[{"_1":2,"_98":-5,"_99":-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",[32,74,86],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":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,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},"mediaId",6225111,"mediaKeyId","3540780-e83df2e6086f4974f8d7f35ad80089f5","parentId",3540780,"title","Committee approves Watershed and utility-related contract renewals and sole-source maintenance while voting to resolve permit compliance matters","audioSeconds",427,"startMs",3669000,"endMs",4096000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3540780-e83df2e6086f4974f8d7f35ad80089f5&start=3669&end=4096","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3540780-e83df2e6086f4974f8d7f35ad80089f5/thumbnail_3669000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6225111/Atlanta/Fulton-County/Georgia/Committee-approves-Watershed-and-utility-related-contract-renewals-and-sole-source-maintenance-while-voting-to-resolve-permit-compliance-matters","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6225111-dcd78d83a0fed039280d24a539f2a452/orig.mp4?Expires=1771182552&Signature=Xx1HEX8F4wvH6WhrKPT0hYgt94w-MVU~eo8x7v4P9dCFDrLk1vhEvSEJpMXDUxoBVLaUNjrxwhwPhD9gQl6wa-S~7XkI-pNoAq-yLkjGQ1C526VuZTvXELyS3aUjqSE~yS2uF6jd64-YA10nHD1ABTQwWfrz97sZ21x7STg9P58ICU1M770uV2LCoNtO3pkUNW11nbUxOGIy~kVJkrxCr6dlEDeg3mAjv-NfZ2jbK0W-Ydbf4kdnrVHBWQdS7OA3cBHg6cKjUHesZT-EYqtU82eCyvV025Om7TT5yuiDlJwYSQZz37XMX-zSps2W4L~~a2vrynwl2FcR-9oOeBt6ew__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-05-28T12:40:37.33Z","article","The City Utilities Committee took several administrative actions affecting the Department of Watershed Management and related city services, approving contract renewals, a large sole‑source maintenance agreement and items to resolve permit compliance matters.

On the consent agenda, the committee approved a one-year renewal option for bill-printing services with Datamax Incorporated on behalf of the Department of Watershed Management, authorizing up to $750,000 for the renewal period (01/27/2025–01/26/2026), contingent on FY2026 budget adoption.

The committee also voted to authorize a fourth renewal option for the City’s intergovernmental joint funding agreement with the U.S. Geological Survey for long-term water quantity and quality monitoring. The committee record lists the renewal amount as not to exceed $506,310 for a one-year term retroactive to 01/01/2025 through 12/31/2025.

Separately, the committee approved ratification of a seven‑amendment extension to an annual security-guard contract (Thorpe Building Services) that covers about 43 critical wastewater and infrastructure sites across multiple departments. Staff said the four-month retroactive extension (02/14/2025–06/14/2025) reconciles outstanding services rendered and added funds not to exceed $2,319,873. Staff described the combined burn rate for the departments covered at roughly $500,000 over the covered period and said the newly executed multi-year replacement contract is approximately $45 million over three years (~$15 million per year).

In the resolutions section the committee approved a sole-source first renewal option for maintenance and support of the Inquesta customer information system; the item authorized up to $4,591,893.09 for maintenance and related services with Systems & Software Incorporated, contingent on the FY2026 budget.

The committee also addressed a consent order with the Georgia Environmental Protection Division (EPD) related to permit compliance violations and unpermitted discharges; the committee approved authorizing the commissioner to execute the consent order and to make the payment amount listed in the agenda to resolve the cited violations (agenda text contains the payment amount). The committee recorded votes as favorable on the listed legislative and resolution items, generally by 6–0 margins where a roll call was reported.

