City Council - Regular Meeting

You're joining us live from city hall here in the great city of South Walton. Introducing Mayor and Council, Mayor Khaled, Councilwoman Dr. Katherine Ralph, District 1. Councilwoman Carmeltha Gums, District 2. Councilwoman Helen Zenovia Willis, District 3. Councilman JC Sebastian, District 4. Councilwoman Kosha B. Bell, District 5, Councilwoman Natasha Williams Brown, District 6, Mayor Proim, Linda Becker Pritchette, District 7, Interim City Attorney Sarah Kelly, City Clerk Corey Adams, City Manager Sharon D. Subdan. Thank you for joining the City of Southton Council meeting, a city on the rise. Good afternoon everyone. I am Mayor Pro Tim Linda Pritchette and uh welcome to the 4:00 work session of our last council meeting for the year and happy holidays as well. Um Mr. Clerk, if you uh well, we're calling this meeting to order. If you would call the role.

Yes. Good afternoon, Madame Mayor, Protown, members of council, and the general public. This is the roll call for the December 9th city council work session. The honorable Katherine F. Riyle, District 1. Present. The Honorable Carmelita Gums, District 2. Present. The Honorable Helen Z. Willis, District 3. Present. The honorable JC Sebastian. District 4. Here. The Honorable Kiosa B. Bell. District 5. Present. The Honorable Natasha Williams Brown. District 6 will be um arriving a little bit later. And the Honorable Linda B. Pritchette, District 7. Mayor Proim.

Here. Madam Pro Tim, you have a quorum. Thank you very much. And uh if you would please call the first item. First item is the city manager monthly report by our city manager Sharon D. Suban. City manager will be inclusive of introduction of new employees and the city manager's monthly report.

Good afternoon mayor prom and council. Um, as is customary, the city manager's report was submitted to you um through the agenda process and is available on our website. And I am subject to any questions you have before I bring on um we have a few new employees that we would like to introduce to you today. Is everyone logged in? Okay. Well, um, Councilwoman Gums, thank you, Mayor Pro Tim. So, I received a text message from a resident in reference to the lifeline for Fulton County. Um, the police. Are you familiar with that? It's about for animal control. Okay. Um the question says uh with the Fulton County plan to ensure that the tiered emergency response system for animal control addresses residents concerns effectively that switch from the Fulton County police especially for high priority emergency situations. often seen in our city for within 24 hours is not uh sufficient as far as you know their response times because as you heard I don't know if well if you are familiar it is very hard to get them out for um animals that are loose and uh their response time has been really low. Is there any way that we can ensure that a better response time will be provided to the residents here in the city of South? It seems like everybody loses their dog every week if you check on Next Door. Um, and some of them could be a little scary um and vicious looking. So, any thoughts around that? So, the most recent I've learned is

they've transitioned animal services to Fulton County Police and a part of that my understanding was to improve and streamline response times. So what I can do is circle back with them and perhaps even have them come and speak at one of these work sessions regarding because it is an ongoing problem and we do pay a lot to Fulton County for the for animal control. So it might be an opportunity for you all to hear from them directly in an upcoming work session maybe in the first quarter. I definitely think that would be a great thing at least, you know, teaching people how to respond uh who to call because a lot of them called the council members as well um when they could be calling u the Fulton County police now and they and they will be South Fulton police will be responding to Fulton County police. Fton County.

Okay. Thank you. Councilwoman Willis,

I definitely think we need to have a work session on how that will work because our dispatch, I mean, our jurisdiction is South Fton PD. I don't even know if South if Fton County PD is on our channel as it relates to dispatch. And so we we we need to have an understanding of how that works. Is Fton County Pedia on our channel? They're not on our channel. So they're they're going to use the same remember we all dispatch out of Fulton County um 911 and so my understanding is there is a way for us to do a mutual aid channel but when they get the call if a call goes in then it would go directly to the um the animal control or would directly go to um to their non-emergency number would go to Fulton County PD. That's my understanding of it.

Yes. But but so Fulton County dispatches for several municipalities. Um, but that doesn't necessarily mean that like if I call 911, you I'm just confused on how how that's going to work and how that's going to delay how that's going to mitigate the response time, the lengthy response time that's currently in play. Secondly, you know, Council Member Mary Elect, um you and I, um had a meeting a couple of months ago with Grady and um as it relates to ambulance response times, which is on an average of um 18 to 20 minutes. And one of the compromises for me to not be vocal about that was for um Chief um Jones to work with Grady to come back with a recommendation on how we um work with Grady to help decrease that time. And they were supposed to come back to us with a recommendation um within 90 days from the meeting. It's been over 90 days and I know we've had a lot going on, but I would ask that we reconvene internally and then asked for a work session to be done um before this council. Um cuz what ideally should have probably happened is we would have addressed some of the what was being proposed in our budget. So, I don't know if we're going to have to do an amended budget to do what was proposed, but I saw another incident where um in another municipality that um someone lost their life and one

of the things that came up was response time. And um Grady is our service provider for this region. And so um I just want us to go ahead and do what we said we needed to do to make sure that we reduce our response time as it relates to ambulance services. Thank you. I yield.

So a couple things have happened since. Um, Chief Chad is now a part of the area board and so is is integral in the oversight. Um, Grady has increased their allocation to us and they've also agreed and are providing monthly statistics to us so that we have the data because if you remember going into it, one of the challenges was we didn't have data to give good good information back. So I think we are in a good position to reconvene, look at how it is improved and then determine what if anything needs to happen next. And so one of the things that was a challenge is that you had two sets of data. You had their data and then you had Pton County data because um Brady didn't have access to the CAD. Um, so I just hope that that part was figured out and we have we need to reconvene internally and then come before the council. All right. Thank you,

Councilman Sebastian. Thank you, Madam Chair. Madame City Manager, just a couple of quick questions. Um, thank you for the report. this um resiliency planning grant. Uh is there a latest update on that one? Cuz I know we are due to get something back in October.

