I do. Thank you. 1048 01:21:01,920 --> 01:21:06,640 » Commissioner Johnson, I have additional time. 1049 01:21:03,679 --> 01:21:12,320 » Just a few more seconds. Not only do we need houses, 1050 01:21:09,520 --> 01:21:15,120 we need affordable houses. We do not have a plan. You're right. We don't have 1051 01:21:13,600 --> 01:21:19,040 a plan. We don't have a meeting. We don't have a discussion. We have a 1052 01:21:16,719 --> 01:21:24,880 department, but at the end of the day, the priority is to do to produce single 1053 01:21:23,280 --> 01:21:29,679 family homes for the low and moderate income individuals. We don't have 1054 01:21:27,040 --> 01:21:34,719 appreciable numbers to brag about, but we do. We are the I have a I don't have 1055 01:21:32,640 --> 01:21:38,400 a problem with a business person being a business owner. You buy land and you 1056 01:21:36,960 --> 01:21:41,440 want to build, I don't have a problem with that. I don't have a problem if 1057 01:21:39,679 --> 01:21:48,080 it's student housing. But what I have a problem with is the county engaging with 1058 01:21:44,400 --> 01:21:53,440 something to add to it to swap but not give us any time. Anyone that's asked 1059 01:21:50,320 --> 01:21:56,800 for a meeting about affordable housing, they push us down. They kick that can 1060 01:21:55,280 --> 01:22:03,840 that kick that can that tells me it's not a priority. It's a priority to 1061 01:22:00,560 --> 01:22:07,199 developers from out of town. The developers from out of town get treated 1062 01:22:05,360 --> 01:22:10,440 from treated better than the developers in town. 1063 01:22:10,480 --> 01:22:17,760 I would like it to be stated very clearly. Be aware. Just pay attention to 1064 01:22:16,239 --> 01:22:21,600 the people who are not talking about poor, who are not talking about 1065 01:22:19,520 --> 01:22:27,040 affordable, who are not talking about equity, who don't engage in those 1066 01:22:23,600 --> 01:22:32,400 conversations, who don't ask questions and and keep helping me ask and and this 1067 01:22:30,239 --> 01:22:36,320 the woman that spoke about it, she's been on channel 2, 5, and 11, but can't 1068 01:22:34,880 --> 01:22:42,000 get up here and get some change here in in Athens, clar county. 1069 01:22:39,120 --> 01:22:44,560 So, yes, we need housing, but there are poor people that live in Athens, too. 1070 01:22:43,679 --> 01:22:48,440 Thank you. >> Thank you. And uh I'm gonna 1071 01:22:49,520 --> 01:22:56,080 I appreciate everybody being here, but we need to proceed with the the business 1072 01:22:52,639 --> 01:22:59,840 of the unified government. Um before I turn to Commissioner Hamby uh to be 1073 01:22:57,600 --> 01:23:03,760 recognized, I do want to note uh for the record just that the uh the the number 1074 01:23:02,560 --> 01:23:08,880 that would be contributed to the affordable housing fund isn't an ad hoc 1075 01:23:06,400 --> 01:23:12,639 number or a matter of negotiation. Uh it's a number that's baked into an 1076 01:23:10,480 --> 01:23:17,840 ordinance that this commission uh approved for inclusionary zoning uh in 1077 01:23:15,280 --> 01:23:20,800 which for a density bonus uh dollars can be contributed to that affordable 1078 01:23:19,280 --> 01:23:24,400 housing fund. So it's it's it's formulaic and it's laid out in code. So, 1079 01:23:23,360 --> 01:23:27,360 just want to make that clear for everybody. Uh, Commissioner Hamby. 1080 01:23:26,239 --> 01:23:33,040 » Sure. Mayor, I'm going to make a substitute motion that we approve the 1081 01:23:29,120 --> 01:23:37,040 agenda item A B C D E F. How many there were letters are in the alphabet? 1082 01:23:35,280 --> 01:23:40,480 » I've got a substitute motion from Commissioner Hamby and a second from 1083 01:23:39,520 --> 01:23:43,920 Commissioner Link >> and two. 1084 01:23:42,719 --> 01:23:48,400 » Option two. Thank you. >> Commissioner Hamby remarks. 1085 01:23:45,520 --> 01:23:56,480 » Well, my remarks are this, y'all. Um, I know this is a lot of angst and um and 1086 01:23:51,920 --> 01:24:03,520 um I um I see this as a as a not only a housing project. Sorry, sorry, Allison, 1087 01:24:00,080 --> 01:24:06,960 I'm not speaking loud enough. Um I see this not only as a housing project, but 1088 01:24:05,440 --> 01:24:12,080 it's also an economic development project. And Mayor and and Commissioner 1089 01:24:09,600 --> 01:24:18,080 Ryan, I think y'all were both on board when Caterpillar came to town. Uh 1090 01:24:14,560 --> 01:24:23,679 Caterpillar came to town. Um, and this government, the state gave us uh gave a 1091 01:24:21,199 --> 01:24:29,920 $45 million incentive to Caterpillar. Uh, the local government gave um between 1092 01:24:26,960 --> 01:24:33,360 us and Okone County, uh, $30 million. We built a sidewalk for them. We built a 1093 01:24:31,440 --> 01:24:38,320 road for them. We put sewer lines out there for them. Uh, we did all sorts of 1094 01:24:35,520 --> 01:24:43,840 things. With this project, the exact opposite is happening. They're they're 1095 01:24:40,639 --> 01:24:50,480 they're providing for our affordable housing fund. They're providing for the 1096 01:24:47,040 --> 01:24:56,719 next 15 years to the TAD for inner east Athens. It'll generate uh roughly a 1097 01:24:53,760 --> 01:25:02,560 million dollars uh each year and it'll grow over those 15 years because we know 1098 01:24:59,920 --> 01:25:08,239 property taxes grow over year after year. Um so, you know, I I'm just trying 1099 01:25:06,239 --> 01:25:15,120 to I'm just trying to understand there's been there's been um 13 meetings so far 1100 01:25:12,800 --> 01:25:19,199 on this project. uh we don't have that many meetings when we talk about our 1101 01:25:16,560 --> 01:25:22,960 budget. So, there's been 13 meetings on this project. Uh there's going to be 1102 01:25:21,280 --> 01:25:27,199 there's going to be four more opportunities to talk about two 1103 01:25:24,800 --> 01:25:34,480 different zoning items uh as they come up. So, you know, the information's 1104 01:25:30,480 --> 01:25:40,719 there. Uh I I see the benefits. I hope y'all do, too. And I hope you know if 1105 01:25:36,560 --> 01:25:45,600 the motion to hold it u passes I hope you know at the end of the day you know 1106 01:25:43,679 --> 01:25:49,040 that you know you have an open mind about approving this because I think it 1107 01:25:47,360 --> 01:25:54,719 I think at the end of the day it is going to be good for the community. Uh 1108 01:25:51,360 --> 01:25:58,000 and and so that's all I've got to say right now. 1109 01:25:56,320 --> 01:26:01,840 » Turn to Commissioner Lincoln seconder and then Commissioners Taylor and 1110 01:25:59,280 --> 01:26:07,360 Thornton. Um, yeah. I mean, I'm I'm pretty appalled at the amount of 1111 01:26:04,880 --> 01:26:11,440 misinformation and conspiracy theory and outright lies that are circulating out 1112 01:26:09,360 --> 01:26:15,840 there in about this project. I mean, they're they're 1113 01:26:13,360 --> 01:26:20,320 » the the agreement's been out there for a few months now. Anybody can read it. 1114 01:26:18,400 --> 01:26:27,360 Anybody with a law degree can read it and come forward and tell us what in 1115 01:26:22,080 --> 01:26:33,280 there is not legal or whatever. Lay park is not going anywhere. Um, this project 1116 01:26:31,040 --> 01:26:38,719 brings $8 million towards our h affordable housing fund, which is the 1117 01:26:35,120 --> 01:26:44,560 number one strategy of our affordable housing strategic plan, which we did 1118 01:26:41,120 --> 01:26:48,800 have a work session update on in August. So, I mean, that wasn't all that long 1119 01:26:46,159 --> 01:26:52,080 ago. We did get a rundown of all the affordable housing projects that have 1120 01:26:50,480 --> 01:26:58,239 hit the ground recently that we've contributed to that are in the works and 1121 01:26:55,600 --> 01:27:02,960 and the strategy for implementing funds to invest in more. Take a drive down 1122 01:27:01,520 --> 01:27:08,639 Dublin Street. We'll see where some of our ARPA money went towards single 1123 01:27:05,440 --> 01:27:13,920 family homes for families. Um, I was walking down the Firefly Trail last week 1124 01:27:10,719 --> 01:27:19,760 and vast acres of woodlands have been scraped for a large single family home 1125 01:27:17,199 --> 01:27:24,400 development, Micah's Creek, through the Habitat for Humanity. And we've 1126 01:27:21,600 --> 01:27:29,440 contributed quite a bit to that as well. And I'm hoping that these portions of 1127 01:27:26,639 --> 01:27:34,719 these $8 million can contribute more. Um, we have hundreds of bedrooms right 1128 01:27:31,520 --> 01:27:38,239 around the corner at NOTA um that have been moved into just in the past few 1129 01:27:36,560 --> 01:27:42,480 months. And there are hundreds of more that are waiting to break ground. And 1130 01:27:40,159 --> 01:27:46,880 they can't break ground unless that sewer line is updated. And this project 1131 01:27:44,719 --> 01:27:53,760 will get that sewer line updated so those homes can be built quicker. Um, 1132 01:27:50,639 --> 01:27:58,320 you know, I'm I'm all about getting all this information out there in public in 1133 01:27:56,480 --> 01:28:04,000 a work session. I, in fact, I had asked for one early on months ago. Um, but the 1134 01:28:02,159 --> 01:28:09,679 sooner this project gets off the ground, the sooner those public benefits can be 1135 01:28:07,520 --> 01:28:13,600 paid out and reach the people that desperately need them. 1136 01:28:12,239 --> 01:28:19,280 » Commissioner Taylor. >> Um, yes. I first want to apologize. I 1137 01:28:16,400 --> 01:28:26,719 was stuck on 316, y'all. It's a lot of traffic. Yeah. So, breathing. Um, 1138 01:28:22,639 --> 01:28:31,040 secondly, I support um Fiser CDO. Um, because I was on the telephone um on my 1139 01:28:29,679 --> 01:28:37,040 way down here. I had to hang up before I got on county lines to obey the law. But 1140 01:28:34,719 --> 01:28:41,920 a lot of things that have been said was that if we build this, students are 1141 01:28:39,600 --> 01:28:45,199 going to leave inner east Athens or other residential neighborhoods and 1142 01:28:43,520 --> 01:28:49,679 they're going to move and live in this. Well, that's a lie. That's a lie. Those 1143 01:28:47,920 --> 01:28:53,760 children are not going to leave the privacy and the freedom of living in 1144 01:28:52,080 --> 01:28:58,000 single family neighborhoods to come and live on top of somebody. And I'm sure 1145 01:28:56,000 --> 01:29:02,480 that that was the selling point for the mark, for the ramble, for the whatever 1146 01:29:00,800 --> 01:29:06,719 else and the whatever else and the whatever else. Because every time a new 1147 01:29:04,719 --> 01:29:11,280 developer from outside of Athens, Clark County come in and and show us big 1148 01:29:08,960 --> 01:29:15,120 pretty pictures, we fall on the sword for it. We we make the phone calls, we 1149 01:29:13,520 --> 01:29:20,400 get the votes, we have the private meetings, and we push it. And at the end 1150 01:29:17,520 --> 01:29:27,199 of the day, even if the money does go go into inclusionary um zoning, we are so 1151 01:29:24,480 --> 01:29:30,480 overwhelmed with students living in our community that it ain't even going to be 1152 01:29:28,719 --> 01:29:35,679 anywhere for us to build affordable housing because private developers are 1153 01:29:32,880 --> 01:29:40,320 buying up those parcels five at a time every day. Investment companies coming 1154 01:29:37,920 --> 01:29:43,760 in and buying it up. So that money will be there. It will be there. And then you 1155 01:29:42,239 --> 01:29:48,560 know what we'll do? we'll find something else to do with the money because for 1156 01:29:45,679 --> 01:29:52,159 the for in the beginning it was for affordable housing but now there isn't 1157 01:29:50,400 --> 01:29:57,679 any room for affordable housing and then we put people our people who put us in 1158 01:29:55,120 --> 01:30:03,280 these seats in apartments and another thing this this development coming in is 1159 01:30:00,880 --> 01:30:07,280 nothing but studentification park is going to be overran with 1160 01:30:05,360 --> 01:30:12,320 students and there isn't going to be any places for the children in Bethlea homes 1161 01:30:09,760 --> 01:30:17,120 the the residents in Bethlea homes right Now we have so many residents that's 1162 01:30:14,639 --> 01:30:22,719 falling in between the cracks who have lived in squalor who have lived with 1163 01:30:19,840 --> 01:30:27,360 rats who's lived in mole who's lived who's had to find alternate places to 1164 01:30:25,520 --> 01:30:32,320 get downstairs because the stairs literally fell and people who lived 1165 01:30:30,000 --> 01:30:35,120 upstairs had to get alternative. But we don't talk about that. We don't talk 1166 01:30:33,440 --> 01:30:40,080 about people having to step over somebody else's sewer when they walk out 1167 01:30:37,600 --> 01:30:43,679 their