City Council will begin to prepare for the International Street Fair, despite the event coinciding with Number Fest.
Despite months of contention, the city will allocate $500,000 toward the construction of an outdoor municipal swimming pool — that is, if the vote is in favor of the considerably debated legislation.
The vote is slated to take place Monday at the weekly Athens City Council meeting, and despite discussions to amend the wording of the legislation, no changes have been proposed at this time.
At the Feb. 1 meeting, Councilwoman Michele Papai, D-3rd Ward, was one of the council members most concerned with the language of the legislation.
"The wording of this ordinance isn’t specific enough, and it doesn’t include a lot of what our community asked for,” she said. "In the fall of 2014, before the ballot went up for vote,there was quite a lot of comment about a natatorium."
Another topic frequently discussed since the beginning of the year will have new legislation introduced.
After a month of discussion, Papai will introduce the necessary legislation to move forward with preparations with the International Street Fair on April 16.
The event will correspond with 14Fest, followed by Athens Beautification Day on April 17.
Previously, Papai said the International Street Fair could not be moved.
"It’s going to be on the same day, I can tell you that," Papai said prior to the Jan. 25 city council meeting. “There’s no way we can move it."
And now with both events two months away, the proper preparations must be made.
The proposed legislation will close Court Street and Union Street from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Other street closings will include a portion of Court Street on June 3 and Aug. 12 for a cruise-in. An additional cruise-in Sept. 23 will require the closing of a portion of East Union Street.
Finally, a portion of Court Street between Union Street and Washington Street will also close Aug. 13 from 12 p.m. to 12 a.m. for the Bounty on the Bricks fundraiser.
Bounty on the Bricks has a second piece of proposed legislation that will suspend the enforcement of Athens City Code in order to allow for vendors during the duration of the event.
At the opposite end of Court Street, a project related to the Armory may receive authorization.
Another piece of proposed legislation will allow asbestos and lead abatement in the basement of the Armory.
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The Armory was purchased for about $250,000 in 1997, but has remained empty without definite plans for its use.
In total, $375,000 has been spent to provide upkeep or conduct feasibility studies for the building.
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