Notes From the ACC Commission Meeting - December 4th, 2001

Highlights:

1. Traffic signal approved for Cedar Shoals Drive at High School

2. Approval of 4-way stop sign at Springdale and Bloomfield Streets

3. Approval of Bike Master Plan after deleting Prince Ave. from plan.

4. Approval of Cingular Wireless tower in new Southeast Clarke Community Park.

5. Approval of Atlanta Highway Master Plan (begin design phase)

6. Adopted new Commission district map

7. Meeting adjourned by 10 p.m.!!!

Details:

1. Traffic signal at Cedar Shoals High:
Approved unanimously Public Discussion: Owner of Cofers across from High School objected to the financial burden of $1500 for entrance modifications being placed on him because of the new light. ACC should be responsible. (No comment from the commission)

2. 4-way stop sign: 9 yes/1 no (Jordan)
Commission discussion: Ford entered motion stating that this is a dangerous intersection. Jordan: He noticed illegal parking near this intersection was decreasing visibility and that there is a speeding problem. In addition, 4-way stops are confusing and increase pollution due to start and stop driving. How about enforcing the laws? Presented a motion to table in order to come up with a better solution. No seconds although Barrow agreed there is a speeding problem.

3. Bike Master Plan: 6 yes/4 no for Logan’s substitute motion that eliminated Prince Ave.
Prior to public input, Mayor Eldridge stated that the vote on the Bike Master Plan was not for approval of specific items but rather a vote to move ahead with the planning phase. Each item on the Master Plan would again come before the commission for approval before implementation.

Public Input:
Seven people spoke in support of the Master Plan and nine spoke in opposition. The opposition spoke of congestion on Hawthorne due to the new 3-lane configuration, the absence of bikes on Hawthorne, the wasting of money, and the proposal to 3-lane Prince similar to Hawthorne. Many of those opposed were not necessarily opposed to increasing bike accessibility. The pro-bike plan speakers called for safe, interconnecting bike routes in order for biking to really be an option and for current bike-lane streets such as Hawthorne and Epps Bridge to be utilized. Safe bike routes could decrease traffic10 to 15%.

Commission discussion:
Kilpatrick: Motion to approve Logan: Substitute motion to delete Prince Ave from plan. McCarter: Since individual items not being approved tonight he seconds Kilpatrick motion. Jordan: Agrees that 3 lanes on Prince is not the best solution but Prince is one of the principle routes into town and must be included in plan. Perhaps an alternative to 3 lanes can be found. Eldridge: Supports Kilpatrick motion. There may be other solutions for Prince such as municipal parking that would eliminate parking along Prince and open up a lane for bikes. Eldridge supports the idea of reducing traffic volume through the use of bikes. Plans also need to proceed for a bike lane over the North Oconee on College Station. Chasteen: Supports Logan’s motion. Need to look at safe bike routes off of Prince.

4. Wireless tower in Southeast park: 8 yes/2 no (Jordan, Barrow)
Jordan questioned whether the appropriate site for the tower is in the natural area of the park creating a disturbance for those seeking solitude. Perhaps near the road next to all the other ugliness is a better location. A wireless tower devalues the Park and a mistake was made by the commission to allow the tower in the park in the first place.

5. Atlanta Highway Master Plan: 8 yes/2 no (Jordan, Barrow)
Project 2: Jennings mill Parkway Extension Project 3: Atlanta Highway/SR10 loop Connector Public Input: A 5th year landscape architect student recommended putting native grasses in the medians on the Atlanta Hwy. to reduce maintenance costs and improve percolation and aesthetics. A few other people spoke on need to ease traffic on the Atlanta Hwy.

Commission discussion:
Jordan called for bike-pedestrian interchanges to connect neighborhoods as part of the master plan. He disagreed with the need for another connector (project 3) from Lowes to the old Walmart at this time since it essentially runs parallel to SR10 although obtaining the right-of-way is important. The intersections in the plan need to be redesigned. Overall, the project needs better design.

6. New Commission District Map (8 districts/2 super-districts) 8 yes/2 no (Barrow, Jordan)
Three options: Options A and B are similar to current maps in that there are 8 districts and 2 super-districts with some modifications to the 8 districts based on population. Option C has plans for 10 districts and no super-districts.

Commission discussion:
Barrow: Options B and C do not closely enough follow the school board districts. Opposed to continuing with 2 super-districts (Options A and B) that dilute the voting power of the other districts, especially minority districts. The current super-district system is failing in its original intent to satisfy the 1965 voter rights act. Presented a substitute motion calling for a new map with10 equal-population districts. Jordan seconded the motion and agreed with Barrow’s concept. Jordan stressed the need to protect neighborhoods, not incumbents or to keep things as they are. The substitute motion was defeated: 7 no/3 yes (Barrow, Jordan, Sheats).

Sheats proposed a retreat work session to discuss the formation of 10 separate districts (eliminate super districts). Eldridge was opposed to devoting a whole work session to this topic and proposed including discussions on elections, term limits, etc. Barrow accused Eldridge of “larding” Sheats proposal but Eldridge stated that there has been no public outcry to change the current district apportionments. Barrow suggested that the original Charter should be followed in this case and that maybe there is a connection between the current dissatisfaction with the government and the current 8 and 2 structure. Eldridge replied that “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” and that the current government in ACC is working just fine.

Sheats motion was defeated 8 to 2 although there was a recommendation made to draw up 3 alternative 10-district maps and to discuss term limits at some point.

Input from Commissioners on other topics
Jordan: Please place all USGS waters onto environmental planning map. Need master plan for ACORTS. Contractors should finish work on neighborhood streets in a more timely manner.

Sims: Need sign on the east side of 441 indicating the Nature Center

Sheats: Look into Drug Court.

Logan: There were 80,000 license plate renewals in ACC in 2000 for a population of 100,000.

Elizabeth Little