Mayor Joins Task Force to Unveil a New Vision for Peachtree Street
Yesterday, Mayor Shirley Franklin joined the members of the Peachtree Corridor Task Force in City Hall to unveil a new plan that will transform Peachtree Street, the city’s most well-known thoroughfare, into an international destination.
The plan was presented by Task Force co-chairs Egbert Perry, Chairman and CEO of the Integral Group, and Tom Bell, Chairman and CEO of Cousins Properties. According to the plan, created by a group of City representatives, and business and community leaders, Atlanta’s most popular street is poised to become a massive economic generator for the city by 2020.
Among the changes proposed is the renaming of Peachtree Street. The plan calls for Peachtree Street, Peachtree Road, Whitehall, West Whitehall and Lee Streets to be called simply, “Peachtree.”
Other recommendations include developing as much as 21 million sq. ft. of new commercial office and retail space and adding 3,000 new hotel rooms. Nearly 46,000 new jobs are expected to be created with these developments.
The plan also calls for the return of the streetcar, absent in Atlanta for decades. The streetcar will run from Buckhead to Fort McPherson and along the Downtown Loop, connecting many of the city’s popular destinations like the MLK Historic Site and the developing BeltLine. Wider sidewalks, new parks and public greenspaces and public parking garages are also being planned. Expenditures for the project will be paid using city, state, federal, corporate and philanthropic funds.
“I am so thrilled with the recommendations this illustrious Task Force brought back after countless meetings and work sessions. This Task Force is a great example of a public-private partnership working together to create a new vision for Atlanta. When we look back in time 10-15 years from now, we will see how we committed ourselves to greatness,” said Mayor Franklin.
For details on the Task Force recommendations, visit www.peachtreecorridor.com.
Mayor Franklin receives the recommendations from the Peachtree Corridor Task Force at a news conference in Atlanta City Hall. |
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Board of Ethics Awards City Departments
The City of Atlanta Board of Ethics, an independent board responsible for enforcing the City Code of Ethics, has recognized 13 departments and offices for their 100-percent compliance with the recent financial disclosure filing requirements.
Ethics Officer Ginny Looney reported that nearly 98 percent of the City’s 1,500 required filers, including Mayor Shirley Franklin, filed their financial disclosure statement by the February 15, 2007 deadline. In 2006, the filing rate was 77 percent.
Said Ethics Board chairman John D. Marshall, Jr.: “These departments represent doing the right thing.” Awards were given to the Departments of Corrections, Human Resources, Police, Aviation, Finance, Law, Public Works, Planning and Community Development, Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs and Procurement. In addition, the Municipal Court and Offices of the City Internal Auditor and City Solicitor also received awards.
“We expect our employees to abide by high ethical standards and complying with the filing requirements is definitely part of that standard,” said Mayor Shirley Franklin. In April 2006, Mayor Franklin introduced Integrity Matters, an education program for City officials and employees. An Integrity Line was created as a free, confidential way for officials and employees to report unethical, fraudulent or illegal conduct in City government. The Integrity Line number is 1.800.884.0911 and is available 24 hours per day/7 days per week.
For more information about the City of Atlanta Board of Ethics and the Integrity Matters program, visit http://www.atlantaga.gov/government/boards/boardofethics.aspx.
In April 2006, Mayor Shirley Franklin introduced the Integrity Matters education program for City employees and officials. |
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Automated Meter Reading Project Gets Under Way
Last week, the Department of Watershed Management (DWM) launched an Automated Meter Reading (AMR) program that will increase the efficiency and effectiveness of the City’s water meter reading systems.
The ATL READ AMR program is a three-year, $35 million project to retrofit and replace the city’s commercial and residential water meters. When completed, the system will ensure the accuracy of water bills and reduce the time it takes to read the city’s water meters.
DWM will install AMR capability on its 150,000 water meters. Aged, non-functioning meters will be replaced with new meters fitted with the AMR device. The device will be installed on existing meters that are still functioning properly. Once replaced, meters will be covered with a locked lid to prevent tampering and meter damage.
Customers whose meters must be replaced may experience a temporary interruption of service. A pilot installation project began in December in northwest and west Atlanta neighborhoods. AMR installation will continue in those areas and will soon begin in North Fulton and Sandy Springs communities.
