Atlanta City Council - Regular Meeting

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Hello, everyone. It's one o'clock.

We're getting ready to start our full council. We're just waiting on the council first, and then we'll be in shortly.

I love it.

Okay, everyone, we'll get started. Good afternoon and welcome to our July 6th, 2026 Atlanta City Council Full Council. I am President Marcy Collier-Overstreet, President of Council, presiding over our full council for today.

Madam Clerk, please call the roll. Good afternoon, Madam President and members of council. We have council member Michael, council president Michael, I'm sorry, council president Marcy Culley-Overstreet. Present. Council member Michael Julian Bond, post one at large. Council member Matt Westmoreland, post two at large. Here. Council member Ishe Collins, post three at large. Here. Council member Jason H. Winston, district one.

Here.

Council member Kelsey Bond, district two. Here. Councilmember Byron D. Amos, District 3. Here. Councilmember Jason Dozer, District 4.

Here.

Councilmember Liliana Bakhtiari, District 5. Here. Councilmember Alex Wong, District 6. Here. Councilmember Thomas Worthy, District 7. Here. Councilmember Mary Norwood, District 8. Here. Councilmember Dustin Hillis, District 9. Here. Councilmember Andrea L. Boone, District 10. Here. Councilmember Wayne Martin, District 11. Here. Councilmember Antonio Lewis, District 12. Here. Madam President, we have a quorum of members present.

Thank you. I'll entertain a motion to adopt the agenda. So moved by Martin, second by Wan. So we can do this by unanimous consent. Please call unanimous consent. Roll call. 13 yays, 0 nays. 13 yays, 0 nays. The agenda has been adopted. It is time for invocation. Please come forward to Pastor Mark Moore, Junior of Spirit and Truth Church of Atlanta. This is Councilmember Wayne Martins, pastor. Thank you so much for being here today.

Thank you. Good afternoon, everyone. The scriptures teach us two timeless responsibilities, the first of which is to remember the least of these and to faithfully pray for those who carry the weight of authority. Both of those responsibilities remind us that leadership is ultimately measured not by power possessed, but by lives improved. And so today we pause to acknowledge that public service is more than policy. It is stewardship. The decisions made in this chamber will ripple throughout neighborhoods, schools, businesses, families, and generations yet unborn. And so responsibility deserves both our respect and our prayers. Would you pray with me? God of our weary years and God of our silent tears, you that have brought us farther than our own wisdom could have imagined and sustained us through seasons that tested our resolve. Today we thank you for the city of Atlanta, a city of history and hope, innovation and resilience, conviction and compassion. Thank you for those who have gone before us and whose courage and sacrifice build foundations upon which we now stand. We ask that you grant these elected officials wisdom beyond intellect, courage beyond popularity, and integrity beyond convenience. May they possess the discernment to distinguish what is merely expedient and what is truly just. Give them hearts that are attentive to every voice in the city, especially those whose cries are too often unheard. Remind us that the strength of a city is not measured merely by its skyline, but by how faithfully it serves those that live in its shadows. May every child discover opportunity, every family find stability, every neighborhood experience dignity, and every citizen know that they have value. Lord, we ask that where there is division, we ask that you cultivate understanding. Where there is uncertainty, provide clarity. Where there is fatigue, renew strength. Where difficult decisions must be made, let humility, temper conviction, and wisdom guide every course of action. We ask now that you bless those that protect our great city, those that educate its children, care for our sick, build our businesses, serve our neighborhoods, and quietly labor each day to make Atlanta stronger than it was yesterday. We ask that justice flow without prejudice, compassion be extended without partiality, and leadership always be exercised with the understanding that true greatness is found in serving others. And as these proceedings begin, may they be marked by civility, thoughtful dialogue, mutual respect, and a sincere commitment to the common good. And may all that is done here today contribute to the flourishing of this great city and the people entrusted to its care. And Lord, while I have you on the line, please, please let the USA win tonight in the World Cup.

Amen.

In Jesus' name, amen.

Amen. Oh, thank you very much, Pastor Moore. Just one second. Okay, and with that, this brings us to our Pledge of Allegiance. Could everyone please rise and join me in the Pledge of Allegiance?

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

That brings us to proclamations, commendations, and other special awards. Will everyone that is here, in recognition of the 100th year of the Atlanta History Center, please come forward. This will be presented by Councilmember Mary Norwood. Yeah, just snake your way on around, come on through. Anyone else would like to join, just come on up. The answer is yes. Come on up.

Ms. Hale, Councilmember Boone has requested your presence on the dais.

Absolutely. If you notice, council has also decided that we will display a timer of 15 minutes per our code. Every proclamation receives a 15 minute time allowance. And that's what we're using today.

Good afternoon, everyone. I'm Mary Norwood on City Council, and it is my great pleasure to recognize and celebrate the Atlanta History Center today on their centennial anniversary. This institution has had an importance in Atlanta's history, preserving information about events, people, and places that have shaped us over the past hundred years. Their new book, which is here today, Atlanta in 100 Objects, shows the breadth and depth of the artifacts and the institutional stewardship that this organization has done for Atlanta. It cannot be overstated how much has been preserved over the past hundred years for the Atlanta History Center. So I am going to present this proclamation on behalf of the city council members and the administration. and we'll present it to Sheffield Hale, the Executive Director and President of the History Center, celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Atlanta History Center. Whereas in 1926, visionary Atlantans established the Atlanta Historical Society, now known as the Atlanta History Center, to collect, preserve, and share the rich and evolving history of Atlanta and the surrounding region. And whereas the Atlanta History Center commemorates its 100th anniversary in 2026, it celebrates a century of preserving Atlanta's stories while ushering in a bold new era of public engagement, scholarship, and historical interpretation. And whereas over the past century, the institution has grown from a small historical society into one of the nation's premier history organizations, serving hundreds of thousands of visitors annually through exhibitions, educational programs, research initiatives, and community partnership. And whereas in recognition of both its centennial and the 250th anniversary of the U.S., the Atlanta History Center is presenting an ambitious year-long celebration featuring new exhibitions, special programs, and rare historical experiences that invite residents and visitors alike to explore the nation's and Atlanta's shared history. And whereas among the highlights of the centennial celebration is the nationally significant exhibition, Documents That Forged a Nation, presented in partnership with the National Archives, making Atlanta one of only eight cities nationwide, and the only one of the original 13 colonies to host the original founding era documents that shaped the United States. And whereas the Center's centennial initiatives also include the publication and exhibition, Atlanta in 100 Objects, A Century of Stories, showcasing treasured artifacts that illuminate the people, events, and experiences that have defined Atlanta across generations. And whereas throughout its centennial year, the Center is unveiling major new exhibitions, including the comprehensive reimagining of its acclaimed Civil War galleries and the forthcoming exhibition, Exile from Georgia, The Cherokee and Muskogee Trails of Tears, further demonstrating its commitment to preserving history through multiple perspectives and fostering meaningful civic dialogue. And whereas, and last whereas, it embarks upon its second century of service, the Atlanta History Center continues to inspire curiosity, deepen understanding, and strengthen community connections through the power of history. Now, therefore, be it proclaimed that we, the members of the Atlanta City Council and the city administration, on behalf of the residents of Atlanta, do hereby honor and congratulate the Atlanta History Center on the occasion of its 100th anniversary for a century of exceptional stewardship, education, and service to our city and its significance to the past, the present, and the future of Atlanta. Congratulations, Atlanta History Center. And now we will hear from the CEO and executive director, Sheffield Hale.

On behalf of our board of trustees, our chair, Joya Johnson, and one of our board members who's here, Michael Golden, I want to thank the city council and everyone here for this incredible honor to the Atlanta History Center for 100 years. It's been a great ride. She said it all. I'm not going to repeat all that stuff. But I will say our new exhibit, More Perfect Union, the American Civil War era, opens on Friday to the public. And it's an exhibit like nobody's ever seen before in terms of the breadth and length of it. And it goes essentially from the early 1820s all the way through – taking down the monuments. So come see it. It'll be Atlanta History Center like you've never seen it before, and more to come. We're so very grateful to you all, and we're just beginning our 101st year, and I'm very excited about the future for the Atlanta Future Center. Thank you very much.

And do we have anyone else who'd like to make a few remarks? All right.

I don't really come up here and say much during proclamations, but I wanted to make a point today to do this because I think at this point in our history, it's real important, the work that the History Center is doing. I think a lot of us just think of it as a place to put things and have archival responsibilities, but what I do appreciate about the History Center is you and your board understand the responsibility you have not only to do that, but to inspire, invite, and sometimes provoke conversation around issues Our history, our past, who we are as a people, who we aspire to be going forward. And without that reflection that you generate, we wouldn't be able to move in the direction that we really should be moving in. So I wanted to thank you all for that. And I expect no less, even more over the next hundred years. All right. Thank you so much. Yep.

And I would like to, first of all, thank Councilmember Mary Norwood for making sure that each councilmember was able to receive this book. It is 100 Objects that really does tell the history of the city of Atlanta, and I'm looking forward to reading that. I was also very pleased and happy to stand alongside you as we greet it. That airplane that delivered those artifacts to the History Center for Atlanta to see on the tarmac, it really was the national treasure. It was really something that I'll never forget. And also, you all housed the cyclorama. While I was growing up here and going to Atlanta public schools, we looked forward to going and seeing that work of art that now is housed at the Atlanta History Center. And you all mean so much to our city. And I just want to thank you for continuing on and looking forward to the next 100 years as well.

Thank you very much.

And same thing, my love and respect for history is It's always real. I happened to be in D.C. when Dr. King's monument was erected. And one thing watching the country now seeing the erasures that they're trying to do to know that the Atlanta History Center still has the color line exhibition, Project 1912 and the special features and artifacts that focus on black history. You didn't change anything. In fact, you're actually adding new things to it. And so that's my love and respect for the Atlanta history for what you're doing. Thank you again.

Well, I just want to add my voice here quickly. I want to thank Councilwoman Goldwood for putting this together to honor you all for the century of work that you've done to highlight Atlanta's history. I love history myself. As I've gone around the country, I realized growing up here, Atlanta used to be known for tearing down its history, some of the famous buildings, some of the famous landmarks. It was almost like we adopted the abuse of our abusers, burned the city. But you all have uplifted and told Atlanta's story. And that's one of the things I think all Atlantans need to be well-versed and knowledgeable about. about the type of what has happened here that has made Atlanta so unique. Atlanta does influence everything, but it does so for a reason, and we need to know those reasons. So congratulations. This has been a great century. We look forward to the next one.

Thank you, sir.

All right, let's have a photo. And Elizabeth, if you and Sheffield will come right up here. And then everyone come around. Colleagues, everyone here. If you can't see the camera, the camera can't see you. Here we go.

Thank you.

Thank you all. Thank you.

See you Wednesday.

Claire?

See you Wednesday?

Yes.

See you Wednesday? Yes. Absolutely. Oh, yes. Sorry.

Okay, so while the History Center is exiting, our next proclamation will be done by Councilmember Michael Julian Bond. And it is in recognition of Professor Ambassador Tunde Atatungi. And if I said that wrong, please bond and not tell me the wrong way to say it. But please come forward. All that are here in support of the ambassador, please come forward.

Welcome. Thank you. Welcome.

Yeah, come on around. This place is like the church and the jail. There's always room for one more. That's a joke. I want to say good afternoon to everyone. It's a pleasure to be here today. to highlight not only this wonderful foundation, but the spirit of the foundation, the spirit of the people, to celebrate the African Heritage Foundation and its founder, Ambassador Tunde. We are here today joined with guests who are of direct African descent, but if you go back far enough, everyone on earth is of African descent. All life generated from there. And it is the largest continent on the planet. The maps that we see and grow up in school with are false. You could fit five United States into the continent of Africa. Most people don't even realize. You could fit China in Africa. You could fit Europe in Africa. It is a diverse continent of great wealth, great diversity, and I'm very, very proud to be here today to honor this foundation that highlights that. And do we have a video or a clip? We just have clips.

Okay.

All right, so I'll get to the matter at hand. honoring the African Heritage Foundation. Whereas the African Heritage Foundation, founded by Professor Ambassador Prince Tunde, a Nigerian prince internationally recognized as a cultural ambassador, educator, humanitarian advocate for Africa and its diaspora, has spent more than 50 years preserving and promoting Africa's rich heritage while advancing education, cultural diplomacy, economic development, and international cooperation between Africa and the United States and the African diaspora. Whereas through the establishment of landmark initiatives including Africa Day in Atlanta, the African World Museum and Center, and the African Radio and Television Network, the African diaspora affirming Atlanta's role in the International Center for African Engagement, Innovation, and Opportunity, where it's guided by the ambassador, its internationally recognized philosophy of bridging the gap, building the bridge, and turning brain drain into brain gain, The African Heritage Foundation has inspired members of the African diaspora to invest their knowledge, expertise, innovation, and resources in Africa's sustainable development while culturally developing future leaders through education, entrepreneurship, humanitarian services, and international collaboration. And whereas the African Heritage Foundation has built partnerships with governments, educational institutions, and diplomacy, education and economic opportunities. Now, therefore, we, the members of the City Council, on behalf of the citizens of the land, hereby proclaim this day, July 6, 2026, as African Heritage Foundation and Ambassador Tunde Day in our fair city. We recommend to you... We recognize your enduring contributions to the city of Atlanta, the state of Georgia, the African diaspora, and the international community and extend our sincere congratulations on this Founders Day celebrating 50 years. I've set my hand and have caused the seal of the city of Atlanta to be here and to affix. Congratulations, Mr. Ambassador. Are there any colleagues that would like to make a statement? All right. Council Member Amos.

Yes, sir. As the city get ready to celebrate on July 25th, Global Diaspora Day, it is only befitting that I stand here with my colleague, definitely excited to support the African Heritage Foundation. As I grow and my knowledge of the homeland grows, it shows that we have so much to learn, so much to offer each other. back across the waters in which we have come from already. But I am just honored to stand here to say thank you from the first day that I met this young man. Every conversation is full of knowledge, full of love, full of energy. And I just want to say thank you for everything you have been able to do over the last 50 years. That's impressive. So thank you.

Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. Thank you, Councilman Bond. Thank you to the Atlanta City Council. My name is Melvin Coleman. I'm the president and CEO of the Atlanta Black Chambers. We represent the premier, foremost global hub for entrepreneurship in the world, the ATL. No other city is so uniquely qualified, so uniquely positioned, to take advantage and engage fully in all of the opportunities that exist on the continent. The median age of the population of Europe is 43. The median age of the population of the United States is 39. Ladies and gentlemen, the median age on the continent of Africa is 19. So it is clear where the world is going and what the future looks like. And I will say again, there is no other city so uniquely positioned, so uniquely qualified to seize opportunity and work with the individuals on the continent of Africa. There is a time and a place to focus. That time is now. And that place is Africa. Thank you, Dr. Tunde, for all of your work, brother.

William Pitt.

We're waiting on Mr. Pate from the Convention's Bureau as he makes his way up.

After Mr.

Pate, the next voice will be the Ambassador.

This is the Ambassador's Day, but what I will say is the President of the Atlanta Convention Visitors Bureau Atlanta has a very symbiotic relationship with the continent of Africa, which really began with Ambassador Young's great work and continues today with the work of this great man. And he does all the stuff behind the scenes that nobody sees, but he represents our city, he represents our state, he represents our country like no one else can. Congratulations.

