Does the Atlanta City Council deserve a raise?

Do you think the Atlanta City Council deserves a raise?

The council is expected to discuss just that at Monday’s 1 p.m. meeting. According to WSB Radio, the raise would represent a 52 percent uptick from a yearly salary of $39,473 a year to $69,300.

A citizen’s committee has recommended the raise saying it would make the council’s pay comparable to those who represent municipalities similar in size to Atlanta.

If approved, it would be the council’s first pay raise in six years and would not go into effect until after the 2013 elections. Mayor Kasim Reed would also be in line for a raise, from $147,500 to $184,300, but he has said would probably veto the measure.

District 2 Councilman Kwanza Hall told WXIA-TV that he was not inclined to give his support to the proposed raise. What do you think, has the council earned it?

Monday’s full agenda is attached with this story. Some of the other issues on the agenda that affect Midtown and the nearby area include:

• An Ordinance by Councilmembers Alex Wan and Aaron Watson as substituted by Transportation Committee authorizing the Mayor or his designee to make Wessyngton Road, NE a Three-Way Stop where it intersects with Cumberland Road, NE; and for other purposes.

• A Resolution by Councilmember Kwanza Hall authorizing the Mayor, or his designee, on behalf of the City of Atlanta, to enter into an Encroachment Agreement with the Georgia Proton Treatment Center, LLC (“GPTC”) owner of real property located at 615 Peachtree Street, NE, Atlanta, Georgia for the purpose of permitting the installation of a Temporary Tie-Back System and anchors to be located within and under the public rights-of-way of Peachtree Street, beginning forty (40’) feet north from the center line of North Avenue and continuing north sixty (60’) feet along the eastern right-of-way of Peachtree Street and Ponce de Leon Avenue, beginning forty (40’) feet west from the center line of Juniper Street and continuing west one hundred seventy (170’) feet along the southern right-of-way of Ponce de Leon Avenue, located in Land Lot 49 of the 14th District of Fulton County, Georgia; and for other purposes.

• A Resolution by Community Development/Human Resources Committee authorizing the Mayor or his designee, on behalf of the City of Atlanta to enter into a grant award agreement with the Woodruff Arts Center (Alliance Theatre, Atlanta Symphony, High Museum and Young Audiences) as part of the City of Atlanta’s contracts for Arts Services Program in an amount not to exceed $150,000.00 on behalf of the Department of Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs - Office of Cultural Affairs; to be charged to and paid from Account Numbers listed; and for other purposes.

Claims with unfavorable recommendations:

• Claim of Nestor Corredor for property damage allegedly sustained as a result of a street sign falling on April 23, 2012 at 550 West Peachtree Street.

• Claim of Michael Coats for property damage allegedly sustained as a result of driving over debris in the roadway on December 9, 2009 at Howell Mill Road at 11th Street.

• Claim of Alan Meyers for bodily injury allegedly sustained as a result of walking into an uncovered water meter on October 11, 2010 at 550 Peachtree Street.

• Claim of Vanessa Wallace, through her attorney, Steven Goldman for bodily injury allegedly sustained as a result of a vehicular accident on July 20, 2011 at 14th Street and Northside Drive.

• Claim of Dana Sakoff for property damage allegedly sustained as a result of driving over a recessed manhole on March 29, 2012 at 1063 North Highland Avenue.

• Claim of Donna McDermott for property damage alleged to have been sustained as a result of driving over a road defect on February 9, 2011 at Peachtree Street and Beverly Road.

FAVORABLE - 3RD READING, FINAL ADOPTION

• 12-O-1746 ( 2) An Ordinance by Councilmembers H. Lamar Willis and Natalyn Archibong as substituted and amended by Finance/Executive Committee authorizing the Chief Financial Officer to budget Appropriations in an amount up to and not to exceed $350,000.00 from Non-Departmental Budget for Public Access Operations and Support; to waive the Competitive Procurement Provisions contained in the City of Atlanta Code of Ordinances, Article X, Procurement; authorizing the Mayor or his designee on behalf of the City to execute an Agreement with People TV, Inc., for a period not to exceed two (2) years; and for other purposes.

FAVORABLE ON SUBSTITUTE AS AMENDED ON CONDITION

• 12-O-1747 ( 3) An Ordinance by Councilmembers H. Lamar Willis, Natalyn Archibong and Michael J. Bond authorizing the Mayor or his designee on behalf of the City to execute an Agreement with People TV, Inc., for a period not to exceed two (2) years; to waive the Competitive Procurement Provisions contained in the City of Atlanta Code of Ordinances, Article X, Procurement; and for other purposes.