door in downtown. But we can pat ourselves on the back for a development 1168 01:30:41,760 --> 01:30:49,440 that does not have a playground for the children, that don't have grass, and 1169 01:30:46,239 --> 01:30:54,880 then to to add insult to injury, the little um place where people are 1170 01:30:51,600 --> 01:30:58,960 supposed to congregate, it's locked. So the residents, the black residents who 1171 01:30:56,719 --> 01:31:02,800 lived who live over there, who who's lived through the squala, who's lived 1172 01:31:00,800 --> 01:31:06,560 through the conditions, they don't get any of the things that we're patting our 1173 01:31:04,719 --> 01:31:10,480 backs back, patting ourselves on the back to say, "Oh, well, we did this for 1174 01:31:08,400 --> 01:31:14,320 the poor blacks." No, we ought to be ashamed of ourselves, honestly, because 1175 01:31:12,480 --> 01:31:17,199 we let everybody else come in here and tell us what it's going to be, and then 1176 01:31:15,920 --> 01:31:19,600 can I have some more minutes because I ain't been here. 1177 01:31:18,159 --> 01:31:22,880 » Everybody okay with Commissioner Taylor some additional time? So we let 1178 01:31:21,120 --> 01:31:27,199 everybody come into Athens, Clark County, and tell us how to live. Tell us 1179 01:31:25,199 --> 01:31:31,840 what they're going to do for us as a government. It is our responsibility 1180 01:31:29,440 --> 01:31:36,159 with the money taxpayers pay with the splice, the T- splice, the E splice, the 1181 01:31:33,840 --> 01:31:41,120 W splice, the whatever splice to to upgrade the sewer and to finish NOA 1182 01:31:38,800 --> 01:31:45,120 because that was a a project between Athens, Clark County, and whoever else, 1183 01:31:43,679 --> 01:31:50,560 Columbia residential. I know what I'm talking about. I'm just I'm tired, 1184 01:31:46,560 --> 01:31:54,880 y'all. But give me a minute. So, um, to say that students are going to move out 1185 01:31:52,480 --> 01:31:58,560 of East Athens, to say that students are going to move out of East Hancock, to 1186 01:31:56,800 --> 01:32:02,639 say that students are going to move from Fourth Street, First Street, Third 1187 01:32:00,639 --> 01:32:07,280 Street to go and live on top of somebody else is a lie. That is not going to 1188 01:32:05,280 --> 01:32:11,280 happen. What is going to happen is we're going to have another big old building 1189 01:32:09,760 --> 01:32:16,480 just like this building beside the multimmobile that is only student 1190 01:32:13,679 --> 01:32:21,040 inclusive with a nice big old rooftops and and we can't even feed people. We 1191 01:32:18,560 --> 01:32:26,800 don't even have plan for four um warming stations when it get cold outside for 1192 01:32:22,880 --> 01:32:33,360 the unhoused. We are we are pro we we are putting the cart before whatever. We 1193 01:32:31,120 --> 01:32:40,080 are not taking into account the people who live in Athens, Clark County. I went 1194 01:32:35,760 --> 01:32:43,679 to Kroger today. Ground beef is $16. By the grace of God, I was able to get that 1195 01:32:41,600 --> 01:32:48,639 $16. But I think about the the people that I represent, the people that 1196 01:32:45,440 --> 01:32:51,840 Melissa Link represent who um didn't put her in her team cuz they didn't vote for 1197 01:32:50,000 --> 01:32:57,199 her. But who is she supposed to represent by saying this does not make 1198 01:32:54,239 --> 01:33:02,880 it this does not fit this area in my community. Um, 1199 01:32:59,920 --> 01:33:06,880 our community deserves better. They they deserve better representation. Um, they 1200 01:33:05,360 --> 01:33:11,520 deserve people who's going to fight for them whether it causes you to lose your 1201 01:33:09,280 --> 01:33:15,199 seat or whatever because that's why we was put here. The core group does not 1202 01:33:13,440 --> 01:33:20,080 belong in Athens, Clark County, and nobody like it belongs in Clark County. 1203 01:33:17,520 --> 01:33:23,199 Um, the University of Georgia alumni, they're going to do what alumni do. 1204 01:33:21,760 --> 01:33:25,920 They're going to build, they're going to come in, they're going to live in it, 1205 01:33:24,880 --> 01:33:29,760 they're going to go off, and they're going to rent it out. That's what it is. 1206 01:33:27,840 --> 01:33:36,159 But we don't need big big people coming in like the core group making a economic 1207 01:33:33,199 --> 01:33:40,800 donut. And what an economic donut is the the halves are in the inside and the 1208 01:33:38,560 --> 01:33:44,159 have knots are on the outside. And if we are if we are vigilant and if we are 1209 01:33:42,960 --> 01:33:49,040 paying attention to what's going on in Athens Clark County today, the fact that 1210 01:33:46,719 --> 01:33:53,600 we are building so much out on Highway 29, guess who gonna go Highway 29? The 1211 01:33:52,480 --> 01:33:57,600 blacks, >> the poor whites. 1212 01:33:55,199 --> 01:33:59,920 » Huh? the the senior citizens. >> That's right. 1213 01:33:58,239 --> 01:34:03,360 » Um it it won't BE MOST OF US. IT'LL PROBABLY BE ME BECAUSE I'M STILL AROUND 1214 01:34:01,199 --> 01:34:08,400 THEM, but most of us are not. We'll still be in the center, but we're 1215 01:34:05,600 --> 01:34:13,360 allowing people to come in and push us out willingly because it does not affect 1216 01:34:11,120 --> 01:34:16,000 us at our front door. And that's a shame. 1217 01:34:14,239 --> 01:34:20,159 » I'm done. >> Commissioner Thornton. And then want to 1218 01:34:17,840 --> 01:34:22,960 recognize everybody. I appreciate you being here, but we just need to go ahead 1219 01:34:21,520 --> 01:34:25,840 and continue with deliberation. Got Commissioner Thornton and then 1220 01:34:24,000 --> 01:34:34,239 Commissioner David. The only thing I want to say if if the C um if the CDO 1221 01:34:29,760 --> 01:34:42,280 passes the table, I would like to add to commissioner or our CDO that we have 1222 01:34:37,600 --> 01:34:42,280 that work session December the 9th. 1223 01:34:42,639 --> 01:34:49,239 » I think the mayor has a right. Well, I'm just requesting. I'm requesting. 1224 01:34:49,600 --> 01:34:54,480 » Commissioner David, >> just want everybody to take a deep 1225 01:34:51,920 --> 01:35:00,960 breath. >> Okay. Um I just got um general questions 1226 01:34:56,880 --> 01:35:09,880 to Bob or to the mayor or um any staff. So, currently they can build by right. 1227 01:35:03,920 --> 01:35:09,880 What could be built there? Um and 1228 01:35:10,080 --> 01:35:16,480 yeah, just start with that. >> Yeah. on on the properties that they 1229 01:35:13,920 --> 01:35:22,480 currently own. So, independent of the of the butterfly lots, if you will, they 1230 01:35:18,639 --> 01:35:28,400 are currently zoned CD and they can um place nearly as many you want to say 1231 01:35:26,000 --> 01:35:32,159 nearly nearly as many rooms as what are being talked about. I I don't I think it 1232 01:35:29,920 --> 01:35:37,280 falls slightly short of the number of rooms. Um but essentially that that 1233 01:35:34,719 --> 01:35:40,880 number of rooms can be placed by right um assuming you know it's constructible 1234 01:35:39,440 --> 01:35:44,960 and all those kinds of things um associated with it. 1235 01:35:42,080 --> 01:35:50,000 » And we'll lose a density bonus. Correct. >> No. In order for them to exercise that 1236 01:35:47,199 --> 01:35:54,159 number um they would I think still be taking advantage of the inclusionary 1237 01:35:51,440 --> 01:36:01,679 zoning component um associated with with it. 1238 01:35:56,480 --> 01:36:05,440 » Okay. So, um, just come back to me, please. 1239 01:36:03,520 --> 01:36:10,400 » Right. I've got, uh, Commissioner Wright and then, uh, Fisher. 1240 01:36:06,719 --> 01:36:16,159 » Um, yeah, this is a very passionate um, topic, but the topics are also covering 1241 01:36:13,040 --> 01:36:24,080 things that are outside of the bigger than the agenda item in particular that 1242 01:36:18,800 --> 01:36:28,960 was on item 16. Um I I feel bad that people feel like they're getting the 1243 01:36:25,520 --> 01:36:34,320 information in different phases. Um, if we can nail down how this process can be 1244 01:36:32,480 --> 01:36:40,960 improved, I think that will help us move on because as a member of the arena 1245 01:36:37,360 --> 01:36:50,239 steering committee and we're about to undertake a facility um, 1246 01:36:45,679 --> 01:36:56,080 facilitator for us to have these private public partnerships for a higher better 1247 01:36:53,199 --> 01:37:01,840 use for the unifi unified government's land surface parking parking lots are 1248 01:36:58,639 --> 01:37:07,920 not the best use of the land and this allows us to get parking which is uh a 1249 01:37:05,920 --> 01:37:13,280 challenge and it's going to continue to be a challenge in the arena district 1250 01:37:10,639 --> 01:37:18,400 area and those parcels are going to come before us in a very 1251 01:37:15,199 --> 01:37:24,159 similar way for a public private partnership 1252 01:37:20,080 --> 01:37:28,880 as well as with an authority. So this is one of many things that are going to be 1253 01:37:26,159 --> 01:37:35,280 coming before us and we need to work as a team I think to understand how the 1254 01:37:33,280 --> 01:37:44,080 information and when the information comes forward um so that we're all 1255 01:37:40,080 --> 01:37:50,080 absorbing it together and as well as uh the accurate information. I it's very 1256 01:37:46,639 --> 01:37:56,000 clear that people are um having different interpretations of the 1257 01:37:52,880 --> 01:38:00,159 details. Um I'm I can't I'm going to say it again. Lelay Park is not going 1258 01:37:57,520 --> 01:38:04,639 anywhere. It's a gem of our community. It's one of our properties that is uh 1259 01:38:02,639 --> 01:38:09,360 like some of our other parks, love to death, and we're going to protect that. 1260 01:38:07,199 --> 01:38:17,840 And this project, in my opinion, protects that. Uh the surface parking is 1261 01:38:12,239 --> 01:38:25,199 another topic. But um I think that um we need to learn no matter which of 1262 01:38:21,280 --> 01:38:30,320 these um moves forward the process that we need to do to be partners and and 1263 01:38:28,080 --> 01:38:34,800 embrace partnerships that we need in our community 1264 01:38:32,000 --> 01:38:38,960 um authorities, private, public partnerships. We need to make sure that 1265 01:38:36,719 --> 01:38:43,520 everybody understands how how to move forward with those. 1266 01:38:40,960 --> 01:38:47,679 » And I'll be I'll be um mayor if I may I want to give some specificity to the 1267 01:38:46,480 --> 01:38:54,239 question that Commissioner Davenport asked. So Andrew just kind of pulled 1268 01:38:49,199 --> 01:38:59,280 those numbers. So byite 760 760 rooms on the property they own. If they used the 1269 01:38:56,639 --> 01:39:04,880 inclusionary zoning that goes up to 950. So those would be the by right numbers 1270 01:39:02,239 --> 01:39:09,440 um under the property currently owned privately zone CD in comparison to 1271 01:39:07,840 --> 01:39:12,560 what's proposed when you combine all the lots together. 1272 01:39:11,600 --> 01:39:15,760 » Commissioner Fischer, >> thank you. Thank you, Commissioner 1273 01:39:14,000 --> 01:39:20,719 Wright for that. And again, and that's my only point here. And I don't know why 1274 01:39:18,960 --> 01:39:24,960 um people get in a tizzy because you want 1275 01:39:22,560 --> 01:39:29,199 to sit down and have a work session, put all our cards on the table. And I know I 1276 01:39:27,040 --> 01:39:34,880 I said this earlier and just have a conversation while we, you know, why we 1277 01:39:32,719 --> 01:39:39,920 doing this again and and what's the really and and again I think the $64,000 1278 01:39:37,920 --> 01:39:46,320 question is what really is going to be the impact on Tom Lake? Cuz I did some 1279 01:39:44,719 --> 01:39:51,119 research in the state of Georgia. There's not a 1280 01:39:48,719 --> 01:39:56,800 parking deck nowhere that sits in front of community center in the state of 1281 01:39:53,119 --> 01:40:00,800 Georgia. Nowhere. So just think about that from my colleagues perspective. 1282 01:39:59,360 --> 01:40:07,040 Just think about that. Okay, we're putting a park in that there that serves 1283 01:40:02,880 --> 01:40:10,800 the community and and again um to the developers it's it's a good project. I 1284 01:40:09,440 --> 01:40:16,400 appreciate y'all want to build student housing and by right you can do that. 1285 01:40:12,800 --> 01:40:20,719 But I for me though what what really going to be the impact and again I said 1286 01:40:17,760 --> 01:40:25,520 this our agenda setting um 10 years down the road what is um that's going to look 1287 01:40:23,440 --> 01:40:29,360 like um what's Tom Le going to and we don't even 1288 01:40:27,440 --> 01:40:34,480 had even talked about the lending house. >> I mean how all that's going to be impact 1289 01:40:32,560 --> 01:40:39,360 um by parking and and the parking that even in the study the parking deck is 1290 01:40:36,880 --> 01:40:45,520 going to be so big that you know sunshine is not even going to shine on 1291 01:40:42,159 --> 01:40:49,199 the Tom Lake Center. So again so from that perspective I know my colleagues 1292 01:40:47,280 --> 01:40:51,920 got a motion on the floor Mike you want to go ahead and put that out there. 