[{"_1":2,"_113":-5,"_114":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,73,83,93,103],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":44,"_46":47,"_48":49,"_50":51,"_52":53,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":59,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":65,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":55,"_72":55},"mediaId",6326472,"mediaKeyId","2324438-a6db486b6f651ee49c15d87c22f6ef8f","parentId",2324438,"title","Votes at a glance: Key council actions Feb. 17 — charter amendment and personnel orders pass","audioSeconds",0,"startMs",14700000,"endMs","viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2324438-a6db486b6f651ee49c15d87c22f6ef8f&start=14700&end=14700","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2324438-a6db486b6f651ee49c15d87c22f6ef8f/thumbnail_14700000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6326472/Atlanta/Fulton-County/Georgia/Votes-at-a-glance-Key-council-actions-Feb-17-charter-amendment-and-personnel-orders-pass","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6326472-d586d994ba23530a7c928f1567954207/orig.mp4?Expires=1771183809&Signature=c7ouIcPJnCkw4TcQbFw0aVkyaCWxkJq9BjcRvs~KLiDIEzpHMbBm7px6OjVBc36s-CvJkouKpYT5x5vNvhcv0EVxJxLJhi4nY-xxZTW7EdacxTeFWir4o7dNwSSYkUTKtqS1F8iJpkxi-HFROem5qspcb5ybooFH2GdmwQORj58HyQ~T24SFCdTY5nv~lvXDzdLc3X-eDUYwMU5CvNPvWTToeM3QosLapyqmFFTFQH84MVYuzMPq053~2msRa7e9AlL0cr-6tSNGGS9oywBse1czvaX-ZV9SzIROsPwqG4Pqi35JDGlu-d6IozqOhjEWOZ40rdinoIUHs6xW30ehHg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-02-18T00:00:55Z","article","The Atlanta City Council recorded multiple formal actions and roll‑call votes at its Feb. 17 meeting. The most notable outcomes are listed below with available tallies.

• Charter amendment to separate governance for the Office of Inspector General and the Ethics Office (25‑O‑10097). Outcome: approved. Tally: 14 yeas, 1 nay. The council adopted the amendment after committee work and multiple public comment sessions.

• Ordinance establishing salaries for the mayor, council president and council members for the term of office beginning January 2026 (24‑O‑16846). Outcome: approved. Tally: 13 yeas, 2 nays.

• Personnel actions substitute ordinance as amended by finance (24‑O‑1045). Outcome: approved as substituted. Tally: 15 yeas, 0 nays.

• Consent agenda — second reading items: motion to adopt the consent agenda section 1 carried. Tally: 15 yeas, 0 nays.

• Journal adoption for the Feb. 3, 2025 meeting: motion to adopt the journal carried by unanimous consent at today’s meeting.

• Motion to move specific item post‑haste (25‑R‑3143): adopted by unanimous consent (15 yeas, 0 nays).

Why it matters: The charter amendment is a structural change to city government with implications for how investigations and oversight will be governed going forward. Personnel and salary ordinances set compensation and staffing authorizations that affect the city budget and operations.

Note on sources: The council roll calls and counts listed here are from the Feb. 17 council meeting record; detailed vote‑by‑name was not recorded aloud for all items in the transcript extract.