Thank you.

distinguished ladies and gentlemen, the council members, elders of the city, mayor, the governor of the state of Georgia, and all the 54 nations of Africa, I represent to say, without event, there can never be history. And when history is made, it's absolutely for posterity. Man's life can be compared to a journey, just as a journey must have a destination. So also it's necessary for one to have an aiming life. Without a purpose to work for, a purpose to live for, and if at worst a purpose to die for, a man can never be better than a brute. The whole world is a puzzle if men were born equal. Why does one man succeed where others fail? Why does one man fail rise where others fall, and why does woman sink where others swim? If there is nothing incapable of explanation in this world, people that are born from the shanties, from the who, rise to the zenith of their calling, whereas those with the silver bone on their mouth can die like an oyster from the river band. Let me give you the interpretation of Africa Heritage Foundation. The foundation represents the entire 54 nations of Africa. West Africa, East Africa, Central Africa, North Africa, South Africa, and the sixth region of Africa, which is the diaspora. All of us sitting down here today, here in America, in Brazil, in Australia, in Europe, Including myself right here now, we represent the diaspora. And what do we represent? Human resources and capacity building for sustainable development. Without Africa, the world is a vacuum. Without Africa, the world is a vacuum. There is Africa in Atlanta. Now, vision is greater than ambition. God gave me the vision in 1996 to bring this vision to America and pitch the tent in the state of Georgia. I know many of the councilmen and women have worked with me. Well, here in this hall, we took the flag of Georgia to Addis Ababa. And they tell the chairman of all the 54 nations, we want to make Atlanta and the state of Georgia the alluring state, the epicenter of the 54 nations of Africa to United States of America. That means we bring Africa closer to United States of America. What other states have not been able to do, the state of Georgia achieve it. I want to give credit to people like Mayor Hartford Jackson and also Councilman Bond for what they have done. and what they have seen as a vision. To bring the chairman of the 54 nation of Africa to Atlanta here and say, every city, every state, every country of Africa, we have to reckon with Atlanta before dealing with United States. This is an achievement for all of you. This is an achievement for everybody sitting down here today because we build United States of economic slavery. We build Africa of economic slavery, and we turn our brain drain into brain gain. Now, let me say what is coming. The proclamation we are having today signified that 10,000 jobs is going to be relocated to the state of Georgia. On the Africa Atlanta project. 10,000 jobs. Before anybody goes to Africa, you have to come to Atlanta. The Africa Heritage Museum of Cultural Anthropology is going to be seated here in Atlanta. What does that mean? You want to get your DNA. You want to travel to Africa. Come to Atlanta. It is now good morning America and good night America and good morning Africa. Or good morning Africa and good night America. Both ways. The reason why we have to do this is because The future holds for all of us. China has already captured Africa by the horn, but how can we, United States, get Africa back? It is through this project. It is through this project. And today, I also seize this opportunity to launch the first Olympic, the campaign for the first Olympics in Africa. It has never been done. It's launched here now. And the true people like Councilman Bond and Mary Norwood and all the council members that have worked with me, they know when we say something, it is done. It is done. And I want to advise some of my people that come from the shore of Africa to United States. It is a privilege to be a citizen of United States, not a right. Whenever you come in here, display your styling quality. Show people that you have something to offer. And when you develop that potential, it is not only for you, it is for everybody. That is why we say, hope defied, make the mind sick. But when the desire are met, it's a tree of life. Today, I pay glowing tribute to this gentleman, He's a man of vision. He hosted the chairman of the 54 nation of Africa right here in 2013. But look at what is happening today. The World Bank signified their intention to support Africa Atlanta project. The Africa Development Bank support, they want to support this project. The president and each of the country of Africa say, where it is happening in United States, we are there. We want to support it. So what you have brought to this state is big.

Huge deal.

It's huge.

Huge deal.

And this is history in the making. I will say, laying down a footprint on the sand of time is what divides a man. Successful people remember yesterday with pride, live today with great confidence, and look up to tomorrow with absolute confidence. This is what you have done for the state of Georgia. And God has used me as a conduit to be part of this and convince the entire 54 nation of Africa to come here to Atlanta, to the state of Georgia, which is now a pride to Washington. What they cannot achieve in Washington, you achieve it here. So congratulations to every one of you.

How can you not play the role?

That really wasn't one of them.

Here we go. One, two, three.

Thank you. As everyone is exiting, our next proclamation is the National Parks and Recreation Month. We're celebrating that. And that will be presented by Councilmember Jason Dozier. Will everyone that is here to support that proclamation please come forward to the dais?

Congratulations. Thank you so much.

Thank you.

Absolutely.

Everyone here with the Department of Parks and Recreation, please come up to the dais.

DPR and the whole department.

You all just position your.

Are you speaking on this one? No, I'm just here for more support. Hey, how you doing? Good, how are you? I want to hear who from the department speak on behalf of the department.

We can wing it.

All right, good afternoon. I'm Councilmember Jason Dozier. I represent District 4 in Atlanta City Council. I also serve as the Vice Chair at the Community Development Human Services Committee. And I'm proud to be joined here on this day with members of the Department of Parks and Recreation, along with Michael Hauke with Park Pride. Parks are something that are deeply important to me and my family. I think a lot about the fact that I was just reminiscing with my colleague, Council Member Wayne Martin, growing up on the east side, and I didn't have a lot of access to parks in unincorporated Cab County. I didn't have parks that I could walk to, that I could play at, that I could just find my friends at. But yet, today, living here in Atlanta, my daughters have such an abundance of park spaces that we love going to every single day and just I think about how just rich their lives are because they get to experience Atlantis parks. And so I'm so glad that I get to recognize the Department of Park Recreation and the power of parks and recreation through July. So I have here a proclamation, and I'll speak slowly. steam commissioner can make some time to get on the dais but whereas atlanta city council is pleased to recognize the city of atlanta department of parks and recreation in observance of parking recreation month 2026 and whereas july is celebrated nationwide as national parks and recreation month an opportunity to honor the essential role that parks and recreation services play in building strong vibrant and resilient communities and whereas this year's theme the power of signifies the power of parks and recreation, play, community, nature, belonging, well-being, and the people who make these experiences all possible. Parks and recreation bring us together, strengthen our health and well-being, and build more resilient, connected communities. And whereas the City of Atlanta is proud to steward an extensive system of 378 parks encompassing approximately 4,450 acres of land offering residents access to green spaces, recreational opportunities, cultural experiences, and environmental resources. And whereas a reminder of the outstanding contributions of more than 725 full-time park recreationists, administrative and operations professionals, along with hundreds of part-time workers, seasonal workers, and volunteers who maintain our city's parks and recreation facilities. And whereas these parks and recreation facilities serve as gathering places where friendships are formed, families connect, traditions are shared, and diverse cultures are celebrated, enriching the lives of all who call Atlanta home, and whereas parks and recreation greatly enhance a community's economic prosperity by raising property values, expanding the local tax base, attracting tourism, retaining and drawing businesses, and contributing to crime reduction. Now, therefore, be it proclaimed that we, the members of the Atlanta City Council, on behalf of the residents of Atlanta, do hereby designate July as National Park and Recreation Month in our great city and commend the Department of Parks and Recreation for its outstanding service and commitment to fostering connection, community, and well-being throughout Atlanta. Congratulations. So before I turn it over to our esteemed commissioning, my colleagues want to say a few things in honor of the department. Council Member Martin.

Yes, sir. Thank you so much, Council Member Doge. I'll be very, very brief. I just want to say that our Parks and Recreation Department is among the best in the country. I think District 11 has the best parks in the country. I agree. I got a second. There we go. I got a second from our president, but it's all made possible by the folks that we see standing up here. I want to commend our team that oversees golf, Jeff and Keith, and there's so many great people. Camp Best Friends is going great. I saw some kids this morning getting coffee at Starbucks before they were going to CBF, and I was so happy. I just want to say thank you, thank you, thank you. Let's continue the great work to make Atlanta a greener and cleaner city. Thank you. Thank you.

Thank you Council Member Dozier for honoring this wonderful, wonderful City of Atlanta Department. I would like to personally thank Quentin Moore and his entire team. If they are here, if they will please come on up. If y'all could come on up. Quentin Moore and that entire team. If you take a tour of Atlanta and if you go through our recreation centers, they are beautiful, they are flawless. We do not take you all's hard work for granted. Thank you all so much for being wonderful, wonderful, and dedicated to the beautification of the city of Atlanta. You should see the triangle in the Adamsville community. You should see those in Ben Hill. You should see those at Rosalie Wright, Baker Hills. Thank you, thank you, thank you. And also Commissioner Doug Voss, we are so very proud of you. So very proud of you. Thank you for answering the call. Thank you for answering the call. Thank you all so much. The Honorable President Marcie Collier Overstreet.

I always like to take this opportunity to just remind everyone and just give my thanks to the Parks and Recs also because I often say that Parks and Recs was actually the gift that I didn't know that I would be in love with when I got on council. It really did change the way that I started doing work in my office because I saw the difference that it made in everyday life. And when running for office, the last thing I thought about, what I didn't think about was the fact that I would be in love with our parks. And I got on and I fell totally in love with our parks and decided to invest in them time and resources. And so I always want to make sure we take this month to just continue to commend all of the work that you do. Thank you for the advocacy to make sure that our budgets are accommodating of all of the work and maintenance and investment that we need in our parks. So thank you to all of you. Thank you.

And same thing. Same thing. I first want to say shout out to Jason Ernest and the Forestry team as well for cutting all the right of ways. And large, large, large shout out to Count Best Friends. Count Best Friends and the staff for taking care of us. all of our kids this summer, right? If you're here, please come to the top. We know y'all are doing a lot of work. For some reason, this microphone does not sound like it's on, but it's probably on. For me, this personal, and I'll be even more specific, I even have my first boss in the building, right? So when we talk about Parks and Rec, I worked my first job 13 years old. I worked at Brownsville Golf Course. I worked there from I was in a pit. It was a pit program. I worked there from age 13 to I graduated high school. And Mr. Tyrone was actually my boss and he kept me throughout the time period. So Parks and Rec means a lot to me. Happy Parks and Rec Recreation Month. For me, this is personal because I'm truly a Parks and Rec baby. Before I ever walked to City Hall, I was a kid walking into recreation centers and parks every single day. I grew up at Southeast Recreation Center playing every sport you can imagine. Baseball, basketball, football, track. But also, I visited five parks every single day of my life. That means Cleveland Avenue Library Park, Empire Park, because I followed the basketball games, right? And so truly... As a kid, I didn't just have one park. I visited five, everything in my district. There were places where I learned discipline, teamwork, leadership, and built relationships that changed my life. That's why even when you see the legislation that I put in, it's about investments. They were making our parking about helping the least lost and left out from new playgrounds, to every improved trail, to making sure every kid in District 12, if you eat free or reduced lunch, you get to go to summer camp free and you get to sign up for the programs free and get the same results. So because somewhere, somewhere right now, there's another kid just like I was who does not need a handout. They just need a safe place. They need an opportunity and a community that believes in them. So happy Parks and Recreation Month. Let's keep investing in our parks because parks invest in us. Thank you.

I am so excited. I see park design. I see members of the C.T. Martin Recreation Center, the number one center in Atlanta. I see so many people. Sandy Edmunds, Shanisha Blunt, Charles Brown, Sonia Wimbush. We love you all. Parks and Recreation.

What y'all see behind me is a manifestation of the amazing work that goes day in and day out to keep our parks clean, keep them occupied, give our young people places to go, give our seniors things to do. And I would be remiss if I didn't thank each and every one of our city parks employees for all the hard work that y'all put in to make this city as special of a city as it can be. With that being said, I want to turn the floor over to my good friend and the leader of this amazing operation, Commissioner Doug Voss.

We've got quite a family here. Appreciate everybody. Every month, or every year, we always recognize one month as Park and Recreation Month. And it's fairly annual. It's routine. This year has been nothing like routine. This whole team has produced a year that I think we are very proud. I'm very proud of everybody that's standing up here. And I just want to mention a few items, a few highlights from this year. I'll start with parks, just because it's alphabetically maybe the first one. But first of all, just about four weeks ago, we were nationally ranked as the 18th national park score city of the year. That's important. That's important. We were 21st the previous year. We were 49th when the mayor took office four years ago. 49th. We are now 18th. That shows an enormous amount of investment in trying to connect communities and trying to improve parks and trying to make sure that everyone has a park within a 10-minute walking distance. And this city has 85% of its residents within a park walking distance of 10 minutes. That is amazing. So we deserve to be 18th, and we deserve to be higher than that as we go forward. On that note, and she's standing right there, Councilmember Norwood, just last Tuesday, we just purchased our new park. It's 30 acres. It's in northwest Atlanta. It's near the governor's mansion. Mary Norwood and the mayor have worked on this project, and they said, Doug, you have to buy this before the end of the fiscal year. We bought it on Tuesday. That was the last day. That was the last day. What's important about that, and I see Michael Haleke from Park Pride right here, that was a $15 million purchase. 50% of that, over $7.5 million, was raised by philanthropy. The city only paid half of that amount for that amazing property. That's outstanding. In addition to that, we mentioned the park design team. We added 10 new restrooms. Get excited about restrooms. That's good. We got 10 new restrooms. We just added brand new bathhouses at Mosley and Candler. I don't even know if Council Member Amos knows. We opened up the new splash pad at Mosley. Amos now. That's Amos'. That's Dozier now. It switched. It switched, but he's excited, too. We have a new splash pad there. We did renovations at Brownwood. We did renovations at Lang Carson, Grant Park. Council Member Winston is being renovated as we speak. We just opened up new playgrounds at Lindsey Street, which opened, I think, today, and Lillian Cooper Shepard in Council Member Hillis' district. We also added 11 park rangers. That program has just started. We have 11 park rangers. And this department under Director Anthony Jones, we maintain over 2,500 camera streams in parks alone. That's no easy task. Not to be outdone, the Recreation Division, this is our 45th anniversary for Camp Best Friends. Camp Best Friends started, as we all know, under Maynard Jackson when it was a terrible time in the city of Atlanta, when we needed to have a safe space, when we needed to have enrichment for our children. And we continue to do that for over 45 years. Many of you in this room probably participated in Camp Best Friends. Many council members in this room were Camp Best Friends. Parents of, friends of, Council Member Lewis, for sure. And they continue. We have over 400 camp counselors that are working for us as we speak. We have three more weeks of camp. Can't be prouder of that program. But there's more. We added our first teen site on MLK. It's called At Promise South. It's not our first, but it's our newest teen center that opened this year. We also continue senior programs. We have five campsites for seniors. They're going peach picking in July. They're going to John Tanner Park in July. And we offer camps... for seniors and programs year-round. We also have, and I saw Maggie McCollum here right there, we sent 50, there she is, she's wearing yellow, it got easy to find, sent over 50 seniors to Iowa last year to compete. I think she's a gold medal winner right there. So give Maggie a shout for that. And we start the Georgia Golden Games will be in September, I believe in Clayton County, so if you're interested in that. One last note, is we are starting a major campaign in July. It's called Make the Parks Your Gym. We're trying to create lifelong park advocates where they start in parks throughout their senior years. You can use a park somewhere in our city for all kinds of activities. So look for that Make Atlanta Your Gym program starting in this month. Lastly, I just wanted to mention, and they're all standing, they're still standing in the wings, Parks and Rec employees often are not seen. We're in the back, we almost missed this entire presentation because we're all outside, not wanting to be in the front row, but thank you to everybody here. We have over 400 full-time employees, over 500 seasonals. I am proud to be your colleague, have been for over 16 years, appreciate that. We could not do it without you, and so thank you. We mentioned forestry, we mentioned arborists, we mentioned the folks that do the greenhouse, mowing the grass, taking out the trash, running rec programs, all of us. Thank you for that. One last thing. In closing, in closing, one thing I think is really special about our department is we're always asked to do more, do something different. And this year, World Cup came to Atlanta. So we did a number of things. Number one, all of our Camp Best Friends participants went home with a soccer ball. That was pretty good. We offered... Five watch parties yesterday at Candler, and we ran a design program where we could try to design a soccer ball that was significant towards our World Cup event here in Atlanta. We have today the winner of that contest. His name is Leighton Gordon. He's standing right down here in the middle. He is a rising eighth grader. He'll be presenting a ball to the mayor on Wednesday. He couldn't be with us today, but there's more. We have a ball for each of the council members here. We have a number of our teen program leaders from Pittman and Dunbar are here today to give you a ball. We hope you, and a card that explains how Leighton created this ball. We're super proud of him and our entire program. Just want to say thank you very much to everybody. Thank you to my team. We'll keep working. Thank you.