Um I saw another NOA come out which you sent it to us and somebody else sent it. So um we continue to update and reapply. We haven't gotten anything back. Of course, the government was closed for a period as well, but I can get Anisha to give me the latest update on that for you. Okay. And um did you send the latest schematic for the city of community building? I know we had talked about it before, but I don't know if there's an updated one. There's an there's an updated one. I asked them to make one tweak for it, and I should have that to you by the end of the week. Okay. Then we're going to look to plan the next community meeting. Yes.

Right. Okay, I think that's all I have. Thank you.

That's it. Anyone else? Okay. Um, Mr. Clerk, next item, please. That brings us to our presentations for this evening. Uh, we have a presentation u regarding the convention and visitors bureau uh new model be presented by Miss Mercedes Miller. Good evening.

Thank you all for giving us the opportunity to present. I'm going to introduce myself and then I'm going to introduce my partner in crime and then we'll move forward with the presentation. Uh, as many of you know, I am Mercedes Miller. I'm a native of Atlanta. I have lived on the south side my entire life. Um, my first apartment was actually in Biscane on Old National Highway, so I know what Old National can be. Um, I have worked in the hospitality industry for 38 years. I worked at the Waverly Hotel up at Cobb Galleria. I opened the Renaissance Hotel here at the airport. I was part of their opening team. I went to the convention center in 1994 and I started as a marketing analyst and I worked my way up to the executive director. I served as the executive director for 14 years. I also built I was part of the move because we moved from Sullivan Road over to Kemp Creek. Um, so I moved up from marketing analyst to sales manager. I left for a while to work for the Atlanta Convention and Visitors Bureau as a sales manager, but I was still selling the south side of town. The convention center asked me to come back, so I came back as the director of sales. I was the assistant uh executive director, then became the executive director. Then I built the arena that is that opened in 2019. Um, I was responsible for going to get the dream because I believe that when you want something, you should ask for it. So, I went to the dream and said, "They don't want you downtown and I want you here at the airport." So, they made a home in the arena. I worked for city of College Park for 30 years. I did a small stint of 18 months as their interim city manager to get them go through COVID. I retired last year after 30 years and I took the job as the president of the CVB. I was on the team for the CVB that created College Park CV CVB. I have always also been the chairperson for the CVB I think four times um in the 11 years that it's been in existence. So

that's me and all that I am. I will bring up my partner and let her tell you who she is. Thank you.

Hello everyone. Uh thank you for letting us be here today. My name is Andrea Town and I am the chief marketing officer for the ATL airport district. Um I have lived on the southside since I've lived in Atlanta in 99. I actually live in East Point. Um have worked in College Park. Uh I worked with Mercedes uh starting in 2006 at the uh Georgia International Convention Center and handled all the PR and marketing for that facility. Um, and then along with her, uh, wrote the business plan for the new convention and visitors bureau that started in, I guess, 2013. Um, so I was actually the second employee of the organization and I'm excited to be here. Um, prior to being on the south side of Atlanta, I was an event producer. So, I used to work uh, I don't, you may have been familiar with On the Bricks concert series. Um, I've done those in several cities. uh my previous work before that was all around event production and sponsorship marketing. So that's kind of a brief history and we're grateful to be here today.

Thank you at um now we can start with the presentation. Okay. The first thing is our mission. The mission of the ATR airport district is to generate economic development for the cities of right currently College Park, Fairburn, Hateville, and Union City by effectively marketing the community as a preferred tourism, convention, and meetings destination. Our vision is to be the most accessible customerfocused destination in the United States for conventions, meetings, events, and tourism. The ATL airport district convention and visitors bureau is a 501c6 organization funded by visitors hotel motel tax. Next slide. This is one of our videos that we use for uh sales as we go out to all the trips and we send it to our customers.

And we're down in three, two, one.

Let us be the first to welcome you to your most successful event yet. the one you'll host in the ATL airport district, the best connected spot in the country, where your attendees will touch down at Atlanta's legendary airport. Hop on the free train right from the terminal and zip on over to Gateway Center campus, home of Metro Atlanta's second largest convention center, where the GICC's exceptional spaces, services, and amenities are all on your level. and where our hotels offer memorable function spaces for groups of every size. This is the event they'll go home talking about. They'll say they didn't expect to have so many name brand hotels to choose from. They'll brag about the unprecedented convenience, the southern soul food, the worldass international dining, and the exciting group outings they were able to experience while in town for your event. All right here in the district, just 15 minutes from everything downtown Atlanta has to offer. And they'll all want to know, same time next year. Wheels down meetup in the ATL airport district. Thank you. A um our primary focus is to tell the city of is to tell the city of South Fton story. We want to tell your story when it comes to hospitality and tourism. We're going to do that by having a tourism brand strategy. We're going to do a tourism micro site. We are going to do that through social media integration and we're going to do that through through advertising and inclusion. Um, we do a lot of advertising on social media. Not only do we have just freestanding social media, but we also buy ads on social media because the more people see, the more people want to do. And for us, it is our job to tell your hospitality story. You all have a lot of things to offer. I

won't say you all, I say we. Because I'm a part of this city. We have a lot of great amenities to offer and we want to be able to tell people about it. Next. Okay. Our proposed scope of work, we want to do a collateral development. So some of the things you would see is like the video that we've done. We would incorporate you all. We wouldn't just take you and put you on the back of the video. We would create an entire new video so that you're a part of the district. You are not a tag along. You are an addition to so everybody becomes important. We highlight everyone when it comes to our proposed uh scope of work. We want to highlight the venues and event marketing that you have like the tennis center, the Wolf Creek Golf Course, and the amphitheater. You're one of the few cities we have that have a 18hole golf course or that has an amphitheater or performing arts place. And also the tennis center is amazing to me because we do go out and solicit at the sports marketing shows. Next, okay, let's talk numbers. Um, the one thing way that we can tell we're effective is by our economic impact. overall sales leads and this is from July to November we have had over 380 sales leads. So overall in definite room nights we've had 29,386 room nights. Well we have a calculation from destination international that calculates the overall economic impact. Our economic impact from July to November has been 57,488 $488973. That's what matters to me is what impact we are putting in your cities. Putting heads in beds is how we recoup your money. When we give when you all give us your tax dollars, part of us having your

