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Athens council adopts alcohol ordinance amendment, impact-fee change for multifamily units and routine purchases
Summary
Council adopted an amendment to the city's alcohol ordinance to allow in-store dining concepts that sell wine in grocery stores and clarified an exception for university contractors; it also approved an ordinance closing a meter-based loophole so multifamily developments pay per-unit water and sewer impact fees. Several consent purchases, including police equipment, were approved.
The Athens City Council approved several ordinances and routine consent items, including an amendment to the Athens alcohol ordinance, a change to water and sewer impact fees for multifamily developments, and multiple equipment and procurement items.
City Attorney Shane explained the proposed alcohol-ordinance amendment would permit grocery-store dining concepts where customers could buy and consume wine in an on-site dining area and would clarify that exceptions previously granted to Athens State University also apply to contractors working for the university. "This does two things ... it amends the alcohol ordinance in order to allow for a grocery store concept ... and makes it clear that that exception also applies to the contractors of the university," Shane said.
On impact fees, staff explained the ordinance change closes a meter-based loophole. Under the current meter-based fee structure, some multifamily or multi-tenant developments served by a single meter could pay less than an equivalent number of single-family units; the amendment enables the city to charge multifamily developments per unit so a 100‑unit apartment complex would pay the same in impact fees as a 100‑unit subdivision. "So, for example, if you had a 100 apartment complex, they would pay the same in impact fees as a 100 unit subdivision," staff said.
Consent items approved included reimbursement for council training, a pole-attachment agreement with Spectrum Southeast, purchase of pepper-ball equipment and Glock 45 duty weapons for the police department, and a sewer push-camera for wastewater collection. The council approved the consent calendar by roll call.
Public comment included a resident who asked for more detail about the water and sewer impact-fee change; staff summarized the intent to close the meter loophole so multifamily developments pay per unit. Council approved the impact-fee ordinance and the alcohol ordinance after motions to suspend rules, with roll-call approvals recorded.
The meeting did not include extended debate on these items; council members noted they had reviewed many items in work session. The ordinances and consent purchases will proceed to implementation per the city's procurement and licensing processes.
