Large event organizers would have 20-30 days to apply for a special events permit in the city of Conyers and would be liable for costs incurred in securing a large event that would shut down public streets, according to draft ordinance changes discussed by the public safety committee of the Conyers City Council on Wednesday evening.
About four categories of events would be exempt from the ordinance: Constitutionally protected activities, government sponsored activities, funerals, and small private gatherings that don't occupy public property.
City Manager Tony Lucas said "If they wanted to stand on the sidewalk with picket signs, they don't have to do anything."
Assistant City Attorney Carrie Bootcheck said the ordinance changes were modeled after Rockdale County's new special events permit requirements put in place last year.
The city began actively looking at its special events ordinances after a posting of a Ku Klux Klan rally scheduled for May last year prompted a counter rally and had the city shut down streets near the county court house. The Klan rally never materialized.
The ordinance changes would be presented for the first of two required readings and votes at the next City Council meeting, tentatively scheduled for April 26.
Youth curfew
The city is also looking at setting up a curfew for those 16 years old and younger from 9:30 p.m. - 6 a.m. on weekdays and 11 p.m. - 6 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.
The city ordinance, which mirrors state laws, would also hold parents accountable who "knowingly permit or by inefficient control to allow a violation" with a fine of up to $1000 and up to six months jail time.
The youth would be exempt if they were accompanied by their parents or legal guardians, were on an emergency errand, were on their way home directly within 30 minutes after a school, religious, volunteer, or entertainment activity such as a play, movie or sporting event, or were on the sidewalk next to their home.
Red light traffic cameras
Drivers may have to watch out for red light cameras at the congested intersections of Ga. Highway 138 and Dogwood Drive and Ga. Highway 138 and Sigman Road in the near future.
The Conyers public safety committee heard about a proposal for five red light cameras - three at Dogwood Drive and two at Sigman Road. There were reportedly an average of just under 55 accidents a year at Dogwood and 138 and and 57 accidents a year at Sigman and 138 with a third of those involving injuries, according to Conyers Police Crime Analyst Kim Lucas.
The cameras would take a picture of cars that entered the intersections after the light turned red and would send the photograph and license plate number to an officer at the CPD, said Lucas. The fines would be $70 to the car owner and would be registered as a civil offense and would not count toward insurance or driver's license points.
Owners who were not driving but fined can sign an affidavit in court, said Lucas. She later said that ATS reported an average of 1 percent of tickets were contested, and about 70 percent of fines were collected.
CPD Chief Gene Wilson said "Our main goal is to clear the intersection up and not have to put four, five, six (patrol) cars up there."
The cameras would be also reportedly be cost neutral to the city. The company proposed, American Traffic Solutions, would provide the cameras, installation, and maintenance over a five-year contract. In return, it would keep the fines paid by offenders up to a certain amount per month and the city would keep the rest. ATS also operates cameras in Alpharetta, Duluth, and Sandy Springs, said Lucas.
GDOT would need to approve putting up the cameras at the intersections if the city were to go forward with the contract, said Lucas.
Parking
Another ordinance change discussed would allow police to tow parked cars that were blocking or preventing emergency vehicles, such as ambulances and fire apparatuses, from accessing an area.
Wilson said, "We don't have the mechanism to say 'Move your car or we'll move it for you.'"
Public safety committee head Cleveland Stroud asked how the law would apply for instances such as an occasional family gathering.
"Common sense has to apply," said CPD Capt. Scot Freeman. "It looks to give the officer a chance to speak with the homeowner."
The ordinance will be presented for a vote at the next City Council meeting, tentatively scheduled for April 26, with the second reading waived.
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(March 23, 8:50 p.m.) IN BRIEF: Large event organizers would have 20-30 days to apply for a special events permit in the city of Conyers and would be liable for costs incurred in securing a large event that would shut down public streets, according to draft ordinance changes discussed by the public safety committee of the Conyers City Council on Wednesday night. About four categories of events would be exempt from the ordinance, including Constitutionally protected activities, funerals, and small private gatherings that don't occupy public property.
Assistant City Attorney Carrie Bootcheck said the ordinance changes were modeled after Rockdale County's new special events permit requirements put in place last year.
The city began actively looking at its special events ordinances after a posting of a Ku Klux Klan rally scheduled for May last year prompted a counter rally and had the city shut down streets near the county court house. The Klan rally never materialized.
The ordinance changes would be presented for the first of two required readings and votes at the next City Council meeting, tentatively scheduled for April 26.
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