Process Changes Continue Permitting Improvement Project Momentum
New extended hours and other process changes within the Bureau of Buildings continue progress made by the City’s Permitting Improvement Project to decrease the time it takes to receive residential and commercial permits.
To keep pace with Atlanta’s growth, the Permitting Improvement Project was established to reduce the time to issue permits. By implementing new processes, the Bureau will reduce the time to receive a new residential permit from 85 days to 60 days by December 2006 and to 30 days by June 2007. For new commercial permits, the goal is to reduce time to permit from 155 days to 102 days by December 2006, and to 70 days by June 2007.
Effective July 18, 2006, the Bureau of Buildings offices will be open on Tuesdays for all permitting business; previously the Bureau was closed on Tuesdays. The Bureau will continue to offer extended permitting hours for HOMEOWNERS ONLY on Tuesdays from 4:00 – 8:00 p.m.
Also beginning July 18, the Bureau will enact a new separate site and building application review process. This process was previously combined; it invariably delayed builders from working on site preparation while their building plans were still under review. Builders can now work on the site preparation while the building plans (which can be submitted at anytime) are under review.
A new concurrent review process with the Zoning division is also in effect. Previously, zoning and sewer inspectors were required to sign off before plans could be submitted to the Bureau for permit review. Now all plans will be distributed to each division at the same time, considerably reducing the time to permit.
A new Certificate of Occupancy pre-pay policy - effective for applications issued since July 1 – can save permit applicants up to five hours. This new process allows permit applicants to pay for the certificate when they apply for their permit.
For more Permitting Improvement Project updates, view this pdf file. For information about Developer’s Day, Tuesday, July 25, 2006, see Upcoming Events section of City Newsbytes.
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Musician Realizes Broadcast Dreams as a Next Step Intern
Mason Morton, a harpist and upcoming University of Michigan freshman, moved closer to his dream of becoming a broadcast journalist while working as a radio station intern through the City’s Next Step program.
Mason has been playing the harp for six years and plans to major in harp performance in college. But his private passion was broadcast journalism. Mason shared this passion with Mayor Shirley Franklin during a “Saturday with the Mayor” session at the Atlanta Workforce Development Agency (AWDA). Shortly after, Mason was awarded a summer internship at jazz radio station, WCLK 91.9 FM.
“It was exactly what I wanted,” Mason said. At WCLK, Mason has produced public service announcements (PSAs) and worked the “boards” which controls the rotation of music that listeners hear, among other things.
His internship influenced more than Mason’s summer - it has influenced his career path. “For a long time radio and television broadcast was just an interest. Now it has become a love,” Mason said. Since beginning his internship, Mason has decided to pursue a double-major in harp performance and broadcast journalism.
This year, the Next Step program has helped over 955 Atlanta youth, like Mason, with their life decisions post-graduation. Next Step has provided these youth with college scholarships, job training, certifications and employment. For more information about the Next Step … the Atlanta Promise program, visit the Next Step website.
Mason Morton unexpectedly turned an interest in broadcast journalism into a labor of love this summer as a participant in the Next Step summer internship program. Mason is a harpist, and will pursue a double major in harp performance/broadcast journalism at the University of Michigan this fall. |
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AWDA Workshops Prepare Next Step Youth for Workforce
By Kaylah Walker - Next Step Intern Office of Communications
Today’s workforce holds many challenges for new college graduates. Fortunately for students in the Next Step program, the Atlanta Workforce Development Agency (AWDA) has begun hosting workshops to prepare them for what’s to come.
“Students need specific skills to be competitive in the 21st century labor market. These skills include strong time-management, effective communication and computer literacy,” said AWDA executive director, Deborah Lum. “We want to expose Atlanta’s students to a methodology that will enable them to succeed during their college career and beyond”
The workshops are designed to alleviate the “culture shock” many new graduates feel when they begin their first career job. The transition from a relatively unstructured campus life to a controlled, professional environment can be quite a change. According to employers, many recent college graduates lack the primary ability that most seek: good communication skills!
Next Step students will get an advantage over many of their peers through these interactive workshops. College admissions officers are reporting that they are receiving more applications than they have slots to fill. This increase creates stiff competition for jobs post-graduation.
Jamila Freightman, a Next Step summer intern working at credit card processing firm, First Data, recently attended a workshop at AWDA. Jamila, who plans to attend Oxford College at Emory University in the fall, says she learned how important positive body language and personal money management skills were. “I know I’ll use these skills in college and in a professional setting in the future.”
