Ordinances / Resolutions of Note
- Approve TSPLOST 2023 Project List
- Appoint Public Safety Oversight Board
- Approve American Rescue Plan Framework
- Raise Commissioner Salaries
- Adopt Inclusionary Zoning Policy
- Adopt Complete Streets Policy
- Approve FY 2023 Budget
- Celebrate Pride Month and Juneteenth
- Approve 1010 Oglethorpe Avenue
- Begin Prince Avenue Road Diet Pilot
- Decriminalize Cannabis
- Approve the 100% Clean Energy Plan
- Create Homelessness Plan
- Authorize Eminent Domain for Firefly Trail
- Change Planning Department Work Plan
- Recognize Firefighters’ Union
- Allow Accessory Dwelling Units
- Keep Three Lanes on Prince Avenue
Approve TSPLOST 2023 Project List
The commission approved the TSPLOST 2023 project list, setting up a referendum for May 24, 2022. If voters approve the referendum, sales taxes will stay at 8% for another five years, providing the funding for the approved projects.
Voting yes on approving the project list: Davenport, Parker, Link, Denson, Houle, Wright, Edwards, Myers, Thornton, Hamby
Voting no: none
Absent: none
Proposal made by: Myers
Passed on February 1, 2022
Appoint Public Safety Oversight Board
The commission appointed the first cohort of Athens residents to the Public Safety Oversight Board on Feburary 1, 2022. You can read more about that vote here.
Voting yes on appointing the oversight board: Davenport, Parker, Link, Denson, Houle, Edwards, Myers, Hamby
Voting no: Wright
Abstaining: Thornton
Absent: none
Proposal made by: Link
Passed on February 1, 2022
Approve American Rescue Plan Framework
The commission approved a general framework for how to spend $57 million given to Athens as part of President Biden’s American Rescue Plan after many months of meetings and debates. Read more about this framework and commission vote here.
Voting yes on ARP framework: Parker, Link, Denson, Houle, Edwards, Myers
Voting no: Davenport, Wright, Thornton, Hamby
Abstaining: none
Absent: none
Proposal made by: Parker
Passed on March 1, 2022
Raise Commissioner Salaries
The commission voted to raise commissioner salaries from $19,100 (or $20,300 after certification) to $28,693 a year, which is the average salary for commissioners in comparable Georgia counties. Learn more about this issue here.
Voting yes on raising salaries: Parker, Link, Denson, Houle, Edwards, Myers
Voting no: Davenport, Wright, Thornton, Hamby
Abstaining: none
Absent: none
Proposal made by: Myers
Passed on March 1, 2022
Adopt Inclusionary Zoning Policy
The commission adopted an inclusionary zoning policy in an effort to encourage developers to include some affordable units in each new apartment complex they build. You can read more about this policy here.
Voting yes to adopt inclusionary zoning: Davenport, Parker, Link, Wright, Denson, Houle, Edwards, Myers, Thornton, Hamby
Voting no: none
Abstaining: none
Absent: none
Proposal made by: Houle
Passed on April 5, 2022
Adopt Complete Streets Policy
Athens has had a complete streets policy for a long time, meaning that the local government strives to build roads to accommodate the needs of all users, including pedestrians and cyclists. However, the old policy had no teeth and really didn’t mean much. The new policy will have a much greater impact on transportation planning in Athens. It also specifically mentions equity and the need for “affordable, convenient, fair and accessible modes of transportation for all people, including vulnerable populations.”
Voting yes to adopt the complete streets policy: Davenport, Parker, Link, Wright, Denson, Houle, Edwards, Myers, Thornton, Hamby
Voting no: none
Abstaining: none
Absent: none
Proposal made by: Thornton
Passed on June 7, 2022
Approve FY 2023 Budget
The FY 2023 budget reduces property tax rates by 0.6 mils, provides for living wages at the ACC Library, funds three new positions in the Housing and Community Development Department and gives extra money to the Sheriff’s Office for overtime but doesn’t equalize the pay of Sheriff’s Deputies with ACCPD officers as Sheriff John Q Williams asked for. Commissioner Allison Wright voted no because she wanted to further increase the property tax rate millage reduction to 0.75 mils.
