Buckhead Library

There will be a Library Board of Trustees meeting at the 6th Floor of the Atlanta/Fulton Central Library on February 27th from 3-4. The Buckhead Library issue is on the agenda and citizens can share their thoughts and concerns. The master plan workshop will begin at 4 pm, following the general meeting. For more information please call (404) 730-1972 or email your concerns to librarycomments@fultoncountyga.gov

Atlanta's Trolley

ATLANTA TROLLEY INSTEAD OF PEACHTREE STREETCAR?

In mid 2007 Mayor Franklin formed the Peachtree Corridor Task Force to create a vision for our city’s signature street. Peachtree Corridor, as defined by the Task Force, is 14.5 miles long and extends from the Beltline crossing of Lee Street in the couth to Club Drive and the city limits in the north. The Task Force recommended a 25-year, $1billion vision to transform Peachtree into a world-class boulevard characterized by high quality streetscapes, including sidewalks, pocket parks and public spaces, consistent signage, attractive lighting, trees, flowers and other elements. The Task Force also recommended the development of a modern streetcar to connect and unify the corridor.

The Task Force objectives apparently were to highlight Peachtree, create transportation “pizzazz” different from other cities’ transport, integrate streetscapes & transportation mode, service new high rise residential and create reason to develop on Peachtree.


I (and many other Council Members) had months ago supported the idea of a streetcar (such as Portland’s) when the idea was presented as a way to increase tourism and help Downtown redevelop. But at the time the idea was presented, there was no conversation about how the streetcar would be funded. And at the time, no one discussed what other routes other than Peachtree might benefit our Atlanta residents.

The recommendation from the Task Force of linking our city from the northern city limits to Fort Mac with a new type of vehicle special to Atlanta seems like a good idea. AND, I have never heard any opposition to beautifying Peachtree with streetscapes, lighting and pocket parks.

But the idea of imposing a Special Assessment District (SAD) with no referendum to fund the first phase of the streetcar in only Downtown and Midtown needs some more conversation among the six City Council members who represent segments of Peachtree. We already had several conversations about the amount of time it would take to complete the transportation vision, the amount of money need to fund the vision, the opposition to the type of vehicle with overhead wires, and especially with the idea of imposing a SAD on business and condo owners with no referendum.

I think maybe we should go back to the drawing board, partially. My personal view is that we should consider another, smaller attractive vehicle that is not fixed rail and that can be used for circulators for neighborhoods and for tourists. Our objectives should not be just for Peachtree, but city-wide: to provide non-auto transit for short destinations, to provide tourist transport, to be attractive enough to be an alternative to a car or taxi, to service new high rise residential, but which does not interfere with the current flow of traffic. I think it could also offer a way for Atlantans to get to the Beltline.

Trolleys, ore smaller circulator buses, are available with low-to-the-curb entrance doors for a much lower cost than streetcars. A lower-cost vehicle could allow the vision of whole-city use much sooner. These smaller circulator vehicles might attract more users than big buses and could maneuver more neighborhood routes than just Peachtree. Whether it is sufficiently “pizzazy” to provide a unique transportation experience for Atlanta would have to be tested.

What about the funding? I propose that we have a city-wide referendum to fund this new attractive circulator trolley and the streetscape improvements. Atlanta citizens have overwhelmingly supported two bond referenda—in 1994 and in 2000—aimed at street improvements and traffic calming and streetscapes and sidewalks. The 2000 bond program is winding down now. If this idea is deemed to be a good idea, the residents of the whole city would support it—not just businesses and condo owners in Midtown and Downtown.

Outdoor Watering Ban

Mayor Shirley Franklin and Commissioner Rob Hunter announced that Atlanta would continue its ban on outdoor watering. “We are still in a Level 4 drought,” Mayor Franklin said. “And we still are under an obligation to cut our use 10 percent. We can’t allow outdoor watering and meet that goal.”

Although the governor approved loosening restrictions including one 25-minute hand watering per day, the state maintained the requirement for local utilities to reduce usage by 10 percent and gave local utilities the responsibility of deciding how best to meet that goal. The Mayor pointed out that Atlanta had gone to Drought Level 3 last May, four months before the State moved from a Level 2 to a Level 4 drought, banning most outdoor watering. That means that Atlanta’s usage was already significantly reduced last summer. A 10 percent reduction on top of that already reduced usage would be “unlikely if not impossible,” according to Commissioner Hunter. Commissioner Hunter noted that the 30-day exemption for new landscaping is still in place but that the City would no longer exempt watering for lawn overseeding and aeration.