Ending: The council voted on additional communications, proclamations and routine items; the above list summarizes distinct formal votes and their tallies reported during the meeting.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","#Atlanta City Council Meeting: February 17, 2025 #atlpol","oneSentenceSummary","The council recorded several roll‑call outcomes Feb. 17. Notable actions: final adoption of the OIG/ethics charter amendment (25‑O‑10097) passed 14–1; a council ordinance establishing 2026 salaries (24‑O‑16846) passed 13–2; a finance substitute personnel ordinance (24‑O‑1045) passed 15–0. Consent agendas were adopted unanimously.","taxTitle","Atlanta, Fulton County, Georgia","taxId",2959,"location","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":74,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":75,"_41":42,"_43":76,"_45":76,"_46":77,"_48":78,"_50":79,"_52":80,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":81,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":82,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":55,"_72":55},6326478,"City honors veterans and local civic leaders: Montford Point Marines, Triple Nickels and community volunteer Lucy Sharp",9000000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2324438-a6db486b6f651ee49c15d87c22f6ef8f&start=9000&end=9000","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2324438-a6db486b6f651ee49c15d87c22f6ef8f/thumbnail_9000000.jpg","/articles/6326478/Atlanta/Fulton-County/Georgia/City-honors-veterans-and-local-civic-leaders-Montford-Point-Marines-Triple-Nickels-and-community-volunteer-Lucy-Sharp","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6326478-e83e7a5f4ea7e2e63fffc1fdac8a7784/orig.mp4?Expires=1771183809&Signature=Ex7twK5Ig9X29tUeDEsdUNtSIbwXigyDo1y955k-q3I8Ly9jZ8HYba8OCCwnXhbY6pQhFJ3TI4k1rz~OuDpMq05MX7Za5B0xTuzMyoD4Xr9eUVmSh9i59YcF3m9uUaFYxuMiHZd3rwkeVr3W71CJwJ9UtlTC~n1oMyJg03IpSiKNhHsADtAJCvrWf0EhFpFB5QhAUuBhOEeI9tC2Nui7fcFvZc1Zkn7uX1DA8Hb556nj22awy8NQFzVH3ycxJzVYqDQcJe18-SvHvbdmB5jCwZI9sD~uqG~0Qxc6RZoGkco9lNxKNe0J9Vv1jL3dBV0o0HDsijdoieAEyrIjlbdL2Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Atlanta City Council used its Feb. 17 meeting to honor several longtime civic servants and veterans, issuing proclamations for Lucy M. Sharp and for surviving members of the Montford Point Marines and the 550th Parachute Infantry Battalion (the Triple Nickels).

Lucy M. Sharp, a volunteer at the Governor’s Mansion and a longtime community volunteer and educator, received a proclamation from the city and an acknowledgment from Fulton County Commissioner Khadijah Abdul‑Rahman for her decades of civic work. Sharp, who worked at Lockheed Martin for 30 years and now volunteers in Atlanta Public Schools, thanked the council and reflected on mentors including the late C.T. Martin.

The council also recognized James Pack, age 101 according to presenters, and Ambassador Theodore R. Bridal Jr., age 99, as two surviving Montford Point Marines. The Montford Point Marines representative described the Montford Point legacy — roughly 20,000 African American men trained at the segregated Montford Point Camp during World War II — and said, “Our goal is to find all of these heroes and recognize either them or their families so they finally receive the gratitude of a grateful nation.” The council proclaimed days honoring both Pack and Bridal and announced plans to work with the Montford Point Marine Association on a street‑naming proposal and to host the National Montford Point Marines Association convention in Atlanta in July 2025.

Councilmember Jason Dozier read proclamations recognizing the 550th Parachute Infantry Battalion (Triple Nickels), an all‑Black Army airborne unit formed in 1943 that fought wildfires and performed specialized parachute missions in World War II. Dozier told the veterans the city would “not let your stories fade,” and said the city intended to honor their history with official recognition.

Why it matters: The proclamations highlight the city’s role in recognizing veterans from historically excluded units and raise plans for further memorialization, including possible street namings and hosting a national convention.

