Committee of the Whole discusses Athens 2040 five-year review and reconstituting advisory commission

The Committee of the Whole of the Athens City Council on Jan. 27 took up a review of the Athens 2040 comprehensive plan and discussed reconvening a council-established advisory commission to oversee a five-year review.

Member McCarrie introduced the discussion and asked for increased familiarity with the plan's sections, singling out the diversity and inclusion chapter and its nine goals. McCarrie said some community concerns, such as housing insecurity and mental-health needs, are not currently reflected in the diversity and inclusion chapter and suggested those topics as possible updates. He also noted an existing working group convened after a 2020 resolution and the city's participation in national racial-equity cohorts.

Mayor (unnamed) said the city remains committed to racial-equity work and confirmed the comprehensive plan calls for periodic review. The mayor identified ordinance 0-93-6 (2006) as the city code mechanism that…