Council approves sidewalk‑cleaning initiative and applies for state and federal grants including LMIG and Outdoor Recreation Legacy funding

Council approved a package of public‑works and grant actions on Sept. 17 that include a city sidewalk‑cleaning initiative and two grant authorizations.

Councilmember Carmelita Gumbs sponsored a resolution asking staff to establish a sidewalk‑cleaning program focused on city right‑of‑ways and pedestrian crosswalks. City staff said the maintenance work is funded through the public‑works maintenance budget and that the department plans periodic citywide sidewalk cleaning, repairs and pruning as part of regular maintenance. Staff noted earlier budget allocations for sidewalk maintenance (city referenced a $670,000 allocation this year).

The council also authorized staff to submit a FY‑26 Local Maintenance and Improvement Grant (LMIG) application to the Georgia Department of Transportation in the amount cited in the staff packet (approximately $1,000,592.57) for roadway resurfacing projects, and authorized matching funds (approximately $477,772.67) if the grant is awarded.

Separately the council authorized acceptance of a federal Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership (ORLP) grant request through the National Park Service for a "Bird (sic) Natural Area" project (figure shown in the packet: $1,080,072) and authorized local match and execution of grant documents with the Georgia Department of Natural Resources. Staff said the city’s parks and economic‑development teams are coordinating the scope and deliverables.

Council members asked for clear time windows for sidewalk work and for staff to publish schedules and to coordinate with districts. Staff said the economic‑development office and parks departments will provide the necessary coordination and that additional events and maintenance calendar items would be published.

Ending: The measures passed unanimously; councilmembers said they expect staff to provide project schedules and to ensure coordination between capital planning and routine maintenance.

(Reporting note: amounts and match figures are taken from staff remarks recorded in the Sept. 17 transcript and interpreted as rounded values in the staff packet.)