1293 01:40:50,480 --> 01:40:54,719 » That's fine. I just I just want to make one more point to 1294 01:40:53,679 --> 01:40:56,480 » Commissioner Fisher you finished? Yeah, I'm good. 1295 01:40:55,360 --> 01:40:59,440 » Thank you. Thank you, Commissioner Fischer. I just want to make one more 1296 01:40:58,000 --> 01:41:05,840 point. I mean, you know, it just seems to me and and you know, if we if you got 1297 01:41:03,920 --> 01:41:08,400 us that are supporting it and those that are opposing it, if we already know how 1298 01:41:07,199 --> 01:41:10,719 we're going to vote, let's just go ahead and vote on it and move on. 1299 01:41:09,840 --> 01:41:11,920 » Yeah, >> I agree. 1300 01:41:11,360 --> 01:41:14,080 » Y >> I'm good. 1301 01:41:12,480 --> 01:41:17,440 » Yes or no? And don't don't waste our time. Don't waste staff's time with with 1302 01:41:15,840 --> 01:41:21,440 a work session. >> Commissioner Myers. 1303 01:41:19,520 --> 01:41:25,760 » Well, I tend to agree with that as well. Um 1304 01:41:23,600 --> 01:41:32,080 although I would like some more there are more things that have come up the 1305 01:41:27,360 --> 01:41:35,920 more we've dealt with this. Um my uh concern with this development is not the 1306 01:41:34,080 --> 01:41:42,080 student housing part. It's the use of public lands and the swap and the 1307 01:41:38,320 --> 01:41:46,080 parking deck. Um, I perhaps I'm ignorant about how parking decks are used 1308 01:41:44,000 --> 01:41:52,080 downtown, but I assume if I'm ignorant on how they're used downtown for for 1309 01:41:49,520 --> 01:41:57,440 student parking, then I assume much of our county is is ignorant on that. In 1310 01:41:55,199 --> 01:42:02,880 terms of us financing this parking deck for that, I am also concerned about the 1311 01:41:59,840 --> 01:42:06,639 impact on lay park. It's not going away, but it'll affect the usage. It 1312 01:42:04,639 --> 01:42:11,440 definitely affects the usage. I'm not going to go and drop my kids off or go 1313 01:42:09,679 --> 01:42:16,719 swimming or go camp and have to go up and down a swimming, you know, go up 1314 01:42:13,760 --> 01:42:20,159 parking deck. Um there are there are other choices there. 1315 01:42:18,400 --> 01:42:23,760 So, it has that and it has a budgetary effect on on lay park and it has the 1316 01:42:22,239 --> 01:42:28,480 financing of the parking deck. There are things I have to ask about and and I 1317 01:42:26,480 --> 01:42:35,840 don't you know right now actually it is not core that owns this but the Athens 1318 01:42:31,920 --> 01:42:39,840 hotel partnership. So I assume like I I just don't even know what that role 1319 01:42:37,840 --> 01:42:43,679 their role has been and how that they've you know who's been working who's been 1320 01:42:42,080 --> 01:42:50,800 working on this development. And I do hope what with whatever's going on next 1321 01:42:46,159 --> 01:42:55,280 with with the arena that um those of us who aren't involved in that get an 1322 01:42:52,560 --> 01:42:59,360 update on that sooner than later just so that we can get with it and understand 1323 01:42:57,679 --> 01:43:05,440 everything as that development goes through and the partner private partner 1324 01:43:01,840 --> 01:43:10,480 uh public partnerships in there. So, um I I do and in in some ways I yeah, I do 1325 01:43:08,080 --> 01:43:17,280 would like a workshop work session and more details on this, but I'm not sure 1326 01:43:12,960 --> 01:43:20,719 how it will change anything. Um my concerns are out there. I've laid 1327 01:43:18,880 --> 01:43:24,239 them out to my constituents as well as the benefits of the project. I've 1328 01:43:22,560 --> 01:43:31,600 probably heard from more people who are against it. Um but I it's not I'm not 1329 01:43:29,119 --> 01:43:37,719 being overwhelmed with emails on it to be honest. Um anyway, those are my 1330 01:43:34,719 --> 01:43:37,719 points. 1331 01:43:38,400 --> 01:43:44,000 » Let's go. >> Okay. Commissioner Taylor as a she's got 1332 01:43:42,480 --> 01:43:46,800 a second opportunity. Sorry. >> Commissioner Johnson in Davenport. 1333 01:43:45,600 --> 01:43:50,560 » I'm sorry. >> And again, I'm not against the student 1334 01:43:48,960 --> 01:43:55,679 housing either. As long as it ain't in my district, I'm fine. The students can 1335 01:43:52,400 --> 01:44:01,360 come up here and be married and live. My my concern is about lay park as well 1336 01:43:59,040 --> 01:44:09,119 because having this parking deck in front of lay park and children our 1337 01:44:04,800 --> 01:44:14,159 children are at lay park it is a it's a slap in the face. It's a 1338 01:44:11,440 --> 01:44:19,199 slap in the face to say to any parent who drops their child off because we 1339 01:44:16,159 --> 01:44:24,159 have heard and Bob me and you met um they leisure services is going to have 1340 01:44:20,960 --> 01:44:28,639 to come up with a plan on student drop off right 1341 01:44:27,040 --> 01:44:32,880 taxpayers are going to have to worry about how I'm 1342 01:44:31,600 --> 01:44:36,960 going to drop my child off because of this parking deck and what if we don't 1343 01:44:34,400 --> 01:44:41,520 have money to be able to even park in the parking deck to be able to go to lay 1344 01:44:39,920 --> 01:44:45,199 park and then We talked about well people can park at at the linen house. 1345 01:44:43,520 --> 01:44:52,080 The linen house will be available but what is there if there is a um program 1346 01:44:48,560 --> 01:44:58,480 going on at the linen house. Um I failed to believe that if this wasn't in a 1347 01:44:56,480 --> 01:45:06,239 predominantly black marginalized community that this parking lot wouldn't 1348 01:45:00,400 --> 01:45:12,159 even be a a concern. Um, it's sad that we are collateral damage when it comes 1349 01:45:08,400 --> 01:45:17,760 to what outsiders want to have in Athens Clark County opposed to the people who 1350 01:45:14,800 --> 01:45:22,480 live on College Avenue and the residents in Betha Holmes because that is their 1351 01:45:20,000 --> 01:45:28,000 only leisure. Um, we talk about gang violence. This body or the previous body 1352 01:45:24,719 --> 01:45:35,119 put $9 million into a pot for youth violence and development. Well, whose 1353 01:45:30,880 --> 01:45:39,360 child is going to go to lay park? Um, when it's crawling with students and 1354 01:45:37,280 --> 01:45:43,280 students don't feel comfortable with the little black boys and girls who have 1355 01:45:41,040 --> 01:45:47,679 dreadlocks and ski masks on because that's the style, then what is this body 1356 01:45:46,000 --> 01:45:52,480 going to do? Are we going to talk to leisure services about making a plan to 1357 01:45:49,840 --> 01:45:57,920 have the children kind of wear uniforms into lay park? Because every every 1358 01:45:55,840 --> 01:46:04,639 finish has a beginning. This is the beginning of of 1359 01:46:00,239 --> 01:46:11,440 gentrification in this area. Um, with NOTA coming up and people being 1360 01:46:09,119 --> 01:46:15,280 pushed out of NOTA, which we whether we want to say it or not. Um, and I know we 1361 01:46:13,600 --> 01:46:19,520 say, well, that has nothing to do with this project. Well, the core group can 1362 01:46:17,440 --> 01:46:25,360 build outright. They don't have to have lay parts parking. Um, but we're going 1363 01:46:22,960 --> 01:46:30,480 to give them that because we need them to do something for us. 1364 01:46:27,920 --> 01:46:35,280 We should think about our residents and know they probably don't show up to 1365 01:46:33,280 --> 01:46:42,000 these meetings, but this why they put us in these seats. Um, 1366 01:46:38,719 --> 01:46:46,480 in 10 years, College Avenue is going to be predominantly white students. Black 1367 01:46:44,800 --> 01:46:51,040 people are not going to be over there. And then another body, maybe not this 1368 01:46:48,880 --> 01:46:58,040 body, is going to say, "Well, look at what what good came out of it." But the 1369 01:46:53,520 --> 01:46:58,040 collateral damage will be in 305. 1370 01:46:58,080 --> 01:47:01,280 » Commissioner Johnson, Commissioner David. 1371 01:46:59,840 --> 01:47:03,920 » Think about that because it's not our children 1372 01:47:02,000 --> 01:47:09,920 » for the core group. I just want to say that this isn't different from at any 1373 01:47:06,400 --> 01:47:16,159 other voting meeting. This is, you know, the comments are not directed at your 1374 01:47:12,480 --> 01:47:23,040 group. Personally, there is there is um some disenchantment amongst 1375 01:47:19,679 --> 01:47:27,600 some members of the of the commission because there are issues that are 1376 01:47:25,360 --> 01:47:32,239 permeating in our community. It's not it's not your problem. It's not it's 1377 01:47:29,360 --> 01:47:36,000 it's not your issue. But we're fighting so hard and it seems like you know one 1378 01:47:34,239 --> 01:47:39,920 someone said going off topic stay on topic or rather stay on topic and why 1379 01:47:38,159 --> 01:47:43,840 can we just vote? It's really important to talk to keep reminding people that 1380 01:47:42,320 --> 01:47:49,600 you're not doing what you said you were going to do. So, no one I don't think 1381 01:47:47,199 --> 01:47:54,320 behind the rail means anything personally about the project. We support 1382 01:47:51,600 --> 01:47:58,159 the project, but we want the people that like the mayor, we want people that are 1383 01:47:56,320 --> 01:48:02,800 in other in the manager's office to actually come up with the plan for the 1384 01:48:00,400 --> 01:48:06,480 housing, the affordable, the children. We don't have plans. Y'all have a plan 1385 01:48:04,320 --> 01:48:12,159 and that's great. And we and we all seem to approve it. I guess we all of this 1386 01:48:09,600 --> 01:48:18,880 motion is circling the drain of frustration of in in 1387 01:48:16,480 --> 01:48:22,960 adequate just you we just don't have a plan and and that's an embarrassment. 1388 01:48:21,199 --> 01:48:28,000 I've been in office eight months and we took 12 11 months and we still don't 1389 01:48:25,360 --> 01:48:33,520 have a plan to address those issues. We give money to nonprofits and we have 1390 01:48:30,639 --> 01:48:38,000 some nonprofits that that that fail us and that's the reality. Most do not. But 1391 01:48:36,159 --> 01:48:42,639 I wanted to speak to a couple of comments. You know, I heard someone say 1392 01:48:39,840 --> 01:48:46,560 misinformation, conspiracy theorists. Um, 1393 01:48:44,480 --> 01:48:50,400 I would ask there are a couple of people saying 1394 01:48:48,159 --> 01:48:55,600 nothing's going to happen to Lelay Park. Okay, that's great to say. Tonight, I 1395 01:48:53,199 --> 01:49:00,159 would ask I believe there was a commissioner years ago that fought so 1396 01:48:58,159 --> 01:49:04,960 hard about a church and wanting to create a historic designation. I would 1397 01:49:02,400 --> 01:49:10,080 ask that commissioner if they nothing is going to happen to lay part put us at 1398 01:49:06,880 --> 01:49:15,520 ease create a historic designation work on that start that process would you be 1399 01:49:12,880 --> 01:49:20,080 willing to do that to to say that we have projects going 1400 01:49:17,360 --> 01:49:26,400 all over the place is doing a great job the thing is it takes forever to build 1401 01:49:23,119 --> 01:49:33,920 single family homes for the low and the moderately income not the middle class 1402 01:49:30,639 --> 01:49:39,920 above middle class. That's I'mma pause for a second. That's 1403 01:49:35,760 --> 01:49:45,199 it. Not hundreds of bedrooms. That is not correct. Hundreds of bedrooms are 1404 01:49:42,000 --> 01:49:50,400 not available for Athenians. I have seen letters. 1405 01:49:47,679 --> 01:49:57,560 I we we are not talking about I am not talking about misinformation, 1406 01:49:52,639 --> 01:49:57,560 conspiracy or or a theory. 1407 01:49:58,560 --> 01:50:06,719 You know, the 1400 beds, nobody has talked about traffic. 1408 01:50:04,800 --> 01:50:11,360 » The arena steering committee right now is talking about I got I got 20 seconds. 