2024 1 22 Report CAC

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Advisory Committee Meeting
January 22, 2024
6 p.m.

The original agenda was to have a speaker on Tennessee Sunshine Laws.

However, the City Manager’s office has invited many others, including this committee, to
have a virtual meeting on 2/1/2024.

After conversations with the City Manager and the Mayor, the suggestion was to get ideas

from the committee on what topics are important to Athens for the City Council Strategic

Meeting. The Strategic meeting will be held on February 15" beginning at 9 a.m. All are
invited to attend.

Attendance report is attached for 2023 and this first meeting for 2024.

There were a lot of ideas and open discussion.

e Industrial Growth (we should have Lindsay Fergurson, Director of EDA to the next
meeting).

e Infrastructure; we know we need another Fire Dept to support the growth of
Athens. Need a plan to get and retain Police officers

e Homeless and mental health--Plan to use former schools? Or old motels?

Need a place that is walkable, access to pharmacy, food, new job training, financial
guidance, showers---a// 12 this discussion realize this is a very large project that needs
maor assistance. We know there are many 501-C agencies working on this major
project. What can be done to co-ordinate and make it successful.

e When Retail Strategies (40K) was not renewed—what are the plans for new
restaurants—other amenities to keep citizens stay here—or new ones to move here?
Has this money been used in other ways to create new restaurants?

e What needs to be done at the Regional Center to make it a place to hold more
functions—bring more people to Athens?

e More Communication to the citizens of Athens
update the Website, add the 2024 Goals of the City, strategies, topics of discussion---

what is going on with the empty schools, pickle ball courts, new business when all
paperwork has been signed. Make an announcement so there are no speculations
about what is going on in the space i.c., new coffee place coming to Belk’s Plaza.

e Since the Snow was “fresh” on everyone’s mind—maybe a plan for plow trucks.

e Paving- stay with the plan and not “move around” stay in the area and finish the streets
that need the paving.

e Discuss City ordinances and how they work.