The Atlanta City Council has adopted an ordinance directing Invest Atlanta to use money remaining in the Atlanta Recovery Fund to support small businesses along Cascade Road which have been adversely impacted by ongoing water and sewer projects. The fund was initially created to support small businesses when multiple water main breaks in spring 2024 caused significant disruptions and closures with Council providing $7.5 million (25-O-1480).
Other items approved by Council include:
- A resolution requesting that the Metropolitan Atlanta Transit Authority appear before the Council’s Transportation Committee to provide a comprehensive update on safety protocols and infrastructure accountability following a July 14 escalator malfunction that injured several people (25-R-3812).
- A resolution issuing a $14.5 million contract for construction of Fire Station 29-EMS (25-R-3815).
- An ordinance retroactively authorizing and ratifying an application for a $625,000 Passenger Rail Alternatives Analysis Study Grant from the Atlanta Regional Commission, and committing $125,000 in matching funds, to identify one or more recommended passenger rail locations that can be served by existing and future intercity passenger rail service in metro Atlanta (25-O-1486).
- An ordinance providing a $600,000 donation to the Atlanta Volunteer Lawyers Foundation in support of its “Access to Legal Counsel” program that provides eviction defense services to eligible city residents (25-R-3817).
- A resolution donating $500,000 to the Grove Park Foundation to support Neighborhood Partnership Organization (NPO) capacity building services on behalf of the West Hollowell Foundation (25-R-3799).
- A resolution to remove all parking meters in the Atkins Park Commercial Zone of Virginia Highlands, at the request of the Virginia-Highland District Association and the Virginia Highlands Civic Association in union with the business owners (25-R-3816).
- An ordinance transferring $3 million from watershed reserves for appropriations and add funds to the rejuvenation of Historic Fourth Ward Park green infrastructure project (25-O-1448).
- A resolution executing a one-year, approximately $179,000 agreement to create a unique public mural at the intersection of Windsor Street, SW, and Rawson Street, SW. Funding will come from the Moving Atlanta Forward Infrastructure Bond, which allocated $5 million for public arts projects. This item was an immediate consideration.
Items introduced for consideration include:
- An ordinance providing two hours of free parking during regularly scheduled Atlanta City Council meetings at City-owned parking lots and decks serving City Hall, as well as metered spaces within a two-block radius of City Hall.
- A resolution calling for a comprehensive audit of the Lakewood Amphitheater lease agreement with Live Nation Entertainment, including ticket sales reporting and payments to the Community Benefits Agreement Fund, and to report findings and recommendations to City Council within 90 days.
- A resolution authorizing a $100,000 donation to the Springlake Civic Association to fund playground improvements and a pilot program to expand and improve the tree canopy in Ellsworth Park.
- An ordinance providing a $100,000 donation to the nonprofit Neighbor in Need in support of emergency home repairs for legacy residents in the East Lake, Kirkwood and Edgewood communities.
The City Council presented a proclamation to business leader Aiyana Mathews.