Meeting Minutes – April 8, 2020
OPENING REMARKS
MOMENT OF SILENCE
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
Favor 25 Oppose 0 Abstention 2
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Minutes not available will be at a later date
CHAIR REPORT
April 10th Governor impose an Executive Order stating public gatherings cannot be allowed by more than 10 people. Our Bylaws all video meetings as long as can see the participants. Using Zoom polling feature to capture & record votes
Our new website NPUTatlanta.com is now up and running
Voted in Executive Committee to defer Masterplan Vote
April 1st was Census Day you still have time to complete at mycensus.gov. We need a good representation as resources for state are dependent upon the numbers from census.
Special Thank you to NPU-T Neighborhoods & Stakeholders distribution of masks Sis. DeBorah, Beecher Donnelly partnered with Vision Kitchen providing meals to needy families, Pathway Christian Church feeding on Wednesdays and boxes on 4th Saturdays.
We discovered have about 30 homeless families in the Washington Cluster. Ashview Heights, AUCNA, WEND, Westview were big supporters in helping to raise $2000. We also collected nonperishable food items and had volunteers distribute them on last week. Great THANK YOU to all for the collective efforts to support and help in this effort.
City Resources can be located at ATLStrong. You can also receive updates from ATLStrong by texting ATLCOVID to 888777. To report COVID related concerns contact 311 or email stayathome@atlantaga.gov
To find out about additional available resources from United Way by calling 211
APS will continue food distribution weekly on Mondays; however, no distribution will be made during Spring Break next week.
COVID Testing Facility at GA Tech with no fee for drive through testing. Currently working to determine additional testing facilities that can be put in the SW Atlanta area
Secure the Vote – Jason Kentrall
Fill out application that should be received by mail
You can take a picture and scan then email to address on top or mail it back in
Currently the voting date for Georgia is still May 19, we will advise if that changes
Still request ballot even if you did early voting so that you can vote in the Fulton County Elections
REPORTS FROM CITY/COUNTY DEPARTMENTAL REPRESENTATIVES
Atlanta Police Department – Major Collier Zone 1
Main goal right now is trying to keep communities and officers safe
Crime is down because people are not out
Still dealing with large crowds and house parties if experience this please call police
Plans to begin addressing quality of life issues
Park usage is only an issue if you are gathering and not doing social distancing
QUESTIONS:
How do we get people to take this seriously? Educate individuals and can call police to respond. Not taking anyone to jail just educating and asking to disperse
Has plan been put in place to address the prostitution in Ashview Heights? Yes, will be addressing this issue. Can also touch base with Dany Craig who is the President
How many officers tested positive for the coronavirus? Six to seven officers, two were in hospital they are now out asking continued prayers this is a new space for officers
Zone 4 – Not in Attendance
Atlanta Fire Department – Not in Attendance
311 Barbara Dougherty, Community Affairs Coordinator (470-698-5171 or bdoughtery@atlantaga.gov
311 is still operational with all staff working from home. There is currently a social media team in place diligently to keep timely information and updates available through all social media platforms: Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat, NextDoor, Reddit, YouTube. Text ATL Strong is now available. Gatherings can be reported to 311. Public Works handles bulk pickups with all the extra cleaning going on. Still taking the requests and passing to Public Works. Jason inserted they want items in the trash can and will not pick up items outside of the bins. Contact information: Available Monday – Friday, 7am – 7pm: Dial 311, atl311@atlanataga.gov, 311 APP is available, www.ATL311.com.
ATL Strong – Yusef Mccaskill (also with 311)
Text is to get high level highlights. You can get phone calls and emails if you register
Text ATLSTRONG or ATLCOVID19 to 888777 for text alerts
Public Works – Mr. Besi
SWEET Team, Officer Knight –
All items must be in the trash bins only for trash pickups. Bulk pickups can still be scheduled and items out 7PM the night before appointment. There are extended wait times right now due to the number of increased calls. Yard trimmings are still being collected, 20 or more bags should be called in as bulk pickup
Fulton County Board of Health – Lisa Goodin, Director Community Health Services (lisa.goodin@fultoncounty.ga.gov)
On March 31st the District Health Director executed a shelter in place
All government offices are also adhering to shelter in place
Those that are most vulnerable, and seniors are encouraged to adhere and practice social distancing
Encouraging everyone to wear mask/facial coverings outside
Georgia.gov can find the executive orders
For testing information and help navigating through getting testing contact 404-613-8150 Monday – Friday 8:30–5pm.