Voting yes to approve the budget: Davenport, Parker, Link, Denson, Houle, Edwards, Myers, Thornton, Hamby
Voting no: Wright
Abstaining: none
Absent: none
Proposal made by: Denson
Passed on June 7, 2022
Celebrate Pride Month and Juneteenth
The commission adopted resolutions to celebrate Athens Pride Month, Juneteenth and to raise a progress pride flag above City Hall for the first ever Pride march in downtown Athens on June 12, 2022. Commissioner Ovita Thornton voted no on both resolutions, worrying that a Confederate group might want to fly a flag as well (although the commission would not have to approve it) and that this gesture was mere symbolism. She was the only commissioner who voted no on either resolution.
Voting yes to celebrate Pride month: Davenport, Parker, Link, Wright, Denson, Houle, Edwards, Myers, Hamby
Voting no: Thornton
Abstaining: none
Absent: none
Proposal made by: Wright
Passed on June 7, 2022
Approve 1010 Oglethorpe Avenue
The commission approved a dense “cottage court” development on Oglethorpe Avenue next to the Knottingham neighborhood over the objections of nearby residents. These residents did not want the development because they worried it would increase traffic, raise their property values and cause parking problems. However, a traffic study showed it would increase traffic on Oglethorpe Avenue by only 1% and the ACC Tax Commissioner said that it would not raise their property values. The development also included some affordable units.
Voting yes to allow 1010 Oglethorpe Avenue: Parker, Link, Denson, Houle, Edwards, Myers,
Voting no: Davenport, Wright, Thornton, Hamby
Abstaining: none
Absent: none
Proposal made by: Denson
Passed on June 7, 2022
Begin Prince Avenue Road Diet Pilot
Commissioners voted to approve a 60-day pilot project to improve safety along Prince Avenue. The project involves removing one of the four travel lanes along the corridor from Milledge Avenue to Pulaski Street. The resulting three-lane road (with a center turn lane) will slow down traffic, improving safety for all users and providing space to include protected bike lanes. If the pilot is deemed successful, the commission will vote to approve the project on a permanent basis.
Voting yes to three-lane Prince Avenue: Davenport, Parker, Link, Denson, Houle, Edwards, Myers, Thornton, Hamby
Voting no: none
Abstaining: none
Absent: Wright
Proposal made by: Myers
Passed on August 2, 2022
Decriminalize Cannabis
The commission voted 8-1 to decriminalize misdemeanor cannabis possession in Athens. Local police will now have the option to charge violators a $35 fine instead of using the harsher state law. However, state police will still make cannabis arrests. Thornton dissented, saying that she felt cannabis was a gateway to more dangerous drugs.
Voting yes to decriminalize cannabis: Davenport, Parker, Link, Denson, Houle, Edwards, Myers, Hamby
Voting no: Thornton
Abstaining: none
Absent: Wright
Proposal made by: Edwards
Passed on August 2, 2022
Approve the 100% Clean Energy Plan
The commission approved a plan to reach 100% clean and renewable electricity for the local government by 2035 and 100% clean energy by 2050. The plan has a strong focus on equity and on relieving the burden of high energy prices that many Athenians face, particularly those with low incomes.
Voting yes to approve the clean energy plan: Davenport, Parker, Link, Denson, Houle, Edwards, Myers, Thornton, Hamby
Voting no: none
Abstaining: none
Absent: Wright
Proposal made by: Myers
Passed on August 2, 2022
Create Homelessness Plan
The commission voted to approve the creation of a long-term plan to address the problem of homelessness in an 8-1 vote. This plan will help coordinate the actions of multiple agencies and nonprofits in Athens as they continue their efforts to fight homelessness. It will also help the local government secure federal and state grants.
Commissioner Ovita Thornton opposed the creation of the plan because she thought it was unnecessary and a waste of funding (the plan would cost about $133,000). She would prefer “hard-core action” instead which she did not specify.
Voting yes to create a plan to address homelessness: Davenport, Link, Wright, Denson, Houle, Edwards, Myers, Hamby
Voting no: Thornton
Abstaining: none
Absent: none
Proposal made by: Myers
Passed on September 6, 2022
Authorize Eminent Domain to Help Complete the Firefly Trail
The ACC Commission voted 5-4 to authorize ACC staff to forcibly purchase land as needed to connect the Firefly Trail to Winterville. While staff may or may not actually use the power of eminent domain, the fact that they have this option means landowners will come to the bargaining table (willingly or not).
Some landowners would apparently prefer not to sell portions of their backyards to allow the Firefly Trail to be extended to Winterville. Commissioner Patrick Davenport motioned to hold off on authorizing eminent domain for a month to give constituents more time, but other commissioners wanted to allow the construction process to move forward as planned.
