BACKGROUND: The Atlanta City Council will join Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms on a conference call Thursday, July 2 to discuss updates related to the City’s response to COVID-19 and other issues. The conference call will begin at 11:30 a.m.
The public can tune in by dialing (877) 579-6743 and entering Conference ID: 8315991256. The call will be simulcast on the Council’s website, YouTube channel, and Facebook and Twitter pages at @atlcouncil, and on Channel 26.
Work has begun for the demolition of the United Avenue bridge.
Atlanta BeltLine, Inc. met with Verizon last Friday and they informed us that the fiber running across the bridge contains various users. This information and the delicate nature of demolition around said conduit raised the attention level of the general contractor, Reeves Young. They have retained a concrete saw cutting firm in order to demolish the concrete directly above the conduit in pieces They will do this work slowly and delicately so as to leave the conduit containing the fiber lines in place, elevated above the road.
This is estimated to add 3 additional days to the actual work although it will not impact the completion of the overall demolition which has until July 10 to be completed per the road closure permit. While the project will not be done at that point, subsequent work such as concrete access ramps and the like can be done with just flag persons and maybe a single lane closure.
Please see visit bit.ly/unitedavebridge for the latest project details – as well as new detour maps for trail and road users. Stay tuned for details on our upcoming virtual public meeting to present interim solutions for safe trail connectivity, once a proposal is further developed.
The Department of Watershed Management has now lifted the boil water advisory issued on June 27, 2020 for all affected areas. Sampling has confirmed there was no contamination of the public water system. Water may be used for all purposes without boiling. The Georgia Environmental Protection Division has been notified.
The main break has been effectively isolated to the localized area of Georgia Tech, and repairs to the water main are on-going. Pressures are normal throughout the system.
For more information, go to www.atlantawatershed.org or connect with us on our social media channels, including Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram @ATLWatershed.
If you are experiencing low pressure or you are without water service, please call 404-546-0447. Download the ATL311 Mobile App Today!
Following a water main break on a 36-inch transmission main at Ferst Dr NW and Hemphill Ave NW yesterday, which interrupted service at the Hemphill Electric Pumping Station, a Boil Water Advisory was issued out of an abundance of caution for residents and businesses in portions of the city of Atlanta (South of 17th St. NW and West of East Lake Drive SE), and the cities of South Fulton, Union City, Fairburn, and Chattahoochee Hills. The issue has been effectively isolated to the localized area of Georgia Tech and repairs to the water main are on-going. Service has been restored to all areas, although some customers may be experiencing lower than normal pressures.
Sampling of the impacted areas was initiated last night and lab results are expected after 7:30 pm tonight. The Georgia Environmental Protection Division will advise the Department of Watershed Management when the advisory can be lifted. Click here HEREto view a map of the impacted service area.
While the system has returned to normal, those in the impacted areas should continue to boil all water prior to use or use bottled water until the boil water advisory is lifted. If you experienced a low water pressure or a loss of water at your address, but your address is not within the area described, the City recommends you follow the precautionary measures (click HERE).
If you are still experiencing low pressure or you are without water service, please call 404-546-0447.
For updates, visit our website at atlantawatershed.org, stay tuned to local news outlets and connect with us on our social media channels, including Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram @ATLWatershed. Sign up for Notify ATL to receive real-time updates to your home, mobile or business phone by text and voice.
Atlanta—Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms received the Use of Force Advisory Council’s 14-day recommendations as mandated in Administrative Order 2020-18. The Advisory Council provided 10 early action recommendations to Mayor Bottoms spanning three focus areas: Law and Policy, Police Culture and Mindsets, and Community and Partnerships.
“In just 14 days, the Use of Force Advisory Council has developed meaningful recommendations to begin the process of revising Atlanta’s Use of Force polices to rebuild trust in our communities,” said Mayor Bottoms. “Thank you to the members of this Advisory Council for your diligence and thoughtfulness. Together, we will harness this moment in history to reimagine our use of force policies and elevate the Atlanta Police Department as a national model for modern policing.”
Upon receiving the Advisory Council’s recommendations, Mayor Bottoms immediately acted upon three of the 10 recommendations by issuing three Administrative Orders and a letter to the Atlanta Citizen Review Board (ACRB). The remaining seven recommendation are under legal and operational review by Mayor Bottoms’ Administration to determine further action.
The recommendations that have been adopted and acted upon by the Administration are:
Commit to identifying policies to improve officer compliance and public transparency of captured body worn camera footage,
Create a centralized repository for witness footage of use of force by officers, and
Extend powers and community awareness of Atlanta Citizen Review Board (ACRB).
The dashboard is an interactive platform that shows NPU activity, including zoning, events, and alcohol license applications. It allows you to see every BZA, ZRB, and LRB application, site plans, and even the NPU’s vote! Click to dive right in!