1409 01:50:09,520 --> 01:50:15,679 The arena steering and I promise I'll hurry up. The arena steering committee 1410 01:50:12,719 --> 01:50:20,400 right now is talking about um possibly another another bond. There's it's just 1411 01:50:18,560 --> 01:50:25,520 discussion. But I just want you to hear that out loud and why we're talking 1412 01:50:22,080 --> 01:50:30,000 about this. And I why we can't just go ahead and vote. Why not? You know, you 1413 01:50:27,199 --> 01:50:35,119 want to vote. The thing is some of us have experienced 1414 01:50:31,920 --> 01:50:41,199 being thrown away by our government and we hope that you hear it and you 1415 01:50:38,400 --> 01:50:45,360 understand the emotion that is real. It's not emotion anymore. We've lived 1416 01:50:43,520 --> 01:50:50,080 that life. We hope that you hear it and you hope that we hope that you have 1417 01:50:47,520 --> 01:50:54,639 compassion to just make a decision to just hold for a second. Thank you, 1418 01:50:53,040 --> 01:50:56,560 » Commissioner Davenport and then Thorton and then I'll say a few words and we'll 1419 01:50:55,840 --> 01:51:03,119 vote. >> Okay. So my concern well just want to 1420 01:51:00,400 --> 01:51:07,840 let everybody know just buy right bill. So I just want to make sure Bob can you 1421 01:51:05,840 --> 01:51:12,960 repeat those numbers on those two lots in the CD it's 750 and 950 1422 01:51:11,600 --> 01:51:18,639 » 760 and 950 >> 950 so they can 1423 01:51:16,080 --> 01:51:23,119 I I would just hope that we will just tone it down just a little bit. So cuz 1424 01:51:20,719 --> 01:51:26,320 like these developers can pull out now and we're going to lose um the Hoy 1425 01:51:25,440 --> 01:51:29,360 house. Yeah, >> we're going to lose a hotel and that, 1426 01:51:27,840 --> 01:51:34,719 you know, that could be perfectly fine. We're going to lose a parking deck. 1427 01:51:31,199 --> 01:51:38,080 » Um we're going to lose um going to um lose the foundry. 1428 01:51:36,239 --> 01:51:42,560 » We're going to lose um >> sewer. 1429 01:51:38,800 --> 01:51:47,520 » The sewer. And and I get that we do um that people in the public want to, you 1430 01:51:44,719 --> 01:51:51,440 know, to have some time to absorb it, but just some of the comments that have 1431 01:51:49,199 --> 01:51:57,199 been made, you know, I just want to make sure that, you know, we we just stay 1432 01:51:54,000 --> 01:52:02,239 professional, stay on topic. Um but just a and this will be a Kelly question or 1433 01:52:00,320 --> 01:52:09,760 Hami right link because I think y'all was on commission at the time. Um years 1434 01:52:05,520 --> 01:52:15,920 ago downtown um there was going to be a Walmart and um Walmart with retail a lot 1435 01:52:13,520 --> 01:52:21,520 of people pushed back on that >> and that was um they pulled out and what 1436 01:52:18,560 --> 01:52:28,000 we got was what we are arguing with about now. We also had an um we got this 1437 01:52:25,280 --> 01:52:33,599 big blocky thing that's that's there. But we also had um an agreement or 1438 01:52:31,920 --> 01:52:39,840 thought we may have had agreement. is what I need correction on with the 1439 01:52:35,760 --> 01:52:46,000 classes center with a corporate office and a swap of land and that was denied 1440 01:52:42,960 --> 01:52:51,920 and now we have a a parking debt that's not there and we have these $50 million 1441 01:52:48,880 --> 01:52:57,599 $70 million well $100 million boom that doesn't have appropriate funding because 1442 01:52:53,840 --> 01:53:03,119 we denied that. My theory is that they're going to build by right these 1443 01:52:59,520 --> 01:53:06,800 student housing and um I I would just like for us as a community to come 1444 01:53:05,280 --> 01:53:14,159 together and say how can we work together and instead of denying these 1445 01:53:11,679 --> 01:53:18,239 public private partnerships that literally have get benefits and that 1446 01:53:16,000 --> 01:53:21,520 hopefully the future bodies will be able to follow through with some of the 1447 01:53:19,840 --> 01:53:26,159 concerns that people have in our community about lay park and about 1448 01:53:24,480 --> 01:53:30,000 gentrification ation and some of that cuz I'm not going to be here for 10 1449 01:53:27,280 --> 01:53:34,960 years. God bless it. I'm not. Um but um just want to just put the put that out 1450 01:53:32,639 --> 01:53:39,440 there about by right and what we have done in the past and deny some of these 1451 01:53:36,719 --> 01:53:42,880 projects and what went into those places when we deny them. 1452 01:53:41,360 --> 01:53:47,920 » Got uh Commissioner Thornton and then we'll wrap. 1453 01:53:44,159 --> 01:53:54,719 » The only thing I was going to say um yeah if I voted tonight it would 1454 01:53:51,119 --> 01:53:58,480 definitely be a no. Um no doubt. um because I got too many questions and if 1455 01:53:56,719 --> 01:54:06,639 they can't get answered tonight, it would be a no. Um I do think that um a 1456 01:54:03,920 --> 01:54:11,599 work session would be in order. Next week is too too soon. I just think it 1457 01:54:09,280 --> 01:54:16,000 should be December the 6 just because one of the things that I would you know 1458 01:54:13,840 --> 01:54:21,679 we do all of these studies but we don't implement them. Um, I would have liked 1459 01:54:19,679 --> 01:54:27,679 to see how the recommendations of the disparity 1460 01:54:24,000 --> 01:54:32,960 study could have fit into this. You know, we're talking about 1461 01:54:30,560 --> 01:54:38,960 um economic development, >> but why we we do a study and we don't 1462 01:54:36,159 --> 01:54:44,800 even connect it to opportunities. So, that would be one of 1463 01:54:41,599 --> 01:54:49,760 my things uh I would like to talk to about at a work session. Um, and I and 1464 01:54:48,400 --> 01:54:54,480 guess what? People haven't even thought about the disparity study. No, 1465 01:54:51,840 --> 01:55:00,320 » but it's there and we did it and we paid for it. My next thing Commissioner 1466 01:54:58,239 --> 01:55:07,360 um Johnson kind of alluded to and I was going to wait to the end of um our 1467 01:55:04,000 --> 01:55:14,400 meeting to ask the mayor if he would put on the agenda 1468 01:55:09,360 --> 01:55:20,960 um to looking into plans to make Thomas Lelay historic a historic site. I've 1469 01:55:17,360 --> 01:55:26,800 already talked to Tommy Valentine. Once that becomes a historic site, all 1470 01:55:23,760 --> 01:55:31,199 this misinformation >> um 1471 01:55:28,080 --> 01:55:37,040 » could subside and none of us are going to be here forever. But if it's a 1472 01:55:32,800 --> 01:55:42,320 historic site, even those um town homes, if we could make it a historic district, 1473 01:55:39,520 --> 01:55:47,040 I think we protect people because five years ago, someone from this go 1474 01:55:44,880 --> 01:55:51,840 government connected those residents that own those town homes and they 1475 01:55:49,440 --> 01:55:56,320 wanted to buy that property and they brought up imminent domain. It never 1476 01:55:54,400 --> 01:56:01,520 came up. They never did it. But guess what? Once you start doing that, we 1477 01:55:58,639 --> 01:56:06,320 already see what imminent domain can do. I could see them coming back and and 1478 01:56:03,520 --> 01:56:13,280 taking that whole college avenue. So, we got to protect 1479 01:56:08,560 --> 01:56:20,000 we've got to protect what's ours. Um and I think that um I'm go back to I still 1480 01:56:17,760 --> 01:56:25,199 think that we need a work session. I would like to see about the dis how 1481 01:56:21,920 --> 01:56:31,360 disparity study fits in. Uh I'm disappointed it wasn't even thought 1482 01:56:26,880 --> 01:56:38,000 about for such a big project. Um, and um, if the mayor will consider that for 1483 01:56:34,639 --> 01:56:43,520 next month's agenda or even January about considering 1484 01:56:40,639 --> 01:56:48,320 Thomas Lake becoming a historic site, that would be my thought. 1485 01:56:45,679 --> 01:56:52,480 » Uh, Commissioner Link, this your third. >> Yeah, just quickly, I just want to um 1486 01:56:50,159 --> 01:56:57,920 urge everyone to go back and revisit our affordable housing investment strategy 1487 01:56:55,119 --> 01:57:02,880 and and look at it in the context of of this project. you know, I mean, you can 1488 01:56:59,760 --> 01:57:09,599 just flash quickly to pages 17 and 14, which identifies local funding sources 1489 01:57:06,639 --> 01:57:17,040 um and and asks us to invest $5 million a year um towards our our local housing 1490 01:57:14,320 --> 01:57:21,280 fund. Um that money's got to come from somewhere. It's not going to be coming 1491 01:57:18,480 --> 01:57:25,440 from the federal government anymore. Um and it specifically calls out 1492 01:57:23,360 --> 01:57:29,920 inclusionary zoning. We've passed an inclusionary zoning ordinance. We have 1493 01:57:28,159 --> 01:57:36,000 folks who are willing to take advantage of it to pad that local housing fund. Um 1494 01:57:34,000 --> 01:57:41,920 those monies can go towards down payment assistant for people to own their own 1495 01:57:39,040 --> 01:57:47,440 homes. Um they can go towards owner occupied repair for people to stay in 1496 01:57:44,560 --> 01:57:51,760 their homes. Um they can go towards building more single family infill like 1497 01:57:49,520 --> 01:57:55,920 we've seen on Dublin Street. And they can go towards building litech projects. 1498 01:57:53,920 --> 01:57:59,440 Um you know we've got to get that money from somewhere. We have an ordinance on 1499 01:57:57,679 --> 01:58:05,360 the books that bakes a funding source in. Um we haven't had that in the past 1500 01:58:03,119 --> 01:58:11,520 and we we have a lot of leverage in this project in in that there is a land swap 1501 01:58:08,560 --> 01:58:16,159 deal on that can be leveraged to get more public benefits. So 1502 01:58:15,280 --> 01:58:20,719 » that's where I'm going with. >> Thanks everybody for your input and 1503 01:58:17,280 --> 01:58:24,719 fervor. Appreciate that a lot. Uh I I understand that sometimes when you've 1504 01:58:22,080 --> 01:58:30,639 got a project uh that that seemingly has a sort of simple path, it raises lots of 1505 01:58:27,360 --> 01:58:36,639 questions about adjacent issues uh kind of whether directly pertinent or not. As 1506 01:58:33,440 --> 01:58:41,199 has been stated, Llay Park is a gem. I I can't count the hundreds of times I've 1507 01:58:38,320 --> 01:58:47,280 visited Park over the last 15 years as a trash picker and a reader to elementary 1508 01:58:44,239 --> 01:58:53,679 students. Uh and most of all as a parent um where I drop my son off on almost a 1509 01:58:50,000 --> 01:58:57,760 weekly basis for um free basketball play um I'll note that just from a social 1510 01:58:56,159 --> 01:59:01,360 perspective kind of one of the most beautiful scenes that I get to see on 1511 01:58:59,280 --> 01:59:07,199 the outdoor courts is when you really have a multigenerational multi-racial 1512 01:59:03,840 --> 01:59:11,280 pickup basketball game uh that includes uh black and white and brown young 1513 01:59:08,800 --> 01:59:16,400 people and some college kids who show up and hang out. So, I I I love that 1514 01:59:13,599 --> 01:59:21,199 experience and I I'm intent on continuing to have that experience. If 1515 01:59:19,360 --> 01:59:26,239 that means that lay park becomes designated an historic monument, uh ever 1516 01:59:24,320 --> 01:59:30,080 the better. Uh we've of course through this body contributed many hundreds of 1517 01:59:27,920 --> 01:59:35,119 thousands of dollars to lay park over the last few years in Wi-Fi upgrades in 1518 01:59:32,639 --> 01:59:40,719 the context of COVID, a new computer lab for teens, uh and a new floor for the 1519 01:59:37,280 --> 01:59:45,360 gymnasium and as well as a new exterior shell. And so we want to make sure that 1520 01:59:42,719 --> 01:59:49,599 those investments are protected. Uh absolutely. Um do want to thank the core 1521 01:59:47,440 --> 01:59:55,360 group in almost 20 years of working as a policy maker in this room. Can't tell 1522 01:59:51,440 --> 02:00:00,239 you the many uh investment interests that I've engaged with. Um some come in 1523 01:59:58,239 --> 02:00:05,760 good faith and gracefully, some a little bit less so. Um but but they've been 1524 02:00:03,520 --> 02:00:08,960 easy to engage with uh and have recognized that they can bring some 1525 02:00:07,119 --> 02:00:13,040 benefits to the community that also benefits their mission space of u 1526 02:00:11,360 --> 02:00:17,119 producing student housing which we know is going to be a continued need uh given 1527 02:00:15,440 --> 02:00:21,760 the material that everybody's had access to. Thank you to the clerk for um 1528 02:00:19,199 --> 02:00:25,360 passing along UG's enrollment plan to everybody just so that they've got that 1529 02:00:23,119 --> 02:00:30,159 in front of them at their fingertips. Um, and I'll say should the substitute 1530 02:00:27,920 --> 02:00:33,760 motion fail and we move to a work session, glad to engage in a work 1531 02:00:32,320 --> 02:00:37,520 session. I think Commissioner Wright often makes the point that people have 1532 02:00:35,760 --> 02:00:41,119 different learning styles and while we've had a written document in front of 1533 02:00:39,199 --> 02:00:47,119 you, an oral description from the manager, uh, a pictorial set of displays 1534 02:00:44,000 --> 02:00:52,080 last week, um, if we want to do a, uh, a stage play, uh, Ho Street parking deck 1535 02:00:50,080 --> 02:00:57,199 the musical, I'm happy to do that as well. Um, so, uh, looking forward to our 1536 02:00:54,960 --> 02:01:01,040 continued conversation and ultimately the success of this project. So, I'm 1537 02:00:59,280 --> 02:01:04,880 going to move to a round table. >> Quickly, they said the the live feed had 1538 02:01:03,280 --> 02:01:09,679 I'm getting a text message that the feed has gone that they can't the public 1539 02:01:06,719 --> 02:01:13,840 can't see our >> So, I'll just I'll just ask the 1540 02:01:12,080 --> 02:01:17,360 technology crew in the in the shop to make sure they check on that. Thank you. 1541 02:01:15,199 --> 02:01:23,199 Okay. Um, so we'll move to substitute motion uh round table roundroin vote 1542 02:01:20,480 --> 02:01:25,920 beginning with Commissioner Hamby. Cami. >> Yes. To approve. 