If we can have all of our DPR staff who are in the back come on up, our teens. We're going to take a picture.

Oh no, I like to be in the bag.

All right, everybody.

You made it!

How beautiful. Enjoyed that. As Parks and Rec exits, we have one more proclamation that we need to get done. And that will be in recognition of Frederick Douglass High School Class of 1996. Will all those here in support of that proclamation, Frederick Douglass High School class of 1996, please make your way up to the dance so that we can celebrate you.

Thank you. Oh, this is so cute. Let me get one too.

Wait, let me get a picture. Let me get a picture. Daniel. Look, everybody wants a ball.

Is everyone from Douglas High School, are you guys forward now?

You want to go?

I want to maze. What? Get out of here.

You're supposed to be 225 certified. What?

Who is that? Is this the artist right here?

No, he right here.

My next proclamation is up here now.

Okay, Councilmember Amos, take it away.

hey good afternoon everyone um i am atlanta city council member byron amos and i have the last proclamation for today you know as all aps graduates with me being a full-blooded and Washington High alumni, there's some things that I should not be able to talk about. Some things like being 225 certified. Some things about Dr. Butts walking the hall and you hear the keys jingling. Some things about the North Star. But I am able to talk about those things because those things are legendary, just like the school that we're about to honor today, the great Frederick Douglass High School. That's right, the great. Washington High resides in my district. I mean, Douglas resides in my district. I just can't get it out of me. But no matter if you came out of Washington, no matter if you came out of Douglas, Thurow, or Mays, you was built to survive. That's right. Period, because that's what APS do, we bill survivors. So what I'm going to do is read this proclamation to the official side, and then I'm going to give it over to some people that can definitely honor this class with justice. So honoring the 30th reunion of Frederick Douglass High School, class of 1996, year of the Olympics. Whereas the Frederick Douglass High School class of 1996 proudly celebrates its 30th class reunion, marking three decades since graduating during the most historic, transformative years of the city of Atlanta. And whereas the class of 1996 embraces the theme Year of the Olympus, honoring the significance of graduating the same year Atlanta hosted the 1996 Centennial Olympic Games, an event that elevated the city to global prominence and embodied the values of excellence, unity, opportunity, resilience, And whereas members of the class of 1996 were the last eighth grade class to walk the halls of Frederick Douglass High School, a distinction that represents a meaningful chapter in the school's history and preserves a legacy rooted in tradition, transition, and pride. And whereas during the 1996 Olympic Games, the city of Atlanta, under the leadership of Maynard Mayor Maynard Jackson, Jr., a visionary public servant and champion for equity, expanded pathways to opportunity for local youth, including summer employment programs that benefited graduates of the class of 1996 and provided early exposure to workforce development, responsibility, and civic engagement. And whereas the class of 1996 benefited directly from the Olympic legacy through employment, global culture exposure, and life-shaping experience that helped prepare its members for adulthood during a defining moment in Atlanta's history. And whereas over the past 30 years, 30 years, 30, the Frederick Douglass High School class in 1996 has continued to exemplify the Olympic ideals of perseverance, teamwork, and excellence through leadership, service, education, entrepreneurship, community involvement, and dedication to future generations. And whereas this 30th class reunion stands as a celebration of enduring friendships, shared history, and collective agreement, while honoring the last bond between Frederick Douglass High School in the city of Atlanta and the historic legacy of the 1996 Olympic Games, Now, therefore, it be proclaimed that we, the members of the Atlanta City Council, on behalf of the residents of Atlanta, do hereby recognize and honor the Frederick Douglass High School Class of 1996 30th Class Reunion and encourage all citizens to join in celebrating the achievements, resiliency, and lasting contributions of this distinguished class. So I definitely have a couple of people to speak so we can stay inside the 15. Ms. Kenya Marshall and Mr. Michael Jones.

Good evening, everyone. The Frederick Douglass High. Wow. 30 years later, we are still here. We are still together. We graduated with the Olympics. And guess what's in the city of Atlanta now? FIFA 2026. That's history made yet again. Thank you for loving on us. Thank you for being here. Have a great day.

Thank you to all the council members. My name is Tolton Pace, proud member of the class of 96. Give it up one time. To distinguished council member Amos. fellow Astros on the council, and all the Atlanta Public School graduates who are on the council. One time, raise your hand. Absolutely, absolutely. We're excited. On behalf of the class of 96, we are deeply honored and grateful for this recognition. 30 years ago, many of us walked across the stage believing that we were simply graduating from high school. Looking back, we realized we were doing something far greater, a legacy we were creating. We were shaped by amazing educators who saw greatness in us even before we saw it in ourselves. We remember our principal, Dr. Sam Hill, who led our school during that time and built upon the foundation of greats like Dr. Lester Butts. We remember our amazing superintendent at that time, Dr. Benjamin Canada, and the current leaders of Atlantic Public Schools like Ms. Jessica Johnson, our current board chair, who is here with us today. And we... And we certainly don't forget all of the amazing opportunities that the city of Atlanta afforded us like Dream Jamboree. Anybody remember Dream Jamboree? Our class has spent 30 years serving the city as educators, entrepreneurs, ministers, public servants, healthcare professionals, business leaders, artists, parents, and mentors. We are living proof that what happened inside the halls of Douglas High School did not stay in the halls of Douglas. It's also fitting, as Councilmember Amos admitted, that our time was bookended by the Olympics on one end and FIFA on the other end. What an amazing legacy. Lastly, just want to thank my classmates for an amazing tenure of friendship, resilience, and purpose. The greatest measure of our class isn't what we've accomplished individually, it's the difference that we've made collectively. And to Douglas High School, thank you for believing in us. As we celebrate these 30 years, no matter where life takes us, we'll always be Astros. And we wouldn't be complete if we didn't say to our school, we sing thy praise. 225 certified, go Astros.

All right, I'll be quick. I'll just say, you know, I'm so excited to be here today. You know, we have not only extraordinary legacy at Douglas High School, but really when you think about what's shaping, I say Atlanta, but the world. You got Astros everywhere. I know Heather Morris, Washington now, is not here today, but some of the best films that we've seen over the past five years, 10 years started with a kernel of inspiration out of Douglas High School. You think about the people who are leading Atlanta's labor movement, but really the labor movement all around this country that's taking storm is starting right here in the city of Atlanta, but also Douglas High School. But so goes Atlanta is the way our state goes. When you think about the extraordinary leaders that have matriculated throughout this building, Half of the, not half, all of these folks have come through those hallowed halls of Atlanta Public Schools. And some of the most special leaders, including our current mayors, came through Atlanta Public Schools at Mays High, and we won't hold that against them. Our current chief of staff, Douglas High School alumni, Think about those who were leading on behalf. Tolton didn't say this, but he was our valedictorian. I mean, that's the smartest dude in a class that had me in it. He's the valedictorian. When you think of the council chief of staff right now, As Council Member Bond always says, there's more. I won't read everybody, but I'll say John Dancy, my star and two guard in the eighth grade, and now protecting the mayor and the city of Atlanta, all matriculated through Douglas High. And I would just say, there might be, I mean, it's not done yet. I think we got November coming up. And we might have not only the first black governor, but one of the first African American governors that this nation has seen could be from Douglas High School. I would just say that all good things kind of begin and end with Atlanta Public Schools. And I'll close with that. Extraordinary leadership has been on example with this council. for as long as there has been an opportunity. Whether you go back to Maynard Jackson or you stop with Mayor Dickens, you've got a new chairperson who is leading Councilmember Overstreet and the Star Wars, the champions of our council. When you think about whether it's the South Side and you got Antonio Lewis, Whether it is, you know, you got the west side, the most important side, the best side. You know, and you've got my favorite council member, no shade to nobody. that strong District 10, fighting District 10, Andrea Boone. And I would just say on behalf of Douglas High School, all of us who were a part of that Olympic class, it's a special time for us. But I think Tolton said it best. We didn't realize what it meant at the time. And that's the thing about leadership. You don't ever know when that moment is there. But that wall with no windows, that box that we came through, it surely prepared all of those folks that you're seeing before you to leave, whether it's in their neighborhood or anywhere else throughout this world. Not only are we prepared, not only are we ready, but we're doing the damn thing. And all of those people who have come behind us or in front of us are sewn together by a very thin thread. And it starts and ends with success, duty, commitment, and support for your fellow man, whether it be those that are great, who have their names in the paper, Those that are trying to make it day by day, no matter who they are, we're committed to all of them. And I'm proud to just stand with these folks as we continue that commitment and that legacy for Douglas High School and more so the city of Atlanta.

Thank you. I know some of my colleagues that definitely want to say something.

Astros in the house. Astros in the house. One thing about Frederick Douglass High School, you were somebody. You were somebody. And Dr. Hill and Dr. Butts knew who you were, and they would call your parents. It was a strong, strong family network. I just want to do a Frederick Douglass High roll call. The High Sheriff of Fulton County, Patrick Labott. Michael Julian Bond, Keisha Lance Bottoms, State Representative Sheila Jones, Senator Horacina Tate, Killer Mike, Clifford T.I. Harris, Chris Morris, Sheriff Reginald Scandrett, Rita Braswell, Bernice King, Dexter King, NFL Jamal Lewis, Courtney English, Chief of Staff Santana Kempson Wright, Chief Administrative Officer Odie Donald, who has gone over Augusta, South Fulton, Washington, D.C., Atlanta, Georgia, and now is running Richmond, Virginia. Astros in the house. Astros in the house. I forgot Chris Morris, and now I'll let Michael Julian Bond, one of the best and heartfelt Astros in the city of Atlanta, Georgia.

Well, I just want to say it is great to be amongst Astros, great to be amongst the people who know what this means. It's big, it's bold, it's black, and it's gold. And so we want to say congratulations to you on your 30th anniversary. We all couldn't graduate in 1984. I know. There'll be no more like the class of 84. But Astros are always supreme. And so the legacy of this school, the teachers, the advisors, and the students that went to this place. It was the largest high school in the city. When you all came out, I guess it had to have been about 4,000. People attended Douglas High School. You all were the last eighth grade class. You were the last sub-freshman, subs. If you didn't have the sub experience, you really didn't get the right experience there. But we're glad that you all are there. You all have done tremendous things, and that was the crucible of how we've elevated people in this city, whether they've been in elective office, whether they've been judges, whether they've been lawyers, no matter what part of life they've been involved in, they were formed in that crucible over at 225 Hightower Road. That's right. And so I'm going to ask you all to join me in just two lyrics. Say, I'm so glad that I went to Douglas High.

I'm so glad that I went to Douglas High.

I'm so glad that I went to Douglas High singing glory to the Astros. I went to Douglas High.

And on that note, there's no better way to end because we're over our 15 minutes. So we can move up front to take pictures and definitely present this to our class reunion president. I never, I was told they gave you the title.

I don't think so. Right here. We at least want to see your cake. You know I'm sure. See that?

These fun facts are killing me.

I love them.

They're the best. It's the fun facts for me. We got the valedictorian, the drum major, chiefs. That was fantastic. Congratulations, Douglas High School class of 1996. Absolutely. OK, we are advancing in our agenda for today. This is the moment where we're going to cue the video for our interns. But while we're doing that, any elected officials that have remarks, this is the time for that. OK, seeing none. I just want to bring a little awareness to everyone about what we've been doing with our summer. We've made sure that we are getting our next generation ready to lead our great city, the city of Atlanta. And so we're going to take a minute to honor our city of Atlanta interns for the summer of 2026. We have many of them here with us today during our full council in our council chamber. And I want to personally thank you all for being here and for serving our city. I know that you've been vital in your internships in making sure our operations are successful in our mayor's office, in our council office, in the Department of Watershed, and actually throughout City Hall. And I want to thank you so much for your hard work and just being of service, civic service. Our interns truly represent our city of Atlanta. They hail from Atlanta Public Schools, Georgia State University, the Atlanta University. I have two from Clark Atlanta in my office personally. So I want to thank you all and other prestigious institutions. I wish you all the best of luck in your future career paths. And I have confidence. that you all will be awesome generational leaders for our great city. And with that, we have a short video for you all to see our interns, because interns make a huge difference and they shape our future.

throughout your internship period because you have a team that's willing to help you and guide you through those mistakes.

I think that is super duper important as a summer intern to network and get yourself out there and introduce yourself to the many people that are working within these spaces.

Be able to network and connect with other people as much as the people that you see every single day you never know if that's a person who be interviewing you or giving you a job so I would definitely recommend making connections as much as you can, especially with the other interns as well as the people in your department.

Put yourself out there to any opportunities that's presented to you. I know with me working with the City of Atlanta for two years now, the opportunities are endless and it definitely gave me a desire and a knowledge of what I want to do in my future career.

Getting to know basically everybody in the office, understanding what they do, where they come from, and then implementing that in the future careers as I have those connections and build stronger ones with those.

I had the immense opportunity to work here during the World Cup and during this time I've seen instances where workers both on the field and in admin work together and I hope to contribute to that environment as well working here.

One thing that surprised me working for the government was how friendly and helpful everybody was in teaching me new things about cybersecurity and even more things.

I'm grateful I'm here, and I'm ready to learn some more.

Creating and managing the inventory system showed me how small details can make a big difference. I also gained hands-on on IT experience, setting up computers, troubleshooting devices, and supporting users.

One of the most important things that I've learned this summer is the importance of workflow efficiency and time management skills.

Definitely time management and my confidence because there's a lot of things that I didn't feel confident in and that taught me to work on my confidence and be a better leader.

Be expressive and confident and understand what you're talking about but be open to new ideas and new perspectives.

It's okay not to know everything and everybody around you is willing to help you and make sure we're all able to meet our goals and succeed as a team.

Do stuff that scares you. If you have an opportunity and don't let the title get in the way because at the end of the day, the stuff that scares you will typically open the most doors for you.

Questions can get you a greater point of view of what you're learning and understand projects that you may learn in the future.

Public service is not one size fits all. Your colleagues and constituents come from different backgrounds, have different beliefs, opinions, and have faced different experiences.

Collaboration, attention to detail, and problem solving all play a role in delivering quality work. This internship has helped me build confidence in the professional environment, and I know that these skills will benefit me throughout my future career.

It's important to always communicate and be transparent with your team and everyone can make the job much easier. It makes it easier to get things done in a more professional environment.