Atlanta Beltline, Inc. expects to begin preliminary work this Friday, June 26th to prepare for the demolition of the United Avenue bridge.
The first step is to locate several fiber communication lines that have been identified in the immediate vicinity of the bridge. Starting this Friday, our contractor will be removing soil and uncovering buried utilities on the Southside Trail corridor just west of the United Avenue bridge. If our contractor discovers any fiber lines that travel across the bridge structure itself, they will need to be relocated by the utility provider before demolition work can be scheduled.
To expedite this work and ensure trail user safety, beginningthis Friday morning at 6:00 AM the trail crossing at United Ave will be closed until further notice. As the investigative work proceeds, ABI will finalize and publish a schedule for the bridge demolition process.
Please see visit bit.ly/unitedavebridge for the latest project details – as well as new detour maps for trail and road users. Stay tuned for details on our upcoming virtual public meeting to present interim solutions for safe trail connectivity, once a proposal is further developed.
Beginning Wednesday, July 1, 2020, the Fulton County Library System will begin curbside pickup services and allow patrons with library books and materials at home to begin returning those materials to their local library branches.
County libraries will remain closed for typical in-branch library services, but items placed on hold by library patrons will be available for pickup from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday at designated library branches.
To pick-up library materials on hold, residents are asked to:
Bring their library or photo ID to the branch where their items are being held
Follow signs to designated parking spaces for curbside service (or to designated tables for walk-up services)
Call the number on signs to alert a staff member that they have arrived and provide their name
Show the staff member photo ID or library card through closed window
Open/unlock trunk or back seat door to allow library staff to place items in their vehicle
Walk-up patrons will use social distancing to provide ID and receive materials in front of branches
To return library materials, residents are asked to:
Bring their books or other materials to any library branch open for curbside services
Place items in designated bins in front of the library
All items returned to the library will be placed in quarantine and will not be checked out to any library patron for a minimum of 24 hours
All items picked up will be checked out for a period of 14 days for new books/materials, 7 days for DVDs and 28 days for all other materials. A very limited selection of passes will be available for checkout during curbside service. Residents are asked not to donate books at this time.
“Our patrons have been so gracious during this challenging time, quickly adapting to the digital services only model of library services during COVID-19. Our staff has jumped in and created virtual programming, expanded our Ask a Librarian hours, implemented virtual book clubs, taught countless patrons how to use digital library services, but now, we are ready to get back to our branches and get books in hands,” said Library Director Gayle Holloman. “Patrons who wish to check out physical materials will be able to do so using the library’s new curbside model beginning July 1st.”
In addition to curbside services, the Library System’s Ask a Librarian live assistance site will remain available for extended hours, Monday –Thursday 10 am – 8 pm, Friday and Saturday 10 am – 6 p.m., Sunday 2 – 6 pm. Virtual Programming will continue on the Library’s social media channels by following @fulcolibrary.
For more about the Fulton County Library System please check out their website here.
ATLANTA — The Atlanta City Council on Saturday approved the budget for Fiscal Year 2021, which begins July 1 (Legislative Reference No. 20-O-1260). The proposed general fund is approximately $673 million. The budget was approved by a 13-2 vote. The Fiscal Year 2021 budget includes:
• No increase in the City of Atlanta’s millage rate.
• Adding $427,000 for the Atlanta Citizen Review Board to increase funding for outreach and communications, additional positions, and renovation and relocation efforts.
• $1.6 million to launch an Equitable Growth Grant program focused on the creation and attraction of high-quality, middle-wage jobs
• $1.5 million for the expansion of the Atlanta/Fulton County Pre-Arrest Diversion (PAD) Initiative to support the hiring of additional staff, other costs to cover direct participant expenses, the purchase of vehicles, and additional office space.
• $500,000 in funding to the Department of Transportation to install speed humps.
The Council also approved legislation adopting the personnel paper to provide for certain personnel actions in line with the Fiscal Year 2021 budget (Legislative Reference No. 20-O-1352).
Additionally, the Council approved legislation to create a Public Safety and Community Support Restricted Fund and authorize the chief operating officer to produce a report of recommendations to enhance the City’s approach to public safety (Legislative Reference No. 20-R-4068).
“Atlanta has completed its first ever participatory budgeting program – Downtown Decides!
Beginning in December, we asked you to submit your best ideas on how to spend $1 million Downtown on transportation infrastructure. We received well over 100 proposals. 33 of them made the ballot and during the month of May, 3,479 of you who work, live, or study Downtown voted! With all that’s going on in the world, I think it’s a pretty special statement about our city and it’s desire to be civically engaged to have that kind of turnout.
So, which projects won? I’m thrilled to say that you voted to fund 17 projects — 17 great ideas that the Atlanta Department of Transportation is now charged with executing.”
NPU-W - City of Atlanta 