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In this issue:  City of Atlanta Pension Reform Decision, PARKatlanta Town Hall Meetings, New APD Zone 5 Commander and more...
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Happy Thanksgiving





In this issue
Hon. Alex Wan
Contact
Atlanta City Hall
68 Mitchell St SW 14th Floor
Atlanta, GA 30303-3584
awan@atlantaga.gov
(404) 330-6049 Office
(404) 658-6073 Fax

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Reminder - City Council Offices Move To City Hall Tower
For the next several months Atlanta City Council offices are being renovated as part of a comprehensive update of City Hall to address technology and building safety issues. Our temporary office is located at 68 Mitchell St SW (Atlanta City Hall Tower) on the 14th Floor.

City Hall Tower can be accessed from 68 Mitchell St SW as well as from the entrance at 55 Trinity Ave SW.

Atlanta City Council offices are being housed on two floors as follows:

14th Floor of City Hall Tower
  • District 2 (Kwanza Hall)
  • District 6 (Alex Wan)
  • District 10 (C.T. Martin)
  • District Post 1 at Large (Michael Julian Bond)
4th Floor of City Hall Tower
  • City Council President (Ceasar Mitchell)
  • all other Districts
  • City Council staff
     
 Wishing each of you a very Happy Thanksgiving!
Welcome to the November 2015 edition of the Atlanta City Council District 6 eNewsletter. Below you will find some helpful information about issues in our District and City.

As always, I encourage your feedback and comments. Please contact me at (404) 330-6049 or awan@atlantaga.gov if I can be of assistance. I appreciate the opportunity to be your voice in our city government.


Alex
 
City of Atlanta Pension Reform Decision
This week, the Georgia Supreme Court decided on a two-year old lawsuit challenging the City of Atlanta’s pension reform that City Council adopted unanimously in 2011. As you may recall, when I joined Council in 2009, the City was facing an unfunded employee pension liability estimated at $1.5 billion, and the city’s annual pension expense was eating up a significant portion of the annual general fund budget. The reforms enacted included, among other things, an increase in employee pension contributions, closing the amortization period so that the city to impose fiscal discipline in paying down the principal balance (and not just interest), and moving new employees from that point forward to a defined contribution (versus defined benefit) plan. Indeed, we have seen significant cost savings since, and the unfunded pension liability has decreased dramatically.

In 2013, a group of city employees sued the City challenging the constitutionality of the reform. Had they prevailed, it was projected that the City would immediately have to pay back anywhere from $35 - $50 million, and the subsequent financial impact of reverting back to the pre-reform scenario would have resulted in layoffs of between 600 – 1000 employees.

On Monday, the Georgia Supreme Court found in the City’s favor. Because this case involves state constitutional law, there are no more avenues of appeal for the plaintiffs, and the court’s decision is final. With this financial cloud removed, I am hopeful that the City will now be in a position to move forward on a number of employee compensation recommendations that a group of Council members of which I am a part have been developing over the last two years. This includes the issue of public safety officer salaries that has been covered in the news recently. I will continue to keep you posted as this work continues.
 
PARKatlanta Town Hall Meetings
The Transportation Committee of the Atlanta City Council will hold a series of Town Hall Meetings regarding the Parking Management Contract that is currently held by PARKatlanta. These meetings are part of Council's evaluation of whether our policy position will be to 1) renew/extend the current contract; 2) cancel the contract and rebid; 3) cancel the contract and bring parking enforcement back in house; or 4) some combination of these options.

PARKatlanta logo

 


Objectives:
  • To inform and educate the public on the history of the parking contract and its expiration date
  • To illustrate the City Council’s interest in supporting the desires of its constituents
  • To gain as much feedback from the target audience so the City Council can make an informed decision that includes the community’s perspective
Citizens are encouraged to submit their questions and concerns thoroughout the entire process (until one week after the third and final public meeting).  Please submit your input:
  1. via email to atlantacouncil@atlantaga.gov
  2. via Twitter to @ATLCouncil and use the hashtag: #parkatlanta2016
  3. via Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/atlantacitycouncil
  4. by calling the Atlanta City Council Office of Communications at 404-330-6823 or 404-330-6775; please leave your name
Town Hall Meeting Schedule:
 
PARKatlanta Town Hall Meeting #1
Wednesday, December 2, 2015 @ 6:30 p.m.
City of Atlanta Council Chamber
55 Trinity Ave SW

[Note:  Channel 26 will broadcast this first Town Hall Meeting live; go to atlantaga.gov and click the ATL 26 icon to stream.]
 