1543 02:01:25,119 --> 02:01:27,760 » Davenport. >> No. 1544 02:01:27,199 --> 02:01:29,520 » Link. >> Yes. 1545 02:01:28,800 --> 02:01:31,119 » Taylor. >> No. 1546 02:01:30,480 --> 02:01:33,040 » Right. >> Yes. 1547 02:01:32,400 --> 02:01:34,960 » Fisher. >> No. 1548 02:01:34,159 --> 02:01:37,040 » Johnson. >> No. 1549 02:01:35,760 --> 02:01:39,280 » Co. Pepper. >> Yes. 1550 02:01:38,400 --> 02:01:41,360 » Myers. >> No. 1551 02:01:40,560 --> 02:01:44,360 » Thornon. >> No. 1552 02:01:44,800 --> 02:01:49,679 » Or yes. Six. >> All right. We'll return to the original 1553 02:01:48,560 --> 02:01:52,080 motion beginning with Commissioner Fischer. 1554 02:01:50,400 --> 02:01:54,320 » Yes. Johnson, 1555 02:01:53,280 --> 02:01:57,040 » yes. >> Paul Pepper, 1556 02:01:55,920 --> 02:01:58,639 » yes. >> Meyers, 1557 02:01:57,840 --> 02:02:00,320 » yes. >> Thornon, 1558 02:01:59,440 --> 02:02:02,239 » yes. >> Handy, 1559 02:02:00,960 --> 02:02:04,080 » no. >> Davenport, 1560 02:02:03,119 --> 02:02:05,599 » yes. >> Le, 1561 02:02:04,639 --> 02:02:07,760 » yes. >> Taylor, 1562 02:02:06,480 --> 02:02:10,639 » yes. >> Wright, 1563 02:02:08,560 --> 02:02:14,000 » no. >> Yes. 1564 02:02:12,400 --> 02:02:16,560 » Thank you, Madam Clerk. I appreciate it. All right. We will be seeing this down 1565 02:02:15,280 --> 02:02:22,560 the line. All right, we're going to move to item 17, which is the TBLOS 2023 uh 1566 02:02:20,080 --> 02:02:25,760 project 26, the rest broad and Hancock neighborhood pedestrian improvements. I 1567 02:02:24,400 --> 02:02:28,080 know Commissioner Link, you'd worked on that, so I'd ask you to place a motion 1568 02:02:27,199 --> 02:02:31,920 on the floor. >> Yeah. Um 1569 02:02:29,920 --> 02:02:35,040 » I'd like to move to approve. >> Second. 1570 02:02:33,280 --> 02:02:37,679 » All right. Any further remarks, Commissioner? 1571 02:02:35,599 --> 02:02:40,560 » Yeah. I want to thank staff and thank all the folks in the neighborhood who 1572 02:02:39,040 --> 02:02:45,520 came out to our meeting. And I want to thank the um the T-Bloss project user 1573 02:02:43,280 --> 02:02:51,119 group um who identified projects and then we were able to um kind of hone in 1574 02:02:48,480 --> 02:02:57,199 on them and prioritize them and and come up with a couple more um areas that need 1575 02:02:53,840 --> 02:03:02,000 some attention and um I look forward to this stuff getting on the ground ASAP. 1576 02:03:00,880 --> 02:03:05,679 » Anything further, Commissioner Wright? >> Oh, no. Ready to vote. 1577 02:03:03,920 --> 02:03:09,920 » Any further input? >> All in favor, please say I. 1578 02:03:07,119 --> 02:03:15,119 » I. Are there any post? Hearing none. Motion carries. All right. Uh item 18 is 1579 02:03:13,360 --> 02:03:18,960 the Hawthorne Avenue Nothorp Avenue intersection improvement rightway 1580 02:03:16,639 --> 02:03:22,480 acquisition. Is there a motion anyone could place on the floor? 1581 02:03:20,639 --> 02:03:24,960 » So, um motion to approve. >> Motion to approve from Commissioner 1582 02:03:23,760 --> 02:03:27,520 Fischer. Is there a second? >> All right. I've got a second from 1583 02:03:26,000 --> 02:03:30,639 Commissioner Link. Commissioner Fischer. Anything else on this? 1584 02:03:28,320 --> 02:03:35,199 » Yeah. Um as you all know, I was I was somewhat reluctant, but I know hadn't 1585 02:03:32,639 --> 02:03:38,480 got a chance to um get in touch with the owner based on everything. So, but I 1586 02:03:37,040 --> 02:03:42,560 think we need to go ahead and from a just from a safety perspective that um 1587 02:03:40,880 --> 02:03:46,880 highway I mean that particular section need to really be improved from a safety 1588 02:03:44,560 --> 02:03:50,000 standpoint. So, >> Commissioner Link. 1589 02:03:47,679 --> 02:03:55,599 » Yeah, I mean this intersection is long overdue for improvements. It's really 1590 02:03:52,080 --> 02:03:59,679 really scary and um I I cross it on foot from time to time and it's it's pretty 1591 02:03:57,360 --> 02:04:03,119 terrifying. So, I hope we can really improve it and make it safer considering 1592 02:04:01,119 --> 02:04:07,679 how many pedestrians we are losing in our crosswalks these days. 1593 02:04:05,360 --> 02:04:11,599 Anything else from the body? All in favor, please say I. I. 1594 02:04:09,440 --> 02:04:15,520 » Any opposed? Hearing? None. Motion carries. All right. Uh, item 19 is the 1595 02:04:13,760 --> 02:04:18,960 go report regarding our board's authorities and uh, commissions. I know 1596 02:04:17,520 --> 02:04:21,599 there's a request to hold to December 2nd. Commissioner Davenport, would you 1597 02:04:20,239 --> 02:04:24,320 like to place that motion on the floor? >> Motion to hold till December 2nd 1598 02:04:23,360 --> 02:04:27,280 meeting. >> Second. 1599 02:04:25,840 --> 02:04:31,840 » All right. Got a motion from Commissioner Davenport to hold. Second 1600 02:04:29,280 --> 02:04:35,119 from Commissioner Taylor. All right. Any remarks from anybody? Just real quick, 1601 02:04:33,760 --> 02:04:39,360 um, got a new clerk of commission starting Thursday and she would like to 1602 02:04:36,639 --> 02:04:44,560 review it and we have a meeting in two weeks for GOC. If she has any the new 1603 02:04:42,159 --> 02:04:48,480 clerk of commission has any suggestions, we will address it then and then bring 1604 02:04:46,400 --> 02:04:55,840 it up for a final vote in December. Also, um, at the bottom of the agenda 1605 02:04:53,280 --> 02:05:01,920 packet, you have two options. One option is to fund um, well, everyone all BAC's 1606 02:04:59,119 --> 02:05:09,840 will um, BAC participants will get paid. Um, one of the options unfolds 1607 02:05:05,280 --> 02:05:16,800 um combines all tabs for 46,000 and the other option is option two which keeps 1608 02:05:12,639 --> 02:05:21,760 the tabs individual for 66,000 um well $25 per person per meeting. So 1609 02:05:20,560 --> 02:05:26,960 just keep that in mind. >> All right. Some more food for thought 1610 02:05:23,760 --> 02:05:29,520 for next month. Uh anything further? All right, the motion is to hold. All in 1611 02:05:28,480 --> 02:05:31,920 favor, please say I. >> I. 1612 02:05:30,080 --> 02:05:36,480 » Any opposed? All right. Hearing none. Motion carries. All right. Uh we're 1613 02:05:33,920 --> 02:05:39,360 going to move on. We've got one item of new business. Could I get a motion for 1614 02:05:37,840 --> 02:05:41,199 suspension of rules since this is its first hearing? 1615 02:05:40,159 --> 02:05:42,719 » So move, mayor. >> Second. 1616 02:05:41,599 --> 02:05:46,719 » All right. I've got a motion from Commissioner Fiser. Second from 1617 02:05:44,639 --> 02:05:50,800 Commissioner Taylor. All in favor, please say I. 1618 02:05:48,159 --> 02:05:55,520 » Any opposed? All right. Uh this is a motion for supplemental funding in the 1619 02:05:52,960 --> 02:05:59,520 amount of $150,000 for the Food Bank of Northeast Georgia. Uh is there a 1620 02:05:58,000 --> 02:06:04,320 ordinance associated with this as a budget matter? Yes, mayor. Ordinance to 1621 02:06:01,760 --> 02:06:07,679 amend the FY 2026 operating capital budget for Athens, clar county, Georgia, 1622 02:06:06,000 --> 02:06:11,199 so as to provide funding for the for financial support of the food bank of 1623 02:06:09,679 --> 02:06:13,119 Northeast Georgia and for other purposes. 1624 02:06:11,920 --> 02:06:17,520 » Thank you, Attorney Drake. Somebody place a motion on the floor, please. 1625 02:06:14,320 --> 02:06:21,599 » Move to approve. >> Got a motion from Commissioner Link, I 1626 02:06:19,840 --> 02:06:24,159 think. Uh second was Commissioner >> Boy, they were quick. 1627 02:06:22,560 --> 02:06:28,719 » Second was Commissioner Taylor. Quick on the draw. All right. Uh Commissioner 1628 02:06:26,400 --> 02:06:32,400 Link, any remarks? Yeah, thank you mayor for getting this on the agenda. Thanks 1629 02:06:30,480 --> 02:06:38,560 staff for um you know finding these funds. Um this year for the first time 1630 02:06:35,280 --> 02:06:44,000 that I can remember we um we gave some of our regular budget money to the food 1631 02:06:40,320 --> 02:06:50,079 bank and it's dire that they get even more. Um, I want to urge everyone out 1632 02:06:46,800 --> 02:06:57,520 there to please reach out to our Congressman Mike Collins and urge him to 1633 02:06:53,119 --> 02:07:02,320 do his job and get back to DC and um, open the government and get people fed 1634 02:06:59,920 --> 02:07:06,880 and also make sure people maintain their health care. Um, I want to urge everyone 1635 02:07:04,320 --> 02:07:13,280 to reach out to your state reps and to the governor's office and urge them to 1636 02:07:10,400 --> 02:07:18,880 use some of, I believe, the 14 billion dollar in surplus funds that the state 1637 02:07:16,000 --> 02:07:25,760 of Georgia has to fill in the gaps where the federal government is failing the 1638 02:07:20,960 --> 02:07:31,920 citizens of this nation. Um, and I I hope we can bring more money to our our 1639 02:07:29,520 --> 02:07:38,079 local folks who are going hungry in these really ridiculous times. 1640 02:07:36,320 --> 02:07:43,760 » Commissioner Taylor, any any further? >> I couldn't have said it better myself. 1641 02:07:40,960 --> 02:07:46,800 » Anything else from the body? All right. Uh, appreciate everybody 1642 02:07:45,199 --> 02:07:53,920 being willing to consider this on such short notice. Uh, of course we live in 1643 02:07:50,079 --> 02:07:58,480 some uncertain times. Um, sadly I I'm not certain this will be the last time. 1644 02:07:55,599 --> 02:08:02,320 We've got a similar discussion. Um, you know, we could have chosen obviously any 1645 02:08:00,480 --> 02:08:05,920 number of amounts and and and I'll just be transparent and say we don't know 1646 02:08:04,320 --> 02:08:10,560 what next month holds or the following month or the one after that. Um, and so 1647 02:08:08,400 --> 02:08:15,360 we wanted to retain some opportunity for the future. Uh, thus the specific 1648 02:08:12,880 --> 02:08:21,520 $150,000 amount that that I've placed on the agenda tonight. Um 1649 02:08:18,639 --> 02:08:26,719 do uh do want to keep in our hearts every family who is out there struggling 1650 02:08:23,760 --> 02:08:30,560 of of which there are very many. Uh mission of my life has been to support 1651 02:08:28,239 --> 02:08:34,320 kids and their families and um we know it's a hard time in which to make that 1652 02:08:32,320 --> 02:08:38,400 true. So I appreciate you taking a little step toward making that just a 1653 02:08:36,000 --> 02:08:41,599 little bit easier. So we have a motion a second on the floor. All in favor please 1654 02:08:40,239 --> 02:08:46,639 say I. I. >> Any oppose? All right. Hearing none. 1655 02:08:43,440 --> 02:08:50,960 Motion carries. All right. Uh now is that time. Thank you, Madam Clerk. Now 1656 02:08:48,159 --> 02:08:56,560 is that time uh when we get public input on any item that was not on tonight's 1657 02:08:53,520 --> 02:08:59,920 agenda. So this open mic night. Uh there any member of the public who would like 1658 02:08:57,760 --> 02:09:03,280 to speak to any item not on tonight's agenda? You have that same threeminut 1659 02:09:01,920 --> 02:09:06,679 opportunity as I described at the beginning of the meeting. 1660 02:09:07,920 --> 02:09:10,159 » Hello. >> How you doing? 