Ending: Recipients and their families joined councilmembers for photographs and a reception after the ceremony.","The council issued proclamations recognizing longtime civic volunteer Lucy M. Sharp and honoring surviving Montford Point Marines and members of the WWII‑era Triple Nickels in a ceremony recognizing Black veterans' service.",{"_33":84,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":85,"_41":42,"_43":86,"_45":86,"_46":87,"_48":88,"_50":89,"_52":90,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":91,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":92,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":55,"_72":55},6326483,"Atlanta marks Arbor Day with 3,000‑tree push and long‑term canopy target",6480000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2324438-a6db486b6f651ee49c15d87c22f6ef8f&start=6480&end=6480","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2324438-a6db486b6f651ee49c15d87c22f6ef8f/thumbnail_6480000.jpg","/articles/6326483/Atlanta/Fulton-County/Georgia/Atlanta-marks-Arbor-Day-with-3000tree-push-and-longterm-canopy-target","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6326483-c50e4c31c3762b3daa8a60793f4d8ddb/orig.mp4?Expires=1771183809&Signature=l9C94i8Uqq5e7FP3Q91ZM1wY7Xna-RUPQp8IvTE1sI2r3VxlBo-rig65HioqktQ82HK4wJ7rRsr2DIkuv~Tvnd6KBVJgx5pasz9aFuM4Jj2G43PzQwvlax7MT6UvPz4xn-qTPl0mpzfBGqF5AikocfA237iBMYlM5t8z8A~ZSjsSqI9~xHK-805huZr0ZTmN4XZVMetM~8nljyI0GZFo5gXLm1UuMyIK4EKueVCrybOqpWWyyGV3llAPLkKJb-qFfz6r5j0ZUk0HCqjImFmj6Wo3mrKoiruAxEbb3dBxmplZ8En0JBjKC9phQ~5pWwEdCz8PW3AaLtDGt~xY1X93tw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Atlanta officials marked Georgia Arbor Day on Feb. 17 by reiterating the city’s commitment to expand tree canopy and to plant more than 3,000 trees during the current season.

Commissioner Cutler of the Department of Parks and Recreation said Atlanta is celebrating its 40th consecutive year as a Tree City USA, and tied the Arbor Day proclamation to a month‑long Love Your Park volunteer series. “The best day to plant a tree was about a hundred years ago. The next best day is today,” Commissioner Cutler told the council.

City officials said the Parks Department has acquired more than 580 acres of largely forested land under the current mayor for parkland preservation, and reiterated a long‑term goal of attaining a 50% canopy. Trees Atlanta Executive Director Greg Levine described the work as “planting a legacy,” and encouraged residents to pick up free yard trees being distributed to city residents during the week.

Why it matters: Trees reduce heat‑island effects, improve air and water quality, and can help lower energy costs. City leaders said the current planting season — part of a 1,000,000‑tree initiative with Trees Atlanta — will place projects in every council district.

Operational notes: The Parks Department said the Love Your Park effort expanded volunteer projects from 12 parks in 2024 to more than 30 parks in 2025, and that the city and partners aim to plant 3,000 trees this season as part of an ongoing canopy strategy.

Ending: Officials asked residents to join weekend planting events and take advantage of the free yard‑tree program for Atlanta residents.","City officials and Trees Atlanta announced plans to plant more than 3,000 trees during the current planting season and reaffirmed a long‑term target to increase equitable tree canopy across Atlanta neighborhoods.",{"_33":94,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":95,"_41":42,"_43":96,"_45":96,"_46":97,"_48":98,"_50":99,"_52":100,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":101,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":102,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":55,"_72":55},6326487,"Advocates, attorneys warn council of ongoing harms at Fulton County jail as federal consent decree continues",6360000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2324438-a6db486b6f651ee49c15d87c22f6ef8f&start=6360&end=6360","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2324438-a6db486b6f651ee49c15d87c22f6ef8f/thumbnail_6360000.jpg","/articles/6326487/Atlanta/Fulton-County/Georgia/Advocates-attorneys-warn-council-of-ongoing-harms-at-Fulton-County-jail-as-federal-consent-decree-continues","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6326487-7362f9ec62f06e225627d1474016a1d7/orig.mp4?Expires=1771183809&Signature=lKN~vMLB2thMzKQsg76aYYnvmgKj3XxEH9yZ0x0aman~nVanrSBqmMbvPij2FAN-yf7vTE58d0lGcuq0WfKx0eQv48tXgeMTaehq-YS3Z~J0-igr6YTAZ~tcq9I7aDxXfDzz2kUfqCa83FWsAYXDdF9Kq8TqpKPg3FkvPXQzJ6C81IkL5eDdtZ9ISA1lm3fzDYmCrXl-9dkGb9sGmb17U7Bs6bdDkc2C8C27S329EXcqKx539JCZu7o4d7S8ebHoP~OPKKE-HgZquHV-llejrypcV2wXGzudKGckRNZhuaChvmWLCAp1k-tzreIGuZe7keajuAK5xnJ1OREvm1LDLw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Speakers at the Feb. 17 Atlanta City Council meeting urged the council to treat the lease of Atlanta City Detention Center (ACDC) to Fulton County as an unresolved public‑safety and human‑rights problem and to press for urgency in resolving related state and county responsibilities.