tax dollars is that you have the tourist product development money and that gives you more money to do more in the cities as far as parks and doing brick and mortar buildings, giving us more things to sell. So, it benefits us to sell more rooms and it benefits you as well because you get to make major improvements in the city. Next, sales reports. Some of our larger groups that we deal with, we have booked over 34 programs with Delta Airlines u with a total room night of 8,272. And I know you all can see the economic impact that we have made with them. We do full stream Ignite 2728 and they've had over almost 3,000 rooms with over $2 million in economic impact. Southern volleyball tournament. We have two programs a year. They book over 24,427 rooms with a $4 million economic impact. Varsity cheerleaders. I know you all see the cheerleaders at the restaurants and moving around the city where those cheerleaders have an economic impact of almost $3 million. Um, we also have bet group and we do the CRU publishing which has an economic impact of about $1.6 million. So whenever your group goes through us and we help them book their rooms, we can tell them what their economic impact is to your city based on the number of rooms that they pick up. Okay. Next at Okay. Some of the marketing that we do. This is marketing that we've done for some of the other cities. Um we will create the the the marketing for hospitality. We work with your communications department because we're not trying to take over the branding of the city. What we want to brand is the hospitality end of the city. So if you all tell us you're having a Junth, you want us to get it out, we can use the branding that communications use, we work with the communications department and all of our cities. We work with recreation, we work with communications

so that when we're sending out a message, we're both sending out we're sending out a message that it that it that goes along with what the city sending out because I don't want to send out one message and the city is trying to portray another message. So we work closely with your staff. So these are some of the branding items that we have sent out for event marketing. Next. Okay. Strategic priorities um for South Fulton. Some of the strategic priority is to attract regional and national events, to expand your digital and social media presence, develop local tourism assets and partnerships, and to promote Wolf Creek and the tennis events and also the golf course and all the different amenities that you have here in the city that are hidden gems. Um, we want to be able to tell the story and tell people what we have here in South Fton because a lot of times we just don't know. So, we want to be able to sell that. Next. Okay. Data benefit. Something that we do every month on the 7th of every month. Uh, however the city manager wants to do it. Most of our cities, we send the mayor and council a month in every month. It gives them the trends of what's going on in the industry, the trends of what's going on in the airport, how the other countries are traveling, what people are saying about traveling to Atlanta, how many people are coming through the airport. It's important to know how your dollars are being spent. And the way that I can show you is through is through numbers. I like hard numbers. I'm a number cruncher. I majored in accounting. So I think numbers make the difference. And I think showing you the data would give you an idea of how well we're doing. I we also put out a star report. If you see this report, it gives you the occupancies from last year, gives you the occupancies for this year, and it also gives you the rates that the hotels are selling those rooms in. So you we can compare how do you sail up against a Hateville or how do you sail up against a Fairburn? How does our area sell up

against a Chicago? Because we always have to look at feeder cities in our main competition to see how we compare to them. Next slide. Okay. Um before we go there, one of the things that I think that the the gain for South Fton is you have a broader exposure under a recognized airport area brand. You have access to a stronger pipeline of meetings, sports and tours aligned with airport uh logistics. You have better support for attracting hotels, retail. This is how it helps in economic development. Whenever any of my other cities are going to do economic development, they come the they are good at coming to the hotel people. They want to know how many people do you have coming in the city. How many hotels rooms do how many hotel rooms do you have? Because that determines whether people want to put a hotel or they want to put a shopping center based on the number of beds that you can put in the bed. So that's how it will help us all economically. And then the use of tax revenues, it's a more efficient use of hotel motel tax related to funds through a shared uh staff. If you look at each one of my cities, they can stand alone, but they're more productive standing together. It's kind of like the airropolis. We're better together. We have a better story together. If you look at downtown, downtown covers Atlanta, it covers Midtown. It covers Buckhead. It covers an array of areas. The Atlanta Convention and Visitors Bureau, we work in partnership with them, but they don't use their funds out here because their hotel motel tax don't go to the ACVB. ACVB. So they'll send they'll send us leads, but they won't send the individual hotel lead because the hotels don't provide them with their tax dollars. Okay. And it also gives us a regional position. It gives us a clear role inside the Southside Airropolis strategy boosting visibility and also partnership. I put up a picture of my

staff because I have a very diverse staff. I wanted you all to see all the boards that the staff sit on. We have won several awards. One of the awards was the convention south readers choice award and the smart meetings award. We are certified and accredited by destination international and the Georgia association of convention and visitors bureaus. So they've we've done a great job at becoming the one to follow in the industry. We're not in ACVB, but we're right up under them. So we're not the largest. We're right there in the middle, but we're heading their way. I encourage you all to follow us on social media. We keep everybody up on what's going on. If there's a new restaurant, we want to highlight the restaurant. If there's a new hotel, if there's anything going on in your cities, we want to be able to tell the story. Thank you all very much for giving us the opportunity to present. I also have attached, I think it's on the back, I had some uh frequently asked questions because I knew there would be questions. Um I do have my answers. if you will, we'll give you an opportunity to look over them. And city manager, do we take questions from here? Okay. Are there any questions, please?

Councilwoman Gomes, Miss Miller, thank you for that presentation. I do have a few questions. Um, my first question is what Well, this might be for the city manager. We currently have a city of South Fton CV CVB um board. Um what would that process look like if we move in this direction? Will we have two or can you share u what that process will look like? Yes. No, we would not have two. um the DMO, the destination to destination marketing organization. I always have difficulty getting that out. Uh would revert to the um airport area CVB. We would have an agreement with them. Um I've learned that we don't have an agreement with the existing um DMO that we were able to find. And so this would give us an opportunity to this is the direction that the council wants to go in is to establish an agreement, have deliverables, and be able to hold them accountable.