“The Automated Meter Reading project is another in a long line of initiatives the Department is undertaking to ensure that our bills are accurate and reflect exact customer usage,” said Commissioner Rob Hunter. “It will help us reduce our operating expenses and identify potential leaks and other distribution system problems, as well as meter malfunctions, vandalism and tampering.”
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Watershed Meter Reader Supervisor Herman Caldwell provides a demonstration of the new automated meter reading system for an Atlanta resident. |
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City Employees Join Thousands for Inaugural ING Georgia Marathon
City of Atlanta offices, departments and agencies joined with thousands of residents and visitors to participate in the inaugural ING Georgia Marathon, the Southeast’s premier world-class distance running event.
Congratulations to the following for their participation!
Mayor’s Office
- Robert Johnson, Office of Communications, 13 miles. Robert is a cancer survivor and has recovered from two back surgeries. This was his fifth half-marathon.
- Camille Johnson, Office of the Chief Operating Officer, 13 miles
- Sam Krishnan, City Project Manager, 13 miles
Atlanta Development Authority
- Peggy McCormick, Executive Director, 13 miles. This was McCormick’s first marathon.
Atlanta Fire Rescue
- Provisional FAO Darryl G. Griffing, Jr., 26 miles. FAO Griffing ran with his 53-year old father, Darryl Griffing, Sr.
Atlanta Workforce Development Authority
- Jennifer Moore, Integration Counselor, 13 miles
- Robert Harper, 26 miles. Robert is 56 years old and has run in every major marathon in the United States. The ING Georgia Marathon was his 22nd marathon.
Mayor Shirley Franklin (center) joins runners to launch last weekend’s inaugural ING Georgia Marathon. |
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This year, the City of Atlanta celebrates the silver anniversary of one of Atlanta’s first public education programs, Dream Jamboree College and Career Fair. The City of Atlanta highlights the program’s 25-year history in a commemorative video. Visit the Video On Demand (VOD) webpage to view the commemorative video.
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Rave Reviews!
- On March 19, Atlanta City Council unanimously passed a resolution designating Freedom Park as Atlanta’s Public Art Park. According to Resolution 07-R-0447, the park will “serve as a venue for the installation of temporary and permanent public art and sitting works of sculpture, for the purpose of introducing the arts to the citizens of the City of Atlanta.” Comprised of 210 acres and located northeast of downtown Atlanta, along Freedom Parkway, Freedom Park is the largest public green space set aside in a major metropolitan area in the United States in the last century. With almost six miles long of open rolling terrain, the park's landscape provides plenty of room to accommodate runners, strollers, bicyclists and families as well as a venue for public art. Permanent sculptures in the park currently include: The Bridge, a tribute to activist John Lewis by Thornton Dial; Homage to King by Xavier Medina-Campeny; 54 Columns by Sol LeWitt; and Peace, a mural by Mahdi Fakhreddin.
The Bridge, a tribute to the life of State Representative John Lewis, is a permanent sculpture in Atlanta’s Freedom Park, along Freedom Parkway. |
- Raines Carter, City Solicitor for the City of Atlanta, has been appointed to the Georgia Supreme Court Board to Determine Fitness of Bar Applicants. The appointment is a five-year term, commencing on April 1, 2007. The Fitness Board was established in April 1977 to assume responsibility for investigating the character and fitness of applicants for admission to the Bar. Carter was appointed City Solicitor in 1983 by then Mayor Andrew Young. In addition, Carter has taught criminal justice, business and social sciences as a part-time instructor at Georgia Perimeter College and the former Dekalb College.
City Solicitor Raines Carter has been appointed to serve on the Georgia Supreme Court’s Board to Determine Fitness of Bar Applicants. |
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Upcoming Events & volunteer Opportunities
- From Tuesday, April 10 – Thursday, April 12, the McPherson Planning Local Redevelopment Authority (LRA) will host a series of meetings throughout the city to get public input on the future of Fort McPherson. During the meetings, LRA members will provide updates from previous public meetings. For specific meeting times and locations, visit www.mcphersonredevelopment.com.
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Job Announcements
With the City of Atlanta’s online application system, you are able to create an account and select a Username and Password and then log in to your account.
After your account has been established, you can create an application by clicking on the “Build Job Application” link. Once your application is completed, it will be stored in the system and can be used to apply for future job openings. To get started by viewing current open positions, click here.
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Weekly Features
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