Devin Franklin, senior movement policy counsel at the Southern Center for Human Rights, told the council the federal Department of Justice opened an investigation after the Southern Center wrote recommending one. He said the DOJ findings led to a consent decree and at least two years of federal monitoring for Fulton County’s jail system, and that problems persist: “There was a death at Fulton County Jail about two weeks ago that you all have not heard about because it’s not been reported to the news, but we know about it,” Franklin said.

Franklin and other advocates said the leased bed capacity at ACDC has not been maximized — the sheriff lacks sufficient staffing to fill the 700 beds authorized under the lease — and they urged the council to plan for the facility’s return and for stronger local oversight. Franklin said the Southern Center is organizing a “people’s process” to gather input from formerly incarcerated people and others; he invited council members to a legislative listening session scheduled the next day.

Council members acknowledged the problem. Council President Doug Shipman and several councilmembers said they have opposed leasing ACDC to Fulton County from the start and urged conversations with the mayor and staff about the lease drawdown and the city’s responsibility if the county cannot run the facility safely.

Why it matters: The ACDC lease and the DOJ findings implicate city, county and state responsibilities for detention conditions, staffing, and medical care. Advocates said the federal consent decree requires concrete steps and community input to prevent further deaths and to ensure federally mandated reforms are carried out.

What council asked for: Councilmembers said they would pursue conversations about drawdown timelines and hold the county and state accountable for investing in personnel and safety improvements. Councilmember Collins said the city should prepare to get ACDC back if the county cannot meet its obligations.

Ending note: The council heard strong calls for community‑centered remedies and said it would continue to work with advocates, the mayor’s office and state officials to ensure compliance with federal oversight and to protect incarcerated people’s rights.","Advocates and public‑interest attorneys told the council the federal Department of Justice findings and consent decree covering Fulton County Jail are driving calls to reconsider the county’s lease of Atlanta’s ACDC facility and to prioritize community‑centered oversight.",{"_33":104,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":105,"_41":106,"_43":96,"_45":107,"_46":108,"_48":98,"_50":109,"_52":110,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":111,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":112,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":55,"_72":55},6326493,"Atlanta City Council adopts overhaul of inspector general and ethics offices after months of debate",4800,11160000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2324438-a6db486b6f651ee49c15d87c22f6ef8f&start=6360&end=11160","/articles/6326493/Atlanta/Fulton-County/Georgia/Atlanta-City-Council-adopts-overhaul-of-inspector-general-and-ethics-offices-after-months-of-debate","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6326493-4171f78d05084e47d9f04e0cb6e66def/orig.mp4?Expires=1771183809&Signature=RqCUyPMmzfxsbwVKry-8C1MUSVkRlEm6~8iqTawsdZJdnfpJn0dA9p11my93F0ZtdfRgVxiWtiJVb3231gVoki0Sm82YBNKRUrmkVh1DxUZDCxPEnkwmpcabOQUURv9GrisQFxeC0S6PQ9ycNwCW-hJ~DjlU5XwBoSCiCB0ZvCb2bsj60jPtAdvU5yP74qW~PwxcJ2McF1jomIfs9vlM9fXouPbRf6yvO4bcGgfc95t4S8VsJnR3wHzaT0Goh91ef-duNPymeCVJBxUtB~UTeILvlOkA8~FlwgOVtHnablbs~lz3IpgZStmj7pFWymuflyQKjVYKo6QUVyA6aDM~vQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Atlanta City Council voted 14–1 on Feb. 17 to amend the city charter to change the governance and oversight structures for the Office of Inspector General (OIG) and the Ethics Office, a measure the council said implements recommendations from a temporary task force formed last fall.