PARKatlanta Town Hall Meeting #2
Thursday, December 10, 2015 @ 6:30 p.m.
Inman Middle School
774 Virginia Ave NE
 
PARKatlanta Town Hall Meeting #3
Date, Time & Location - TBD
 
APD Announces New Zone 5 Commander
APD Zone 5 mapThe Atlanta Police Department is pleased to announce that Major Scott Kreher will be the new Zone 5 Commander replacing retiring Major Wayne Whitmire. The promotion is effective Thursday, November 5, 2015.
 
Outgoing Major Whitmire has had many successes while in command of Zone 5. He was in charge during major city events such as the Chick-fil-A Bowls, NCAA Final 4, Peachtree Road Races, New Year’s Eve celebrations, and countless weekends filled with Atlanta Braves, Atlanta Falcons, Atlanta Dream games and numerous conventions with thousands of attendees. In the three years Major Whitmire has been in command of Zone 5, larcenies are down 15%, vehicle larcenies are down 11% and robberies are down 12%.
 
“I recognize that a key element of success is to put the right leadership in the right place at the right time. I am confident that Major Kreher will bring fresh thinking to the table,” said Chief George Turner.  “It takes a strong leader to oversee the vibrant and busy downtown area and with his many years of experience, the transition will be seamless.”
 
Major Scott KreherMajor Kreher began his career 23 years ago as a patrol officer in Zone 3. He has served as an Investigator in Major Fraud, a Sergeant in Zones 1, 3, 5 and Fugitive, and a Lieutenant in Zone 4 where he commanded both the morning and day watch units. He also worked in Vice before being promoted to Captain in Zone 4 as the Assistant Zone Commander. During his commands, he has worked to improve community relationships and reduce crime.
 
“I am grateful to Chief Turner for having the confidence in me to lead the men and women of Zone 5,” said Major Kreher. “Our partnership with the residents and business community is my number one priority and I look forward to working with everyone to make Zone 5 a safe place to live, work and play.”
 
Major Kreher holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Criminal Justice from Georgia State University and a Master of Science Degree in Criminal Justice from the University of Cincinnati. He is a graduate of Northwestern University’s School of Police Staff and Command, The Police Executive Research Forum’s Senior Management Institute for Police and the Atlanta Police Department’s Leadership Institute. He is also a certified P.O.S.T. instructor and a part-time instructor in Georgia State University’s Criminal Justice department.
 
Solid Waste Services 2015-2016 Holiday Schedule
The Office of Solid Waste Services will provide collection services as follows for the upcoming holiday season:
 
Veterans Day, Wednesday, November 11, 2015
City offices are closed on Wednesday, November 11, 2015 in observance of Veteran’s Day. Solid Waste Service collections will be postponed by one day for the remainder of the week as follows: 
  • Wednesday collections will occur on Thursday
  • Thursday collections will occur on Friday
Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, November 26, 2015
Yes, we are working! The Office of Solid Waste Services will be maintaining the regularly scheduled collection of garbage, recycling, and yard trimmings on Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, November 26, 2015.

Christmas Day, Friday, December 25, 2015
Regularly scheduled collections do not occur on Fridays. There are no changes to services this week.
 
New Year’s Day, Friday, January 1, 2016
Regularly scheduled collections do not occur on Fridays. There are no changes to services this week.
 
Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Monday, January 18, 2016
City offices are closed on Monday, January 18, 2016 in observance of the Martin L. King, Jr. Holiday. Collections will be postponed by one day after the holiday for the remainder of the week as follows: 
  • Monday collections will occur on Tuesday
  • Tuesday collections will occur on  Wednesday
  • Wednesday collections will occur on Thursday
  • Thursday collections will occur on Friday
Please call 311 or visit www.atl311.com for questions about Public Works Services.
 
Spotlight:  Department of Watershed Management
The Department of Watershed Management is dedicated to providing the highest quality drinking water and wastewater services to residential, businesses and wholesale customers while protecting Atlanta’s urban waterways, conserving natural resources, and providing clean, safe water for downstream customers. 

Mission
  • Provide our customers with reliable, high quality water services in a safe, respectful, responsive, and environmentally responsible manner, all at value.
  • Deliver excellent customer service through a motivated, skilled, and empowered workforce.
  • Ensure professional stewardship of Atlanta’s drinking water, wastewater, stormwater, and natural systems.
  • Protect and enhance the region’s water resources, public health, and property while promoting sustainability and economic vitality.
Led by Commissioner Jo Ann Macrina, the Department has responsibility for the City’s drinking water and wastewater systems. It is continuing work on the $4 billion Clean Water Atlanta Program, a complete overhaul of the City’s water and sewer infrastructure undertaken as part of two federal consent decrees. Work under the first consent decree, governing the combined sewer system, was completed in 2007. Work under the second or “first amended” consent decree is scheduled to be completed in 2014.

Additional information about the Department of Watershed Management can be found on their website.
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