Thank you. Um, another question I didn't see and I may have overlooked it in your question and answers appointees um to this board. Um, like what will representation look like for the city of South Fton?

Um, each individual city gets to have a place on the board. Um, as you get more hotels then it will go up but you do have a place on the board and you have a voice on the board. Most of our board members um few of our cities use citizens. Some you some have council people, but most of our board members are industry people. They're hotel people. They're audiovisisual people. We have the guy with the state board for food and beverage. So, we try to get professionals that are in this industry because we have to make a lot of tourism um decisions and we want people that are familiar with the industry, but everybody is invited to our meeting. Our our meeting is open to the public. So looking at our size of the city, I mean, so you said every city has one appointment.

Every city has one with the exception of College Park. The reason that College Park has five is because there that was where the CVB started and as part of their agreement, they had one for every ward. College Park has 37 hotels. So that was part of their agreement. So every city after that has one person on the board. Understood. So in the agreement, will you be able to I guess with city manager um I guess come up with a number for representation for the city and does that you said that's uh usually stakeholders in the community not okay

it can be whoever you all choose whoever you choose if even if they don't know hospitality we'll educate them to the point and pull them in um because when you appoint somebody to the board they don't have to be voted in they're because they're appointed and not voted in members. Okay, I think we probably need to formalize that process. Um, and then my last question, um, with South Fton, of course, the uniqueness of it being a fairly new city, um, limited hotels, so marketing will look completely different probably how you market other cities. Is there a different plan that you um are planning to use for South Fulton um, in that aspect? Well, the difference between South Fton and the other cities that only have limited service hotels is that you all have space. Um, you all have several spaces that you can meet in your area and the other cities don't have those spaces to meet. So, that makes you more viable for a lot a lot of what we call Smurf, which is social, military, education, fraternal market. So that makes you all more um I guess more amanable or more attractive to those type of groups. And a lot of those type of groups, a lot of the family unions we have not been able to take because um one of my big cities won't let us use their park. They don't lease their parks to people outside of the cities. And you all have beautiful parks and beautiful facilities. So I think that's where we can highlight the things that we can do here in this city.

Thank you. Councilwoman Willis. Thank you. Um, so I'm more of a money person and I know that um you all would get our share of the well most of our local most of our um hotel motel tax. Correct. Um I don't think it's most of it. I

What share of the hotel motel tax does CVB get? I know the dollar amount. Let me text um um Alia real quick and I can give you the percentage, but a portion of it goes to the CVB hotel tax, a portion goes to the DMO, portion goes to the general fund, and a portion goes to our um charts commission. But I'll get the exact percentage for you in a second. So the percentage that our current CBB role I mean board gets will go to this uh cohort if we decide to go this route. So my question would be how often will we get the financial reports? How often will we know what the money was used for? Um how it benefited our Fulton. Um, again, we have several events that need to be marketed uh that bring um trade and tourism into our city. Uh, I would like to see more marketing around Wolf Creek concerts. People travel from all over to attend our um concerts in our city and I don't see enough marketing around that. Um, we have had several affluent tennis uh the historical black college tennis tournament. We have had um one we've had two of those and I don't see a lot of marketing around that. um we have cultural events and I don't see a lot of marketing around that and people travel into our city for several of our events and so I guess my question I've been on here for eight years and this was my

legislation um CVB and I have consistently asked for the market I mean the accounting as it relates we you know we you get a portion of our hotel motel tax and I have yet to see the revenues, the expenses or how the hotel motel back tax is working in our favor. The I appreciate the analysis that you gave. Um I've never seen anyone present in such a sophisticated way because that's what I will want to see. Um, and so I'll yield for you to respond to how often will we get the financials around our hotel motel tax that's being uh that goes into CBB.

Okay. Um, again once a month on the 7th of every month you get a report and that report will tell you where our marketing went, how our marketing is doing, what's going on with our website, what's going on with your social media. So, that's part of the report that we send out. Uh, side note, I'm very excited about the H.B.CU uh tennis because we have MIA swag that we that we do for football. We have the uh swag for basketball and now we have the and we do the H.B.CU basketball and now we have H.B.CU tennis. So, I think it's all in the right place. But on um going back to your numbers, we try to present to to uh to council twice a year. Uh, I like to come to council where I work with your city manager. I probably talk to my city managers or the staff more than anyone because I need to know when you're working on your budget, what's your priorities? Because I can put out as much money as much information as you give me. The the big thing is for the way the city communicates with me is how we would get the information out. If I work at your communications department and everything that they do, they're sending us when they send it to us, we're pushing it out. And I want it pushed out so you all can see it because it does make sense because when you see it, I want you to be able to share it. Um, but we give on our report every month, we tell you who we touched, how we touched them, what's going on with our site, whether our numbers are going up and down. So I try to do a touch point every month. Um, so you won't wonder from January to July where your money going. You should be able to look at my monthly report and see how your money is being used. and then I recap it when I come back every six months.

I also have a question around the um the info commercials that I have seen around um on TV. I've seen College Park commercial highlighting College Park, East Point. Are you all doing that? Well, we were working on a commercial at one time. Uh commercials are very expensive and we don't want to do any during FIFA because FIFA's commercials are going to be outrageous. Um but we are working on some type of video that we can show during the basketball games, during the football games and move into TV because we have not done much TV ads.

What I have seen recently is commercials highlighting um the cities and and some of their green space, some of their I' I've seen it and it's been recent. I think it's East Point.

