Three agenda items put forth by Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms were adopted by the Atlanta City Council.
Atlanta Child Murders Monument
Legislation was adopted for the City to move forward with implementing a significant recommendation from Mayor Bottoms’ Advisory Committee: Atlanta Children’s Memorial Taskforce. The taskforce—comprised of mayoral appointees from the community—was charged with determining an appropriate acknowledgement of the lives cut short during the Atlanta Child Murders. Today’s action authorized the City to enter into an agreement with Gordon Huether + Partners, Inc. for the creation of a metal and stone memorial—including an Eternal Flame, sculptural wall and benches—on City Hall grounds. (Renderings attached.)
School Zone Speed Cameras
Legislation was adopted to enact Mayor Bottoms’ Administrative Order to negotiate and finalize an intergovernmental agreement with Atlanta Public Schools (APS) to develop a School Zone Speed Camera Enforcement program. The citywide program will be utilized to capture speed violations which occur only on a school day while instructional classes are taking place, one hour before classes are scheduled to begin and one hour after classes have concluded. Penalties will be issued for violations in excess of 10 miles per hour over the speed limit set for the school zone.
Pre-employment Physical Examinations
Legislation was adopted to enact Mayor Bottoms’ Executive Order suspending pre-employment physical examinations and drug screening requirements for prospective City employees in non-safety sensitive positions. With equity being a core principle of the Administration’s policies and agenda, this Order is designed to address systemic discrimination against communities of color which are disproportionately affected by underlying health conditions. The Order also grants the Commissioner of the Department of Human Resources the authority to administratively establish requirements for pre-employment physical examinations and drug testing for safety sensitive positions and may designate certain employment classifications which affect safety and /or security as safety sensitive positions.