The measure splits the two offices into separately governed entities, clarifies roles and responsibilities, and adds procedural language about subpoenas, employee interviews and board duties. Council President Doug Shipman called the change a “balanced” response to concerns raised after high‑profile corruption investigations earlier in the decade.

Why it matters: The OIG was created after federal investigations exposed bribery and misuse of public funds. Councilmembers and members of the public said the charter changes were intended to preserve the OIG’s independence while adding clearer rules so investigations and subpoenas conform to existing law and city process.

Council discussion and technical points focused on three areas: the OIG’s independence and governing board composition; protection of employee constitutional rights in interviews; and whether subpoena processes should route to superior court rather than municipal court. Councilmember Isha Collins, chair of the committee that shepherded the measure, noted the work traceable to a task force that convened Nov. 6, 2024, and described a series of work sessions and committee reviews in January and February that produced the final text.

Public comment was intensive. Dozens of residents, employees and advocacy groups urged either protecting the OIG’s independence or adding guardrails. Jamila Curtis, who identified herself as an advocate for Atlanta residents, said the OIG had “unlawfully searching private bank accounts” and called for the inspector general’s removal; union representatives including Crystal Jeffrey of AFSCME urged clear, enforceable protections for employees during investigations. Attorney Devin Franklin of the Southern Center for Human Rights urged the council not to strip the OIG’s ability to investigate criminal acts, saying, “There is no greater protection for an accused person or in this case, a city employee than the right to remain silent,” and warning against language that would preclude probes into illegal acts.

Anne Marie Robinson of the City of Atlanta Law Department answered a council question about Fifth Amendment protections: “Under the constitution, all persons have a right against self‑incrimination,” and said the draft charter language preserves the core constitutional protections while enabling administrative investigations.

Councilmember Collins said the final ordinance is the product of many sessions and compromises and argued it gives oversight boards more meaningful responsibilities without inserting the council into day‑to‑day investigative decisions. Opponents argued the measure was rushed and could be used to weaken oversight; supporters said it responds to real legal and procedural questions raised since the OIG’s creation.

The vote: The charter amendment passed 14–1. The council also directed transmittal of the adopted text to the appropriate offices and to the mayor for implementation steps.

What’s next: Implementation will require the city to stand up separate board appointment procedures and to publish operational rules explaining how subpoenas, compelled administrative statements and legal counsel for subjects of investigations will be handled. Several public speakers and former board members said they want the council and administration to publish additional clarifying guidance and to ensure independent legal representation for the offices where needed.

Ending note: The measure resolves some long‑running disputes about structure and authority, but opponents and some advocates said work remains to ensure the OIG can investigate corruption and abuse without political interference while protecting employees’ constitutional rights.","After weeks of public comment and a task‑force review, the Atlanta City Council on Feb. 17 approved a charter amendment separating governance for the Office of Inspector General and the Ethics Office while adding new procedural safeguards. The vote was 14–1.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Votes at a glance: Key council actions Feb. 17 — charter amendment and personnel orders pass

City honors veterans and local civic leaders: Montford Point Marines, Triple Nickels and community volunteer Lucy Sharp

Atlanta marks Arbor Day with 3,000‑tree push and long‑term canopy target

Advocates, attorneys warn council of ongoing harms at Fulton County jail as federal consent decree continues

Atlanta City Council adopts overhaul of inspector general and ethics offices after months of debate