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Council approves parking code changes to allow free garage parking for volunteers and officials during meetings
Summary
Ordinance 84-25 passed unanimously on third reading; the amendment clarifies fee-setting by separate ordinance and allows elected officials, board and commission members and their support staff to park without charge in the city parking garage during meeting times when their primary meeting location is City Hall.
Athens City Council voted unanimously to approve Ordinance 84-25 on third reading Sept. 15, amending the city traffic code to clarify fee-setting and to exempt certain people from parking charges during meetings in select circumstances.
Key provisions adopted include a requirement that the fee for “city contractor bag” (temporary reserved spaces) be established by separate ordinance and language allowing elected officials to park without charge in the city parking garage during meetings and while on official business. The ordinance also extends the same meeting-time exemption to members of city boards and commissions and their support staff if their primary meeting location is City Hall; the exemption applies only during meeting times and not for unrelated activities.
Council Member Spilnus (sponsor) explained the provisions were intended to reduce barriers for volunteers and student commission members who must pay to park. Council Member Klotfelter said the change would help students serving on commissions avoid parking costs. The ordinance passed after a motion and a unanimous voice vote; council recorded no amendments during the third-reading vote.
Why it matters: The change reduces out-of-pocket costs for volunteers and clarifies administrative fee-setter authority, which city staff will implement by separate ordinance establishing specific fee amounts.
Where it stands: Ordinance 84-25 was approved on third reading and will be effective per the ordinance schedule; staff will proceed with a separate ordinance to define actual fee amounts for temporary parking reservations and other related provisions.
