Plan to cap overtime parking fine at $35 among changes proposed to Mayor Reed’s proposed 2013 budget

By David Pendered

The fine for overtime parking in Atlanta would be set at $35 per violation under a proposal the Atlanta City Council is to consider Wednesday during its special call meeting to debate proposed amendments to Mayor Kasim Reed’s budget plan.

The city code now provides for a fine of up $1,000, which can be imposed at the discretion of a city judge, according to legislation proposed by Councilman H. Lamar Willis, who is elected citywide.

Willis’ proposal would set the fine for overtime parking at $35 and provide for late fees. A related proposal would set a schedule of hours during which cars could be parked in metered parking zones throughout the city.

Reed has proposed an operating budget of about $540 million and a plan to pay for it with $526 million of projected general fund revenues and about $14 million of reserves, according to the budget overview provided May 4 by the mayor’s office. The spending plan is for the fiscal year budget 2013 begins July 1.

The budget proposal envisions a reserve fund of more than $100 million, which equates to a reserve balance of about 20 percent, according to the budget overview.

Click here to read Reed’s proposed FY 2013 budget.

The council’s budget schedule is to hear all proposed amendments Wednesday and refer some or all of them to the council’s Finance Committee for further discussion.

The council intends to return to regular session June 18 and adopt a budget.

The mayor has until June 25 to approve or reject the budget ordinance and related matters, according to the city’s schedule.

The council meeting begins Wednesday at 9 a.m., followed by a public hearings scheduled to begin at 11:30 a.m. and 6 p.m.

These are the amendments now slated to be discussed:

• 12-O-0497 (1) An Ordinance by Councilmember H. Lamar Willis as substituted by Transportation Committee to amend Chapter 150, Article IV, Division 3, Section 150-133 of the City of Atlanta Code of Ordinances to specify the amount of the fines for overtime parking at metered spaces throughout the City of Atlanta; and for other purposes.
• 12-O-0498 (2) An Ordinance by Councilmember H. Lamar Willis to amend Chapter 150, Article IV, Division 3, Section 150-132 of the City of Atlanta Code of Ordinances to alter Metered Space Parking Zone Time Limits and Fee Requirements throughout the City of Atlanta; and for other purposes.
• 11-O-0748 ( 4) A Substitute Ordinance by Finance/Executive Committee to amend Chapter 114, Personnel, Article “IV”, Classification Plan of the Code of Ordinances, City of Atlanta, Georgia, so as to provide for certain position abolishment, creations, reclassifications, class abolishments, class creations, class title amendments, above entry authorizations, employee salary adjustments, salary grade amendments, position transfers, position funding allocation changes and other personnel actions in line with the 2012 Budget; and for other purposes.
• 12-O-0440 (1) An Ordinance by Councilmember H. Lamar Willis as substituted by City Utilities Committee to amend Various Sections of Chapter 154, Sections 2-222(13) and 2-280 of the City of Atlanta Code of Ordinances for the purpose of amending and restating the organizational structure of the Department of Watershed Management and various operating bureaus within the department; and for other purposes.
• 12-O-0401 (1) A Substitute Ordinance by Finance/Executive Committee to amend Section 146-26 (b), (c), (d), (e) and (f) of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Atlanta, so as to change the Ad Valorem Tax Rate of Real and Personal Property for the General Levy, Debt Levy, City Parks Levy, School Operating Levy, School Debt Levy and the Special Tax District Levy; to provide that the Tax Rates established herein shall remain fixed each year until amended or repealed; and for other purposes.
• 12-O-0662 (2)An Ordinance by Finance/Executive Committee to amend Sections 146-26 (c), (e) and (f), of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Atlanta, so as to change the Special Tax District (Library) Levy and the School Tax Levies; to provide that the Tax Rate established herein shall remain fixed each year until amended or repealed; and for other purposes.
• 12-O-0496 (3) An Ordinance by Councilmembers H. Lamar Willis and C. T. Martin to amend Chapter 114, Personnel, Article ‘IV’, Classification Plan of the Code of Ordinances, City of Atlanta, Georgia, so as to provide for certain position abolishment’s, creations, reclassifications, class abolishment’s, class creations, above entry authorizations, employee salary adjustments, salary grade amendments, position transfers; position funding allocation changes and other personnel actions in line with the 2013 Budget; and for other purposes.
• 12-O-0399 (4) A Substitute(2) Ordinance by Finance/Executive Committee adopting the Fiscal Year 2013 Proposed Budget, to include all funds; and for other purposes.