Council members unanimously passed Resolution 26-R-3801 calling for a formal citywide heat plan — with longer opening hours, weekend cover and clear triggers — after a stretch of “feels-like” temperatures in the upper 90s and low 100s lasting more than a week.
Atlanta City Council has unanimously called on Mayor Andre Dickens’ administration to draw up a formal citywide plan for responding to extreme heat, as the city endures repeated spells of dangerous temperatures. The resolution, approved on Monday and designated 26-R-3801, asks officials to widen access to cooling centers, step up public outreach and set clear triggers for opening heat relief resources, before reporting back to the council with recommendations. The push follows a period in late June and early July when “feels-like” temperatures sat in the upper 90s and low 100s for more than a week.
The city had already opened a seasonal cooling center at Selena S. Butler Park on 30 June, offering bottled water and respite from the heat while its wider policies were under review. But the site initially ran only on weekdays from 11am to 6pm, with a planned closure for the 3 July holiday — precisely the kind of limitation the resolution seeks to address. It asks the city to evaluate keeping cooling centers open until at least 8pm, including at weekends and on holidays, whenever the National Weather Service’s HeatRisk forecast reaches “major” or “extreme” levels.
Campaigners told the council the current provision does not go far enough. “We ask that Atlanta do better and not just check the box on having a cooling center available,” said Sarah Zimbardi of the Central Outreach and Advocacy Center, arguing that existing resources are insufficient for vulnerable residents. Dr Matthew Woodruff of Emory University School of Medicine testified that people experiencing homelessness are among those facing the highest risk of heat-related illness and death.
What the resolution proposes
Beyond longer hours, the measure asks the city to open cooling centers in recreation centers and to work with Fulton County on using public libraries and other county buildings as additional relief sites. Council members also want a centralised website carrying maps, opening times and heat safety advice, alongside wider alerts through NotifyATL, text messages, emails and social media, and direct contact with vulnerable residents such as seniors and people experiencing homelessness.
The resolution points to research showing that extreme heat contributes to thousands of premature deaths each year, and notes that parts of southwest Atlanta have limited access to central air conditioning and are more exposed to dangerous temperatures.
Mayor’s office says review already under way
In a statement, Mayor Dickens’ administration said it began reviewing and updating the city’s extreme heat procedures months ago and intends to share its findings with the council and the public. It also encouraged residents with concerns to contact the Fulton County Department of Public Health, which is responsible for public health services for Atlanta residents.
The city has not relied on the cooling center alone this summer. Atlanta’s Parks and Recreation Department has also made splash pads, indoor and outdoor pools and Atlanta Fire Rescue hydration stations available to help residents cope with the prolonged high temperatures.