I've seen East Point. I've seen College Park. I just we Hateville. It's just that we don't have anything like that. Um the other thing is it's great that you talked to the city manager. She's responsible for our daily operations, but we are responsible for giving her the money to effectuate our policies. And so I would love for you to make sure that you are presenting to this council twice a year so that we have an idea of what's going on. And I don't want the reports buried into her monthly manager report. um that's great that you would give us a report, but we do need this type of transparency. Um not only with this board, but Miss City Manager, all of our boards um if we decide to go this route. I also would like to say that this is not a we're not um we're not being critical of the current board. Um, I don't want any any but we we have to do things um differently. We heard our residents during this election cycle as it relates to transparency on how we spend our money and how they want us to make sure that we're improving our image and all of this is a part of that. And so um so we have to step it up and so we have to look at every aspect of what we're doing. Um, and so that's what I want to say. This is not to say what is going on is not hasn't worked for us. We just want to take things in my opinion to another level. Um, and I just want to make sure that we don't get also lost in the with other cities because if we do join this this collaboration, I still want us to make sure that we

have um a sense of independence um in highlighting our city. I did have an answer on the um percentage. It's 43.75% of our total um hotel motel that goes to the CVB currently. Um for fiscal 25, our unodudited number was 368,000. So that's an annual number. They get 368,000 and that was just based off of one hotel. Correct. I mean because the other two just came online this year.

No, no, no. So we get hotel motel from Airbnbs and oh and vacation rentals and we exped the three fail fields as well as VR VRBO. Okay. So what I will say to you is that uh that $300 and something dollars that we're getting annually probably is going to increase because we brought two more hotels online. Um, I have not seen not one financial uh, Councilwoman Willis. Right. This is I'll come back. Okay. Uh, Councilman Sebastian.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Uh, thank you for your presentation. Uh, Miss Miller. Um, I have a question around data. Are you currently tracking any data around social media engagement? Social media engagement. Yes. You can answer.

Uh absolutely. We track um several numbers and this will be provided in monthly reporting as well. So we talk about our overall metrics related to engagement um organic traffic uh advertising all that sort of thing. So the short answer is yes. Um on a district level um we also do in uh individual event um you it's usually events and I know you all have a lot of wonderful events that happen. We have individual marketing plans for every event we do with the city. So we don't usually submit all of that granular data. We can but um and we have it and we collect it but um we can get granular on specific events around like if we did advertising around concerts or whatever. So we have the ability to report deeper but we do collect and report every month on the overall metrics for the district and then we can get very granular with you all if you would like that. Okay.

It's a lot of data. My um my other question is along the same line as um council member Willis. I understand how the money goes into from the funds collected from the hotel motel tax. What I am not clear on is how are we going to pay for the service? I I'm not quite clear on that because is it just that all of that fund go to y'all and that's what pays for all of the services or is some of that money sitting there in a in an account and which belongs to the CVB and you guys are funded out of that a certain portion for the work and whether it's down the road that there's some change happen or whatever there's still a fund there that sits that belongs to the CVB or is everything going for y'all to y'all for the services period?

Um everything that goes to us is for the services. Now, as far as the accounting for the um CVB, the the CVB does have a reserve. They have a most of their reserve came from uh COVID because during COVID nobody was advertising. So, a lot of their reserve is sitting there. But we don't operate out of that money. We only operate out of the monies that we take in every year. So currently our budget runs about I think almost $3.9 million. Um that's how much we collect from all the cities. Those monies cover all the trips, all the for the salespeople. It covers all the shows. It covers any advertisement that we do for you all. Anything with that we do the staff that that is covered under those funds. So I'm supposing at some point in time we'll have we'll have it structured and budgeted in a way so that we know can we do more if we request more as a city or have we hit our limit because what you have in funding can only go thus far. Um, usually what we do is once we because we can't do our budget until the cities do their budget because we have to know how much you are forecasting to give us in order to do our budget. Once we get have our budget done, we send it out to all the cities. Um, our budget is open air. So, we come in and we discuss this is what we're doing with the money. this is how it's going to be spent because there are we have PR firms, we have designers, there's a whole lot of staff that works behind us that don't work in the office. Um, but those covers those fees, but we do put out we have a budget that we put out. We have to operate off out of our budget. If something is going to go over my budget, I'll tell the the cities, I can't do it out of this budget. Let me go back talk to my finance person, see if we can move something around. if it's something special, if it's a big year,

this year, the the year of FIFA, we're gonna we're going to be spending um more money than usual because we want to try to do something for FIFA in each one of the cities. So, for instance, when the Air Tropolis had the watch party last Friday, we were one of the sponsors for for that event. So what we're trying to do is partner with Air Tropolis so we can reach more of the area, more of the South Fulton area because a lot of people on the southside just don't know what's going on with FIFA. And I encourage you all to go to our website. We have a page on our website that's just for FIFA and we get information directly from the Atlanta Convention and Visitors Bureau who book FIFA. So we have a meeting with them. I think it's once a quarter or it's or once once a month. So every everything they give us from that meeting, we put it on our site so that all of our partners can go to that site. You know where to volunteer, if you're going to do a watch party, how much it's going to cost, if you're going to do a watch party outside, what what kind of licensing you have to do. So what we're hoping is within the next third pro probably three months, we'll have a program as to what we're going to do with all our cities when it comes to FIFA because we want everybody to be included.

Okay. Thank you. That's all those are all the questions I have. Councilwoman Ralph,

uh, thank you for your presentation. Um, one of the things we talked about was, you know, some of the events we have in our more on our recreational side, but although we are a young city, we tend to operate siloed a bit. And what I'm thinking of in particular is the Southwest Arts Center um and the partnerships we have there that we can also be promoting and also tying it to hotel night. So if we're talking about True Colors and we just entered into a new relationship with Dad's garage and so we'll have more theater productions coming at Swag. I don't know if you know but we just renovated that facility. I know the facility. I haven't seen it but I do know they renovated.

It's beautiful and so we want to capitalize on that. So, I guess this is a question for staff. How do we make sure that we don't silo the information? Because one of the things I I think that we miss out on is between the events we're attempting to have the various departments and then even this partnership could result in some new events. Um, I'm I'm really excited to hear that y'all are plugged in with FIFA in a way that we haven't been. I mean, I went to a couple of meetings that the city of Atlanta hosted for elected officials, but of course, that needs to be ongoing conversation. So, I'm excited to hear that y'all are working very closely with the Atlanta Convention of Visitors Bureau so that we make sure we capitalize in South Foot on that. um h how how do we make sure that's happening because that's an area we're just in my opinion we're not doing well in. We do way too much in events and we need to scale them to make them make sense. I also think about the zuka festivals. We continue to try to grow that event. How do we make sure that we're tied in and promoting the hotel nights? All of those things. Do you have any thoughts around that? And and it might not be you. might be, you know, our deputy because I know he's working on events.

