November 2006 Minutes

The meeting was called to order at 7:15 PM.

The customary meeting agenda was bypassed due to special guests and open discussion.

The floor was passed to Carla Smith, Atlanta City Council District 1, for introductions.
Those introduced are as follows:
Cesar Mitchell, Councilman at large.
Ashton Durant, Supervisor, Bureau of Code Compliance
Stan Tucker, Code Compliance Officer of the NPU-W area

Statement: There is frustration due to the lack of follow up from Code Enforcement. Due to this lack of follow up, many problem properties that have been previously cited are still in violation. Also, how can the community support Code Enforcement?

Ashton Durant's Response: The problem of lax code enforcement is being addressed by adding more code enforcement officers, streamlining the flow of complaints, and updating equipment. Also, a staff person has been added who is dedicated to research only – her task being to track down absent homeowners.
Ashton Durant stated follow up visits are very important.
Stan Tucker stated Open or Vacant properties have priority.
Ashton Durant stated there has been some discussion of starting a data base for non-homesteaded properties.

Statement: Would dated pictures from a constituent emailed to our code enforcement officer expedite follow up or a citation?

Aston Durant's Response: The Code Enforcement Officer must see the property personally. (However, he seemed open to ideas.)

THE FLOOR WAS PASSED TO MAJOR PROPES

Concerns about delayed police response time were stated.
Major Propes stated there is a shortage of officers. She stated officers are assigned very large areas to cover and must prioritize calls. If an officer is one hour late, it may mean he did not get the call transferred to him from 911 until one hour later. Or, if the call is deemed low priority, it will be put at the bottom of the call distribution list.
Major Propes stated the budget has money to hire 100 officers every year. This budget is floating to maintain a certain number of officers. For example, eighty (80) officers were hired this year and seventy-eight (78) officers were lost this year.
At the end of last year the approximate budget surplus was 03.2 million. Carla Smith said the Mayor wanted to use the surplus as a salary raise for police. This decision was made after a study showed Atlanta police are paid approximately twelve (12) percent below the national average. Policepersons are being given raises in increments each year until their salary meets the national average. This is being done in effort to entice policepersons to stay with APD. The job is harder and the pay is lower than other areas. Atlanta is losing trained officers to other areas due to this and other reasons.

Major Propes stressed that that one officer has been assigned to a huge area which includes Benteen Park. Cesar Mitchell said he would look into splitting up the area and/or adding more policepersons.

Major Propes new email address is: Epropes@AtlantaGA.GOV

TRAFFIC CALMING DEVICES

On October 13, 2006, the Benteen Park Neighborhood request for speed humps satisfied technical requirements for installation. Streets approved for installation are: Benteen Avenue, Benteen Way, Federal Terrace, and Funston Street. Prior to installation, 75% of homeowners' signatures for each street must be acquired showing they are in agreement to speed hump installation.

The meeting was adjourned at 9:45 PM.