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 established a Comprehensive Plan Review Advisory Commission and described the commission's intended composition: a seven-member body appointed by council consisting of two neighborhood association representatives, one business-community member, one member with Ohio University expertise, three qualified electors of the city, with ex officio seats for the mayor, a council planning and development committee representative, the city planner and (optionally) the county planner. Terms were described as three years. The mayor and members agreed that the city planner, Megan Jennings, will take up the five-year review this year and that council has the authority to appoint the commission identified in the code.

Council members emphasized the comprehensive plan is an aspirational document that should inform budget and policy decisions. Member Swank noted the plan language recommending five-year updates and argued for activating the commission to implement performance measurement and to update priorities for years six through ten. Several members referenced past participation in plan development and urged council to solicit broad community representation, including from Asian American and Pacific Islander and LGBTQ+ communities, in any review.

Outcome and next steps: council directed attention to the five-year review process and discussed soliciting applications for the advisory commission under the existing ordinance; the mayor and city planner were identified as administrative leads to begin work this year. No final ordinance or vote to reconstitute the commission was recorded in the meeting; members suggested the matter return to committee for formal action.

Why it matters: the comprehensive plan sets long-term priorities for land use, transportation, housing and community equity. A formal five-year review and a reconstituted advisory commission would update priorities and create performance measures to track progress.

Details from the meeting: - Adoption and references: ordinance 144-20 adopted Athens 2040 (referenced in committee); resolution 06-23 reaffirmed commitments to diversity and inclusion (referenced). - Commission details (from ordinance 0-93-6 as read into the record): seven members appointed by council; two neighborhood association representatives, one business representative, one Ohio University representative with relevant expertise, three qualified electors of the city; ex officio: mayor, a planning & development committee member, city planner, county planner; three-year appointments. - Administration leads: City planner Megan Jennings to undertake the review; DEIA coordinator Lacey Rogers participates in equity efforts.

No formal reconstitution of the advisory commission occurred at the meeting; council members discussed next steps to solicit public interest and appoint members under existing code.