Atlanta meeting summaries, agendas, and minutes

Atlanta council approves $1.3B airport bond fund, $99M road contracts, solid waste fee changes

The Atlanta City Council on Aug. 17 approved a $1.3 billion budget amendment tied to airport revenue bonds, a $99 million fund for road construction contracts, and changes to solid waste service fees. The council also authorized refinancing of the publicly financed portion of Mercedes-Benz Stadium and approved several large contracts, including a $57.2 million waste services agreement and a $25 million drinking water project.

City Council actions

The council adopted a substitute ordinance adjusting solid waste service fees and clarifying backyard collection exemptions by a 12-1 vote. It authorized refinancing of the stadium’s hotel-motel tax agreements (13-0) and approved the $99 million joint task order fund for 2024 unit price road contracts (13-0). A $1.3 billion FY2027 budget amendment for Series 2026 airport revenue bonds passed 13-0, as did the $57.2 million contract with Waste Management and the $25 million Atlanta Drinking Water Renewal and Replacement contract. The council also approved a $295,000 settlement in Brown v. City of Atlanta (13-0) and referred a data center task force resolution to committee (13-1).

In a special called meeting Aug. 12, the council adopted the Series 2026 Airport General Revenue Bonds Supplemental Pricing Ordinance on substitute (8-0) and sent it to the mayor. A related budget amendment for bond proceeds was referred to the Finance/Executive Committee.

Committee decisions

Zoning Committee (Aug. 10) forwarded five rezoning and special use items to full council, including rezonings at 570 Glenn Street and 460 Decatur Street, and special use permits for a personal care home, alcohol sales, and commercial recreation. Four second-reading ordinances were referred back to committee (6-0).

Public Safety & Legal Administration (Aug. 10) approved a $371,007.24 budget amendment for police and fire preparedness, a $14,000 subgrant, and settlements of $295,000 and $175,000. It approved 14 claims totaling over $120,000 and denied 35 claims. A resolution on immigration enforcement at the airport and a fire inspection fee ordinance were held.

Community Development/Human Services (Aug. 11) approved three WIOA workforce grants totaling $3,020,401, a $750,000 amendment to a parks police contract (5-1), and an extension of the Blue Heron Nature Preserve lease. A $125,000 conference funding resolution was referred to Finance.

City Utilities (Aug. 11) gave a 5-1 favorable recommendation to the solid waste fee ordinance, and approved a $25M drinking water contract, a $57.2M waste services contract, and a $5.057M wastewater hauling extension, among others.

Transportation (Aug. 12) approved the $99M road fund, a $10.87M airport perimeter gates contract amendment, a $4.5M Peachtree Safe Street project, and a $5.6M airport planning contract. It held a parking lot consumer protection ordinance and a stop sign resolution.

Finance/Executive (Aug. 12) approved the land swap with Atlanta Public Schools, the stadium refinancing substitute, and donations to 21st Century Leaders ($45,000), Grove Park Foundation ($250,000), and West Atlanta Watershed Alliance ($11,000). A $28.5M IT contract was held.

Committee on Council (Aug. 17) adopted the full council agenda and gave favorable recommendations to mayoral appointments Halima White (Civil Service Board) and Karli Swift (Stakeholder Oversight Committee).

Coming up

• **Zoning Committee (Aug. 24)** – Rezoning of 23.35 and 13.36 acres at Logan Circle and Chattahoochee Ave, outdoor dining at 4475 Roswell Rd, and a medical cannabis dispensary ordinance.
• **Public Safety (Aug. 24)** – $40.04M Axon body camera contract expansion, public hearing on alcohol license fee increase, and settlements of $465,000 and $350,000.
• **Community Development (Aug. 25)** – EV charging stations at Historic Fourth Ward Skatepark, land use changes, and blight condemnations.
• **City Utilities (Aug. 25)** – $2M Chastain Park stream project, data center cooling water ban, and EcoFleet EV equipment.
• **Transportation (Aug. 26)** – Street abandonments, Beltline grants, and a $10.87M procurement waiver.
• **Finance/Executive (Aug. 26)** – $1.22M IT research contract, Fire Station 22 lease, and tax compliance resolution.

