For the first time, the Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC) will bring together mayors, city council representatives, and county commissioners from an 11-county region for its inaugural Regional Assembly of Public Officials.
The all-day assembly is scheduled for June 26 at the Cobb Galleria Centre in Cobb County. The event aims to facilitate collaboration, learning, and regional problem-solving among elected leaders from 76 cities and 11 counties.
Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens, who serves as the chair of ARC, emphasized the importance of the assembly. ‘The Regional Assembly offers a unique opportunity for elected officials in our region to build connections with their peers, exchange best practices, and explore solutions to shared challenges,’ he stated.
According to Anna Roach, ARC’s executive director and CEO, the decision to organize this event stemmed from two key observations. Roach highlighted the already existing connections between ARC board members and other regional representatives but noted a gap in communication with other elected officials. ‘We did not know to what degree they were aware of the resources that exist at the Atlanta Regional Commission,’ she explained during a Zoom meeting.
The ARC board is comprised of 41 members, including 11 county commission chairs, 12 mayors, the mayor of Atlanta, a member from the Atlanta City Council, 15 citizen members, and a representative from the Georgia Department of Community Affairs.
The second motivating factor for creating the assembly was the success of similar events in other regions, notably the Southern California Association of Governments and the Mackinac Policy Conference in Michigan. Roach mentioned that these events inspired ARC leaders to devise a tailored program for Atlanta.
Roach pointed out that many of the significant challenges faced by metro Atlanta are regional in nature. ‘Traffic, housing costs, and air quality don’t stop at the city or county line. They affect all of us,’ she stated.
The assembly will kick off with a welcome address by Cobb County Commission Chair Lisa Cupid. Following this, Mayor Dickens will discuss the potential of regional collaboration, before Roach provides insights on advancing the region into the future.
Mike Alexander, ARC’s chief operating officer, is set to present demographic data and discuss the current state of affairs in the region.
Highlighting the day’s events, the keynote luncheon speaker will be former State Representative Calvin Smyre (D-Columbus), who enjoyed a long tenure in the Georgia General Assembly spanning 48 years. Despite hailing from outside the Atlanta region, Smyre is known for his respected work on transportation legislation, bringing varied stakeholders together.
Post-lunch, there will be three breakout sessions focusing on critical topics: housing affordability, climate resilience, and freight and logistics. Attendees will have the opportunity to choose two sessions, as the breakout topics will be repeated after a break.
A primary goal of the assembly is to familiarize elected officials with the myriad resources ARC offers to their local governments. Roach mentioned an exhibit hall featuring a variety of ARC programs, including:
– Aging and Independence Services
– Mobility Services
– Protecting Our Resources
– Bike-Ped, Trails, & Safety
– Transportation Innovation
– Climate & Resilience
– Transportation Investments
– Community Development
– Workforce Development
– Data Centers
– Research & Analytics
– Economic Development, Leadership & Outreach
The invitation list encompassed nearly 400 local elected officials from throughout the 11-county region, with 150 already confirming their attendance. Roach expressed optimism about the event. ‘It’s going to be a rich program,’ she said, noting that most of the ARC board members are expected to attend.
When asked if the assembly would become a regular event, Roach indicated that it might be held every other year, coinciding with the second year of the ARC Chair’s two-year term.
As Dickens stands in his second year as chair, nominations for the next ARC chair will occur in October or November, followed by an election in late 2023. It remains uncertain whether Dickens will seek re-election as ARC chair while concurrently running for a second term as mayor.
The ARC’s extensive 11-county jurisdiction includes Cherokee, Clayton, Cobb, DeKalb, Douglas, Fayette, Forsyth, Fulton, Gwinnett, Henry, and Rockdale counties, along with the City of Atlanta and 75 other municipalities.
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