CCI Policy Updates: Week of April 20 - April 24

The Center for Civic Innovation’s mission is to inspire people to take action, invest in promising homegrown ideas, and advocate for policy change. Especially during this global pandemic, it can be hard to stay on top of local information regarding what’s happening. That's why we started this blog series to provide our community with important and relevant policy updates. Each post recaps the past week and provides a look ahead at what’s on the agenda next week, including opportunities for the public to engage.

Week of April 20 Policy Updates:

• Governor Brian Kemp issued an executive order to allow the reopening of certain businesses across the state.

• Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms issued an administrative order to create an advisory council on reopening the city.

• The Atlanta City Council returned from its spring recess. (agenda / livestream / press release) Adopted legislation included:

  • $7 million in emergency assistance for those impacted by COVID-19

  • adoption of a Vision Zero strategy to prevent traffic fatalities and reduce speed limits on certain streets throughout the city

  • a resolution calling for the establishment of “point-of-care” on-site testing in low-income areas of the city

  • a resolution requesting an accounting of all emergency assistance to non-profit and philanthropic organizations as part of the City’s response to COVID-19

  • authorization of $250,000 from the Stadium Neighborhoods Community Trust Fund in response to COVID-19

• The Council chose to pause the proposed $200 million housing bond ordinance.

• Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms held a teleconference with the Council. On the call she announced that the City has received $88 million in federal CARES Act funding.

• Atlanta Public Schools (APS) Superintendent Meria Carstarphen held another Virtual Town Hall. As previously announced, this week instruction scaled back from 5 days per week to 4 days. It was also announced that in response to input from seniors, APS is planning to host in-person graduation when it’s safe to do so rather than just having virtual or drive-in ceremonies this spring.

• The Board of Education announced Dr. Lisa Herring as the sole finalist for the job of superintendent.

• The Fulton County Board of Registration and Elections held a special remote meeting to decide on early voting locations and changes to election day polling places. So far, they have received over 113,000 applications for absentee voting by mail. (livestream / news)

• Georgia’s Department of Community Health’s Structured Family Caregiving (SFC) program, which typically does not compensate spouses, will now provide stipends to spouses providing care at home during COVID-19. (press release)

Opportunities for Engagement This Week:

• The Atlanta City Council will be meeting in committee. Items on the agenda include:

  • Public Safety/Legal Administration (Monday, 2:00pm)

    • an ordinance ratifying the mayor’s moratorium on special event applications

    • a resolution requesting space at the Atlanta City Detention Center for temporary use as a homeless shelter

  • City Utilities (Tuesday, 10:00am)

    • various agreements related to the Green Infrastructure Design Challenge

  • Community Development/Human Services (Tuesday, 1:30pm)

    • an ordinance to accept a grant from the state to fund the summer lunch program for children at recreation centers

    • a resolution calling for the collection and reporting of demographic data of COVID-19 patients in the City of Atlanta

    • resolutions to defer repayment and make forgivable loans from Invest Atlanta’s Business Continuity Loan Fund

  • Transportation (Wednesday, 9:30am)

    • an ordinance to help fund the Lee Street Trail Project from the Westside Beltline to the Oakland City and Lakewood Fort McPherson MARTA stations

    • a resolution to establish a plan for assisting people experiencing homelessness who congregate at the airport

    • a resolution to renew the city’s contract for Relay Bike Share for another five years

  • Finance/Executive (Wednesday, 1:30pm)

    • a ordinance requiring food delivery services to seal and time-stamp orders

    • a resolution urging the City to support local businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic by choosing equipment, supplies, and services from local businesses and suppliers

    • various ordinances authorizing donations from individual council members to non-profits providing assistance during the COVID-19 crisis 

• A virtual public hearing will be held on Tuesday at 1:30pm (as part of the Community Development/Human Services Committee meeting) on the 2020-2024 Consolidated Plan; 2020 Annual Action Plan; and funding recommendations for Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG), HOME and Housing Opportunities for People with AIDS (HOPWA) programs.

• It’s time to respond to the 2020 Census. As of April 24th, the self-response rate in the City of Atlanta is 46.4% – 12.4% below the final self-response rate in 2010.

• The State has begun mailing absentee ballots for the June 9th election. Check with DeKalb County or Fulton County on how to request and submit absentee ballot request forms. 

• Neighborhood Planning Units (NPUs) D, K, M, and Z will meet remotely. (agendas) Don’t know your NPU? Find your NPU here!

What We’re Reading/Watching/Hearing:

• Why Local Governments Should Do Their Own Disaster Prep – The current crisis shows that cities can’t always rely on state or federal government for support.

• How Millions of Women Became the Most Essential Workers in America – “The work [nonwhite women] do has often been underpaid and undervalued — an unseen labor force that keeps the country running and takes care of those most in need, whether or not there is a pandemic.”

• Atlanta Public Schools Taps Finalist To Be Superintendent; Mayor Bottoms Creates Council To Decide When To End The City's Stay-At-Home Order; Council President Moore Responds To Gov.'s Decision To Open Economy – Rose Scott speaks with APS’s prospective next superintendent.

• To Combat Widespread Job Loss, Stay Local and Look to Import Replacement – Local government purchasing to support the local economy is more important than ever.

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

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