Greenprint Midtown, Transportation Referendum meetings this week

As we conclude the second month of 2012 and prepare to spring forward (Daylight Savings is in less than two weeks!) let’s look at some important calendar events in the coming days.

There are two meetings of note Thursday evening beginning with the first public meeting surrounding Midtown Alliance’s newly created “Greenprint Midtown." The community-wide action plan will integrate sustainability throughout Midtown, establishing the area as the South’s first urban eco-district.

Due to the large public response, the kickoff meeting has been moved to a bigger meeting room at One Atlantic Center, located at 1201 W. Peachtree St. The 5:30-7 p.m. meeting will be held on the 26th floor, and all Midtown community members are invited to attend, including the business, residential, university, nonprofit, real estate and restaurant communities; property owners and building managers; and those who work and play in Midtown.

Greenprint Midtown will help engage the community and technical experts to identify needs and priorities for innovative and implementable solutions to energy and water challenges, clean transportation options, community green-space, and recycling and reducing waste. Those who would like to attend Thursday are asked to R.S.V.P to EcoDistrict@midtownalliance.org.

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Thursday night will also bring a Transportation Referendum meeting form 6-8 p.m. at the Atrium of MARTA headquarters, located at Lindbergh Station, 2424 Piedmont Rd.

In July, voters within the 10-county Atlanta metropolitan region will decide whether to fund local and regional transportation projects through a 1-cent T-SPLOST. A map of the projects in the T-SPLOST is available here.

The total revenue from this tax is expected to be $7.2 billion over a 10-year period. This revenue will be split with 85-percent going to regional projects as defined by the Regional Transportation Roundtable this past fall.

The other 15-percent is set aside for the counties/cities where it is collected. For the city of Atlanta, this should be a little more than $9 million per year for 10 years, or about $94 million total to spend on local projects. The city is working to develop a rolling five-year list of projects to be funded by this allotment, should this referendum pass in July.

Thursday’s meeting is to begin getting public input on the projects of interest to the community so that the city can start to prioritize the allocation of these funds. If you are unable to attend, you may submit your comments by e-mail to tiacomments@atlantaga.gov or call 404-330-6145 by March 15.

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On Saturday, the annual countywide Citizens' CourtWatch training session will be held at 9 a.m. in courtroom 1C in the Fulton County Justice Center Tower, 185 Central Avenue.

Established in 2006 through the Fulton Court District Attorney’s office, CourtWatch serves as the ears and eyes of the public in the ultra busy courthouse.

CourtWatchers (CW) who have not attended a CW training session are invited to participate Saturday. CourtWatchers who have attended mini-CW training sessions are also invited to participate. This event is also open to Fulton County Citizens who are interested in being CourtWatchers.

The following public officials will be participants in Saturday’s training session:

• Fulton County District Attorney Paul Howard, Jr.

• Fulton County Sheriff Theodore "Ted" Jackson

• Fulton County Superior Court Judge D. Todd Markel

• Atlanta Police Chief George Turner

• Fulton County Police Chief Cassandra Jones.

Please contact Janet Martin at 404-699-5297 or at janet.martin@fultoncountyga.gov for more information.

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On Sunday, the inaugural Intown Ten, a USATF certified and a Peachtree Road Race qualifying event, will begin at 8 a.m. Proceeds from the 10K will be used for improvements in John Howell Park, which will serve as both the starting and finish lines. Registration closes on March 1, and see here for more information. 

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Next Monday, March 5, will bring a full day’s worth of Atlanta Public Schools Board of Education meetings beginning at 2 p.m. at 130 Trinity Avenue. It is possible that Superintendent Erroll B. Davis, Jr., will present his initial recommended option of the APS redistricting process during the afternoon Committee of the Whole Meeting, and there will be opportunity for public comment during the 6 p.m. APS Board Legislative Meeting.

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The monthly NPU-E meeting will be held on Tuesday, March 6 at 6:30 p.m. at Peachtree Christian Church, located at 1580 Peachtree St. Among the items on the agenda include a trio of board votes including one concerning adopting the Loring Heights Neighborhood Association's Master Plan so it can be incorporated into the city’s 2011-2026 Comprehensive Development Plan (CDP).

The board will also vote to adopt the “Atlanta BeltLine Master Plan: subarea 8 (Upper Westside-Northside)” so it can be incorporated in the city’s CDP.