Pamela Jewell, representative from Junior Achievement, leads a workshop at the Atlanta Workforce Development Agency (AWDA) for Next Step students. AWDA has begun hosting workshops to help prepare college students for the workforce and secondary education after graduation. |
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Camp Best Friends Participates in International Soccer Tournament
Camp Best Friends (CBF) campers at the Thomasville and Grove Park recreation centers joined the millions of youth worldwide who are participating in the “Nike 3-on-3” indoor soccer tournament.
Timed to coincide with the World Cup games, over 60 CBF youth showcased their “futsal” skills - an indoor version of soccer – at the tournament, held at the Thomasville recreation center. The Nike 3-on-3 tournament is currently taking place in 39 countries; by the end of the summer, an estimated 3 million youth will have participated.
Nike – through the National Recreation and Parks Association – donated 100 soccer balls, t-shirts and a “futsal” instruction kit to the City. Instructors from Soccer in the Streets®, an Atlanta-based non-profit organization that develops soccer programs for inner-city youth, managed the tournament. Soccer in the Streets is responsible for the soccer programs currently at the Thomasville and Grove Park recreation centers.
“The game of soccer is such a fun and healthy way for kids to stay in shape,” said Office of Recreation Director Charlene Braud. The Office of Recreation plans to extend its soccer programs to encourage more youth to participate in the game. For more information on soccer programs, call 404.817.6766.
Camp Best Friends is celebrating its 25th year of providing over 3,400 Atlanta youth ages 6-16 with traditional and non-traditional summer camp activities including sports, educational trips, computer instruction and performing arts. For more information about the Department of Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs, visit their web page.
Boys and girls, ranging in ages 6-12, in the Camp Best Friends summer program learn how to play “futsal” an indoor soccer game. Camp Best Friends celebrates its 25th year providing City of Atlanta youth with enriching summer camp experiences.
A Soccer in the Streets representative (pictured center) works with Camp Best Friends campers in preparation for the Nike 3-on-3 indoor soccer tournament.
Camp Best Friends youth (above) from the Grove Park and Thomasville recreation centers square off during the Nike 3-on-3 indoor soccer tournament. |
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City Corrections Department Co-Hosts Emergency Preparedness Training Conference, July 18-20
The City Department of Corrections will co-host an Emergency Response Training - Mass Casualty Incidents (HERT-MCI) training conference from July 18 - 20 in the Atlanta City Detention Center auditorium, located at 254 Peachtree Street, Atlanta, 30303.
The City will partner with the Atlanta-Fulton County Emergency Management Agency. The three-day program emphasizes mass casualty planning and responses to Weapons of Mass Destructions (WMD), Chemical Biological Radiological Nuclear or Explosive (CBRNE) events, hazardous materials incidents and epidemiological/pandemic emergencies.
The HERT-MCI course is designed to educate and train first-responders in the Emergency Medical Services. Conference attendees will include representatives from the public health care industry, emergency medical personnel, law enforcement, prison and jail medical personnel, SWAT teams and CERT teams. This conference is only open to first-responders and other emergency personnel.
For more information about the City of Atlanta Department of Corrections, visit this page.
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NOTICE! Peachtree Road Bridge Replacement Begins Sunday, July 23
Due to the Peachtree Street Bridge replacement at Five Points, Peachtree Street will be CLOSED to vehicle traffic beginning at 6:00 a.m. on Sunday, July 23 between Alabama Street and Marietta Street/Decatur Streets.
The projected re-open date is Monday, February 26, 2008. Some bus routes will be adjusted. For more information on any changes to bus routes, contact the appropriate transit agency.
For more information on the Peachtree Street Bridge Replacement Project, please visit here or the State's page and search under “Road Construction Projects.
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The City of Atlanta Urban Design Commission recently presented its annual “Awards of Excellence.” To view the award-winning designs, click the Video On Demand (VOD) webpage.
This is just one of the many videos that you can view on our VOD page. Video clips include most programming you see on City Channel 26, like news conferences, groundbreakings and other events, as well as special programs that profile City departments and services.
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Rave Reviews!
- Mayor Shirley Franklin received the first-ever “Guardian Award” from FM radio station, V-103, for outstanding community service work, and specifically for her efforts in spearheading a group of Atlanta leaders to collectively purchase the historic Martin Luther King, Jr. Papers. The award was presented to Mayor Franklin during a special live radio broadcast with Rev. Bernice King, Dr. King’s youngest daughter, and representatives from Morehouse College and the King estate. The papers will eventually be housed at Morehouse College.