Not only am I exposed to a wide range of tasks, I also get to work with a group of people extremely well-versed in their field and willing to impart knowledge. So I remain continuously learning throughout the entire process. I have learned three important things, being collaborative and working with others to get tasks done, being committed and completing work on time, and having integrity, and also being consistent, making sure that I'm timely and organized.

You cannot lose if you don't give up. Working with the Atlanta Fire Rescue Department's Health and Safety Division has taught me that every challenge is an opportunity to learn and grow.

It changed my perspective by showing me that local government is where meaningful change begins. And it inspired me to continue pursuing a career in public service and creating a positive change in my own community.

Beautiful. Again, I want to say thank you. Any of the interns that's in our audience today and in the chamber, please stand. So here's to you. Thank you very much for your service and all that we know that you're going to do in the coming years. Thank you. And with that, that will take us to our public comment. Our public comment.

Let me turn this podium on. You want to take a picture with them?

Okay, can all the interns, right before we go to public comments, can all of the interns please come right along here in the well. The council would like to take a picture with you. I got told yes on Thursday.

Well, I was talking about the ambiance.

I did. Wait, I've got one. No.

I'm going to not be on it, none of that.

Oh.

Oh, you're renovating?

There's parts that you haven't done because your suite is right over there. I'm all over there.

There's a 13th? I thought they skipped that.

No, it's 12th. Let's move on. Okay. Yes. We're back in our lab. Let's show them what's down here. Got an idea about the rise. All right.

You feel comfortable with the rise? Yeah.

I had no more.

I read too many emails.

I had no more.

And then it was also like, after this event, it was like, I want to go out there because he had this, I really needed him.

One, two, three.

Okay, we'll hear our remarks from the public. Each speaker will have two minutes or up to a maximum of ten minutes with donated time.

You guys can hurry out quietly. Okay.

Each speaker will have two minutes or up to 10 minutes with donated time. According to our code, the donated time will be placed at the end of our two minute speakers. And with that, we'll get started with our first three speakers, Maggie McCullum, Henri Jordan, Shakira Bradley. You each have two minutes, you can come forward.

Good afternoon, my fellow council members, president, I am Maggie McCollum, and a few things that I have to speak on today, and number one was parks and recreation. I stay in South Atlanta, and I do not want our youths, our seniors, to go another year without having a place to go within our community. We already have Simpson Park, so we already have the land. We just need a recreation center. Number two. Potholes at 108 Brown Avenue. I've spoke to Alan Smith. He haven't gotten back with me. I just want him to know that you don't tell me something, give me your number, and you don't respond. I don't like that. Number three is Little Bears. There's so much killing at Little Bears. What would it take for somebody in this community to close that store. It's already been too many people that has been killed at Little Bears. And I don't understand, it's not enough people that goes in there from day to day, not enough traffic, so I don't know what's going on. The next thing is MARTA. MARTA is not serving our people. Seniors, including myself, I've tried to call for the new program that they got called REACH. I could not get any response. 35 minutes on hold, unacceptable. The next thing I would like to say before I end, I would like to thank Mayor Dickens, Kelsey Maynard, Lamar Stewart for sending seniors to the World Cup game. Yes. Thank you, Mayor Dickens. I wanted you all to know that he did include all of us. Thank you.

Thank you. Henry Jordan, you have two minutes.

All right. I got you.

Giving out the Spirit of God to everyone that's here. For whosoever shall deny me before men, who will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven? St. Matthew 10, chapter 33, verse. Jesus constantly called for an open confession of himself by his followers. When you deny what Christ has done through me, how can I give it to you? Righteous art thou, O Lord, when I plead with thee. Let me talk with thee of thy judgments. Wherefore doth the way of the wicked prosper? Where are all that deal very treacherously? Jeremiah 12, chapter 1, verse. The problem that the wicked seems to prosper is discussed often in the scriptures. But he answered and said... It is written, man should not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. Matthew 4, chapter 4, verse. His source of strength was obedience to the Father's will. And he would not even work a miracle to avoid personal suffering. When such suffering as a part of God's purpose for him. James Griffiths is working against Jesus' deliverance for you. Ye are cursed with the curse, for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation. Malachi 30, chapter 9, verse 1. These Israelites have done what no man should presume to attempt, namely to defraud God in tithes and offerings. When you defraud other people like me and others of our income, you contaminate the money yourselves and other people. Amen. you also deprive yourselves of Jesus' deliverance and protection plan for you. Because I saw a vision, the gift that Christ wanted to give us, the power to rebuke a bomb. Send it back to the enemy.

Thank you. Shakira Bradley, you have two minutes.

Well, hello. I gave y'all enough time to write y'all wrongs. You hear me? I gave y'all way little time to write y'all wrong. I ain't got nothing to say. I'm demanding answers. So what do y'all have to say? Michael, Attenio, sit up. Y'all met with y'all personally about this injustice. Y'all are disgraced to what y'all stand for in the name of Jesus. Y'all are disgraced to what y'all stand for. Y'all ain't no leaders. Y'all disgraced to what y'all stand for. So I'm standing right here and I'm saying, what is y'all going to do about my restoration? You see, I'm not going to play with y'all. So what are y'all going to do about my restoration? Marcia, you the president and you a woman. You ain't got nothing to say? Huh? Antonio Lewis, you ain't got nothing to say? Huh? Oh, you can't talk back? So when can I come in? I keep coming in? Oh yeah, y'all paid not to say nothing? I ain't gonna play. Okay. So what are we doing? Oh, I just gotta keep coming. Cause ain't nobody name on my paper, but city of Atlanta. So Marcy, you gonna answer me. And this on God.

Thank you. Our next speaker is Nobel Antipuka L followed by Edward Anderson and Johnny Mims. You each have two minutes.

You can come forward. Greetings again. I am Noble Atampoca-El, meaning that I am an American national. And America, most of us don't know, is two continents, North America, South America, connected by Central America, the surrounding islands, including Puerto Rico, Jamaica, and also Easter Island and Hawaii. And this is my land. Today I also present my nationality card, which also says that on this land, which is my land, because I am indigenous to the Americas, that I have unalienable and unalienable rights secured by the Constitution for the United States of America. And as we all know, the Constitution says it was adopted, and the Constitution is a contract And the contract, all of you took an oath of office to uphold the Constitution for the land of the United States of America. This is the Continental flag when the Constitution was written, because North America is a continent. And we did have the Continental Congress at that time. And I think the Constitution was adopted June 21st, 1788. And it was ratified June 21, 1788. And at that time, the Constitution only had seven articles and 10 amendments. And to change the Constitution, you have to have a Constitution of Congress, which means it hasn't changed. since 1788. And I've had a minor problem with the city of Atlanta because I was recognized or thought to assume to be, I guess, a citizen of the United States. I am not a citizen of the United States and I don't want to be treated like a citizen of the United States. As Dr. King said before his transition, on time, Adele. My people are enslaved in their own way. Thank you. Okay, thanks. Thank you. See you next meeting.

Okay. Edward Anderson, you have two minutes.

Hi, Congressmen, Congresswoman. How you doing? My name is Edward Anderson. I'm here because we need vouchers for Atlanta, for people who are in Atlanta, Georgia, who are in Fulton County. I am a Fulton County resident, and we do not have no vouchers. People is homeless on the streets. We have nowhere to go. The GB community, you know, we don't have nowhere to go. The shelter, they don't take gay people. And I've been working with Ashanti. You know, she is a congresswoman here from upstairs. And the paperwork that she gave me, it do not work. And I want to know, can I be in charge of the vouchers? We need, like... Well, everywhere I went, they save like $1,700, $1,400 to stay in a rent from zone one all the way from zone nine. I went to each zone. And every zone, they house apartments, they studios. It's way above my income. I get basic income. And with that being said, you know, I tried to get a job. And I still don't make, you know, $1,400 get to pay my rent. And then they told me to go to Tam Park Place. I went there and they is not helping me. So I need some, I'm asking Congress, I'm asking y'all, can I get some vouchers so I'd have me somewhere to go?

I can have someone come down and make sure that you're connected with the proper authority. I think that would probably be Atlanta Housing. And we'll make sure.

I did that program already, and they do not have it.

Okay, well, I'll have someone speak with you about that over to the side. I'll send someone right over there.

Thank you so much. Talk to me.

Thank you. Oh, no, over there. Okay.

Yep.

We'll have someone come over.

All right.

My Chief of Staff, Frank Haywood, he'll meet you outside. Johnny Mims, you have two minutes. Following Johnny Mims is Steven Dingle, Paul Hopson, and Joseph Arrington, you'll each have two minutes, you can come forward. Mr. Mims.

Good afternoon, council people. A lot of you are familiar with me on council. I've had some type of interaction with me. One way or another, so you know if I'm here, I'm here because it means business to me, and it means something to me. All of you are working hard, and I can applaud your effort. This great mayor, along with yourselves, is growing this city to heights that is just great to see, especially being a native Atlantan. What this mayor has done, one of the great things that he has done is he's created situations and opportunities for everybody to be treated fairly. And in doing so, he created the Nightlife Advisory Council that addresses a lot of the issues in the nightlife. And this ordinance that is being presented to come up today, I'm asking and I'm And I am pretty much asking all of you to reconsider and send it back because the Nightlife Advisory Council was created for a reason. And that was for us to have an input on what happens in the nightlife. Along with Councilman Wan, we had come to an agreement that any papers like this that would come in before council would come before us first, along with ATAG, and our committee would have a chance to weigh in on it, which is to be advisory as what the mayor intended us to be here for, which creates a fair ground for everyone. All I'm asking you to do is recognize and respect what the mayor had put in place and send it back and let us go over it again. And we'd appreciate if you would do that. Thank you.

Thank you. Steven Dingle, you have two minutes.

all right good afternoon madam president and city council um i just want to applaud the city of atlanta and all the esteemed council members for the job they've done regarding the world cup atlanta's been you know recognized as a pristine whole city and i want to just applaud everyone and i just want to make sure that once the world cup is gone our guests are gone that we continue to be that city that sets an example for the rest of the country post the World Cup. So I just want to come up here and give everyone their flowers and say this is a good job that I'm seeing regarding transportation, regarding safety, especially around downtown, south downtown area. You know, I'm in District 11. We want to see some of that sprinkled down, but that's okay. We're learning a lot as well. But I just want to make sure that we remain that high-class city after the World Cup is done. And I also want to stand in support of the legislation regarding trying to get that healthcare center and hospital over there on the south side. We know we need that. So whatever support looks like from constituents, I want to do so as that is needed, not only for the city of Atlanta and the south side, but Fulton County as well. So I just want to make sure we keep up the great work, Perks World Cup. And I thank you for your service, your time. And yeah, that's it. Thank you.

Thank you. Paul Hapson, you have two minutes.

Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. Again, I'm Paul Hobson. I'm a District 11 resident, as well as a former educator from Atlanta Public Schools. And I just want to say, I know you guys are talking about Douglas High School. I believe the principal, Lisa Hill, graduated from Douglas High School as well. Really great principal. really great principal, so I want to say it's a great school. But one thing I want to bring up is MARTA. The MARTA is going through District 11 in neighborhoods, which is understandable, but there are not any of those, like those seats where people sit down at. So people are currently sitting in other, like in residence lawns, which is causing a lot of confusions and causing a lot of issues. So I would just say probably check on that. Or maybe, I think Mr. Wan is over in the Transportation Committee. I guess that's Before I thought it was you, but I guess you're the Transportation Committee, so I guess I'll talk to you about that and maybe get more feedback on that so we don't have potential issues. But also, I also want to say I'm very proud of Atlanta City Council. I now work in D.C. and I see the difference. A lot of people in D.C. are looking up to Atlanta City, so I would say keep up the good work. That's all I have to say. Thank you.

Mr. Hopson, if you don't mind emailing me and copying Alex Juan, if you have a specific address or a specific stop, I've been very successful in making sure that we get benches there or at least do a study.

Okay, we'll do that. Thank you.

Joseph Arrington, you have two minutes.

Good afternoon. I'm here to provide public comment related to Ordinance 2601395. And I stand as a representative of... That's not a zoning ordinance, is it? Zoning ordinance. It isn't. It is not. It is not. I stand here as a representative of the MLK Ashby Merchants Association. And we believe that this particular ordinance is vague, It may lead to undue burden on our merchants. It will require an annual financial audit for businesses named in a criminal complaint that may result in a loss of their business liquor license. Currently, the city of Atlanta, Fulton County, and the state of Georgia has a number of requirements for compliance to obtain a liquor license. To potentially subject small business owners to an open records request requirement at a moment's notice in the event of a criminal complaint lodged against their establishment is concerning to us. A complaint is an allegation, not a conviction. The city attorney, district attorney, all have adequate subpoena rights to obtain any records and to make any determination to bring forth a criminal charge in the event there's sufficient probable cause. Many times complaints are frivolous or are made in bad faith. For example, a business on our corridor was made part of an investigation because someone reported their address during a 911 call. Not because the crime had occurred there, but because that was the only illuminated sign on the street. Would this give rise to an open records request for someone to come in and ask if that business is operating as it should? I think that's a little bit... Aggressive. Instances like this should not subject these business to additional financial burdens like having to provide their open records which may require them to engage a CPA. The best process is already in effect and it's due process. Thank you.

That's your two minutes. Thank you. Valerie Anderson, you have two minutes followed by Faith Brown and John Beasley. Ms. Anderson?

Good afternoon. Yes, I'm here because I just wanted you all to know that I am not going anywhere, period. Nothing has changed for me in any way that Melvin Potter murdered my son, period. There's nothing no one could say or convince me that Melvin Potter didn't murder my son, because he did. Secondly, I'm here because I'm going to push at every turn for Melvin Potter to be fired. And when I say fired, I don't mean fired and then go to another department. Okay? Because that doesn't make sense. DUIs, domestic violence, all that. So he cannot be fired and then go to Fulton County, Clayton County. Fired means fired, period. No job anywhere in the police department. Okay, another thing, I sent an email to all of you. An email was sent to all of you on my behalf from Reform Room Solutions. And that was to let you all see everything about Melvin Potter. All his charges, DUI, all of that. Instead of me saying it, I wanted to show it to each and every one of you. And to those that who responded back to me, I would like to say thank you. But most importantly, I'm not going anywhere, period. Because again, like I said, Melvin Potter is a danger to the community. And he needs to be held accountable, just like if I had murdered someone, if I was beaten on a woman that lost her kids, I would be in jail. Melvin Potter should be in jail, under the jail, and he's not even close to leaning up against the jail. But I'm not going to stop until he's in the jail or under the jail. So I need for all of you to understand that I'm not going anywhere. Melvin Potter would have no peace from me. Miss Overstreet, did you find out about the timeline?

No, and they will not provide that to me. But I think that that's something that you should probably continue to work on. They did give me the findings. That's all I have so far. But I did ask, and I did look into it.

Well, I do appreciate that, and thank you very much. So again, I'm not going anywhere. So thank you all for your time. Thank you. Faith Brown, you have two minutes.