Non-essential home business people should not be out unless conducting or receiving an essential service. For more information on essential service.
QUESTIONS:
Is there an exception of testing asymptomatic? No right now testing is prioritized for those showing systems of COVID -19
Are working with CDC? Board of Health works with all Healthcare Systems in Georgia and following the guidelines for treatment, testing coming from CDC
COVID19 Hotline – 404-613-8150
Department of Behavioral Health & Developmental Disabilities, Afrika Cotton afrika.cotton@fultoncountyga.gov
Understand this is a highly stressful and those with anxieties and still providing reduced cost services and therapeutic services 8:30-5pm
There will be a virtual Hope and Cope Session tomorrow from 1-2pm on FB Live giving strategies to help families during this time. Health Director and Clinicians will be on hand to answer question and offer suggestions in this interactive session.
Tele Health Services: Adults 470-230-0840; Children, Adolescents, Emerging Adults 404-612-9339
Georgia Crisis Hotline is available 24/7/365 at 1-800-715-4225
(Please allow representatives of public safety agencies to report first)
PLANNER’S REPORT– Lori Leland, 404-330-6143 or lleland@atlantaga.gov
Matters for Vote/Review and Comment (See attachment)-
Everyone in Planners office is working from home
Permits are being accepted online starting this week to keep construction work going
Onlyaccepting BZA. ZRB; there are no liquor license at this time
No public meetings scheduled at this time
COMMENTS FROM ELECTED OFFICIALS
President Felica Moore – Atlanta City Council President
City Council is continuing virtual meetings. On recess for spring but continuing weekly updates
Should still be able to reach all representatives through phone or email
Please follow FB page to stay informed or to see if can find what information you may need. Constant posting new updates and wealth of information from previous posts also available
Can also follow on Instagram and Twitter
Currently focused on unsheltered homeless population. There is a hotel available for those homeless that have tested positive. There are 13 reported people in shelter environment and 1 death affected by the coronavirus.
Also working on the unsheltered in downtown area, there is more desperation due to no restaurants, lack of food, less people to beg so huge focus on this very at-risk population
ACDC (Atlanta City Detention Center) – Discussion with the Mayor for use a space to use for unsheltered homeless but don’t think would work because they may not voluntarily go to a jail facility. No discussion for use of this space as a testing facility
GA World Congress Ctr is working on becoming a hospital care facility
There will be a budget shortfall for City of Atlanta, currently a freeze on hiring, City is losing money from several revenue streams, $35-45 million-dollar budget reduction by City year end of June 2020
There was an additional $500 for the 5400 hundred essential employees which will further contribute to the budget issues and there will be a need for some serious budget adjustments to be made. At some point lay offs may be unavoidable.
Court house cases – there is currently a Judicial State of Emergency everything is also in a holding pattern
There will be a walkthrough of airport at 2am where it has been discovered many of the homeless population has been sleeping there. We are sure some of the unsheltered are sick and hope to get a better assessment of the situation at the airport
Judge Cassandra Kirk – Chief Magistrate Judge Fulton County – Statewide Judicial Emergency extended; dates are March 14 - May 13, 2020
Current Court orders are listed on website
Arrest warrants are still being done 24/7 – 365 days, so that service has not been affected
Court is still running. Bond hearings are from 2-5pm for 3 days a week in Courtroom 1A and 1B. Starting on Monday will be using Zoom
Currently not doing any civil cases, garnishments, evictions, or foreclosures; however, landlords can still file and go into a que until and those services restart
The Federal CARES Act was passed on March 27th which prevents evictions for certain tenants in “covered properties” for 120 days when court starts back on May 14th
Jury Services have been shut down and jury trials are not being held
Only essential court is still happening
QUESTION: Are we heading for Marshall law? ANS: Do not see that coming but can’t speak further to that
Sebastian Barron – Officer of the Governor, Budget Policy Advisor and Metro Atlanta Field Representative (678-680-7637 or Sebastian.barron@georgia.gov)
Unemployment Benefits – For Emergency Benefits employer files on behalf of the employee. State gives max of $365 based upon how much you have paid into the system in the past year. The Federal relief is giving the extra $600 which allows for a max of $965 provision. Those 1099 employees can apply as well. The portal not yet created but should be available sometime next week.