So, I think all of those represent opportunities that we miss. That's part of the reason I asked Mercedes to come and present in this space. Um, because she has an expertise that we have not been able to leverage. Um, in terms of the accounting, I can certainly send that information out just to give you an idea of how our collections look year-over-year. Um and you know there there is the opportunity for us to do tourism product development which is part of the um the CVB um hotel and motel rather requirements and that may be an opportunity for us. So to answer ALS, so hopefully that answers, you know, I think there are opportunities here if we start to collaborate better and um work kind of work with the experts on growing some of our and collaborating with some of our events. And just one follow-up question, um again, this is a new potential partnership. Is this something you're thinking to start off with, you know, three years? Like what are you envisioning? I kind of read through what it would take to kind of get this thing going. Would we do it for maybe a few years, evaluate how it's working for the city and determine how we move forward in the future or what are some of your thoughts?

That would be my thought. you know, we start with an agreement, maybe a three-year agreement, um, and evaluate every year to see how we feel like it's working for us. And maybe that develops into a longer term, um, agreement arrangement. After year over year, we see that it's working and is expanding our reach, bringing in more visitors, giving us more opportunity, and as we bring more hotels online, you know, that also represents more opportunity as well.

Um, yeah, that's that's very helpful. and and and Miss you you didn't say this, but I assume this is the case that you're also looking at all those platforms that we talked about in terms of vacation rentals and Airbnbs. You're collecting all that information for our city as well. You would be doing that. That that information is collected from the city manager. Um they get a report every month that gives them that information. that information. I have information about the data about the general uh Airbnbs and whether they're going up, going down, how they're using them, but the specific information about your city goes to the city manager.

Okay. Which is why you have to be in communication in terms of looking at all that. Okay. I don't have any further questions. Thank you.

Thank you, Councilwoman Willis. So before I assume that this is because I'm assuming that you're not getting information because the information is not coming to this council. Are you getting any type of financial data from our CBB board on what is being spent, what is being done, you know, how the hotel motel tax is benefiting or this type of the type of report that was um given to us. Are you getting anything like that? Because we're not getting it. So, I'm assuming it's not coming to you.

I'm not getting it. I don't know if Mark, are you getting anything? Yeah. No.

So, not trying to admonish anybody, but you know, that's not right. Right. We get we $300,000 a year and we don't get any type of reporting on what's being done. So, um, as a council person, as a resident, as a taxpaying resident, I would love to see more transparency around that. And I'm not I'm not um coming down on anybody. I'm just saying that's just not right. if I if I if I have $300,000 coming out of my coffers and it is my money because I'm a taxpayer um I want to know where my money is going and what is what's happening with it. So, um, and I don't I do agree. I don't anticipate this type of robust reporting, but something something, you know, that would give us an idea if we give you all $300,000 a year, how that money is going to be spent, and what we anticipate, how you anticipate on spending that money, and what's our return on investment. The last thing I would say is I'm very very uncomfortable with us being the largest city in the region. Um 115,000 residents. Although we only have three hotels, we anticipate plenty more coming on. I'm very uncomfortable with with us having one board appointment. Now, I'm not saying we need to have seven. I'm not saying we need to have eight, but just because of our size alone and just because the anticipated growth, I do think we need to have um more than one. Um maybe starting off with two or three minimum.

I can negotiate that with the city.

And then lastly, um I do think it needs to be someone I don't want somebody learning on a job. You know, we are a major city. you're getting $300,000. That may not be a lot in comparison to other cities who have 35 hotels, but that's a lot to me. Um, I do think we need to have someone with industry hospitality experience. Um, and so I would like to and I I think that criteria may have already will we have to revise our legislation if we decide to go this route? I'm not sure if it's legislation, but we would have to have an agreement and that agreement would spell out a lot of things that you're you're bringing up in terms of reporting. Part of the challenge we have now, I hear what you're saying is we don't have an agreement to hold our current CBB accountable to to say you're supposed to provide these reports and this is when you're supposed to provide them because we don't have an agreement.

Okay. Thank you. Um, so we're responsible for the ordinances and you all are responsible for the effectuation and making sure and legal and making sure those agreements exist once we pass our ordinance. So, um I would say that that needs to happen and what needs to be spelled out in that agreement is I would like I would love to see someone who has hospitality experience and um that appointment come before the recommendation. maybe that that person is since we only have two or three. Um we figure out um whether we handle the appointments like we do our city manager, our clerk, and then they have to come before us for approval. Meaning that whoever we are appointing to that board needs to come before us for approval. I don't want to see people just appointed to the board. I think that I don't know who the appointing person is going to be. I don't know who's going to handle the appointment. So, if they give us two people on that board, who's going to appoint those two people? And those two people need to come before the body. And so, right now, for example, when it comes to city manager, when it comes to clerk, when it comes to the city attorney, when it comes to judge, the appointment comes from the mayor, but the confirmation comes from the body. And so I'm saying maybe we need to look at doing something like that, but putting in agreement. It has to be somebody with industry experience.

Anyone else have any additional question? Second. I have Do we at this point need to do anything? Do we need to take consensus on whether or not we want you to move forward with working in an agreement or entering into some agreement? Do you need a consensus vote? Do could I make that motion at this time? Attorney mayor prom, can you ask the attorney, do I need to make the motion at this time?

Yeah, I would like your direction. um you know we've had a little bit of a difficulty getting this presentation in front of you just because of schedule I am anxious to move forward and so if you are amanable and would like to give me direction to move forward in negotiating an agreement which would come back to you along with you know the process for you to appoint um however many board members I can negotiate onto onto the Atlanta area CVB. Um, that would be great.