Good afternoon, everyone. My name is Faith Brown, and I serve as the Vice President of the SEIU NAGE Local R13500 Union. I appreciate the opportunity to speak today on behalf of the employees I represent. I am here to raise serious concerns about the current Park ATL contract with Vector and SP Plus. That is a lot of things that are going wrong. First, payroll. In May 2025, Vector changed the payroll process in an attempt to address ongoing payroll issues. Unfortunately, employees have contributed to experienced delayed paychecks, missing pay periods, inaccurate pay stubs, direct deposit problems, and inconsistent payroll records. These issues have created unnecessarily financial hardship for employees who rely on timely and accurate pay. As I sat here today and I watched all these kids come up here and do all of these things, imagine being a parent and your child cannot even get financial aid because your paycheck is incorrect. Secondly, employee benefits from November through May 2026, they took out life insurance on employees, but we don't know where the money went. They have yet to reimburse these employees. Finally, the union dues have not been paid since December 2025, but the money has continued to come out of the paychecks. These are not isolated incidents. I stand with all of these employees right here, and we all have the same concerns. Please, we are passing around the information. Please hear us and please do something about this situation.

Thank you. John Beasley. You have two minutes. John Beasley.

Can I get a copy, please?

It's regarding zoning, so I should... I'm sorry? It's regarding zoning, right?

So I can't... Yeah, no, you can't speak on a zoning paper. You can only talk about maybe quality of life or what you expect from the city.

My quality of life would be better if it could be rezoned, but that's about it.

Oh, well, never mind. Our next three speakers, Cheryl Goodman, Cisse Seno, Gina Pagnotta. We have... You'll each have two minutes.

Thank you.

Cheryl Goodman, two minutes. I'm going to donate my time. Sanae. To Gina. To Gina. Sanae, say no. I'm going to yield my time. Sanae. I'm going to yield my time to . You want to yield your time to? Ms. Anna. Gina. To who?

Ms. Anna.

Okay, so Gina, you would like to go to the yielded time portion instead of being next? Yeah, okay, so who did she say? She didn't say Gina? Okay, she's going to yield her time. Can somebody come to the mic so I can hear you properly, probably? Because it's not written on my paper this way.

She's going to yield her two minutes to me.

Sine is going to yield it to you.

That's correct.

Okay. And who else? Cheryl. And Cheryl also. So Sine, do you want to speak or no? She's giving her time to Adam. Where is Adam? I don't see Adam. Anna. Anna. Oh, Anna Ovado. Okay. I thought you said Adam. Okay. So Gina and Adam, you all will be on. Gina and Adam, you will be on our yielded time portion, so you have to wait just after Tyrone Clemons. All right. That's fine. All right. So our next speaker is Tyrone Clemons. You'll have two minutes, and then we'll go to our yielded time.

Good day, everyone in the City Council. Good day, Council President. I'm Tyrone Clemons. I'm a resident of Pittsburgh in Southwest Atlanta. I'm coming to this body to acknowledge the recent wins of this council and this administration, like investing in redeveloping the much needed parts of our city and our neighborhoods in Southwest Atlanta and our infrastructure and also the execution with the FIFA World Cup. So thank you for that. I often think about the promise of Atlanta and the promise that makes this city so special, the dreams and the hopes of our community members, but I also think about the future of Atlanta and the potential for this city. I hope this council will continue to invest in us and our potential and uplift our communities who still desire the focus and long overdue reinvestment that we've been promised. I've learned that good urbanism is not just investing for those who come to visit, like in the FIFA World Cup, but those who live here, legacy residents, new residents, and future residents. Atlanta can continue to excel by investing in more opportunity, public spaces, and resources for our local communities. Private interests and businesses do matter, but our people matter more. Even though the NPUV, which I am a part of, consistently votes and works with our community to realize our needs, there are private entities and businesses that are working against that will. Similar private entities across the country are polluting and destabilizing our communities across this country. These private entities are not interested in our future generations, but I hope our city council will work closely with our community's protected citizens for generations to come. I only hope that the city council will continue to work to prevent any kind of data centers or any co-location hubs being built near residents, within the city limits, and by MARTA stations. Thank you very much.

Thank you. This takes us to our yielded time. Our first speaker under yielded time will be Judene Jordan. You'll have four minutes. And is Gail Johnson here? Thank you. You have four minutes to speak. Ms. Jordan.

Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. Thank you, Ms. Overstreet. You have been working with me for two years. Thank Frank. I saw him, but I don't know who he is. And thank you, Mr. Bond, for helping me also. And Wayne Martin. Everybody knows, 2009 Cascade Road. Yes, I have a lake. So I've been doing my research, and it says the city completed a survey which shows that there's two lakes and a creek in the back of my property. Those... The overflow pipe comes down underneath Cascade Road, goes onto my property and is a flood. I have a lake. I have overgrowth because there's so much water and so much rain. So I just want to know what is the city going to do about it? My watershed has been out there three times. And they keep saying that it's my problem, that it was the developer who did it. Well, it was 80 years ago. And there is no record that the developer put by it. And he would have had to go through the city before he put it. And it would be in the city records. It's not on microfiche. OK, so I'm here because the Georgia Constitution establishes that private property shall not be taken or damaged without compensation. Okay? That's me. They've taken my property, and they've used my property, and it's damaged, and I want some things. There is a budget. There is a project for my Cascade Road, but I haven't seen it. No one will show it to me or anything. So I don't know what the budget is. I don't know what my part is or anything. So I'd like to see that budget. Okay. Anything else? Let me see. I could go on and on and on. But I'm not going to. They're going to build a curb and two inlets which will flow. The overflow will still come to my property. Oh. Yes. The watershed department. because my property is the lowest property on Cascade Road. So all the overflow from 20 houses comes down Cascade Road and lands up in my yard, okay, on my property. I want the city of Atlanta, the one that you're using, buy it, take it, and manage it. I don't want that responsibility. I'm 70 years old. I don't want it. You understand? This is supposed to be an investment home for me and my family, my older sisters and brothers. They are going to... We were going to build a house, but now there's federal issues. There are state issues. Cascade Road is a federal road. It's a state road. And these are issues. I have pictures. If anybody wants to see them, I sent them to Mr. Martin, Julian Bond. I sent them to your office and Frank and some of their people. know about me now. 2009. I heard that they're talking about me over in Watershed. They know 2009. They know my address. So that's cool. That's cool. I'm glad they do. But that's it.

That's all I got to say. Okay. Thank you. I welcome Councilmember Martin and yourself and Watershed to have a meeting and I'd like to join. I've done this for a couple other neighbors before over in Niskay Lake area and Adams Drive. So I'm happy to see what your update is. Yes, yes. And thank you so much. Council Member Martin's office will coordinate that for us.

Yes. Thank you.

Of course.

So when will that happen?

We don't know. He's going to coordinate that. We don't know that today.

Okay.

Okay.

Thank you so much. Okay.

All right, so we're moving on to our next speaker. That will be Kendall Long. No, it's Devon Franklin. Devon Franklin, you have six minutes. You are yielded time from Kendall Long, who I see here, and Conette King.

She's also present.

Thank you. Six minutes.

Good afternoon, council members. As you all are aware, my name is Devon Franklin, and I am senior movement policy counselor at the Southern Center for Human Rights. Unfortunately, but somehow predictably, I'm here to address a debate that took place at the Committee on Council meeting around public climate this morning. And specifically, in response to comments made by First Amendment Policy Counsel Kendall Long and his advocacy for the People's Voice Act, which is legislation that endeavors to protect the community's access and utilization of public comment and, consequentially, its ability to engage in intelligent, nuanced, and thoughtful communication with their elected officials. As a reminder, while the People's Voice Act is an initiative of the Southern Center for Human Rights, more importantly is a coalitional effort with support from Playfair ATL, Bard Business, Black Futurist Group, Central Outreach and Advocacy Center, Legal Action Center, New Life Second Chances Outreach Incorporated, and the list is growing. Today, the Southern Center for Human Rights wants to go on record to say this. The act of addressing public officials, elected officials, is not a privilege. It is a right. Those of you looking to further curtail speech in this chamber need to go on record in broad daylight. In recent decades, public comment on seated time has gone from being unlimited to 16 minutes to 10 minutes. And based on what I've heard during the meeting this morning, Councilmember Collins suggested that reducing it to six minutes. You added, quote, that the same three people come in here and talk for 10 minutes as if that is a negative thing. This is not a remarkable observation, but let's talk about why you see familiar faces. As the whereas clauses of the People's Voice Act point out, and we've shared this draft legislation with you all a few times now, working people have difficulty coming to 1 p.m. weekday meetings consistently, particularly where the time when they will speak is impacted by the unpredictability of how many others have signed up for comment or how many proclamations are on the agenda. For example, even with the new clock management system in place today, three of the four proclamations went overtime. We are advocates, secondly. We are professionals, and on many of the issues for which we advocate, we are experts for some of the most significant and legislative wins and litigation wins in the history of the Deep South and this nation. So let us be clear. The same three or four people speak for 10 minutes because others cannot. We make the time to come and address you when the people we serve cannot because they are working to care for their families. We do it consistently and with a movement politic of rigor rather than reflective defensiveness. We do it even when we are traveling all over the South to work with ally organizations. We do it between freeing people from literal prisons and jails because, yes, even some members of our policy units still take on active cases in representation to this day. We do it at the same time as we do state legislative advocacy, working to prevent further preemption of Atlanta by state legislature. We do it amidst the development of infrastructure to support and protect the right to assembly and speech in Georgia and outside of these chambers. We do it even when the staff are stretched thin. We do it because we are accustomed to prevailing and hostile environments. Based on how some of you respond to public critique, we encourage you to be more willing to be elevated by your people. Each of you sit where you sit now because you implore constituents to believe that you would honor their voices. So Councilmember Collins, I'm sorry, but I'm not sorry. Your personal preferences are not policy imperatives. If you're, I'm speaking, I'm sorry. I'm sorry. You can pause that for me. Thank you. If your sentiment is that it is too much to ask, that twice monthly you have to hear from human rights organizations who serve your constituents, we hope you are prepared to present a more compelling argument than your annoyance. We hope that you offer justification that is content neutral. We hope that you offer justification that does not target individual organizations. We hope that you do not encourage the city to adopt strategies that invite litigation. We hope that you look at the state of the world and conduct yourselves in a way that reflect the many issues Atlantans are struggling with that deserve robust public debate. If you have sincere desire to engage the community and faith organizations and not pay consultants, please do so. We are happy to continue to invite you to the frequent events that we hold in the communities and we have never abandoned. Now is not the time to curtail speech. Read the room. I'll save the rest of my time.

Thank you. Our next speaker is Gina Pagnotta. You have four minutes. I see Cheryl Goodman is still here. You have four minutes.

Good afternoon, council. You know who I am, Gina Pagnotta. I'm president of PACE. And I know it seems strange to have me here. And I have some other colleagues here that's coming up to the podium to stand with me. What you probably didn't know, that I'm also a national vice president for NAGE, who is National Association of Government Employees, who has a contract with these men and women. Stand up, Park Atlanta, again. that our dues, their dues are not coming to our office for representation. I sent you out a piece of article so you can see exactly what's going on. That's correct. And in it is bullets points. I've also gave you part of their collective agreement, bargaining agreement of those pages where it relies what they're not doing. Now, I did a little research, and that little research, I'm still confused, and you all can help me out here. I look for this contract, and under this contract, it's between SP Plus Metropolitan LLC slash Victor Group, who these employees are under, and then I saw something that says SP Plus Red Bridge Consulting. Had no idea which one is what, but I do know this. One of them, if not both of them, got a $7.2 million check June of this year, and they also got two checks in a matter of $457 in May of this year. Where is that money? These employees not getting it? They never get their checks on time, as you can see on the paychecks, page 31, I've attached in the collective bargaining agreement with NAGE. And you probably, and also the paycheck stubs, page 21 and 22, and withholding of the union dues, page 23, that you have the opportunity to review. Now, you're probably wondering why the city got something to do with this. Well, the city signed this contract. And a third party of the people that these men and women are working at your airport. They're the drivers, the shuttles. They help you out in doing World Cup. You want this and you want it clean. You want it to do what it's supposed to do. But I tell you now, and you all know my spirit and my passion. If these employees were from the city of Atlanta and they were under PACE directly and they did not get paid, you would not get no service. I can guarantee you that. So I'm here on my relationship with you all. For PACE, we have a great rapport. I need your help. I need to find out where these contracts are, why these employees are not getting paid. Get them whatever's on that paper I need you to help get. And I want to find a way that we can get these dues from them. We did a whole what was a barrage of getting four recognized, five, six unions recognized. Well, this is another union of our affiliate company. local R13-500. We got to do right by these employees. And the city signed this contract. If this vector group is a fraud, you all need to be concerned. They need to go. You need to get rid of them. And fire, hire these people to work directly for this city of Atlanta. Park Atlanta of aviation should be city employees, period. Cut out this middle band, because all this, fire, what is this, 450 twice, and $7.2 million, that's money you have just wasted. Please, on the backs of our relationship, figure it out, get these employees paid, and bring those employees to the city of Atlanta. Thank you.

Thank you. Our last speaker of the day is Anna Avado. With time, seated from, on here it says Cisse, but you're saying it's...

It's Cisse Sano. It's Cisse Sano?

Okay, thank you. Four minutes.

My name is Anna Avato, and a lot of you know me as well, because I represent PACE. as a staff rep, but I am a national representative with the National Association of Government Employees. Y'all also know Mike Pulliam, who works with NAGE also and represents IBPO. We represent city workers here in this city. We also represent contract workers who work for contractors for the city of Atlanta, including the workers who work for Park ATL. If you park your car at the airport or take a shuttle bus at the airport, you are serviced by those folks right there. There are over 500 workers that work for Park ATL. If your car breaks down and you need a jump and you're at the airport, they take care of it. If you lose your parking stub or ticket, they take care of it. They are the people who keep that airport clean. They are the ones who keep that airport running. You do not get back and forth. from your car to your terminal without touching those folks. If they wanted to, they could shut down the airport. That is not an exaggeration. Gina Pagnotta is the vice president of our national union. She asked us, because of her relationship with you guys, to come here and talk to you guys first before we shut down the airport. So we're here by her request. So you're lucky, I'm just going to say that right now, you're lucky she has faith in all of you. This is what we are asking for. These folks constantly do not have adequate, they don't have accurate paychecks or have paychecks that are on time. When tax season came around, many of them did not have W-2s or they were given handwritten W-2s. People are not getting access to paycheck stubs. How many people have lost housing, been denied loans or whatever because they did not have paycheck stubs? Okay? People's insurance premiums are not being paid. Even though they're paying the money, it's coming out of their paycheck stubs. They've gotten letters from insurance companies telling them that their premiums were not paid and therefore their insurance has been canceled. People went to try and use their insurance for life-saving care and was denied. People's bank accounts have been closed because their bank accounts are so withdrawn because they depended on that paycheck that they haven't gotten. Now, all of this seems extreme, but we have documented evidence. We have had to file three unfair labor practice charges against Vector Group for failure to pay dues to remit dues money that is taken from these employees to the union. I do not know what they are doing, but they are embezzling the money. Money that you guys paid them to provide a service. We have gone back and forth. We have spoken with Huey Galbraith, who is in charge of parking and ground transportation at the airport. We have spoken with people in the Department of Aviation. We have talked to vector leadership more times than I can count. Now it's y'all's time. It's your turn. Thank you. We need help. Thank you.

Ladies and gentlemen, that brings us to the end of our public comment portion of our full council. Thank you very much for coming here today in support of the things that are important to you and for letting us know what's happening in our city and what we need to take note of. And with that, that brings us to our report of the journal.

Madam Clark. Good afternoon, Madam President and members of Council. I, Corinne Lindo, Municipal Clerk of the City of Atlanta, do hereby certify that the minutes of the special call meeting held on Wednesday, June 24, 2026, and the regular meeting held on Monday, June 15, 2026, are true and correct.

