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Athens City Council approves package of ordinances for events, finance and code updates
Summary
At its March 2 meeting the Athens City Council adopted multiple ordinances including permits for uptown festivals (street closures, noise waivers, vending), adoption of the county hazard mitigation plan, PACE custodial-fund creation, reinstatement of Title 15 tax code and several administrative 'then‑and‑now' certificates; several items were adopted under suspended rules.
The Athens City Council on March 2 adopted a slate of ordinances covering public events, finance housekeeping and statutory updates.
Council voted to adopt three related ordinances allowing uptown street closures for 2026 special events, temporary suspension of the city's noise rules during those events and designated vending privileges in event zones. Member Claudefelder said organizers need timely approval because the International Street Fair on April 11 is roughly five weeks away; council suspended the rules and adopted the three measures by voice vote.
The council also adopted Ordinance 0826 to accept the Athens County multi‑jurisdictional hazard mitigation plan, which Member Isherwood said is required to comply with the Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000.
On finance items, the council created a Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) custodial fund (Ordinance 24‑26) to accept county assessment receipts for energy‑efficiency financing, with members noting the state requires a 30‑day window for processing. Council reinstated Title 15 tax provisions (Ordinance 25‑26) after staff explained that those provisions were inadvertently repealed and are needed during tax season.
Council also approved the routine but administratively important then‑and‑now certificates (Ordinance 26‑26) that formalize payments made before purchase orders could be encumbered. Members raised questions about timing and optics of a large Rumkey payment and about multiple certificates early in the year; treasury and administration explained the cluster results from year‑end close timing and system constraints for purchase orders.
Other adopted or advanced items included an ordinance authorizing sale of obsolete city property via internet auction and an ordinance authorizing limited water‑system agreements and easements.
The council processed the measures efficiently, using suspended‑rules procedures for time‑sensitive items; several members urged improved calendar and procurement timing to reduce the need for then‑and‑now certificates in future.
The meeting concluded after public comment and the confirmation of several mayoral commission appointments.