Okay. I would like to make an a motion for you to um formalize an agreement and bring an agreement back before the city council um for the Atlanta region. It's called it the Atlanta regional CVB for uh ATL airport district convention and visitors bureau. ATL airport district convention and visitors. What she said. All right. properly moves with the second. Um, is there any additional discussion? Council,

just a friendly amendment also with the process to make sure that the appointees had an expertise. Um, I will say I'd love for you to open up so we can find out who has that in our city. Just, you know, general call to see. I I would appreciate that. Is there a second to that amendment? Yes. Is that proper for me to make the amendment in that way? Do you mind asking the parliamentarian that's sitting behind you? Cuz I think we can't I don't think we can make it in that way. I can withdraw my mo motion and restate it.

Okay. I would like to withdraw my motion and restate it to um direct the city manager to formalize an agreement to include a process on how to appoint appointees uh to the CVB board ATL CVB board and bring that agreement back before the city council for our final approval. Second properly moved with the second. Is there any additional discussion? And with that, um, we can take this vote by a show of hands court. That motion approves 6. Thank you. Thank you all.

Thank you, Mercedes. Thank you, Mercedes. And with that next item, Mr. Clerk,

I believe the city manager has uh to complete her report. Introduction of new employees. Thank you. Uh, Mr. Clerk, I did neglect to introduce new employees. I would like Clifford Robinson, public affairs. He's our senior communications manager, and he has recently come on board. He will be instrumental in doing a lot of our Come on up. They don't bite. I promise. Well, Um, Brad Katz. Bright is a theatrical production manager over at Southwest Arts Center. And some of you already met Tawn Wright, city clerk's office, the open records coordinator. So, come on and be introduced. Thank you for joining the City of South Fulton team. We're glad to have you on board. Thank you. Thank you.

Thank you. Last thing I want to say is um I will be sending out a couple of memos to you. One of them is on the business license processing. Another is on the short-term rental processing. I think you'll be pleased to know there's going to be a um much improved process going into this year. So, you'll be um I'll be sending that out in your emails.

Okay. And um with that, Mr. Clerk, next item. Madame Mayor Pro Tim, we have executive session if necessary. Um but I do note the time is 502. Yeah, we're on schedule. So, uh, I will entertain a motion. I move to adjourn the 400 pm work session. Second. Properly move with the second. If we can take this vote by a show of hands. That motion approves 6. We are journed at 5:02 p.m.

Okay. All righty. And now uh we are at our 5:00 pm uh alcohol license and zoning public hearings and special meeting uh for Tuesday, December 9th. I call this meeting to order. And Mr. Clerk, if you will please call the role and everyone switch over on your agendas. This is the roll call for the 5:00 PM alcohol license zoning public hearing December 9th. The honorable Katherine F. Riley, District 1. Present.

The Honorable Carmelita Gums, District 2. Here. The Honorable Helen Z. Willis, District 3, present. The Honorable JC Sebastian, District 4. Present. The Honorable Kosha Bale, District 5, present. The Honorable Natasha Williams Brown, District 6, will be present shortly. And the honorable mayor pro Tim Linda B. Pritchette, District 7 here. Madame Mayor Pro Tim, you have a quorum.

Thank you. And I called this meeting to well, called it to order already. And u Mr. Clerk, if you would read the next item, please.

That brings us to our first case this evening. It's alcohol license resoning variance and modification cases for presentation and public hearing only. First case is letter A, case Z25-031, CV25-004. This is a public hearing application by Levarian Grundy senior requesting reszoning from R3 in the Sandtown Overlay district to R4A to develop three single family residential lots on 1.65 acres at 4865 CON Road. The applicant is also requesting a concurrent variance from section 405.01 B and 2 to eliminate the 100t buffer. It's located in council district 1. This item was deferred from the November 12th, 2025 uh zoning public hearing. Staff recommendation and planning commission recommendation is approval.

Mr. Clerk, is the applicant here? Mr. McClinton. Yes.

Okay. So, the applicant is here. Okay. At this time, I am opening this public hearing on item uh well case Z25-031 CV25-00004. Um on our agenda, you have a total of 10 minutes to give your presentation. If you you do not have to use all of that time, you can save it for rebuttal. Um, and keep in mind that um, this time includes any public comments that any other citizens have uh, in your favor. And if you would come forward,

just to make one clarification, uh, staff is recommending approval for the reszoning as well as the concurrent variance. Thank you. You're comfortable. Hello. Oh, how y'all doing?

I'm uh Lavarian Grundy. Uh I'm a developer and a a contractor here in the city. And so uh the property at 4865, excuse me, I just came from the dentist, so I'm my mouth is still kind of numb. But the property at 4865, it sits on about 2 and 12 acres. And so it has one it has one uh ranch home that's already there. It's been there for uh 30 40 years and it sits in the middle of the lot and so what we are asking but that lot is on the it's the only house on that side of the street that is actually in South Fulton. is surrounded by the city of Atlanta. And so we're asking that the buffer between the city of Atlanta if we could eliminate that buffer and then allow us to change the zoning to R4A so that we will have uh enough room to be able to have two lots on each side of that house. We're going to remodel that house and then we're going to build two new homes on each side of the existing house. One of the lots will come out onto Campton Road. The other one will come out on the San Creek Road. But, uh, I mean, it's pretty straightforward, pretty simple. It's just building two new homes. There'll be about 2400 square ft, four bedrooms, three baths, and uh, probably a mother-in-law suite. So, but we need the zoning change because the for the R4 because the the lot that goes out onto Sandtown Creek will only have 12,300 or 400 square ft. So, that's why we need the zoning change. That's all I

Okay. Um, let's see. Do we have Mr. Clerk, do you have any names in opposition? Uh, no, Madame Mayor Pro 10. Okay. You You sure you have anything else you'd like to say? You You have eight minutes left. Uh, no ma'am. I'm uh That's pretty much it. It's straightforward. It's pretty simple. So, it's just reszoning and subdividing a 2 and 1/2 acre lot to build two extra two more houses. and they'll fit the community. It'll raise the property values. So, that's it.