Thank you. I'll entertain a motion to adopt the report of the journal.

So moved.

Second by Thomas Worthy. This can actually be done by unanimous consent. Madam Clerk, what's the count for unanimous consent? 15 yays, zero nays. 15 yays, zero nays. The report of the journal is adopted. Communications. I believe it's 13 yays, zero nays. It's 13? OK, so 13 yays. Is it 13? Council Member Bond.

Ms. Bond and Bond are missing.

OK, so it's 14. 14 yeas, zero nays. The report of the journal is adopted. Thank you, Madam President.

Communications. First item, Madam President, is 2060-5059. This is a communication from Council Members Liliana Bacteriari, District 5, Alex Wan, District 6, Tom Worthy, District 7, Mary Norwood, District 8, and Matt Westmoreland, Post 2 at Large. appointing Mr. Ed Baines to serve as a member of the Community Access Media Board. This appointment is for a term of two years. Staff recommendation to refer to City Utilities Committee and Committee on Council. Let it follow that course. Item number two is 2060-5060. This is a communication from Donald Penovey, Chair of the Audit Committee. Submitting the appointment of Ms. Stephanie Jackson as City Auditor for a term of five years scheduled to begin on July 6, 2026, following Council confirmation. Staff recommendation to refer to Finance Executive Committee and Committee on Council. Let it follow that course. Madam President, if I can take items three and four as a block. Yes, please. Item number three is 26C-5061. This is a communication from Mayor Andre Dickens, appointing Mr. Peyton Patterson to serve as a member of the Tree Conservation Commission. This appointment is for a term of two years. Item number four is 26C-5062, a communication from Mayor Andre Dickens, appointing Mr. Nick Johnson to serve as a member of the Tree Conservation Commission. This appointment is for a term of two years. Staff recommendation. For both those items is to refer to Community Development Human Services Committee and Committee on Council. Let those items follow that course. Item number five is 26C-5063. This is a communication submitting the Department of Procurement City Council monthly report from May 1st through May 31st. Staff recommendation to accept and file.

I'll accept a motion to accept and file 26-C-5053. So moved by one, second by... Second by Bakhtiari. Madam Clerk, please prepare the vote.

One moment, the vote is open. Will everyone please vote? The vote is closed. 14 yays, 0 nays. 14 yays, 0 nays. That item is accepted and filed. Item number six is 26C-5064. This is a communication from Council President Marcy Collier-Overstreet appointing Mr. Charles Rick Clear to serve as a member of the Community Access Media Board. This appointment is for a term of two years. Staff recommendation to refer to City Utilities Committee and Committee on Council. Let it follow that course. That concludes the communication items, Madam President. Consideration for veto legislation? There are none. Unfinished business.

We have none. OK, that takes us to consent agenda section one. These items are received with unanimous votes out of committees. Are there any items to be removed from consent agenda section one? Move to adopt. I'll entertain a second for that motion. Second by Mary Norwood. Please prepare the vote, Madam Clerk.

The vote is open. Will everyone please vote? The vote's closed.

15 yays, 0 nays. 15 yays, 0 nays. Consent agenda section 1 is adopted. That moves us to hear from Councilmember Martin.

I would like to request that item number 16 on consent agenda section 1, 26-0-1399 be sent to the Mayor's Office post-haste. 1399? Yes, ma'am.

Any others?

Yes, ma'am.

Council Member Westmoreland.

We'll add 26R3746 to the post-haste request.

3746? Yes. You guys okay with that? You need dates, I mean pages or anything? No. Okay. Thank you. Anyone else? Is that now or last? Okay. OK, I need a second for second by Alex Wan. This can actually be done by unanimous consent to send items 26-0-1399, 26-0-26R-3746 to the mayor's office post haste. That's 14 yeas, 0 nays. 14 yeas, 0 nays. Those items are sent to the mayor's office post haste. Now this takes us to consent agenda section two. And these are items that were introduced for first read in committees, and they are to be referred back to their respective committees. Are there any items to be removed from consent agenda section two? Moved to refer by Juan. Is there a second? Second by Ishe Collins. Madam Clerk, please prepare the vote.

The vote is open? Will everyone please vote?

The vote is closed, 14 yays, zero nays. 14 yays, zero nays. Those items are, consent agenda section two will be referred back to committee. Moving on to our standing committees. We will start with public safety, legal administer, no, we're starting with zoning, sorry. That would be Chair Mary Norwood.

Good afternoon. There are two items for your consideration. The first is 260-1140Z26001, location 1950 West Paces Ferry Road and 2518 West Wesley Road, an ordinance to rezone from R1 to PDH. It was unanimously adversed by the committee, and I make a motion to adverse.

Motion to add verse 26-0-1140. This item is coming out of committee, so it doesn't require second. Madam Clerk, please prepare the vote. The vote is open.

Will everyone please vote? Council Member Collins, what is your vote?

Council Member Collins, what's your vote?

Yes, she's a yes. Council Member Boone?

She is away.

Council Member Lewis?

That's 13 yays, zero nays. 13 yays, zero nays, this item is adverse.

The next, thank you, colleagues, the next item is 260-1393. It is 1055 Foxcroft Road. It was a piece of legislation that actually should be filed so that this request can go through the NPU and ZRB system. So my request is to file.

Okay, the motion is to file by Norwood. It's coming out of committee, so it doesn't require a second. Madam Clerk, please prepare the vote. The vote is open.

Will everyone please vote?

14 yeas, 0 nays. 14 yeas, 0 nays. 26-0-1393 is filed.

Thank you. And that concludes my report, Madam President.

Thank you. Now we are moving on to Public Safety Legal Administration. The Honorable Andrea Boone. You know, whenever you get a chance.

Thank you, Madam President. We have one item to report on today, item 26-0-1395, an ordinance by council members Dustin Hillis, Jason Dozier, Wayne Martin, Thomas Worthy, Liliana Batyara, Michael Julian Bond, Mary Norwood, Matt Westmoreland, Ishe Collins, Byron D. Amos, Alex 1 and Jason Winston to amend Chapter 10, Article 2, Division 2, Subdivision 3, Section 10-115, Annual Forensic Audit to authorize the Chief Financial Officer to require the provision of copies of the receipts books, papers, records, and financial reports of any establishment licensed to sell or serve alcoholic beverages for the purpose of conducting a forensic audit of such records where the conduct of such an audit shall be requested by the Atlanta Police Department as part of an investigation into criminal or unlawful activity, including but not limited to investigations into whether an establishment is operating in accordance with the specific designation or type of establishment for which their license to sell or serve alcoholic beverages has been issued and for other purposes. This item was favorable in committee. Three yays, two nays, one abstention. The recommendation action was to approve.

The motion is to approve. It's coming out of committee, so it doesn't require second. Madam Clerk, please prepare the vote. We have a speaker, the Honorable Byron D. Amos. This is the time. Thank you, Chair Boone.

Yes, and I make a substitute motion to refer back to committee.

Oh. Substitute motion by Amos, second by Lewis. Madam Clerk, please prepare the vote.

Can we ask a question? It is debatable.

Yes. Before the vote. Go ahead.

Yeah, so just wanted to have clarity in terms of...

I'm sorry.

We got the cue. I'm sorry.

Wait a minute. I don't see the cue. Just a second. I'm sorry. Okay, here we go. Gotcha. I still don't see it. I'll just look from there. Council Member Martin.

Yes, ma'am, Madam President. I actually support, I originally supported this coming out of committee, but I think we need to take some more action in terms of involving and engaging with our nightlife commission. And so I do support the motion that was made by my colleague to send it back to committee for further review and discussion. That's all I want to hear.

Okay, Council Member Collins.

I just want to be curious in terms of for the request to send it back, understanding that the purpose of this is to conduct a forensic audit, which takes time but also preparation to align. And so just wanting to understand what were the concerns.

Council Member Boone or Amos?

I think the concern is, as Council Member Wayne Martin stated, that our nightlife community had no knowledge of this piece of legislation. Is that correct or not? And that is the purpose of taking it back, only to deliberate and discuss exactly what is happening with this piece of legislation.

Council Member Amos, do you have any more information on that, since you want to refer it?

I mean, that's mainly, I have over the weekend heard from a lot of small businesses and just it's concern. And then actually hearing from a member, a member of the mayor's nightlife team who say they have not had a chance to look at it. So just to make sure everyone is inclusive as we move forward, since it is a very important part of our nightlife in the city of Atlanta.

Okay. Antonio Lewis, well, Council Member Hillis, sorry.

Thank you, Madam President. So I was the author of this paper and was stated in committee two weeks ago since we just got off of a fifth week. And the paper was also unchanged from when it was originally introduced three weeks ago. And the first time I heard anyone come to me with any concerns about this paper, was another council member this morning. So no one bothered for three weeks to reach out to the author of the paper. And as was discussed, as was discussed in committee, if anybody had bothered to come to committee two weeks ago, this paper does not do anything. It codifies something that is already done and already has happened and will continue to happen. It simply codifies that process into the Atlanta City Code, which to me would make it easier for this body to change it if it wanted to going forward. So that is my comment three weeks after this paper was introduced. Thank you.

Council Member Lewis.

I was at committee meeting that day and I voted against it. I was loud against it. Part of the reason why is because I thought it would impact folks in my area a little bit different. I saw the cost of things. I know looking at clubs actually and restaurants actually get Well, I'm not looking at it. I'm having people reach out to me, and they're telling me that they feel that they're being discriminated against. I looked across the country. I looked up as many things as I could around this, and we know that the enforcement can be any kind of way. And so I don't want the folks in my area to be to be impacted in ways that they've reached out to me and told me they think they might be impacted. And also, we just had the nightlife committee. I'm typically ready to go on everything, but I had the nightlife committee tell me they've never seen this. And so for us to create this, and I was not one of the people that created it, but for us to create this organization and to never display it to them, I think that's part of the conversation of why I support it, sending it back to. But I was against it on day one, still am. Thank you again.

Thank you. I don't see the queue. Is there anyone else on the queue? Okay, Councilmember Bond. Michael Julian Bond.

Thank you, Madam President. Well, I support the motion to refer back to the committee, even though I'm very sympathetic to the author of the paper. But having experienced several generations of ATAG, ATAG 1, ATAG 2, and subsequently ATAG 3, one of the things that comes out of that is that the industry and those who are not so much the major players, but the smaller mom and pop businesses, seem to be adversely affected a lot of times by the policies that we make. And even though I know this paper had been introduced some time ago, it doesn't, the subject matter doesn't seem to be an emergency subject matter where it is time sensitive. And so if we set up, I was a part of supporting setting up a nightlife committee I think we set it up for a reason. They're supposed to, our word is that they're supposed to get a crack or at least a look at the policy changes or recommendations that this body or the administration makes. I don't think we lose anything or harm anyone by letting them take a look at it and letting them do the work that we've appointed them to do. So I support the motion to go back and allow that process to happen.

Okay, thank you. Council Member Lewis.

And part of the reason why I made sure I did this is two weeks in the last month, I've seen the College Park mayor actually come out and say that a College Park City Council person targeted a business. And so she said that in TV. That's the College Park mayor said that on TV. And they actually the the business owner actually agrees with what happened to them. And so for a mayor and for a business owner to feel that they were targeted for a mayor to say that she thinks that a business was targeted. I'm nervous of what could happen in my area because I've had business owners tell me before they felt targeted, and I didn't have the background information that that mayor has in College Park, but I don't want anything like that to happen in my area. Thank you again.

Thank you. So we have a motion on the floor and a second. Council Member Hillis.

So once again, just to be clear, so this is not based on my words, and I get accused of targeting specific businesses. This is a citywide ordinance that, again, codifies a process that already occurs in the city and will continue to occur in the city. This doesn't burden business owners any more than they already are, being business owners. You have to retain your records for seven years as a business owner. And you have to provide that to the city any time they ask for it. So I'm going to refer to Ms. Robinson for her opinion, just to make sure I'm correct on this.

Good afternoon. Amber A. Robinson, City of Atlanta, Department of Law. And I do apologize, but could you please repeat your question, Council Member Hillis?

Yes. This ordinance, which I had the law department's cooperation and help in preparing, does not change any active process in the city. In an active investigation, that APD licensing permits, conducts, they can ask for finances cooperation in that investigation to perform a financial audit in the city. This ordinance simply codifies that process.

That's correct. This is a process as long standing for decades as persons and entities who take alcohol licenses take them subject to being subject to this sort of examination of their records to ensure that they comply with our ordinances and state laws which are dependent on proof of certain sales information.

Thank you. And just once again, to make sure, that can already happen. This ordinance does not change that. It leaves it in place and codifies it.

That's correct. It already can happen. It happens. This just codifies a process that has been in place for many years.

Thank you, Ms. Robinson.

Okay, is that everyone? Madam Chair.

Council Member Boone. I think that we also need to look into making sure that our nightlife commission who has been appointed is included in these type of legislations. They are saying that they have not seen this, they have not had any comments on it, deliberated on it, or anything at all. And also... I think we need to be fair to them as well to make sure that anything like this, they do have an opportunity to review. Okay. Council Member Worthy.

I'm going to vote in favor of sending this back to committee, but I want to go on record saying that if the play on this is to send this back to committee to let it languish, I'm going to work with my colleague, Mr. Hillis, to not let that happen. I... am committed deeply to fairness, but every single one of us up here have discussed about illegal clubs operating in the city and the danger that it has to our communities. So we want to work with nightlife. We want to make sure that this is fair. We want to make sure that this is applied equitably. And one more cycle in committee can do just that. But if the play for this is for this to go away, I am not going to let that happen. And I'm going to work with colleagues to try to get to eight votes to make sure that doesn't happen. So I wanted to explain my vote and explain where I am on this.

Okay, Council Member Boone. Thank you, Honorable Worthy. But what we understand is that from the law department, this is something that is already on the books. This is something that is already on the books. And I think the angst with this is that the nightlife committee did not have a voice in it. They know nothing about it. The members that work in the city of Atlanta did not know about it. So we want to respect large businesses, small businesses, but let's give these folks the respect that they deserve. They don't want to be rubber stamped. They want to be involved in discussions because it might be something that we can tweak and make better. This is not a bad thing to send it back for further deliberation. And I think that's what our colleague, Mr. Amos and Mr. Bond and Lewis are looking forward to, because we do want to weed out some of the bad actors.

I agree with my colleague 100%. And I think my statement is I believe that it can be done in one council section, one council cycle, especially with recess in the middle of that. So I think that gives ample time for our colleagues at the city to have input and tweak it.

Okay. Council Member Bond.

Thank you, Madam President. And I just want to reassure members and remind you that whether it's a resolution or ordinance, if you are the author of a paper and you introduce it, if it's been held twice, you have the right to pull that paper up without a second. after full council meeting. So if you're concerned that the paper will languish in committee, that's an unfounded concern because the author can pull it up, you know, at the next couple of council meetings if the paper is held. That's not my intention for the legislation. You know, I'm in some with the chair that the nightlife committee, they take their role very seriously. They want to be involved in these decisions. We set up that process. And if the process is going to work, we have to follow the process. And so we said we would give them a chance, an opportunity to review any and all legislation that would come out as a result of ATAG or alcohol code. So we should allow them to do that.

Okay. Councilmember Lewis, you said you did not want to speak. I do now. You do now.

I mean, I do now. So I would even be okay with you removing District 12 from this legislation. I know that you all want to rush it through, want to give a time frame for this. And so, I mean, I've heard that they, just listen to my colleague, he say, then make sure we have the three-week period for our recess and the next council meeting. I'd prefer if you remove District 12 from this piece of legislation, if possible.