1661 02:09:09,360 --> 02:09:12,719 » Good evening. >> Can you hear me? 1662 02:09:10,880 --> 02:09:18,719 » We can. >> All right. Um I'm 1663 02:09:16,400 --> 02:09:22,880 whether on the agenda or not, I just ask that you, you know, move with a open 1664 02:09:20,719 --> 02:09:29,119 mind, a open heart on any decisions that you uh are making. I'm a new resident 1665 02:09:26,000 --> 02:09:33,840 here and uh coming from the north, I'm I'm I'm a little kind of sideswipe and 1666 02:09:31,360 --> 02:09:40,000 disappointed in some of the decisions that are being made um as it relates to, 1667 02:09:37,360 --> 02:09:44,400 you know, public housing or whatever it is. just just consider the families in 1668 02:09:42,239 --> 02:09:48,960 the districts that you guys represent because that's more over important than 1669 02:09:46,400 --> 02:09:53,360 anything. So whether it's an agenda item that's mentioned or not, all of it is 1670 02:09:51,119 --> 02:09:59,119 important. You guys are a lifeline. We voted you in those seats. So, with that 1671 02:09:56,239 --> 02:10:04,000 being said, you know, I I I I look forward to speaking with you on the 1672 02:10:01,280 --> 02:10:09,119 sidelines and um you know, get every family fed and get everybody house 1673 02:10:07,040 --> 02:10:14,239 because, you know, it's getting ready to get cold. Uh I'd love to volunteer and 1674 02:10:11,920 --> 02:10:20,159 see what the warming stations look like because I can't hold anybody in capacity 1675 02:10:16,800 --> 02:10:28,960 in my apartment. It just won't happen. But uh if we all get together and 1676 02:10:24,960 --> 02:10:34,800 people over power is important to me, people over power because again, you 1677 02:10:32,079 --> 02:10:37,760 would not sit where you sit if it wasn't for me. 1678 02:10:36,480 --> 02:10:40,639 » Ma'am, can I just get your name for the record? 1679 02:10:38,079 --> 02:10:45,679 » Oh, I'm so sorry. My name is Jacqueline Austin. 1680 02:10:42,560 --> 02:10:52,239 with uh Athens anti-discrimination movement and I just like to say I'd like 1681 02:10:48,560 --> 02:10:54,719 to see us move forward in some um things you guys are working on. 1682 02:10:54,000 --> 02:10:57,119 » Thank you, Miss Austin. >> If it affects you, it affects me as 1683 02:10:56,320 --> 02:11:00,079 well. >> Thank you. Is there anyone else you'd 1684 02:10:58,800 --> 02:11:03,719 like to speak to? Any item that was not on the agenda tonight? 1685 02:11:07,599 --> 02:11:17,040 » Hi, uh Alan Jones. I think this is my my first time double dipping. So, I 1686 02:11:13,920 --> 02:11:22,560 celebrate that. But, uh I uh I live in John C Pepper's district and want to 1687 02:11:19,119 --> 02:11:28,960 speak uh about that district, which is Timothy Road and the Timothy Road shared 1688 02:11:25,040 --> 02:11:35,599 use path that was on the Tesla agenda and uh did not get um funding at least 1689 02:11:32,639 --> 02:11:39,840 recommended by the the board. Uh I do want to I did speak on this last time. I 1690 02:11:37,440 --> 02:11:45,119 did want to clarify. I started at the beginning mentioned that you guys had 1691 02:11:41,199 --> 02:11:49,280 spent $2 million to um plan this path and then toward the end my mouth got 1692 02:11:46,880 --> 02:11:55,760 excited and I said 200 million. So um just going to take that one back. But $2 1693 02:11:52,000 --> 02:12:02,239 million that you have spent, not just allocated, but spent to design to get 1694 02:11:58,960 --> 02:12:08,239 architects or whomever this is to in to spend lots of time and citizen time to 1695 02:12:05,199 --> 02:12:14,239 plan this from the end of Timothy all the way to the end of Mitchell Bridge, 1696 02:12:10,159 --> 02:12:19,280 seven miles. Um, we have funded one mile of that currently. And, uh, I know Mike 1697 02:12:17,599 --> 02:12:23,520 had to step out, but he was a big part of that and I appreciate that. But we 1698 02:12:21,040 --> 02:12:28,560 have the Berkeley Hills to skyline section that should be going in next 1699 02:12:25,760 --> 02:12:35,119 year. That's going to be great. But that does not get the people from Berkeley 1700 02:12:30,960 --> 02:12:38,560 Hills to anything that they could use by bike because it's a little bit far to 1701 02:12:36,880 --> 02:12:44,239 walk from from Berkeley Hills to get to other things. So what we put the 1702 02:12:40,719 --> 02:12:48,400 multi-use path in. That was the plan. um connect it to Epsbridge, connect it so 1703 02:12:46,480 --> 02:12:52,320 they can get to the groceries there, that they can get to Walmart, that they 1704 02:12:50,480 --> 02:12:58,320 take it a little bit further next time, maybe so that Timothy Elementary is 1705 02:12:54,639 --> 02:13:04,880 included. We submitted five projects for the the Timothy shared path. None of 1706 02:13:00,880 --> 02:13:10,480 them got any love from the uh commission uh choices for the the T-Boss 1707 02:13:07,760 --> 02:13:14,000 selections. So whether it's uh reallocating some of the money or 1708 02:13:12,079 --> 02:13:19,599 allocating some money from the money that you pre-desated, please consider 1709 02:13:16,800 --> 02:13:24,480 that. This is for the west side. The west side didn't get anything. Uh the 1710 02:13:22,480 --> 02:13:28,159 west side does not have city sewer. The west side does not have city trash. All 1711 02:13:26,480 --> 02:13:35,520 the west side really gets is city homeless. Um John, 1712 02:13:33,280 --> 02:13:41,199 uh please do something. Stand for something. Champion something. do your 1713 02:13:38,320 --> 02:13:46,639 job. Represent your district. You have really done nothing today. You spoke for 1714 02:13:44,079 --> 02:13:52,159 37 seconds, which might be close to a record. Um, please use your words. And 1715 02:13:49,920 --> 02:13:57,119 for the rest of you, geographic equity with these T-Losts is important. 1716 02:13:54,560 --> 02:14:01,360 Everybody contributes. Everybody should get something from them. It shouldn't 1717 02:13:59,679 --> 02:14:05,599 just be the commissioners that speak the loudest. There are already enough people 1718 02:14:03,679 --> 02:14:09,520 running for mayor. I don't think you need another one. 1719 02:14:07,599 --> 02:14:13,840 Thank you, Mr. Jones. Is there anyone else here to speak to any item not on 1720 02:14:10,880 --> 02:14:17,599 tonight's agenda? >> All right, we'll go ahead and move uh 1721 02:14:15,760 --> 02:14:20,639 behind the rail. Uh I've got a couple items of input. We'll hear from the 1722 02:14:18,880 --> 02:14:25,280 manager, the auditor, the attorney, and then the commission. Um three quick 1723 02:14:22,639 --> 02:14:31,199 items tonight. Um do want to thank uh Commissioners Thornton and Fiser uh who 1724 02:14:27,920 --> 02:14:36,159 came out to the ribbon cutting at the 190 unit affordable housing complex uh 1725 02:14:34,159 --> 02:14:42,239 immediately adjacent to what we colloquially know as the Space Kroger on 1726 02:14:38,719 --> 02:14:50,719 Highway 72. Um they are completely leased. Uh there it's 60% AMI Litec 1727 02:14:47,119 --> 02:14:54,320 project. Three-bedroom unit is $1350 a month. uh significantly less than you're 1728 02:14:52,800 --> 02:14:59,840 going to pay at a market rate uh development. Um very attractive uh 1729 02:14:57,840 --> 02:15:05,199 units. I wish I had that swimming pool myself. And it's to the credit of uh the 1730 02:15:03,599 --> 02:15:10,079 private development partner, certainly this body who's approved the payment in 1731 02:15:08,079 --> 02:15:13,199 le of tax structure as well as the affordable water and sewer connections 1732 02:15:11,599 --> 02:15:18,239 and our partners at the Athens Housing Authority. Um, we have two more of those 1733 02:15:15,760 --> 02:15:22,960 comparable projects in the pipeline and I'm looking forward to actually getting 1734 02:15:20,159 --> 02:15:27,360 some more uh kind of on deck in the months ahead. I believe we can do that 1735 02:15:24,800 --> 02:15:33,599 uh given the resources that we have. Secondly, um I'm going to be naming a 1736 02:15:30,880 --> 02:15:38,560 very um short-term ad hoc committee tonight that I will chair uh and that 1737 02:15:36,079 --> 02:15:42,320 I'll uh serve on with uh commissioners Meyer, Thornton, and former commissioner 1738 02:15:40,159 --> 02:15:46,639 Edwards, all of whom served as mayor's prom 1739 02:15:43,840 --> 02:15:51,199 um prior to kind of the current year. Uh and what I'm going to ask them to do is 1740 02:15:48,960 --> 02:15:56,159 examine and make a recommendation to the full body for the compensation and time 1741 02:15:53,840 --> 02:16:00,480 expectations embedded in the charter for both the mayor and the mayor prom. Uh 1742 02:15:58,800 --> 02:16:05,199 examining both the unified governments in the state and those counties who have 1743 02:16:02,400 --> 02:16:09,599 a chair uh who are of over 100,000 in population. Uh it has long been the case 1744 02:16:07,520 --> 02:16:14,079 that I believe that we've not sort of evolved those definitions sufficient to 1745 02:16:12,079 --> 02:16:18,480 both the scale and complexity of this government. uh have a great benefit in 1746 02:16:16,400 --> 02:16:22,320 this job of interacting with peers across the state and across the country. 1747 02:16:20,560 --> 02:16:27,440 Uh and for the good of all future mayors and mayors prom I just want us to 1748 02:16:24,000 --> 02:16:32,559 modernize our expectations. Um uh third thing uh want to apologize to the Neely 1749 02:16:30,159 --> 02:16:37,200 family. I do know that very recently um they attempted to get into their uh 1750 02:16:34,960 --> 02:16:41,359 private cemetery uh that you have to access through Athens clar county 1751 02:16:38,800 --> 02:16:45,040 property and had challenge in doing so. I'm sorry that that was the case and I 1752 02:16:43,040 --> 02:16:49,760 do appreciate uh management leisure services staff working so quickly with 1753 02:16:46,639 --> 02:16:53,359 them uh to ensure a uh permanent situation in which they won't face the 1754 02:16:51,599 --> 02:16:56,319 same challenge that thanks uh everybody for sitting down with the knee. Uh I'm 1755 02:16:55,200 --> 02:16:59,439 going to go ahead and begin with commissioner actually I'm going to go 1756 02:16:57,599 --> 02:17:01,439 ahead and turn first to the manager. Anything tonight, Mr. Manager? 1757 02:17:00,399 --> 02:17:06,080 » Uh the only thing I wanted to acknowledge was obviously as you all 1758 02:17:03,280 --> 02:17:09,679 know we had a a missing person um case a week or so ago and sadly that didn't end 1759 02:17:08,000 --> 02:17:13,280 the way any of us had hoped that it would. but certainly want to acknowledge 1760 02:17:11,359 --> 02:17:17,519 the work that was done um by the folks involved and that was the police 1761 02:17:14,800 --> 02:17:21,200 department, the sheriff's um office as well as the fire department and a number 1762 02:17:19,200 --> 02:17:24,399 of volunteers. Um they mobilized very quickly and if you remember how 1763 02:17:22,639 --> 02:17:28,719 miserable the weather was over those couple of days. Um they were out doing 1764 02:17:26,479 --> 02:17:31,280 all that they could um with it. And so again, even though it didn't end the way 1765 02:17:29,920 --> 02:17:35,679 any of us would have hoped, I certainly want to acknowledge their um their 1766 02:17:32,719 --> 02:17:39,120 efforts in in trying to um bring that to a successful conclusion. So thank you. 1767 02:17:37,840 --> 02:17:43,519 Thank you for the efforts of everybody on staff and I know folks we're working 1768 02:17:40,800 --> 02:17:45,840 overtime to try and resolve that challenge. 1769 02:17:45,200 --> 02:17:48,240 Mr. >> Nothing from the 1770 02:17:46,479 --> 02:17:51,760 » attorney. No, anything from the auditor's office. No report. 1771 02:17:50,160 --> 02:17:55,359 » All right. Begin with Commissioner Thornton and then I'll have close with 1772 02:17:53,840 --> 02:17:59,280 Commissioner Davenport who will adjourn us. 1773 02:17:56,160 --> 02:18:02,479 » Thank you, Mayor. Um I did I was going to talk about the ribbon cutting, so 1774 02:18:00,800 --> 02:18:07,760 I'll scratch that since you got it covered. Um I will say what was 1775 02:18:06,080 --> 02:18:17,439 significant um that it's 100% occupied in 120 days 1776 02:18:14,399 --> 02:18:21,359 and there's a 700 um application list 1777 02:18:19,359 --> 02:18:27,679 » waiting list >> 12. So that speaks to how badly we need 1778 02:18:25,760 --> 02:18:33,760 affordable housing. And they're beautiful. They're beautiful. I I wasn't 1779 02:18:30,800 --> 02:18:39,439 at the last meeting and I I but I did hear about 1780 02:18:36,240 --> 02:18:45,679 people concerned about Pinewood and the dirty water. Uh and it it bothered me a 1781 02:18:43,040 --> 02:18:52,800 little it bothered me a lot because I have been working and talking and 1782 02:18:49,280 --> 02:18:58,000 with one of the owners for over a year. I didn't even know what maybe two years 1783 02:18:55,280 --> 02:19:03,920 ago two and a when I think Commissioner Thorn uh Commissioner Thor Commissioner 1784 02:19:00,240 --> 02:19:08,559 Taylor and uh Commissioner Fiser told me about it. So that's been almost two 1785 02:19:05,599 --> 02:19:13,599 years now. So it really kind of bothered me that this came up um because I 1786 02:19:11,200 --> 02:19:20,399 thought things were working out. But I did ask the owner to send a detail 1787 02:19:18,319 --> 02:19:26,080 and he has been working. Let let me be clear. He has been working. Uh but I 1788 02:19:22,960 --> 02:19:33,359 asked him to send a detailed list of everything that they've tried to do um 1789 02:19:29,120 --> 02:19:38,719 to uh our manager and county manager, assistant manager, and I am so pleased 1790 02:19:36,319 --> 02:19:44,639 that you know you guys have taken it up and are looking into what we can do to 1791 02:19:42,000 --> 02:19:49,120 help fix this. It's it definitely is going to need our help, but it's going 1792 02:19:47,040 --> 02:19:54,240 to be difficult. But they are working very diligent. They've been working very 1793 02:19:51,359 --> 02:20:02,880 diligently. I don't think that came out um with some of the uh folk that spoke. 