Atlanta Council Approves Storage Moratorium, $5.99M Deloitte Contract, and DNC Bid Authorization

The Atlanta City Council and its committees took action on a range of land-use, budget, and personnel matters over the past two weeks, including a moratorium on new storage facility applications, a $5.99 million consulting contract extension, and a resolution authorizing the mayor to pursue hosting the 2028 Democratic National Convention.

City Council: Storage Moratorium and Zoning Actions

At its July 6 regular meeting, the City Council voted 15-0 to adopt a 180-day moratorium on new applications for secure, self, and mixed-use storage facilities. The council also approved several zoning items 15-0, including rezoning for 708 Kirkwood Avenue, SE, amended rezoning for 1579 Gates Place, NW, an amended special use permit for Ansley Golf Club, Inc., and a substitute ordinance for an APD Zone 6 precinct lease at 2025 Hosea Williams Drive, SE. The Department of Procurement monthly report was accepted and filed 13-0. The appointments of Ed Baines and Stephanie Jackson were referred to the City Utilities Committee and Finance/Executive Committee, respectively.

Committee on Council: Housing Board Appointments and Special Election Agreement

Also on July 6, the Committee on Council unanimously approved the reappointment of Tony Martin and Rosalind Elliott to the Atlanta Housing Authority Board, and the appointment of Nicole Moore to the Chattahoochee Brick Company Memorial, Greenspace, and Park Board. The committee issued a favorable recommendation for an agreement with the Fulton County Board of Elections for a special election regarding a one percent sales tax. Four items remained held in committee, including an ordinance on City Charter sponsor requirements, a resolution requesting an investigation into Foris Webb, III, a resolution on law enforcement at recreation center polling places, and an ordinance modifying public comment and proclamation procedures.

Finance/Executive Committee: Deloitte Contract and DNC Authorization

On July 15, the Finance/Executive Committee unanimously approved the appointment of Stephanie Jackson as City Auditor. The committee voted unanimously to waive procurement source-selection provisions and extend a Deloitte consulting agreement for up to $5,986,500. The committee also approved a resolution (5-0) authorizing the mayor to execute agreements if Atlanta is selected to host the 2028 Democratic National Convention, and a resolution requesting state reimbursement for Browns Mill Road repaving (unanimous). Several ordinances were forwarded to the Full Council with no recommendation, including items on bond indenture matters, airport revenue bonds, and a FY2027 budget amendment. An ordinance on IBM Maximo software funding was held in committee.

City Utilities Committee: Water Infrastructure Funding

The City Utilities Committee on July 14 forwarded a $15.57 million budget amendment for Flint River Pump Station upgrades to the Full Council (unanimous). It also forwarded a $4 million water and wastewater budget amendment for facility improvements and a $2 million amendment for geotechnical testing to the Full Council. The committee approved appointments of Ed Baines and Charles "Rick" Clear to the Community Access Media Board (unanimous), and approved several contract renewals and GDOT-related water infrastructure adjustments. A Chastain Park Golf Course stream restoration budget amendment, a floodplain elevation waiver for 2428 Oldfield Road, NW, a sewer service criteria ordinance, and a solid waste management and fee adjustment ordinance were all held in committee.

Zoning Committee: Rezoning and Billboard Approval

On July 13, the Zoning Committee approved (6-0) a digital billboard construction at 501 Cleveland Circle, SW, and a rezoning for 1155 Hank Aaron Drive, SW (5-0). It approved a waiver for a nonconforming structure at 4300 Powers Ferry Road, NW as amended (6-0), and a truck terminal special use permit for Jonesboro Road, SE as amended (6-0). An SPI-21 historic spacing exception was held in committee (6-1), and a rezoning for 1425 Ellsworth Industrial Boulevard, NW was also held. The Peachtree Circle Historic District designation was referred to committee.

Items Pending Minutes

Three committee meetings from July 13-15 have agendas available but minutes not yet published: Public Safety & Legal Administration (July 13), Community Development/Human Services (July 14), and Transportation (July 15). Notable agenda items include a $25,000 property damage claim settlement on Ralph David Abernathy Boulevard, workforce grants totaling up to $3,020,401 across three WIOA programs, and airport-related contracts including up to $28,131,676 for parking deck reconstruction and expansion at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. These items reflect what was on the agendas; outcomes are not yet confirmed by published minutes.

Coming Up

No upcoming meetings are listed for the next 14 days.