A committee question clarified that the bill-printing renewal and other items are contingent on budget adoption. Committee members asked for details on site counts, costs and contract timelines during discussion; staff provided site counts for security coverage and reconciled the retroactive amendment as covering outstanding, already-rendered services.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","#Atlanta City Council City Utilities Committee meeting May 27, 2025 #atlpol","oneSentenceSummary","The City Utilities Committee approved multiple Watershed-management and utility-related contract renewals and a sole‑source maintenance agreement, and authorized execution of a consent order to resolve permit compliance matters, with several items contingent on FY2026 budget adoption.","taxTitle","Atlanta, Fulton County, Georgia","taxId",2959,"location","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":77,"_43":78,"_45":79,"_47":80,"_49":81,"_51":82,"_53":83,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":84,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":85,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6225116,"Council committee forwards cool-roof building-code amendment after debate on costs and implementation",1491,2163000,3654000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3540780-e83df2e6086f4974f8d7f35ad80089f5&start=2163&end=3654","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3540780-e83df2e6086f4974f8d7f35ad80089f5/thumbnail_2163000.jpg","/articles/6225116/Atlanta/Fulton-County/Georgia/Council-committee-forwards-cool-roof-building-code-amendment-after-debate-on-costs-and-implementation","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6225116-b72f4c2fcf0af4024622f15eff9752f0/orig.mp4?Expires=1771182552&Signature=d4rERbJx7s0AJf0nVY9di66mj7OVqeV2Ah-rPKu1WeX03dCRxfY89g2SQt90UYxYtRdgN215e5Z9j34PC-OFE9MlPxtE6uwKSF9ANEaSil7etsv1Kg66ykpUM1ypDdbPbF9wTTMiVBnVlz4WAq9P~luXEY2CCxuTofsfQ80161W~4MqhQf2Cy7FqF28MZ9AzYTQc1Jbf9QiGhAkKJLCy6YDawa1l60QIZZU4G9YbHbNC1BxO39GLbVvGozDS5o78eWKIR2h0NbbWQcgP0iMROQhE4vzieOZndhnEmnePbkkYW48X0SwYVGpXQbto8D2d5RmdW5lvup5M2cc7fDGuJw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The City Utilities Committee voted to advance an ordinance amending the City of Atlanta building code to add minimum roofing reflectance standards, a measure proponents said would reduce urban heat and require light-colored or higher-reflectance roofing materials for full roof replacements and new construction.

Councilmember Liliana Bakhtiari, who introduced the ordinance, said the measure is a cost-effective way to reduce urban temperatures. Bakhtiari told the committee the science shows that “if we hit 80% coverage, it would actually reduce the city's overall temperature by 2 and a half degrees.” She asked colleagues to pass the ordinance and referred the paper to the Committee on Community Development, Housing and Safety (CDHS) for dual review.

Alex Fennell, chief policy officer in Bakhtiari’s office, described the proposal as “essentially cost neutral.” Fennell told the committee that many metal and tile products are already compliant and that newer asphalt roofing materials that meet the proposed reflectance standards are widely available; she said most compliant asphalt shingles are “available at the same cost or maybe $2.03 cents more per square foot than other asphalt roofing tiles.” Fennell said the measure intentionally excludes repairs and would apply only to full roof replacements and new construction.

Committee members pressed on several points: coverage across zoning types, commercial standards, whether the city was first to adopt such a broad rule, potential supply-chain impacts and consequences for lower-income homeowners. The sponsor and staff said the ordinance would apply across residential classifications (including single-family) and would raise some commercial reflectance thresholds modestly above state minimums. Staff said the Office of Buildings has a statutory 90-day review window to comment on any increase above the state minimum standard; if Buildings or City Planning objects, the paper returns to council.

Several councilmembers requested more input from the building industry, a clearer cost analysis and consideration of a phased implementation. Councilmember Alice Warren and others urged additional departmental engagement up front rather than relying on a post-adoption 90-day review. Bakhtiari’s office said it had circulated drafts to law, the Office of Buildings and stakeholder groups and would provide supplemental materials to the committee.

A motion to advance the ordinance carried on a committee vote of 4 yeas and 2 abstentions. Committee leadership recorded the item as favorable and said it will be referred to CDHS for further review and action. Staff and the sponsor said they will provide additional materials requested by members before full council consideration.","The City Utilities Committee advanced an ordinance to add roofing reflectance standards to the City of Atlanta building code; proponents said the measure is largely cost-neutral and would reduce urban heat, while some councilmembers sought more industry input and a phased approach.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":89,"_43":90,"_45":91,"_47":92,"_49":93,"_51":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":96,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":97,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6225122,"City staff outlines climate resilience projects, flags frozen federal grants and near-term savings",1115,373000,1488000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3540780-e83df2e6086f4974f8d7f35ad80089f5&start=373&end=1488","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3540780-e83df2e6086f4974f8d7f35ad80089f5/thumbnail_373000.jpg","/articles/6225122/Atlanta/Fulton-County/Georgia/City-staff-outlines-climate-resilience-projects-flags-frozen-federal-grants-and-near-term-savings","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6225122-1e478d9b277a5bf67765810b0a67e4db/orig.mp4?Expires=1771182552&Signature=IfooSkeA8I025sRdjmWhi-z7cmU7Kj6IOxuIkf2s5bOaxo1F9p51DXY49SAlUz8ru423~FjtGjifDPDmS7t-nl4H8EKRGVfnS0HmDqvgyWR-6SNgE62uMsrCmrY~~aJcnPnFmYQ1eloq2qz7JfGirza5xsjStPPwM764eJpUqv8oxaToZeMrqnKQNOHGTsJLnCHV2e3opVjl8y8sS4EU8PkkULOTUl1uZQXklOH1ediw~PQgTDW615yUYIet80wT2A2wf1DNDQVSwtzlYvWGOjq0Qq-81ms4h-RaWXIuy8ic4hkAB-I1RAT8hCWSAFyF~0N7IJBXMPu9ES0YmCxm4w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City staff updated the City Utilities Committee on the Climate Resilient ATL action-plan, describing an 18-month engagement process and laying out near-term program work on fleet electrification, food access and municipal solar opportunities.