1794 02:19:57,760 --> 02:20:08,880 Uh one of the big biggies was is um fire hydrants. That area does not have fire 1795 02:20:06,160 --> 02:20:13,520 hydrants. Um so they've been working through that. Now 1796 02:20:11,439 --> 02:20:18,720 I don't know, but I just want people to know we're on it. Everybody that spoke, 1797 02:20:16,319 --> 02:20:22,800 I appreciate it. Bring it back, you know. 1798 02:20:19,840 --> 02:20:28,319 to the community. I think that is awesome. My other thing I want to holler 1799 02:20:25,359 --> 02:20:32,160 out to the police department and the sheriff's department for their awesome 1800 02:20:30,000 --> 02:20:37,680 job that they did with the Halloween events. Um I didn't go to the police. I 1801 02:20:35,359 --> 02:20:43,200 think uh Commissioner Fischer went to that when I went to the sheriff um 1802 02:20:39,920 --> 02:20:51,359 event. And I I think seeing our police our our public safety um staff in these 1803 02:20:48,080 --> 02:20:56,880 community events helps to promote morale. Bless you. Bless you. Bless you. 1804 02:20:53,920 --> 02:21:01,920 Um promotes morale. So I wanted to make because that's something they don't have 1805 02:20:58,399 --> 02:21:07,600 to do, but I do think it's it's good for community and community morale. And the 1806 02:21:04,960 --> 02:21:13,520 last thing, I've already briefly said it, but I'll say it again, is uh mayor, 1807 02:21:11,680 --> 02:21:23,439 I would like to see what it would take to um um get Thomas Lake designated as a 1808 02:21:19,120 --> 02:21:29,680 historical designation. Um I I I'll leave that to you and or we'll all work 1809 02:21:26,560 --> 02:21:34,720 together on it, but I think if it's not core, it's going to be 1810 02:21:32,000 --> 02:21:41,920 something else. So, let's go ahead and solidify and make sure those um 1811 02:21:39,120 --> 02:21:47,439 institutions, those buildings that are historic in the um black community 1812 02:21:45,040 --> 02:21:52,080 remain. I I hate it when I stopped going on those tours when Rosa Thurman was 1813 02:21:50,399 --> 02:21:55,920 doing them, and she would say, "Well, this was where the black barber shop was 1814 02:21:53,760 --> 02:22:02,960 at, and this was where the black grocery store was at. Everything was was." So, I 1815 02:22:00,319 --> 02:22:09,439 do think that this would be a good step to um start with Thomas Le um and and we 1816 02:22:07,760 --> 02:22:14,080 don't want to lose it no matter who the new neighbors are around that area. 1817 02:22:12,160 --> 02:22:17,920 Thank you. >> Yeah. Um I just have one thing and that 1818 02:22:16,080 --> 02:22:22,560 is that uh district 8 we're going to have a town hall uh next Monday, 1819 02:22:19,920 --> 02:22:27,760 November 10th from 5:30 to 7:00 over at the firehouse, 7 on Barnard Schills by 1820 02:22:24,560 --> 02:22:30,640 the vet school and uh by east side residents. I don't know if it'll solve 1821 02:22:29,439 --> 02:22:35,760 anything, but we have someone from Georgia Power coming to talk about the 1822 02:22:32,880 --> 02:22:40,560 outages that happen all the time. Um, our new county manager will be coming 1823 02:22:37,840 --> 02:22:44,720 and then as well to introduce himself and um have a little update on the 1824 02:22:42,960 --> 02:22:51,240 future land use map and east side development and our upcoming Tesplas 1825 02:22:47,200 --> 02:22:51,240 2026 projects. 1826 02:22:51,520 --> 02:22:57,760 » Um, yeah. Is there a way and there was a lot of conversation about affordable 1827 02:22:55,359 --> 02:23:01,680 housing. Can we get a report on the number of affordable housing units that 1828 02:22:59,439 --> 02:23:08,640 we have brought online in the past 12 months and then what's approved already? 1829 02:23:05,600 --> 02:23:12,479 Um because you know y'all talked about the development the ribbon cutting that 1830 02:23:10,399 --> 02:23:15,920 you had last week was affordable housing. Um and I don't know if 1831 02:23:14,560 --> 02:23:19,520 everybody was aware of that. It'd be nice to see the amount number of units 1832 02:23:17,439 --> 02:23:24,240 that we've got that have come online and that we've got approved. And you know, 1833 02:23:22,399 --> 02:23:28,399 with that, we've got money that we put aside for affordable housing, but we're 1834 02:23:26,319 --> 02:23:33,600 having trouble with the avenues of how to spend that money. And I think we need 1835 02:23:31,280 --> 02:23:37,760 to come up with, you know, we can't just tell developers to build affordable 1836 02:23:35,439 --> 02:23:42,560 housing when the numbers don't work for them. So, we've got to come up with 1837 02:23:39,680 --> 02:23:46,720 creative ways for developers to use that and be able to use that money to create 1838 02:23:44,880 --> 02:23:52,240 more affordable housing. this project that we talked about today, core project 1839 02:23:49,359 --> 02:23:56,560 is going to um create money that's going into that uh affordable housing fund and 1840 02:23:54,800 --> 02:24:01,120 I we need to create we need to make sure we have ways to build those units. Um I 1841 02:23:59,680 --> 02:24:04,000 think the core development project is going to be a positive thing for this 1842 02:24:02,479 --> 02:24:07,520 community. It is going to give some money for that affordable housing fund, 1843 02:24:05,840 --> 02:24:12,720 but it's also gives some give us the sewer capacity we need for other things 1844 02:24:09,760 --> 02:24:17,439 downtown. And I hope that um we can get all the questions answered and we can 1845 02:24:14,560 --> 02:24:22,000 meet the timeline um that they have proposed um with the zoning, the 1846 02:24:19,920 --> 02:24:24,880 reszones and all that to uh move it forward. But I want to make sure we get 1847 02:24:23,280 --> 02:24:28,160 the questions answered for the community and the commissioners that are on um 1848 02:24:26,960 --> 02:24:31,399 that are here that have some questions about it. 1849 02:24:31,920 --> 02:24:38,560 » I think August was the reference with it. So and that was tied back to the um 1850 02:24:37,120 --> 02:24:40,080 housing affordability implementation strategy. So, yes, we'll update those 1851 02:24:39,840 --> 02:24:42,800 numbers. >> Thank you. 1852 02:24:40,399 --> 02:24:46,640 » And and in in our gig meeting that's coming up November the 10th, 1853 02:24:45,280 --> 02:24:52,880 » um there's going to be some recommendations and um numbers presented 1854 02:24:49,840 --> 02:24:57,120 at and it's all of our meetings are open. All of them are open. So, it's 1855 02:24:55,040 --> 02:25:00,560 going to be November the 10th at 10:00 at the Athens Housing Authority, but 1856 02:24:59,200 --> 02:25:04,560 they're going to come up with numbers and some recommendations to come back to 1857 02:25:02,800 --> 02:25:08,160 this body. >> How to spend that money? 1858 02:25:06,000 --> 02:25:09,840 » Yeah. besides >> 10th. 1859 02:25:08,800 --> 02:25:11,760 » Yes, sir. The 10th, >> Monday. 1860 02:25:10,800 --> 02:25:16,240 » What time is that? >> Uh, Athens Housing Authority. 10 1861 02:25:13,600 --> 02:25:22,080 o'clock. >> Mr. Johnson. 1862 02:25:18,240 --> 02:25:26,960 » Thank you. I want to apologize to those watching and those that attended tonight 1863 02:25:24,880 --> 02:25:32,560 and the people behind the rail about 1864 02:25:30,640 --> 02:25:38,560 my professional talking in voice character 1865 02:25:35,359 --> 02:25:43,040 talking in character voice. I'm not proud of that and I'm surprised 1866 02:25:40,160 --> 02:25:48,640 I did that. I that's totally atypical to my behavior, but 1867 02:25:45,600 --> 02:25:54,000 I it did happen and I want to I want to for the record apologize to everyone. It 1868 02:25:51,520 --> 02:25:56,800 was not professional. I want to share with you what I'm dealing with. I'm 1869 02:25:55,280 --> 02:26:02,160 frustrated. I am very frustrated. I know that I can 1870 02:25:59,439 --> 02:26:07,040 only control my, you know, my own my own district and my own actions. You know, 1871 02:26:05,600 --> 02:26:12,720 there are things that happen be someone alluded to things happening behind the 1872 02:26:09,359 --> 02:26:17,920 scenes. This is this is not, you know, a conspiracy, a theory, or a lie, but some 1873 02:26:16,240 --> 02:26:23,840 of my colleagues get phone calls from the mayor about certain items. I I've 1874 02:26:20,560 --> 02:26:29,200 not ever yet received a phone call from the mayor to make a decision about an 1875 02:26:26,080 --> 02:26:34,160 agenda item. So when I So when I know that and some of you have admitted it to 1876 02:26:31,520 --> 02:26:41,600 me, it is hard to come into a meeting and and 1877 02:26:36,720 --> 02:26:45,600 fight for something that we want that we see as equitable 1878 02:26:43,760 --> 02:26:52,160 after you've already made your mind up because you you've agreed to the ask. 1879 02:26:49,840 --> 02:26:55,439 That is frustrating because I I try to read, I try to engage, I try to talk, I 1880 02:26:54,080 --> 02:26:59,600 try to answer the phone, I try to take down notes and and bring questions with 1881 02:26:57,840 --> 02:27:03,840 me. And when the opposite happens, because you've already agreed to the 1882 02:27:01,680 --> 02:27:08,960 ask, that is frustrating. And that's what I experienced tonight. This is not 1883 02:27:05,680 --> 02:27:16,720 the first time, but I want to apologize. I also want to state that there is a I'm 1884 02:27:14,479 --> 02:27:21,760 going to host a town hall on November 20th and no and December 8th. It's a 1885 02:27:19,680 --> 02:27:27,120 proposed development located at the corner of Whitehead and Jefferson Road. 1886 02:27:24,960 --> 02:27:32,479 It's going to be located at fire station number eight on Jefferson Road. Um, and 1887 02:27:29,520 --> 02:27:38,319 the time is 5:30 to 7:30 and additional information will be 1888 02:27:34,720 --> 02:27:42,880 provided on my social media pages later this week. 1889 02:27:40,560 --> 02:27:47,520 Uh, really quickly, uh, someone made a comment, uh, didn't think it was a joke 1890 02:27:45,120 --> 02:27:51,280 about why I'm late to meetings. I just wanted to just share because it is 1891 02:27:49,439 --> 02:27:55,600 obvious. I I come in about two or three minutes after. I am actually coming from 1892 02:27:53,439 --> 02:28:01,040 class and most of the time I'm changing in the truck. So, forgive me. I I try my 1893 02:27:58,479 --> 02:28:06,319 best to get here as quickly as I can. Um, 1894 02:28:03,840 --> 02:28:12,000 so for those that are affected by the government closing and the reduction of 1895 02:28:08,880 --> 02:28:16,160 benefits, I want you to know that I I'm empathetic. I hear you. I see you. I've 1896 02:28:14,800 --> 02:28:19,600 reached out to people who've made comments that are not in my district, 1897 02:28:17,760 --> 02:28:24,960 but just made heartfelt comments on Facebook um to coordinate or match them 1898 02:28:22,960 --> 02:28:29,840 with some of the services that they that they may not know about. And I will 1899 02:28:27,040 --> 02:28:34,000 continue to do that if I receive a message. I I just don't want you to 1900 02:28:31,920 --> 02:28:40,479 think that those out there that they don't have an have any options if your 1901 02:28:36,640 --> 02:28:44,640 needs are beyond food. Um, I also want to brag about how well our Athens clar 1902 02:28:42,640 --> 02:28:52,960 county departments in partnership with the mall hosted a tremendous trunk 1903 02:28:48,319 --> 02:28:56,319 retreat. I I think I counted four or 500 people on Thursday night and it was a 1904 02:28:54,560 --> 02:29:02,560 very cold night, but it was well attended. All of the ACC departments 1905 02:28:59,200 --> 02:29:05,840 should be proud. They hosted a great event. 