Voting yes to authorize eminent domain: Link, Denson, Houle, Edwards, Myers
Voting no: Davenport, Wright, Thornton, Hamby
Abstaining: none
Absent: none
Proposal made by: Edwards
Passed on November 1, 2022
Change Planning Department Work Plan
Commissioner Tim Denson proposed a modification to the ACC Planning Department’s long-term work plan to increase two items in priority: 1 – an ordinance authorizing accessory dwelling units and 2 – an ordinance to regulate short-term rentals like AirBnBs. He did so because he believes these ordinances will have a positive impact on housing costs.
Commissioners Allison Wright and Ovita Thornton disagreed with the proposal, saying instead that they thought more public input was needed on these proposals first. However, there will be multiple opportunities for public input either way, as normal. Most commissioners agreed with Denson and approved the slight change he suggested.
Voting yes to approve the work plan: Davenport, Link, Denson, Houle, Edwards, Myers, Hamby
Voting no: Wright, Thornton
Abstaining: none
Absent: none
Proposal made by: Denson
Passed on November 1, 2022
Recognize Firefighters’ Union
The background here is that the Professional Firefighters of Athens-Clarke County (Local 2795) have been organizing and attending commission meetings in recent months. Recently, they requested official recognition and their desire to begin the collective bargaining process with ACC management. While public sector unions are generally prohibited in Georgia, firefighters are the exception — they have a carve-out in state law.
When Mayor Kelly Girtz refused to allow this item on the commission’s regular agenda, Commissioners Houle, Denson, Link, Myers, Thornton and Hamby forced a special session to bring it to a vote. Somewhat oddly, Thornton and Myers ended up voting no on a resolution in support of employee unions in the ACC government. It’s unclear why they felt so strongly about holding a meeting in which no action would take place. In addition to their no vote on the resolution, they also would have likely voted no on an ordinance to adopt the ‘Firefighters Mediation Act’ and actually allow collective bargaining.
Importantly, the commission can pass resolutions with five votes, whereas ordinances require six. This led to an unfortunate situation where the commission successfully resolved to support Local 2795, but failed to implement that resolution with an ordinance.
It was clear the vote on the ordinance would fail if it took place, so it was delayed until April. Even so, Girtz informed the audience that he would veto the resolution, preventing it from having any effect whatsoever. The commission can overturn a veto with seven votes, but the needed votes are not there in this case. The votes will also likely not be present next year, making the delay a bit of a ‘Hail Mary’ pass into an uncertain future.
Voting yes to recognize the union: Link, Denson, Houle, Edwards, Hamby
Voting no: Davenport, Wright, Myers, Thornton
Abstaining: none
Absent: none
Proposal made by: Houle
Passed / Vetoed on December 6, 2022
Allow Accessory Dwelling Units
Accessory dwelling units are additional structures on a lot where someone could live, including small cottages, “in-law suites,” garage apartments or other dwellings. Mayor Kelly Girtz’s Inclusionary Housing Working Group drafted an ordinance to allow this kind of housing in single-family zones, which was unanimously approved by the ACC Planning Commission.
Frustratingly for supporters of the idea, only five commissioners ended up approving ADUs. Girtz was willing to vote in the affirmative, but the mayor can only vote if the commission is tied. There is currently an odd number of commissioners after Mariah Parker’s resignation, making a tie impossible.
Commissioner Melissa Link did not support ADUs if they could have up to two bedrooms, and Commissioner Patrick Davenport did not support allowing ADUs with a limit of one bedroom.
Voting yes on ADUs with a two-bedroom limit: Davenport, Denson, Houle, Edwards, Myers
Voting no: Link, Wright, Thornton, Hamby
Abstaining: none
Absent: none
Voting yes on ADUs with a one-bedroom limit: Link, Denson, Houle, Edwards, Myers
Voting no: Davenport, Wright, Thornton, Hamby
Abstaining: none
Absent: none
Proposal made by: Houle / Link
Failed / Failed on December 6, 2022
Keep Three Lanes on Prince Avenue
The ACC Commission voted unanimously to continue the three-lane Prince Avenue pilot project going indefinitely.
Voting yes to keep Prince Avenue as three lanes: Davenport, Link, Denson, Houle, Edwards, Myers, Hamby
Voting no: none
Abstaining: none
Absent: Wright, Thornton
Proposal made by: Houle
Passed on December 13, 2022