The presentation summarized city partnerships — including Invest Atlanta, the Department of City Planning and external technical partners — and said staff aims to engage at least 2,500 residents. The presenter told the committee, “my goal is that nobody's gonna come up to me and say they didn't know that the city was working on this,” and urged council members to help publicize outreach in their districts.

The presenter highlighted a short-term rate-analysis with Cherry Street Energy that identified nine city facilities eligible for a utility rate change. The analysis, which staff said has been discussed with Georgia Power, “could produce a savings this year of $27,000 for the city,” and staff estimated “over the remainder of our contract term, that's another half a million dollars of savings on [the] city's utility bills.” Staff said hearings for the Public Service Commission’s integrated resource plan began the day of the presentation.

On fleet electrification, staff said the electric-vehicle readiness ordinance was updated and will take effect Jan. 1, 2026. The presenter reported a roughly $3,200,000 grant to replace some medium- and heavy-duty vehicles across departments including Public Works, the airport and Watershed. Staff also noted Atlanta Fire and Rescue and the Atlanta Fire and Rescue Foundation were deploying two Rivian electric emergency vehicles.

Staff described community-facing efforts: a food ecosystem survey tied to the city’s fresh food access map and a youth climate fund. The presenter said the city was awarded an additional $100,000 in addition to $50,000 received in 2024 for the Atlanta Youth Climate Action Fund; staff celebrated the first Youth Climate Action Summit on Earth Day and said about $40,000 remained to distribute. They also said roughly 63 applications were in the queue for youth awards.

Committee members pressed staff on program details and risks. Councilmember Isha Collins asked whether there is formal legislation for energy audits and how outreach will be coordinated across existing programs; staff said the audits tie to earlier ARPA donation agreements and to program lists from Invest Atlanta, the Department of Watershed Management and other city programs, and that staff are consolidating lists on the Neighborly platform used by Invest Atlanta for owner-occupied rehab programs. Collins asked about timing; staff said an extension of 90 days had been set and that an additional $200,000 would be available in the next fiscal year to sustain Weatherize work until a Q3 “Solar for All” launch.

Councilmember Alex Waller asked about federal reimbursement risk, noting many grant awards are reimbursement-based. Staff described a stalled airport charging grant that was roughly $12 million and said the city is exploring legal options to unfreeze those funds. Staff also said roughly $500,000 from an energy-efficiency conservation block grant and a ~$400,000 USDA composting grant were in reimbursement status and that the posture is to continue paperwork so the city is positioned to draw funds when reimbursements become available. “Yeah, it's very much, whiplash,” the presenter said describing the grant uncertainty.

Staff also raised workforce development coordination with the Department of Labor and Employment Services on residential-focused workforce pipelines for Weatherize and roof-replacement programs, and noted the Office of Constituent Services had partnered with Fulton Atlanta Community Action Authority and Georgia Power on sign-up events for federal energy-assistance and weatherization programs.

Committee members requested follow-ups. Councilmembers asked staff to provide heat maps and canvass-cost breakdowns for recent outreach (staff said Sustainable Georgia Futures’ allocation for canvassing was approximately $240,000 supplemented by philanthropic support), details on users of the fresh food app, and implementation timing for audits, Solar for All and related pilot programs.

The briefing closed with staff requests for council help in outreach and continued engagement as the action plan and related regulatory participation (including the Public Service Commission proceedings) proceed.","City staff briefed the City Utilities Committee on the Climate Resilient ATL action-plan engagement, near-term utility savings from a rate change, EV readiness rulemaking and several grant awards and freezes affecting local projects.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Committee approves Watershed and utility-related contract renewals and sole-source maintenance while voting to resolve permit compliance matters

Council committee forwards cool-roof building-code amendment after debate on costs and implementation

City staff outlines climate resilience projects, flags frozen federal grants and near-term savings