Clarification appended
Council will likely move forward with plans to end the Athens Halloween Block Party an hour earlier this year, at the request of university officials and the Athens Clean and Safe Halloween Committee.
Two weeks ago, Brandon Thompson, a committee member, told council the committee plans to shut down the concert stages at 12:30 a.m. Previously, the performances were scheduled to end at 1 a.m., though Thompson said they usually end around 1:30 a.m.
During this week's meeting, Councilwoman Michele Papai, D-3rd Ward, will introduce ordinances to close roads in anticipation of both the Athens Halloween Block Party, scheduled for Oct. 29, and the Athens Uptown Business Association Trick or Treat event, scheduled for Oct. 31.
“There was some debate last year as business owners complained their sales would be severely impacted,” Council President Chris Knisely said.
Last year, when the trick or treat event was scheduled to fall before the block party, some business owners spoke against closing the streets, due to fears of losing sales. Athens Underground Owner Barbara Stout said if the city were to close the street, they should reschedule the trick or treat event to after the block party.
“You can’t have so many kids and not close the street," Stout said at last year's meeting. "I don’t want to see any kids hurt.”
Papai will introduce legislation Tuesday to close a portion of Court Street on Oct. 31 from 5:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
The scheduling conflict that occurred last year is not expected to be an issue this time.
“I think we’ll be moving towards the street closing," Knisely said. "I haven’t heard any big decision this year. It works out easier because it's after the big Court Street event."
Council will continue to discuss funding for the new swimming pool. Last year, Council issued a 0.1 percent income tax levy that will primarily be used for the new swimming pool. That money will be collected over the span of 20 years, but in the meantime, the city is borrowing money in order to begin construction in the near future.
The ordinance that will be introduced at Tuesday’s meeting will set aside $7.3 million of the money raised from the levy to specifically pay for the pool. The rest of that money will be allocated to improving city parks.
Council members will also introduce an ordinance to dispose of three of the original GoBuses.
"They have had enough mileage on them at this point that there is no using them, " Knisley said.
The city already has replacement buses.
Clarification: A former version of this article did not state that the Halloween Block Party concert stages were scheduled to shut down at 1 a.m. in previous years, despite the fact that they often shut down at 1:30 a.m. The article has been updated to include the most accurate information.
