2025 1 27 CAC Notes

Unverified text extraction. Check the original page for numbers, names, and layout.

Advisory Con1n1ittee January 2025 
Attendance: 
Barbara Peck, Bob Roseberry, Shawn McKechan, Geoffrey Smith, Hugh ,villson, 
James Fries,Jo Lundy,John Proffitt, Perry McCowan, Reita \Vitt and Patti Greek. 
1\1'ary Scudder ;111d Annc-Mc11ic Schaffer H-'crc unable to attend -sent reports attacl1cd 
Topic: Discussion on historic overlay and a master plan for beautification of Downtown. 
Guest: Frank Clark, Communications Coordinator for the City of Athens. 
After our meeting in October, the city manager heard from every member of the committee on the necessary 
need to improve downtown. Bridget sent the committee the plan that the University of Georgia had given 
Main Street in 2020. Everyone had ideas and comments as Frank went through the slides. 
Poinl.s that were made 
• Underground utilities 
• Clean everything, landscaping and buildings 
• Too many empty buildings-how can we get new businesses to c01ne into town? 
• Branding the new logo for Athens created by Univ of GA 
• Parking- Eve1yone was aware that people that have apartments in Downto'A'll are "furnished 
parking", not on the street-yet there are parking spaces "secured" for them. However, if they 
decide not to park there, they need to know they will receive tickets. 
Increasing the cost with the numbers of tickets-for example-if you have more than 3, instead of 
$10, you may pay $15 per ticket if it continues to rise. S01neone suggested to sta1t towing cars. 
• Security. With the homeless population growing, not as comf01table walking around the Square 
anytime. \Vhat can be done about that? 
• Need more handicap spaces in front of the Annex. Currently tl1ere is one. 
• As many have said over the years, we need more restaurant<;, and plan for outdoor dining. 
• Add more security -barricades-for events downtown. Currently, concrete barricades are 
provided by the City at the entrance, just '"rant to make sure there is no way a car can drive like 
they did in New Orleans. Maybe use firetrucks? 
• Graffiti-how can this be stopped? Eve1yone loves pretty murals-like on Maddie Macs. 
• Restlucturing buildings. No ordinances are currently in place. If tl1ey want to add on Lo the 
building, it needs to be done from the back. A time limit for constmction "machinery" in front 
of the building/business. 
• Split seat benches are being planned-like that idea. ,v e realized the last ones were not secured 
to the grom1d and were also not as ''long lasting". 
• Parking Garage? Pro's and Con's --on where that can go. 'Think about security, block the view 
of the Comthouse if you are on Green Street, V cndors use all the parking lot for all the festivals. 
• How can vve improve the entrance into Downtown by using Knight Park. 
Is it possible that the plans that the University of GA reviewed by the engineers currently doing the 
5 Point project-ran they make plans to have one lane removed, sidewalks widen and extra parking 
around the courthouse be put in an actual plan for the City to change and grow. We need curb 
appeal. Eve1yone should be proud of their city-especially our historic Downtovvn. 
Election results for the Chair for 2025-Pat:t.i Greek 
Meetings for 2025: (All Mondays)- April 28"' , July 21 '',Octobcr 20"'. 
The Committee was notified in both November 2024 &January 2025 of these dates.