Mayor Shirley Franklin was awarded FM radio station, V-103’s, first-ever “Guardian Award.” Pictured from left to right are: Station general manager, Rick Caffey; Phil Jones, a representative from the King estate; Mayor Franklin; V-103 radio host, Frank Ski; and Rev. Bernice King, Dr. King’s youngest daughter. |
- “Next Step … the Atlanta Promise” interns working in the City Hall Executive Offices experience first-hand the inner-workings City of Atlanta government.
“Next Step … the Atlanta Promise” interns and college credit interns in the City of Atlanta’s executive offices join Mayor Shirley Franklin. The interns are working in various departments within the executive offices, including Communications, Special Events, Scheduling, Constituent Services and Human Services .Pictured are (top row): Zakiya Kelly; Javorris Davis; Quiana Lewis; Lawrence Langford; Antonio Christian; Elijah Carmichael; Demetrius Jackson; Brandon Wise; Ryan Nixon; Makkah Ali; Jacole Green; Kaylah Walker. Pictured (bottom): Suzanne Milton; Kizmet Witherspoon; Mayor Shirley Franklin; Ashley Johnson; Rae Smith; Jasmine Cochran; Kimberly Keys. Not pictured are: Marcus Brooks, Shannon Cumberbatch and Chantrice Copeland. |
- The Atlanta Fire Rescue (AFR) Department installed and serviced 148 smoke alarms for free last Saturday for residents in the Old Fourth Ward community. The Atlanta Smoke Alarm Program (ASAP) is a monthly program that joins Atlanta firefighters with community leaders to asses the condition of residents’ fire alarms. If a resident already has a smoke alarm, AFR will check the working condition of the alarm and replace batteries, if necessary. “A working smoke alarm can provide early and life-saving notification of a fire in one’s home. It is absolutely essential that all residents are able to go to bed each night knowing that there is at least one working smoke alarm on each floor of their home,” said AFR Chief Dennis L. Rubin.
Atlanta firefighters installed and serviced 148 fire alarms to City of Atlanta residents last Saturday during its monthly Atlanta Smoke Alarm Program (ASAP) drive. |
- The Pothole Posse, a division of the City Department of Public Works, was called on to repair the streets in preparation for the recent Peachtree Road Race. The Pothole Posse was recognized by the Atlanta Track Club, wheelchair participants and others during the broadcasting of the race for excellent work. The City of Atlanta salutes the Pothole Posse for a job well done!
Congratulations to the Pothole Posse for an excellent job preparing Atlanta streets for the recent Peachtree Road Race! Pictured from left to right are: John Smith, Brandon Rowe, Antonio Denson, Marcus Mathis, Joann Henderson and Carnell Thomas. Not Pictured is Arthur Holmes. |
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Upcoming Events & Volunteer Opportunities
- In Atlanta, every day is an opening day … at MegaFest 2006, from Wednesday, July 19- Saturday, July 22 at the Georgia World Congress Center, and other venues throughout Atlanta. MegaFest combines Bishop T.D. Jakes' “Woman, Thou Art Loosed!” and “ManPower” conferences and includes separate youth and children's forums. For more information about MegaFest events, visit their website.
- “Atlanta Reads … One Book, One Community” will host a book club discussion on Tuesday, July 18 at 7:00 p.m., at Borders Parkway Pointe, 3101 Cobb Parkway. The discussion topics include family, race and southern sensibilities in Ferrol Sams’ novel, Run with the Horsemen. “Atlanta Reads” co-chair, Emory professor Dr. Rudolph Byrd, will moderate the discussion.
- The City of Atlanta and the Atlanta Development Authority (ADA) will host Developer’s Day, Tuesday, July 25, 2006, 7:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. at Princeton Lakes, 3511 Redwine Road, Atlanta, 30331. Developer’s Day workshops help to educate the development community on how the City is working to streamline and improve the permitting process. This event is primarily for builders and developers and community planners. To register online, visit the Bureau of Building page or call 404.614.8295.
- Beat the summer heat at a City of Atlanta pool! Free swim hours are Monday - Friday, 1:30 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.; paid swim hours are Monday - Friday, 4:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. and all day Saturday and Sunday. Admission is free for children 5 and under; children 6-16 are $1 each; adults 17 and up are $2 each; seniors 50 and up are $1 each. All children 11 and under MUST be accompanied by an adult. For hours of operation, information on swim lessons and more, call 404.853.7654.
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Job Announcements
With the City of Atlanta’s online application system, you are able to create an account and select a Username and Password and then log in to your account.
After your account has been established, you can create an application by clicking on the “Build Job Application” link. Once your application is completed, it will be stored in the system and can be used to apply for future job openings. To get started by viewing current open positions, click here.
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Weekly Features
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