Is that it?

Okay, so we have...

A motion on the floor and a second. Madam Clerk, please prepare the vote. The vote is open.

Will everyone please vote?

The vote is closed. 13 yays, 2 nays. 13 yays, 2 nays. This item is referred back to committee.

Thank you, Madam President. This concludes my report.

Okay. Thank you, Chair Boone. Our next is City Utilities. That's the Honorable Dustin Hillis.

Thank you, Madam President. We have one item, 2601379, item one, page 34. It was favorable on condition out of committee. Condition has been met. It was for DWM to clarify some terms and funding allocation on the agreement. And I'll have a substitute, so I'll make a motion to bring forth a substitute.

Motion to bring forth a substitute by Hill is seconded by one. Madam Clerk, please prepare the vote to bring forth the substitute.

The vote is open. Will everyone please vote?

Everyone please vote. The vote's closed. 15 yays, 0 nays. 15 yays, 0 nays. The substitute is before us.

An ordinance by City Utilities Committee as substituted by Atlanta City Council to waive the procurement source selection provisions contained in Division 4 of Chapter 2, Article 10 of the City of Atlanta Code of Ordinances, as well as any other conflicting code provisions to authorize the mayor or his designee to execute the First Amendment to agreement number listed, LabWorks, LIMS, software. maintenance, support, and related services with LabWorks LLC on behalf of the Department of Watershed Management to add funding in an amount not to exceed $9,200.00. All contracted work shall be charged to and paid from the appropriate funding sources and for other purposes. Motion to approve.

Motion to adopt on condition as substituted by Dustin Hillis. Doesn't require a second because it came out of committee favorably. Madam Clerk, please repair the vote. We just voted on the substitutes.

This is to adopt as substituted. Adopt as substituted. The vote is open. Will everyone please vote?

It's gonna sign a second anyway, so.

Will everyone please vote?

Council Member Martin, how do you vote?

Louis, yes.

Council Member Amos? Yes. Martin, just say it out loud. Yes. Fourteen yays, zero nays. Fourteen yays, zero nays. This item is adopted as substituted.

That completes the City Utilities Committee report. Thank you.

Thank you, Chair Hillis. Next is CDHS, the Honorable Matt Westmoreland.

Good afternoon, Madam President. We have one item. It is Communications 26C5053, communication from Donald T. Penovey, CPA, Chair of the Audit Committee, submitting the performance audit to 26.02 Tax Allocation District. Follow-up, the recommendation coming out of committee is to accept and file.

Okay, so move to accept and file does not require second because it came out of committee. Favorably, Madam Clerk, please open the vote. The vote is open.

Will everyone please vote?

The vote's closed. 15 yays, 0 nays. 15 yays, 0 nays. This item is accepted and filed.

That concludes our report.

Thank you, Chair Westmoreland. Moving on to transportation, the Honorable Alex Wan.

Madam President, we have no report. Thank you.

Astounding. Moving on to finance exec, that's the Honorable Jason Winston.

Thank you, Council President. We do have three items. The first item is a communication 26-C5052, communication from Donald T. Penovey, CPA chair, audit committee submitting the performance audit 26-3, ghost employees. The motion is to accept and file.

Motion to accept and file does not require second because it came out of committee. Favorably, Madam Clerk, please repay the vote.

The vote is open. Will everyone please vote?

Yes. Boone, how do you vote? 15 yays, zero nays. 15 yays, zero nays. This item is accepted and filed.

Thank you. That takes me to my second item, which is an ordinance for second reading, 26-01389. I'd like to make a motion to bring forth the substitute.

Motion to bring forth the substitute by Winston, second by Bakhtiari. Please bring, Madam Clerk, please prepare the vote. It has to be adopted after. No, it has to be adopted before we substitute. The vote is open. We have, Madam Clerk, we have to adopt first.

No, this is the third. This is the one that's.

Okay, so that's not this item, sure.

Okay. Let's move with what we were doing before. Oh, you know, Alex, I need you to stay right there, okay?

We got it, we got it. We're right here, so.

Will everyone please vote?

Who was it?

Too many cooks in the kitchen.

Get out of the kitchen.

Will everyone please vote? The vote is open. The vote is closed. 13 yays, 1 nay. The substitute is before us.

Thank you. So there is a new caption, so I will read that for 26-01389. A substitute ordinance by Finance Executive Committee as substituted by the Atlanta City Council to ratify services rendered in connection with Cooperative Purchasing Agreement. The agreement I'm going to list it. Amazon Web Services with CARA. Soft Technology Corporation from June 2nd through the execution of the first renewal option authorized herein to authorize the mayor or his designee to exercise the first option to renew the contract Amazon Web Services with Kara Soft Technology Corporation on behalf of the Department of Atlanta Information Management Watershed Management Department of Atlanta Information Management. I'm sorry aviation and the Atlanta Police Department for a period not to exceed one year effective June 2nd, 2026 through June 1st, 2027 in an amount not to exceed $1,756,723.66. All contracted work will be charged to and paid from the fund department organization listed herein. And for other purposes, I will make a motion to adopt as substituted.

Motion to adopt as substituted by Winston. Is there a second? Second by Juan. Madam Clerk, please prepare the vote.

The vote is open.

26 is ordered, 37, 44. Yep, ignore the screen. Yeah, we should be voting on... Yeah, that's...

This is correct. No. We should be voting on 26-0-1389. No.

Yeah. So, do you need me to recall the... Okay, so we should be working on 26-0-1389 and we brought forth that substitute. That's the caption he read in. No, and he actually read in the caption for 26-0-1389. but that one is next one moment

I know.

The vote is open. The vote is open for 26-0-1389.

Will everyone please vote? The vote's closed, 13 yays, one nay.

14 yays, one nay. 14 yays, one nay. This item is adopted as substituted.

All right. That takes me to my last item, which is a resolution 26-R-3744. A resolution by Councilmember Dustin Hillis authorizing the mayor or his designee on behalf of the city of Atlanta to enter into a special procurement agreement. Delta One Lounge to amend the airport use and lease agreement with Delta Airlines, Inc., Amendment number five for the development of new airline lounge premises on Concourse E and the reimbursement to Delta Airlines, Inc. in an amount not to exceed $62,997,000 for related enabling work for the lounge at Hartsfield Jackson Atlanta International Airport. All. Sorry. All not to exceed contracted work will be charged to and paid from account numbers listed herein and for other purposes. This item was forwarded with no recommendations, so I will make a motion to adopt.

That's correct. Motion to adopt by Winston, second by one. Madam Clerk, please repair the motion to adopt.

I will make a substitute. I'm sorry, a substitute. Now I'll make a motion to amend.

Okay. We don't vote on the adoption? Okay. Well, we'll amend.

Now I'll make a motion to amend.

Motion to amend by Winston.

To attach the IPRO report for those that don't know what the amendment is.

Second by Juan, and we are attaching the IPRO report.

Correct.

Okay. Is there any discussion? No. All right. Madam Clerk, please prepare the vote to amend.

The vote is open.

The vote is closed, 15 yays, 0 nays. 15 yays, 0 nays.

Now I'd like to make a motion to adopt as amended.

Motion to adopt as amended by Winston, second by Wan. Madam Clerk, please prepare the vote.

One moment. The vote is open.

The vote is open. Please vote.

The vote is closed. Council Member Collins, what is your vote?

Yay.

Yay?

Council Member Bond, how do you vote? Michael Julian, vote. He's an aye. And I made the motion.

One moment.

It's a little temperamental today. 14 yeas, one nay. 14 yeas, one nays. Item 26-RJ3744 is adopted as amended.

Thank you. That concludes my report.

Thank you, Chair Winston. Moving on to Committee on Council. That's the Honorable Byron Amos.

I'm sorry.

Uh-oh. Uh-oh.

I'd like to make a motion to send that last item post-haste to the mayor.

Motion to send 26-R, just 3744, to the mayor's office post-haste. Is there a second by one? This can be done by unanimous consent. Madam Clerk, please call the count of unanimous consent.

15 years, they're all names.

You sure about that? Yeah. I think it's 14. All right.

I promise that now concludes my report.

14 yeas, zero nays. This item is sent to the Mayor's office post-haste.

Norwood.

Thank you. The Honorable Amos. We're ready for committee on council.

Yes, Madam Council President. We have four items today. If there's no objection, I take items one through three as a block.

Please proceed.

Thank you. 26-C-5054. Communication from Mayor Andre Dickens reappointing Mr. Tony Martin to serve as a member of the Atlanta Housing Authority Board of Commissioners. This appointment is for a term of one year. 26-C-5055, a communication from Mayor Andre Dickens reappointing Ms. Rosalyn Elliott to serve as a member of the Atlanta Housing Authority Board of Commissioners. This appointment is for a term of one year. 26-C-5056, a communication from Mayor Andre Dickens appointing Ms. Nicole Moore to serve as a member of the Chattahoochee Brick Company Memorial Green Space Association. and Park Board. All these items come before the body favorable out of the Committee on Council and favorable out of the Committee of Purview. Recommendations is to approve.

The motion is by Amos to approve all three. It does not require a second. Madam Clerk, please prepare the vote.

The vote is open. Will everyone please vote? The vote's closed. 14 yeas.

14. I mean, 14 yeas, zero nays. 14 yeas, zero nays. Those items are adopted.

Thank you. Your last one is Resolution 26-R-3796, a resolution by Committee on Council authorizing the mayor to enter into an intergovernmental agreement with Fulton County Board of Elections to conduct a special election for the Atlanta Board of Education in conjunction with the general election on November 3rd, 2026. Such special election is for the purpose of determine the re-imposition or non-imposition of a 1% sales and use tax within Fulton County Board of Educational Purposes to appoint the Fulton County Board of Registration and elections with the director of the Fulton County Department of Registration and elections acting as its agent. As municipal elections superintendent for the purpose of conducting said election, as absentee ballot clerk and as municipal register and for other purposes, comes out of committee favorable, recommend this to adopt.

The motion is to adopt 26-R-3796. It's coming out favorable so that it does not require a second. Madam Clerk, please prepare the vote.

The vote is open. Will everyone please vote?

The vote's closed. 14 yays, 0 nays. 14 yays, 0 nays. This item is adopted.

Madam President, answer my report.

Oh, thank you. That brings us to personal papers. Isn't that something? We are already at personal papers. We do have an immediate consideration paper by Councilmember Dozier. You may present.

I'm sorry. Yeah, I stepped away for a minute. There's too much chitter.

All right. Thank you, colleagues. I do have one item for immediate consideration. The reason why we're doing this legislation for immediate consideration is that this is in support of one of our major faith institutions in the district. They're having their 101st National Convention of Churches of God Holiness Conclave later this year. or early next month before we were able to reconvene. And so this is a resolution, and this is ELMS number 40737, a resolution by council members Jason Dozier, Byron Amos, Ishe Collins, and Antonio Lewis authorizing to designate Pascal Boulevard Southwest from Martin Luther King Jr. Drive Southwest to Dr. Thomas W. Cole Jr. Way Southwest as honorary jc taylor senior drive in honor of bishop james c taylor senior to authorize the atlanta department of transportation to install an honorary street sign whereas street signs are installed and for other purposes whereas bishop james c taylor senior faithfully served the bethlehem church of god holiness as pastor for 25 years and served as president and general overseer of the National Convention of the Churches of God Holiness, overseeing 33 churches spanning from Atlanta, Georgia to California. His leadership provided spiritual guidance, organizational stability, and community development for decades. And whereas in addition to his ecclesiastical leadership, Bishop Taylor served his country honorably in the United States Army during the Korean conflict and was honorably discharged. His commitment to public service continued through his 25 years of service as president of the U.S. Postal Letter Carriers Union, where he advocated for workers and strengthened labor representation. He also served as pastor of five churches, including congregations in Adamsville, Georgia, and Royston, Georgia, contributing to more than 75 years of continued ministry. And whereas Bishop Taylor was a proud graduate of Booker T. Washington High School, further grounding his legacy in the city of Atlanta, His life's work reflects a rare convergence of faith leadership, military service, labor advocacy, and civic contribution. And whereas because of Bishop Taylor's enduring service and sacrifice, the city of Atlanta has tangibly and immeasurably impacted through strength in communities, mentor generations, and a legacy of leadership rooted in integrity, discipline, and service to others. An honorary street designation would serve as a lasting civic acknowledgement of these contributions. It would stand as a visible reminder of the values he embodied. And whereas the Atlanta Department of Transportation receives an application by the Bethlehem Church of God Holiness Atlanta headquarters for the honorary street name for Bishop Taylor. And whereas ATL DOJ has reviewed and evaluated the application and has determined that it has met all the requirements for an honorary street name change. And whereas the applicant understands and agrees that it will be responsible for all costs involved with design, fabrication, installation of the honorary street signs. Now, therefore, be it resolved by the Council of the City of Atlanta, Georgia, that Pasco Boulevard Southwest from Martin Luther King Jr. Drive to Southwest to Dr. Thomas W. Cole Jr. Way Southwest is hereby designated as Honorary J.C. Taylor Sr. Drive. Be it further resolved that the Atlanta Department of Transportation is authorized to design, fabricate, and install the Honorary Street Signs, also known as Street Sign Toppers, at the existing Pasco Boulevard Southwest from Martin Luther King Jr. Drive Southwest. to Dr. Thomas W. Cole Jr. Way Southwest with the street sign toppers identifying that section of Pasco Boulevard Southwest as Honorary J.C. Taylor Senior Drive. Be it finally resolved that the applicant shall be responsible for all costs involved with the design, fabrication, and installation of the honorary street signs. So, colleagues, I want to move approval, but I also want to clarify this is not a full street renaming, so we won't go through the typical public hearing process. This is an honorary designation, and I ask for your support.

Motion to adopt by Councilmember Dozier. Second by Martin. Is there any discussion? Councilmember Bond. Michael, Julie, and Bond.

Bond, Boone, want to add names? But I also wanted to comment, because I do a lot of these, why are we requiring them to pay for the toppers?

I will say that I think that was an agreement that made with the department. I did not make that request on my end, but that was when the conversation came up with ATO DOT. It was in the legislation that was drafted.

Is there any way we can do a quick amendment so that they will not have to pay for it? It's just a topper. It's about this long, and I think Bishop Taylor deserves that.

I welcome a friendly amendment in addition to adding those names. So to strike the portion requesting that they pay for the installation, I welcome that.

So move to amend.

Move to amend. And then also to add the names of Lewis, Martin, Boone, Worthy, and Bond. And just to reiterate, the amendment is to strike the... Hillis. And Hillis, to add Hillis. But the amendment is to strike the be it resolved clause that asks for the applicant to pay for the toppers. Okay. However that is written.

Did we get that full amendment? Okay. And second by Worthy. Well, wait a minute. It was second by Martin already. Oh, the amendment. The amendment second by Worthy. So move to adopt as amended. Okay. We should.

Vote on the amendment.

So we have a motion to amend by Dozier, second by Worthy. Please prepare the vote.

The vote is open.

Martin is a yes. Martin is a yes. Lewis, yes.

Hillis, how do you vote?

Yay.

Yay.

Lewis is a yes.

The vote is closed, 14 yays, 0 nays. 14 yays, 0 nays. The amendment is before us.

I move to adopt as amended.

Move to adopt as amended, second by Martin. Madam Clerk, please prepare the vote.