On May 4th Georgia will start working behind the scenes on part 4 stimulus package
Rapid testing with five-minute results started on yesterday so numbers are going to go up drastically before we can start the flatten curve
SBA Loans – $350 billion funding with $90 million already promised out for small businesses. Encourage those in need to apply while the funds are still available.
QUESTIONS:
Is system overloaded? Yes, mostly depending on who you bank with. The big banks like BOA, Wells, etc. have been, but smaller banks and local credit don’t have as much traffic
Is the deadline date still April 10th? Yes, some have already received money. For those that had banking relationships those applications where already ready and just waiting to be filed as soon as the process opened which gave them an advantage in getting funds quicker.
Will there be a curfew put in place in the near future? No plans in place for a curfew. Main issues are still house parties, card parties, people congregating at local residences. Asking people to encourage their friends, relatives, neighbors to do the right thing to shelter in place
Commissioner Natalie Hall –
Concerned about the homeless because they have no resources
Dawn.butler@fultoncountyga.gov is the head of Fulton County Homeless Division and can be reached for updates on homeless population
There was a Resolution passed on April 1st which allocated emergency funding for $10 million to assist with senior services, homelessness, economic stabilization, poverty remediation, residents, isolation & testing for homeless impacted by COVID19 virus.
Funding Breakdown: Meals for seniors $2.5 mil, other senior service $2mil; homelessness $1mil for isolation & quarantine, testing for homeless $1/2 mil; economic development $1.5 mil; Small business $1.5 million (also artists); $2.5 for food insecurity and economic and human services for non-profits loss of customers;
Small Business Loan Assistance through a company called ACE terms of loans are for loss of customers and business revenue due to COVD19. Working capital use for up $50,000 with terms of 36 months with three months deferred payments, three months interest only, 30-month interest & principle payments rate is 4%, and there are no fees. Loan info at www.aceloans.org/fulton
Property Taxes – voted on tax relief it is myth that those rates have been increased.
Councilmember Winslow – Demetrius Myatt (404-216-1701 or jdmyatl@atlantaga.gov)
Will be joining Counsel President Moore at the Airport tonight assessing the homeless situation
Asked to keep Nekema Williams in prayer she is battling the COVID19 virus
Solution for building on RDA from Kyomi Building still working on
Have $1.5 million for small business needs. For help call 251-234-9530 to fill out an application
Also have available funding for disaster relief for homes or businesses
There have been feedings specifically within the district for seniors and youth. Yesterday fed fire and police departments in District 4
Scholarship participants will still receive their scholarships by August.
Councilmember Winslow has committed to allocate funds to help NPU-T with donation of funds to help assist with their feeding in the community
Perrin from Council Antonio Brown – (404-330-5046 antoniobrown@atlantaga.gov or pbostic@atlantaga.gov)
Hosted Town Hall on last week to go over the response to COVID19
Current response efforts include meeting the needs of most vulnerable citizens, awareness, working with Hope Atlanta for Shelter options and wrap around services.
Was able to Secure 15000 meals for feeding per week in the COA.
Crisis relief fund will roll out in the next few days for families.
We have partnered with group who makes the protective wear to provide to people in the community due to the high number of at-risk African Americans because many have pre-existing conditions.
Testing facility coming with the rapid tests.
Next week coming out with help for small business with step by step assistance. Business Continuity loan fund to make loans forgivable
COMMITTEE REPORTS
Zoning & Land Use – Walter Slaton
Transportation- Alan Babiliński
No word from Eric Pine on renaming of West End Marta Station
The bus stop census still going on
Marta has modified services as we navigate through the COVID19 safety measures, restrooms are closed, shifted bus operations to rear entrance only
Public Safety – Kon Maiwan
Still working on public safety forums to be held in the fall more information to follow in the months to come
Education- Sharifa Jackson
APS still serving meals and delivering meals on the bus routes
Schools will remain closed for the rest of this school year
Finance - No Report
PRESENTATIONS
Abandonment of Public Right of Way: Paschal Boulevard –
In support of closing of that street
Milton street formerly paschal boulevard
Dual programming in that area
Co-programming with Morehouse college makes street more conducive from a safety perspective
Have city approval need community support
Recommendation out of committee is to support Favor 18 Oppose 1 Abstain 5 Motion carries
Assembly: The Great Bearings Bike Ride (Review and Comment Only)-Postponed
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Rec Centers are also feeding dinners in the evenings
ADJOURNMENT – 9:38PM