“Lake Lanier levels have dropped significantly over the past three years,” the Mayor said. “On Feb. 17, 2006, the lake was 1.97 feet below full pool. A year later, it was 4.85 feet below full pool. On Feb. 17 of this year, it was 18.32 feet below full pool. In other words, Lake Lanier is 13.5 feet below where it was at this time last year, and it is .2 feet lower than it was in November. We are still in a very serious drought.” State Climatologist David Stooksbury has predicted that the drought will continue through this summer.

Mayor Franklin did announce that pools will be exempted from the restrictions, effective immediately. “This was not an easy decision,” she said. “But we think it makes sense from a public health and safety standpoint. Atlanta gets very, very hot during the summer, and we want children and families to have access to pools.” Commissioner Hunter said that the City would continue to monitor the situation and take additional steps if necessary.

Conservation tips are available at www.atlantawatershed.org. Additionally, in keeping with the Mayor’s determination to make water conservation a top priority, the City’s water usage figures are posted on www.atlantawatershed.org every weekday.

A more energy efficient home

http://www.southface.org/web/resources&services/publications/factsheets/sf_factsheet-menu.htm

Southface provides resources and fact sheets on ways to save energy, conserve water and preserve the environment. Please look over the website to find tips for making your home more energy efficient.

Recycling in Atlanta

Items that can be recycled at the curb:

• Newspaper
• Aluminum cans
• Glass bottles and jars ( remove the lids)
• Steel ( tin) cans
• Plastic #1 and # 2 bottles
• Mixed paper (Please put the mixed paper in a brown craft paper grocery bag to keep it separated from newspaper.)
• Office paper
• Junk mail
• Envelopes
• Telephone directories
• Boxboard (cereal boxes, tissue boxes )
• Shredded paper tied in a clear plastic bag
• Magazines
• Catalogues

Hartsfield Incinerator Site
2175 James Jackson Parkway
Atlanta, GA 30318

Phone: (404) 794-2422
Days/Hours: Monday to Friday 8am to 5pm
This site is for City of Atlanta residents only; proof of residency is required. Please call first for further details.

Materials Collected:

• Electronics
• Computer Monitors
• Computer Recycling
• Televisions
• Household Hazardous
• Fluorescent Bulbs
• Reuse (Cell phone and Equipment)

For more community-specific information on recylcing, green shopping, energy conservation, household hazardous waste, composting and dozens of other environmental resources, enter your zip code and visit:

http://earth911.org/

City Launches New Solid Waste Initiative

Department of Public Works Prepares to Launch New Solid Waste Collection Process

Beginning March 3, 2008, the Office of Solid Waste Services will implement a new solid waste collection process that will establish long-term improvements in operations, customer service and environmental sustainability. To ensure efficient, timely and safe collection of solid waste from all customers, the Department of Public Works (DPW) has redistributed households into more balanced service areas, which will result in new collection days for most of Atlanta’s residents. The new collection improvements will not only create a more cost-efficient collection process, but residents will benefit from a safer, cleaner, greener Atlanta. “This is a very exciting time for Atlanta, as we work to further enhance and improve solid waste services for our customers. We are committed to the efficient management of our resources and determined to take control of Atlanta’s solid waste destiny”, said David E. Scott, Public Works Commissioner.

The most noticeable changes in the new solid waste collection process include:

• New collection days for most customers.
• Weekly collection of waste materials (garbage, recycling and yard waste).
• Yard waste will not be collected in plastic bags. It must be placed in paper yard waste (kraft) bags or a container clearly labeled “yard trimmings.”
• Only 5 additional bags of garbage are allowed in addition to the contents of your Herbie Curbie for garbage collection.

For additional information and to obtain their new collection day, customers may call the DPW Customer Service Division at 404.330.6333 or visit www.atlantaga.gov.

January 2008 Newsletter

Sewer Program Milestone

Mayor Shirley Franklin and Commissioner Rob Hunter will celebrate the City's Sewer System Evaluation Survey's success with remarks about the Clean Water Atlanta program's status and demonstrations of the techniques, including smoke tests and robotic tools, used to evaluate sewers for damage and defects. The celebration highlights the evaluation of 1,000 miles of the City's 1,530 miles of sewer pipe on budget and ahead of schedule.

When: Thursday, January 31, 2008 11am-Noon

What: Celebration of the City's Sewer System Evaluation Survey's 1,000th mile evaluated

Where: 1279 Ladd Street

Directions: I-20 West to Lowery Boulevard. Exit 55A toward West End. Left onto Joseph E. Lowery Blvd. Right onto Ralph David Abernathy Blvd. Left onto Lawton Street. Lawton Street becomes Hall Street. Right onto Richland Road, left onto Oakland Drive and right onto Ladd Street.