FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Council Communications
Atlanta City Hall
55 Trinity Ave. SW
Atlanta, GA 30303

March 1, 2021 

Atlanta City Council Adopts Impact Fee Legislation, Opposes Voting Restriction Efforts 

ATLANTA — The Atlanta City Council adopted legislation Monday to approve the 2020 development impact fee study and update the City’s impact fee ordinance (Legislative Reference No. 21-O-0096). Impact fees are a one-time fee issued on a new or proposed development project to pay for all or a portion of the costs of providing public services to the new development. Atlanta’s development impact fee program was established in 1993.

The Council also voted to immediately approve the following legislative items:

• A resolution to oppose Georgia House Bill 531 and any General Assembly action to impose greater restrictions on voting absentee by mail, reduce the number of early voting days, eliminate or reduce Saturday or Sunday voting, or otherwise limit the voting options of Georgia citizens.

• A resolution to express the City of Atlanta’s opposition to any legislation under consideration by the Georgia General Assembly during its 2021 regular session that proposes to take any action to restrict voter access of Georgia citizens, limit Georgia citizens’ ability to exercise their fundamental right to vote or would otherwise act to suppress the votes of Georgia citizens.

Other items adopted Monday include:

• An ordinance establishing that Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport will be in operation during such hours as designated by the Department of Aviation general manager, outlining who is allowed in the airport during hours when it is closed, and setting punishment for violations (Legislative Reference No. 20-O-1791).

• An ordinance to amend the City’s charter to designate the two youth serving organizations that will each appoint a member between 18-30 years old to serve on the Atlanta Citizens Review Board (Legislative Reference No. 21-O-0107). As a charter change, three readings are required to adopt the ordinance. This was the second of three votes.

• A resolution authorizing Amendment No. 10 to a contract with CCTV Products, Services and Installation on behalf of the Department of Parks and Recreation in an amount not to exceed $100,000 for the installation and repair of surveillance camera systems and keyless access control devices for various parks, facilities and recreational center areas citywide (Legislative Reference No. 21-R-3204).

Legislation was introduced to be considered in committee next week, including:

• A resolution to establish a City of Atlanta-Fulton County Joint Committee consisting of representatives from the City of Atlanta and Fulton County to develop a framework to assist the Fulton County Sheriff with severe overcrowding at the Fulton County Jail.

• A resolution to accept and adopt an official justice reforms plan that is focused on stopping over-incarceration and finding real solutions to equity in our justice system and contains the final policy and operational decision necessary to make Atlanta safer and more equitable and accomplish the ultimate closure of the Atlanta City Detention Center within the next 15 months.

• An ordinance authorizing the mayor or her designee to utilize the Park Improvement Fund to install security cameras at the Cascade Springs Nature Preserve.

• An ordinance authorizing the mayor or her designee to utilize the Park Improvement Fund to install security cameras at the McGhee Tennis Center.

About Atlanta City Council
The Atlanta City Council is the chief policy-making body for the City of Atlanta. It acts by considering and enacting all laws that govern the City. The council also approves the operating and capital budgets for the City as recommended by the mayor, and it continually monitors revenues and expenditures for local government operations. The Atlanta City Council reviews and has final say on many land-use and zoning matters. Major economic development projects for the City also fall under the council’s consideration.

The Atlanta City Council is comprised of 12 districts and three at-large posts. Council representatives include: Council President: Felicia A. Moore; District 1: Carla Smith; District 2: Amir Farokhi; District 3: Antonio Brown; District 4: Cleta Winslow; District 5: Natalyn Mosby Archibong; District 6: Jennifer N. Ide; District 7: Howard Shook; District 8: J.P. Matzigkeit; District 9: Dustin Hillis; District 10: Andrea L. Boone; District 11: Marci Collier Overstreet; District 12: Joyce M. Sheperd; Post 1 At-Large: Michael Julian Bond; Post 2 At-Large: Matt Westmoreland; and Post 3 At-Large: Andre Dickens.

To learn more about the Atlanta City Council, please visit http://citycouncil.atlantaga.gov/. For the latest updates, follow the Atlanta City Council on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.

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Contacts:        Zena Lewis                              zolewis@atlantaga.gov                       404-330-6309

                        Talia Moffitt                             tkmoffitt@atlantaga.gov                     404-546-1835 

                        Michael Ulmer                        mmulmer@atlantaga.gov                   404-330-6056