The Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC) recently hosted the inaugural Regional Assembly of Public Officials at the Cobb Galleria Centre in Cobb County, bringing together elected officials from across the 11-county Atlanta region.
This significant event gathered mayors, city council members, and county commissioners from 76 cities and 11 counties in metro Atlanta, facilitating a day dedicated to collaboration, knowledge exchange, and regional problem-solving.
The composition of the ARC board includes 41 members, comprising 11 county commission chairs, 12 mayors, the mayor of the City of Atlanta, one member from the Atlanta City Council, 15 citizen members, and a representative from the Georgia Department of Community Affairs.
Attendees represented a vast area that includes Cherokee, Clayton, Cobb, DeKalb, Douglas, Fayette, Forsyth, Fulton, Gwinnett, Henry, and Rockdale counties, alongside the City of Atlanta and 75 other cities.
The agenda for the day featured a deep dive into pertinent regional data, outlining the current state of the region and its anticipated trajectory.
Breakout sessions provided valuable insights on critical topics such as housing affordability, freight and planning, as well as resilience to extreme weather events.
Mayor Andre Dickens, designated as the ARC Chairman, emphasized the assembly’s unique opportunity for elected officials to foster connections, share best practices, and delve into collaborative solutions for common challenges.
“Metro Atlanta is such a dynamic and diverse region.
I cannot wait to see the innovations and ideas that are unleashed when this group of public officials comes together,” Dickens noted.
Anna Roach, the ARC’s executive director and CEO, highlighted the importance of considering regional perspectives on shared issues.
“Many of the biggest challenges we face are regional in scope.
Things like traffic, housing costs, and air quality don’t stop at the city or county line.
They affect all of us,” Roach stated.
She elaborated on the motivations behind the assembly’s inception, identifying two crucial factors in the decision to convene such an event.
First, Roach expressed a need for a stronger connection to the region’s elected officials, acknowledging that many may not have been fully aware of the resources available through the ARC.
Moreover, Roach observed that successful regional meetings have been adopted in other areas, referencing events organized by the Southern California Association of Governments and a similar gathering in Michigan known as the Mackinac Policy Conference.
A key aim of the Regional Assembly was to enhance elected officials’ understanding of the resources that the ARC offers to local governments.
Roach highlighted plans to feature an exhibit hall showcasing various ARC programs, which would allow attendees to learn more about available resources.
Roach indicated that the assembly is expected to recur every other year during the second year of the ARC Chair’s two-year term, with this being the second year of Dickens’ term.
Nominations for the ARC chair are anticipated to be made in either October or early November, leaving uncertainty about Dickens’ aspirations to run for re-election as the ARC Chair, as he simultaneously campaigns for a second term as the mayor.
The exhibits on display included a variety of essential ARC services such as 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, and Economic Development, Leadership & Outreach.
The assembly featured a keynote address by former State Representative Calvin Smyre, who dedicated 48 years to the Georgia General Assembly.
Smyre, esteemed for his bipartisan respect, emphasized the importance of effective communication and tolerance for diverse opinions.
“Our job is to create a great quality of life for our residents,” Smyre asserted, advocating for negotiations without sacrificing core principles.
He also imparted a poignant message regarding legacy, stating, “It’s not about the day you were born or the day you pass away, but about the dash on the tombstone and what you did in between.”
Smyre encouraged attendees to continually develop their “dash” in order to reflect on their contributions over time.
The inaugural Regional Assembly successfully fostered dialogue and connected public officials across the Atlanta region to address and collaborate on pressing issues collectively.
image source from：theatlantavoice
