InTucker Magazine

City Council Update – August 2018

Tucker’s City Council got together three times in the month of July, holding a work session, a special called meeting and a meeting for regular business.

The work session and special called meeting took place on July 18. Council got updates on the various studies and reports being commissioned by City staff. They also heard from the attorney to the Downtown Development Authority on how that body should proceed in the coming months.

On July 23, Council met to discuss regular business, including a pair of items pertaining to the City’s Parks and Recreation Department. Parks and Recreation Director Rip Robertson briefed Council on the Tucker Recreation Center After-School Program. For the upcoming school year, students will get new opportunities, like a weekly trip to Kelley Cofer Park pool during swim season, and will see an increase in price from $37 per week to $65 per week. This increase will help the Parks and Recreation Department to cover costs as they give students a safe and stimulating after-school environment.

Council then voted 6-0 to approve a $290,000 expenditure to match grant money for replacing playgrounds at Henderson, Kelley Cofer and Montreal Parks, as well as at Tucker Recreation Center. The grant, provided by PlayCore, aims to have those park playgrounds replaced with brand new equipment in the fall.

The next issue discussed was the “Brunch Bill” passed this past legislative session and signed by Governor Deal. The bill gives localities the opportunity to permit restaurants to serve alcohol earlier on Sunday mornings, if approved by voters in a referendum. City Council voted 6-0 to allow that issue to go on the November ballot.

Council also voted 6-0 to pass an amendment that ensures that the City is providing quality transient lodging at extended stay hotels with new requirements on security measures, record keeping and life safety improvements, as well as limiting the length of a stay to six months.

Council meets next on August 13 at 7 p.m. at the City Hall Annex (4228 First Avenue).

From June 22-26, the Mayor and several Councilmembers attended the Georgia Municipal Association’s (GMA) Annual Convention. The purpose of the event is to get elected officials valuable training on a variety of topics. Councilmen Bill Rosenfeld and Matt Robbins were each presented with their GMA Training Certificates for completing at least 42 units of credits within the program.

The next City Council meeting is scheduled for July 23 at 7 p.m. at the City Hall Annex (4228 First Avenue).