The vote is open. Will everyone please vote?

Martin is a yes.

Lewis is a yes.

The vote's closed, 14 yays, zero nays. 14 yays, zero nays. This resolution is adopted.

Thank you, colleagues. That concludes my legislation for introduction.

Okay, thank you. Now we are at personal papers to be referred. All right. Councilmember Lewis is ready to go.

That was definitely Alex One's fault. Councilmember One's fault. It shouldn't have been you. That's not what I said. Thank you, Council President. Elms 40741, a resolution by Councilmember Antonio Lewis requesting that the state of Georgia reimburse the city of Atlanta District 12 discretionary funds either through LMIG, ATODOT impact funds, general transportation impact funds, or general fund revenue for the repayment of Brownsville Road, a state-owned roadway, and requesting that such reimbursement be completed no later than the adjournment of the current Georgia General Assembly legislative session and for the purposes signed on by Councilmember Ishe Collins, Councilmember Matt Westmoreland, and Councilmember Michael Julian Bond.

40741 should be referred to transportation.

Elms 40739. A resolution by Councilmember Antonio Lewis, Councilmember Wayne Martin, Councilmember Andrea Boone, Councilmember Dustin Hillis, Councilmember Jason Winston, Councilmember Byron Amos, Councilmember Matt Westmoreland, Councilmember Ishe Collins, Councilmember Michael Julian Bond. ELMS 40739, a resolution requesting the Atlanta Department of Transportation, ATODOT, to conduct a comprehensive inventory of all unimproved, unpaved dirt, gravel, and rocky roads within Council District 1, 3, 9, 10, 11, and 12, evaluate their conditions, identify necessary infrastructure improvements, and provide recommendations for a strategic plan to address those roadways and for other purposes. Thank you, Council President.

40739 to be referred to transportation.

Thank you again, Madam President. That concludes my legislation.

Thank you. Council Member Hillis.

Thank you, Madam President. I have one item, ELMS 40664, an ordinance by Councilmember Dustin Hillis and Ishe Collins, authorizing the City of Atlanta to waive Chapter 2, Article 10, Division 7, section number listed in Chapter 2, Article 10, Division 4, section number listed of the Procurement and Real Estate Code of the City of Atlanta Municipal Code of Ordinances, as well as any other conflicting co-provisions to authorize the mayor or his designee Exercises renewal options for contract number listed on paved roads phase one group two with BRT you construction ink on behalf of the City of Atlanta Department transportation for a term of one year retroactively effective from May 23 2026 22nd 2027 and amount not to exceed two million eight hundred ninety three thousand two hundred seven dollars and sixty four cents all contractor work to be charged to and paid from the fund department organization and account numbers listed here and for other purposes I

40664 to refer to transportation. Thank you. Council Member Martin.

Madam President, thank you so much. I have one piece of legislation as a personal paper. IMS ID number 40676, an ordinance by Council Members Wayne Martin and Andrea Boone to ratify services rendered in connection with SS-S-1220283, Pioneer Technology Benchmark Maintenance and Support with Catalyst Courts and Land Records, LLC. from January 25th, 2025 through the execution of the third renewal option authorized herein to authorize the mayor or his designee to exercise the second and third options to renew SS-S-1220283, Pioneer Technology Benchmark Maintenance and Support on behalf of the Municipal Court of Atlanta. each for a period of one year, effective from January 25th, 2025 through January 24th, 2026, and January 25th, 2026 through January 24th, 2027, respectively, each in an amount not to exceed $300,050.00. All contracted work will be charged to and paid from the fund department organization and account numbers as determined by the chief financial officer and for other purposes.

40676 to be referred to Public Safety Legal Administration.

Thank you, Madam President.

Thank you, Council Member Winston.

All right.

Bear with me for the two long captions. First is Elms ID 40731, in ordinance by Council Member Jason H. Winston, authorizing a second supplemental amended and restated indenture of trust to ratify, reaffirm, and supplement that certain amended and restated indenture of trust dated as of November 1st, 2021, as previously amended relating to, and among other things, the city's tax allocation variable rate bonds, Westside Project Series 2001, the city's tax allocation variable rate bonds, Westside Project Series 2005A and Series 2005B, and the city's tax allocation variable rate bonds, Westside Project Series 2008 collectively, The bonds, which, among other things, authorize amendments which establish a long term rate for the series 2008 bonds, authorize the chief financial officer to accept the terms of the Wells Fargo Bank National Association term sheet with respect to establishing and resetting the long term rate for the series 2008 bonds and the mandatory tender date for the series 2008 bonds and execute all certificates and documents necessary to establish such long term rate. a mandatory tender date, and reaffirm Wells Fargo Bank National Association of Remarketing Agent with respect to the bonds in connection with such interest rate determination and for other related purposes.

40731 to be referred to finance exec.

Thank you. Elms ID 4736, a resolution by council members Jason H. Winston and Ishe Collins authorizing the mayor to execute on behalf of the city of Atlanta certain agreements on condition that the city of Atlanta is selected by the Democratic Party of the United States to host the 2028 Democratic National Convention, including an agreement between the city, Choose ATL Inc. and the 2028 Democratic National Convention Committee and intergovernmental agreement between the city and the Atlanta Fulton County Recreation Authority and an intergovernmental agreement between the city and the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority, MARTA, authorizing the mayor, chief financial officer and their authorized designees to enter into any necessary certificates, documents or agreement to agreements to effectuate any or any Any of the foregoing on conditions that the city is selected to host the convention and for other purposes.

40736 to be referred to finance exec.

Thank you.

All right, this is Elm's ID 40738, a resolution by council members Kelsey Bond, Liliana Bakhtiari, Jason Dozier, Antonia Lewis, Andrew Boone, Michael Bond, Matt Westmoreland, Ishe Collins, and Wayne Martin requesting that the city offices and departments establish a formal heat safety plan, explore the expansion of cooling center hours and availability across geographic areas, expand constituent outreach and education efforts, and establish a centralized city website with heat safety information and for other purposes.

40738 to be referred to CDHS. Council Member Wan.

Thank you, Madam President. Elms ID 40738. An ordinance by Councilmember Alex Juan supplementing that certain 39th Supplemental Bond Ordinance 260-1258 adopted by the Atlanta City Council on May 4th, 2026 and approved by the Mayor on May 8th, 2026 to, among other things, set forth the terms of the City of Atlanta's A, Airport General Revenue Bond Series 2026A, non-AMT, and B, Airport General Revenue Bond Series 2026B, AMT, within certain... PARAMETERS PREVIOUSLY ESTABLISHED BY THE CITY, INCLUDING THE ORIGINAL AGGREGATE PRINCIPAL AMOUNTS, INTEREST RATES, MATURITY DATES, REDEMPTION PROVISIONS AND DEBT SERVICE RESERVE REQUIREMENTS WITH RESPECT THERETO, TO FIRM SATISFACTION OF THE ADDITIONAL BONDS TEST WITH RESPECT TO THE SERIES 2026 BONDS, TO RATIFY CERTAIN PRIOR ACTIONS OF THE CITY COUNCIL AND CERTAIN OFFICERS AND AGENTS OF THE CITY WITH RESPECT TO THE ISSUANCE OF THE SERIES 2026 BONDS. to ratify and approve the preparation, use, and distribution of the preliminary official statement and execution and delivery of a final official statement in connection with the offer and sale of said Series 2026 bonds, to approve the execution of the bond purchase agreement and certain other agreements in connection with said Series 2026 bonds, to provide the incidental related actions, to provide an effective date, and for other related purposes.

40732 to be referred to Finance Exec.

Elms ID 40733, in ordinance by Councilmember Alex Wan, authorizing the Chief Financial Officer to amend the FY2027 budget by adding to anticipations and appropriations bond proceeds in the aggregate principal amount not to exceed blank for the series 2026 general airport revenue bonds to amend the funding for the contracts listed in Exhibit A and for other purposes.

40733 to be referred to Finance Exec.

All right, ELMS ID 40735, signed by all council members, a resolution by Alex Wan and other council members requesting the chief financial officer, in accordance with the mayor's office, the Department of Finance, and each administering department, submit an ongoing quarterly report to the Finance Executive Committee regarding expenditures from city trust funds, special revenue funds, other special purpose funds, and similar restricted funds that are subject to designated spending categories, percentage-based allocations, or other legally required expenditure guidelines, and for other purposes.

40735 to be referred to Finance Exec. Thank you. Council Member Westmoreland.

Thank you. ELMS 407030. Resolution by Westmoreland and Collins authorized the Mayor as designated on behalf of the City of Atlanta Department of Parks and Recreation to enter into a new Intergovernmental Agreement for joint use of facilities for recreational athletic and educational purposes between the Atlanta Independent School System and the City of Atlanta for the purpose of creating a cooperative relationship for the implementation of mutually beneficial initiatives that support APS students and the City's residents and for other purposes.

40730 to be referred to CDHS. Thank you. Thank you. Council Member Boone.

Yes. Madam President, ELMS ID number 40715, 40715, an ordinance by Council Member Andrea L. Boone to amend Chapter 10, Article 2, Division 2, Subdivision 1, Section 1048, entitled Application and Chapter 30, Article 2, Section 30-28, entitled Fees, Subdivision to increase the initial application fee for a liquor license to sell alcoholic beverages pursuant to a phased approach and for other purposes.

40715 to be referred to PSLA.

Thank you, Madam President.

Anyone else? Okay, seeing none, as we approach our general remarks, I have a remark, and then we'll hear from Boone. I just want to first congratulate everyone that finished the Peachtree Road Race. Congratulations. Y'all did amazing. I hope to cross that finish line next year. And y'all are inspiration.

So Council Member Boone. Yes, thank you, Madam President. I just want to take this opportunity to wish Councilmember Jason Dozier of District 4 a happy 43rd birthday. He has done great work. He has done great, great work, and we are looking forward to him doing greater and better things in his district serving the residents of District 4. Happy birthday, Councilmember Jason Dozier. And please get a Jason Dozier cupcake. We have Jason Dozier cupcakes to our right. Thank you.

Cupcake time. Also, you all, I do need to take a moment to talk about the fact that this is our only full council for the month of July. Council will be going on recess after next week's committee week. The rest of July will be recess for council. So this is our only council meeting for July. Our next speaker is Antonio Lewis. Council Member Lewis.

And thank you so much, Madam President. I wanted to invite everybody out to the third year anniversary of Hiking with Bank. It'll be hosted this Sunday, July 12th at 10 a.m. at Southside Park. Southside Park is the second largest park in the city of Atlanta, but it's one of the only. fully shaded one of two fully shaded preserves that you can actually actually hike so i want to invite everybody out to this to this job to this hiking with bank event three year anniversary but we've added a twist to it if you know me i'm always trying to help people so we've been able to actually add a job fair to this in which we have 1 000 jobs paying between 18 and 24 an hour and $18 and $24 an hour. And that's, don't worry about your background. Don't worry about anything. We're going to be with First Step Staff and hiking with Bank at Southside Park, 10 a.m. It's going to end at about 5 p.m. So it's going to be a hike to make sure your health is good. And then we're going to get people jobs. We're going to be hiring on the spot. The goal is to fill 1,000 jobs with two organizations that are both in District 12 by the end of July. So we're going to be getting people on. Thank you again.

Okay. Councilmember Boone, is that you again, or no? No? Councilmember Collins.

Yes. Also, I would like to invite everyone, before you go hiking with Councilmember Lewis, to stop by Coffee with Collins at Black Coffee on 1800 Jonesboro Road. It is Black Coffee Fest this month, and so we'll be there from 9 to 1030. You will see it posted on our social media platforms, so please, please join us for our second round of Coffee with Collins. On a more sad note, I do want to acknowledge and pay the respects to the Curry family on the loss of Nashana Curry, who was a business owner in the city, a District 7 resident in Atlanta who we lost last week over the holidays. Madam President, you had the opportunity to meet the Curry family, Brett Curry, and so the sister who has supported and been a silent supporter of many causes in the city, peacefully passed away. And so just wanting to uplift her family and our spirits as we celebrate an amazing but short life, well-lived. And last but not least, if I can, Madam President, just take a few moments to just put on the radar of everyone coming off of one of the remarks, but also what we talked about in committee on council is there is an ongoing conversation in terms of the public comment, how public comment is run through this city. And I know there was some misinformation that was shared by one of the speakers today, and I definitely wanted to clarify that. Let me make it very clear where we only had a small group present legislation for us to be considered, My colleagues and I felt it was extremely necessary for the entire community to be appeased to what legislation is being proposed to limit not only the public comment period, but the voice of the city. And so in reference to comments pertaining to possible what we did when I was chair of the school system side, in terms of what deferred time looks like, the order of our public comment and what our meetings look like. I want to make it very clear and dispel any misinformation that, yes, there are certain individuals that come here and utilize between no less than eight to ten minutes. And where they propose that we limit public comment to one hour, I felt it was necessary to say, well, if we have three to four people that normally comes, that takes up 40 to 50 minutes. So what about the other 10 minutes that will only be deferred to five people? So I encourage you guys to stay engaged with us and listen to our committee meetings, but also full council meetings as we dive into this extremely important conversation and be assured that we will make sure the community is informed in making sure that you continue to have a venue to come to us and share your thoughtful feedback. And it's feedback we want from everyone and not just select a few. Thank you so much, Madam President. I defer. Thanks. Thank you. Council Member Martin.

Yes, very briefly, I just want to thank Council Member Norwood for honoring the Atlanta History Center today.

Yes.

I mean. That is an institution in our city, and the reception was great. Thank you for the meatloaf. I love meatloaf.

The meatloaf. It was good.

On a serious note, I've learned so much from a child to now from that center, and for you to honor that and to highlight it in our city, I just wanted to say thank you as one of our senior council members. Thank you so much.

Council Member Westmoreland.

Thank you, Madam President. Since we will be on recess the last two weeks of this month, I just wanted to take a moment to acknowledge the city workers who have done just a fantastic job over the last two or three weeks. longer shifts than normal. And I was talking to the COO earlier today, and she remarked that the energy that all of us feel right now in Atlanta is beyond even what people felt during the Olympics. I'm too young to remember what it felt like during the Olympics. So somebody else in the room, like Alex Wong, will have to let me know. But I feel this energy, and it's just incredible. And so that would not be possible without city workers who are working so hard on behalf of residents and visitors.

So thank you all. Agreed. 100%. Let's go, USA. OK. And that was our last speaker. Anyone else? OK, hearing none, our next full council will be August the 3rd, right here, full council, 1 o'clock, August the 3rd.

And with that, Madam Clerk, please call the adjourning roll call. Thank you, Madam President. We have Council President Marcy Culler-Overstreet. Present. Council Member Michael Julian Bond, post 1 at large. Council Member Matt Westmoreland, post 2 at large. Here. Council Member Ishae Collins, post 3 at large. Present. Council Member Jason H. Winston, District 1. Here. Councilmember Kelsey Bond, District 2. Councilmember Byron D. Amos, District 3. Councilmember Jason Dozer, District 4. Councilmember Liliana Bakhtiari, District 5. Councilmember Alex Wan, District 6. Councilmember Thomas Worthy, District 7. Councilmember Mary Norwood, District 8. Councilmember Dustin Hillis, District 9. Yes. Councilmember Andrea L. Boone, District 10. Present. Councilmember Wayne Martin, District 11. So let's get it. Councilmember Antonia Lewis, District 12. Let's go, let's get it.

28, thank you. Thank you. And with that, we are adjourned.