1906 02:29:04,160 --> 02:29:12,080 The coop, the next one is the cooperative extension. I sent an email 1907 02:29:08,240 --> 02:29:15,760 today, but I wanted to uh separate from the email, but tangentally related. I 1908 02:29:14,080 --> 02:29:20,960 was watching the Decap County and South Fton Council meetings over the weekend, 1909 02:29:18,000 --> 02:29:25,359 and I heard a request from um a commissioner in both meetings about a 1910 02:29:23,120 --> 02:29:30,960 landscaping schedule. So, I wanted to inquire to see if it's possible to get a 1911 02:29:28,240 --> 02:29:35,280 landscaping schedule um for a couple of reasons. one for predictability, but the 1912 02:29:33,520 --> 02:29:41,840 second one is because I had a conversation with someone that thought a 1913 02:29:38,160 --> 02:29:46,640 certain area was Athens Clark Countyy's responsibility and I wasn't sure and so 1914 02:29:45,439 --> 02:29:51,520 I couldn't have an intelligent conversation, but just to have just to 1915 02:29:49,280 --> 02:29:58,240 know what the standards are if it's four is it if it's three feet or two and a 1916 02:29:53,520 --> 02:30:02,160 half feet away from the the the road, whatever that criteria is. if that could 1917 02:30:00,000 --> 02:30:06,800 be provided to me, I would um certainly appreciate it. And that's all I have. 1918 02:30:04,560 --> 02:30:11,439 Thank you. >> Thank you, mayor. And uh I do want to 1919 02:30:08,640 --> 02:30:16,640 thank um first of all, thank our staff, Bob, Andrew, 1920 02:30:14,000 --> 02:30:19,840 Jud, for um putting the CDO together. And again, um just want to bring the 1921 02:30:18,640 --> 02:30:25,359 community together, want to bring us together, get whatever questions we need 1922 02:30:21,760 --> 02:30:29,760 to get um answered. And um may um again, because I did ask about the schedule, 1923 02:30:26,880 --> 02:30:33,280 too, and I respectfully ask if you consider um the December um work 1924 02:30:31,920 --> 02:30:38,960 session. But again, I respectfully ask you for that. Um 1925 02:30:36,640 --> 02:30:43,920 Veterans Day is next Tuesday. I want to thank the men and women who have served 1926 02:30:41,040 --> 02:30:48,160 this country and and really um give us the freedoms um that we have and for us 1927 02:30:46,560 --> 02:30:53,359 to get up here and say what we want to say and and debate among each other and 1928 02:30:50,960 --> 02:30:59,359 stuff. And uh I don't ever take that for granted. um having had a brother who 1929 02:30:55,760 --> 02:31:03,840 served and uncles and that ser in the military. Um it makes me proud that 1930 02:31:01,359 --> 02:31:08,240 those men and women who um help protect this um country and so I just want to 1931 02:31:06,319 --> 02:31:12,160 know Veterans Day is next Tuesday. So I want to give a shout out to all the 1932 02:31:09,680 --> 02:31:18,479 veterans um in Ashton Clark County um both men and women that have served um 1933 02:31:15,359 --> 02:31:23,680 with the food bank. Um my wife and I have always been a supporter of the food 1934 02:31:20,880 --> 02:31:28,560 bank and I appreciate um CEO Erin Barger. There was a list of mobile 1935 02:31:26,000 --> 02:31:32,560 pantries um and I won't I won't name them mayor but there's a list of mobile 1936 02:31:30,319 --> 02:31:36,160 pantries for the month of November that's going to be going on around 1937 02:31:34,000 --> 02:31:40,080 pretty much all around um Athens and stuff. So hopefully people will take 1938 02:31:37,920 --> 02:31:45,680 advantage. And this is when, you know, I I this is when a community comes 1939 02:31:42,160 --> 02:31:50,000 together um to to um to take care of the ones that um less fortunate than we are. 1940 02:31:48,160 --> 02:31:54,479 And for people to chip in and that's what partnership looks like. That's what 1941 02:31:52,240 --> 02:31:57,760 we should be doing as a community, you know, and I get it with the federal 1942 02:31:56,080 --> 02:32:03,040 government and on the state level, but it's it is um we should take it upon 1943 02:32:01,120 --> 02:32:06,880 ourselves though to take care of people in our community. So, um, whatever 1944 02:32:05,280 --> 02:32:11,280 anybody can give, especially the food bank, all their dollars, I can say that 1945 02:32:08,960 --> 02:32:16,960 all these dollars go towards providing food in in in in a 19 county area, um, 1946 02:32:14,880 --> 02:32:22,240 not only in Clark County, but 19 county area. So, anybody that's listening, um, 1947 02:32:19,840 --> 02:32:27,920 want to donate or even take food. I know many churches um, got food pantries and 1948 02:32:25,280 --> 02:32:32,399 things. So, so I I I'm just proud that live in this community and the people in 1949 02:32:29,680 --> 02:32:36,319 this community always kick in when when things are going bad and and help our 1950 02:32:34,240 --> 02:32:40,240 fellow men and women. So, just want to say that, mayor, and again, thank staff 1951 02:32:38,319 --> 02:32:44,240 so much for what you all do. And, you know, I know at time we put a lot of 1952 02:32:42,000 --> 02:32:48,960 pressure on you guys, but thank you u for coming through and answering the 1953 02:32:46,160 --> 02:32:53,439 call whenever we ask you all to um to give us some information, but thank you 1954 02:32:50,399 --> 02:32:58,080 all again. I appreciate it. >> All right. Um, 1955 02:32:55,680 --> 02:33:02,880 I missed your committee, Kelly. Did you say it was you, Meyers, and Edwards? 1956 02:33:01,040 --> 02:33:04,319 » Uh, and Thornton. Thornton. >> Thornton. Thank you. 1957 02:33:03,760 --> 02:33:09,600 » Yeah. >> The three uh mayors prompt prior to the 1958 02:33:07,040 --> 02:33:11,840 » Yeah. No, I get it. I get it. I >> I'm glad you didn't notice it. I missed 1959 02:33:11,520 --> 02:33:17,920 her. >> No, I noticed it. 1960 02:33:15,439 --> 02:33:20,960 » I was just paying attention to my name. >> There you go. Thank you. Well, thanks 1961 02:33:19,600 --> 02:33:24,319 for not throwing something at me, forgetting your name on there. Anyway, 1962 02:33:22,560 --> 02:33:29,040 I'm I'm glad that you're um having that looked into uh with such a committee. 1963 02:33:26,960 --> 02:33:35,120 And then if we if there's any updates on your other ad hoc committee and the 1964 02:33:31,680 --> 02:33:38,399 November there was a November potential that we might see something. Is that 1965 02:33:36,720 --> 02:33:42,720 going to be agenda in November? >> It it certainly won't be obviously we're 1966 02:33:40,399 --> 02:33:47,359 we're in the November uh voting meeting, but but I think the anticipation was 1967 02:33:44,800 --> 02:33:51,359 that they'd finish uh at least a first recommendation in November. Is that is 1968 02:33:49,439 --> 02:33:54,720 that what we anticipate? So it might be on the 1969 02:33:52,880 --> 02:33:59,520 » could be December or January. Yes. >> Yeah. No. Well, that's first sight for 1970 02:33:57,680 --> 02:34:04,399 those of us who want to make sure it gets in the public realm so that we can 1971 02:34:01,600 --> 02:34:10,160 all study it and understand uh what's underway and also to anticipate making 1972 02:34:07,359 --> 02:34:15,439 sure those that have been um emailing us and contacting us about those issues 1973 02:34:12,560 --> 02:34:19,520 will know uh it's estimated time coming forward. All right, that's all I have. 1974 02:34:17,439 --> 02:34:25,479 Thanks. Um, 1975 02:34:21,040 --> 02:34:25,479 first off, I would like to thank staff. 1976 02:34:26,160 --> 02:34:34,080 Um, for all of the hard work that you guys do. Um, also I would like to also 1977 02:34:31,040 --> 02:34:39,040 shout out um, Sheriff Williams for the trunk or treat 1978 02:34:36,720 --> 02:34:45,200 fall festival that they had. It was so awesome. And the commissioners had like 1979 02:34:41,200 --> 02:34:51,120 special parking so we didn't have to we >> I didn't get special parking. 1980 02:34:48,640 --> 02:34:57,840 I saw you walking. I starting to BLOW MY HEART, BUT like 1981 02:34:55,040 --> 02:35:03,200 we had so much fun and it got cold, but it was awesome. A lot of families. So 1982 02:35:01,040 --> 02:35:12,080 awesome. Um I would like to shout out the um people in belonging. They had 400 1983 02:35:06,720 --> 02:35:16,399 cupcakes at a cakewalk and the children, they were so excited about the music 1984 02:35:14,399 --> 02:35:19,760 that, you know, they just gave them cupcakes. So, shout out to people and 1985 02:35:18,080 --> 02:35:23,920 belonging. You guys are the real rock stars. My kids was hyped up. Um, I also 1986 02:35:22,160 --> 02:35:29,520 want to shout out the police department. Um, thank you Chief Salters for um and 1987 02:35:26,720 --> 02:35:31,920 and manager call. Can I call you Bob? >> Yes, you can. 1988 02:35:30,080 --> 02:35:39,280 » Okay, please do. >> Bob for um keeping in contact with me 1989 02:35:35,600 --> 02:35:44,479 with um Miss Lily being missing. Me and Miss Lily worked at Walmart together. Um 1990 02:35:42,240 --> 02:35:47,439 » and so yeah, I know her her family really well. And so it's very 1991 02:35:46,080 --> 02:35:52,640 unfortunate, but thank y'all for keeping in contact. Um, 1992 02:35:50,000 --> 02:35:57,920 that's all I have. >> Yeah, that's all. 1993 02:35:54,880 --> 02:36:03,760 » Um, I want to reiterate the request for a list of our affordable housing units 1994 02:36:00,880 --> 02:36:09,280 that have been built recently or on the way or are funded. Um, and I know it, 1995 02:36:06,960 --> 02:36:14,399 you know, not everybody wants to read a whole giant sheet of text. if we could 1996 02:36:11,680 --> 02:36:19,920 somehow get something formatted similar to to how the food bank has formatted 1997 02:36:17,200 --> 02:36:23,359 the information that they gave us. Um, >> one pager, 1998 02:36:20,960 --> 02:36:28,399 » a one pager, you know, maybe with a list on the back. Um, you know, a lot of 1999 02:36:26,640 --> 02:36:33,520 people digest stuff better in graphic form. Um, 2000 02:36:32,000 --> 02:36:37,600 it would just really be nice to have something that we could share with our 2001 02:36:34,960 --> 02:36:42,319 constituents to to let them know the hard work and the tremendous amount of 2002 02:36:39,920 --> 02:36:48,240 dollars that are going into this effort. You know, we kind of got a late start 2003 02:36:44,160 --> 02:36:51,600 and you know, um, and we have been trying to get ahead of the ball. Um, 2004 02:36:49,840 --> 02:36:56,560 this affordable housing crisis was kind of a long time coming and it's only been 2005 02:36:54,080 --> 02:37:00,000 in recent years that we we've started to really tackle it. But we are making 2006 02:36:58,399 --> 02:37:05,040 progress and you know it you can't just wave a 2007 02:37:02,880 --> 02:37:08,720 magic wand and affordable housing sprouts out. You can't just throw money 2008 02:37:06,960 --> 02:37:13,600 at it and it sprouts. It takes a long time of gathering the different sources 2009 02:37:10,640 --> 02:37:18,240 of funding and finding the property and finding the partners and you know the 2010 02:37:16,240 --> 02:37:21,439 infrastructure and the building and you know when it's a public project there 2011 02:37:20,000 --> 02:37:25,120 are often folks who don't want it anywhere near them. So you know goes 2012 02:37:23,200 --> 02:37:31,520 through the process. There are a lot of hurdles to overcome and we have had some 2013 02:37:28,240 --> 02:37:37,200 success. Um, and you know I I I think we need to tell that story better. Um, and 2014 02:37:35,040 --> 02:37:43,520 you know tell that story better so we can hopefully attract more. Um, so yeah, 2015 02:37:40,319 --> 02:37:48,319 if we can get a nice palatable pretty picture version of the work that we've 2016 02:37:46,319 --> 02:37:52,640 been doing and and you know ask everybody to revisit that strategy, that 2017 02:37:50,800 --> 02:37:56,240 plan that we I think we spent like a quarter million dollars on it and it 2018 02:37:54,080 --> 02:38:02,080 went through a year of public input and meetings um to get it out there. So we 2019 02:37:59,280 --> 02:38:06,560 do have a plan. We have been trying to execute that plan. We just need to tell 2020 02:38:04,560 --> 02:38:10,160 our story better. We definitely need to do more work, but we we also need to 2021 02:38:08,240 --> 02:38:14,319 tell our story better. >> All right. 2022 02:38:12,319 --> 02:38:19,600 Pay compensation study and step plan. Where are we um on that? And space 2023 02:38:16,720 --> 02:38:25,280 allocation. Mova Thornton is having a brunch with Bob this Saturday at 2024 02:38:22,800 --> 02:38:29,920 » I'm sorry she didn't mention it. >> Is Bob on the menu or 2025 02:38:27,680 --> 02:38:33,680 » Bob is the menu? >> So I'm wondering 2026 02:38:30,880 --> 02:38:37,120 » 11:00 at New Grove and that's in Winterville. Um, just want to thank the 2027 02:38:35,840 --> 02:38:42,560 police department and the sheriff for the awesome truck. It's a great 2028 02:38:38,800 --> 02:38:47,520 community event. Welcome Christine. Um, God bless her. Um, happy, it's a little 2029 02:38:46,160 --> 02:38:51,840 early, but I'm going to just throw this out there. Happy birthday, Mayor. Um, 2030 02:38:49,439 --> 02:38:55,840 happy Thanksgiving. Um, and thank the North Georgia Food Bank and thank all 2031 02:38:54,479 --> 02:38:58,000 the vets. >> Motion to adjourn. 2032 02:38:56,960 --> 02:39:00,560 » There a second. >> Second. 2033 02:38:58,640 --> 02:39:07,160 » All in favor, please say I. >> Any opposed? All right. at 8:40. We urge 2034 02:39:04,160 --> 02:39:07,160 you 2035 02:39:09,280 --> 02:39:12,840 » session on your birthday.