Thursday, July 16, 2009
News Atlanta budget dinged by new unexpected costs — UPDATE
Posted by Scott Henry @ScottTheHenry on Thu, Jul 16, 2009 at 10:59 PM
Chastain Park Amphitheater isn't just a hostile environment for Garrison Keillor, Morissey and people who actually enjoy listening to music.
According to an audit by the U.S. Department of Justice, the city-operated music venue — and numerous other city buildings — violate the Americans With Disabilities Act.
Fox5 Atlanta reports that Atlanta will now have to pay $13 million in fines and facility renovations. Under a settlement agreement approved by the City Council Finance Committee yesterday (and which full council will have to approve on Monday), City Hall will pay $2 million each year until the debt is settled.
It seems Atlanta was randomly selected by the Feds for an ADA compliance audit. The results weren't pretty. Finance Chairman Howard Shook says his committee was handed a thick binder listing literally "hundreds of defects" that need fixing — from wheelchair ramps built at the wrong grade to bathroom hand dryers installed at the wrong height.
Many of the discrepancies involve minute angles and small distances, which gives Shook hope that some of the violations may be forgiven — thereby bringing down the ultimate cost — if the city demonstrates a good-faith effort at correcting the problems.
But for now, the city will have to find an extra $2 million this year to cover the unanticipated ADA costs. It couldn't have come at a worse time.
The byline on this post has been corrected.
Comments (8)
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Wheatley, check your facts on this one. I saw this report on the 6 o'clock news last night. According to the settlement, the $2 mill per year doesn't kick in until next year. Don't make the common mistake the media makes these days by just reporting what another media source reported. Remember the 2000 election when one network called Florida before it was over and the others followed?
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Don't pick on Wheatley. Besides, this was written by Scott Henry. Don't pick on him either.
There is nothing "unexpected" about the need for ADA compliance at a public facility. This is just another example of the City doing things in a half-assed way and trying to evade its legal responsibilities. Why does the City of Atlanta act like a teenager: Always doing goofy things and not expecting to get caught?
SDV: What's your point? Are you apologizing for the City? What's the difference if it's a $2 million fine this year or next?
@ Spine, my only point was the city is strapped for cash this year, so this would make it even tougher to balance the budget. @ Intown, you're right about the teenager comment. I would classify all govts as teenagers, not just the City.
SDV, do you really think the city won't be strapped for cash for the forseeable future? This drip drip drip of extra obligations and no revenue growth is going to degrade public services for years and years.
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