Okay. Thank you so much. At this time, I'm closing this public hearing and we will take questions from the council if anyone's in the queue. Uh well, as customary, the uh district representative, Councilwoman Ralph, thank you. Uh just a couple questions of the three houses are if it's same bay are two of them. How many are in the city of South Fulton? Of the three,

all three of them will be in the city of South Fulton. That lot is the only lot. It's I don't know how how it really even got in South Fulton. On that side of the road, that lot is the only lot in South Fulton. It's if you look at it, it's like cut into the city. And yeah, it's real jagged out here. So, that's the only But all three of the houses will be in South Fton. Okay. Okay. Um, do you have any renderings or you know or what what these houses might look like?

I had I have just one final question for your community outreach uh meeting. How how many people attended? There were two three people there at the meeting. I don't have any further questions. Anyone else?

Okay, that Mr. Clerk. Next item, please.

Next item is letter B. Case Z25-033 and U25-014 and CDP25-012. It's a public hearing an application by Enray Washington care of MK Energy requesting the resoning from AG1 in the City Grove overlay district to C2 and a special use permit to operate a convenience store with fuel pumps requesting future land use amendment to amend the character area from rural neighborhood to community work live at zero came far. It's located in council district 4. The nearest cross street is Jones Road and Hall Road. Staff recommendation is denial. Planning Commission recommendation is denial. All right. Good evening. Just to clarify for this case, our our recommendation for denial is based off a gas station being within another uh 3 mile radius. There's there is a gas station within one mile half a mile radius of the subject property.

Okay. Okay. And the applicant is here. I am this far council members. Each one of them. Good afternoon. Uh madame chair uh and members of the council. Honored to be here. My name is Hre Washington. 121 West Peach Tree Street Northwest. uh representing honor to represent MK Energy, an African-Americanowned uh energy company that would love to do business here in the city of South Bolton. Okay, we are I'm opening this uh public this public hearing at this time and you have 10 minutes.

Thank you and I apologize for jumping the gun. Uh they have begun uh the uh mad Mr. Clerk has begun the presentation. So I want to uh put a couple things on notice. We have updated the site plan to address a couple of the community's concerns and we've also um put forth 10 proposed approval conditions. We recognize that there is a general objection in the city of South Fulton to gas stations, sea stores. This is not your typical gas station and sea store. Uh as a threshold matter, most uh the the gas station that's less than a half mile away um was purchased for about $3.75 million uh less than five years ago. Our goal is to invest between 10 and $20 million 10 and $12 million, excuse me, in a 3.61 acre parcel of land in what we view as a transitional area. I think this is so as is noted on on this site, it's a 3.61 acre parcel of land. It is just across from the new public storage facility in our a neighboring jurisdiction. The lot is a perfectly rect rectangular uh lot that is currently zoned AG1. Important note, all the property in that area is zoned AG1. And for purposes of zoning, AG1 is considered residential. We view this area as highly transitional. As is noted, there is a uh highly commercial corridor just south of this location. It is neighboring another jurisdiction that is using that area as commercial. So, we view this as an introduction into the Cedar Grove Overlay district. Uh, this property is largely undeveloped and as you can see from this map here, again, it sits just across the city uh the the border from Fair uh uh Union City and so it is an introduction to a largely residential area. So, this is our updated site plan. It isn't just a sea store. It's a way that

we view uh to infuse fresh fruits and vegetables in our tenants commercial space in a largely residential undeveloped area. Um it's about 12,600 square ft of new space. A lot of the concerns that we heard from the community were traffic on Highway 42. So to address that, we put a del lane and a right entrance and right exit only. As this council well knows, there's going to be a roundabout that's placed uh just up the road to ensure um that you know safety is prioritized. We want to I want to point out that right entrance and right exit for a couple of different reasons. Us adding that particular portion cuts our ability to make money by about 50 uh 50% because it limits the people's ability to enter and exit u from coming north on Campbell Fair Road. But we heard seriously from the community that there was concern about traffic. There's concern about safety. And so our goal is to again demonstrate that we're responsive developer investing in this community and not just uh here to leech off of the city of South Fulton. So this is a zoomed in for the members of the audience. This is a rendering. It's not necessarily consistent with the Cedar Grove overlay district, but again, the goal here is to put coffee shops, juice bar, or some type of again neighborhood serving commercial use. Um, I want to pause here to address uh some of the things that we've heard consistently about gas stations and sea stores. We heard that there's crime. We heard that there is, you know, food left in the lot, not kept wellkept. We heard that there's a lack of safety and that there's you don't need those type of uh facilities. And I know that the city has an ordinance that prohibits um gas stations from being built within a three-m radius. From our view, that allows gas stations that mistreat the residents here in the city to have a complete monopoly for three miles. No one can come in and put put forth a good

alternative for people to feel safe, for people to patronize. And instead you give a derelch owner who is underinvested in this city, not recognizing the 89,000 median income, not recognizing the fact that these neighbors are great folks who do well, who want a place that they can go and feel uh be at peace in. And you give them an a sense of autonomy to treat business as it is because they know that there won't be another set of competition coming along to say that there's a better way to do business in the city of South Fulton. So, with that, we've got some proposed uh approval conditions, and I've uh shared them with the the council. First and foremost, this property shall not be used for a vape shop, a smoke shop, a pawn shop, CBD only retail, payday title loan, uh coin operated laundry mats, tattoo piercing, used appliance store, automotive repair, shop, tire show, check cashing. This is not a commercial use for the type of uses that are in neighborhoods that are offensive. The goal here is to put neighborhood serving uses in this community. Second, we'll we going to construct this property in conformance with the Cedar Grove Overlay district to ensure that the materials that are used are of high quality. Again, 10 to12 million investment in a small parcel land. Again, by comparison, the gas station down the road was recently purchased for $3.75 million. The one around the corner was a million dollar purchase, and that was a Shell station. This is not the same type of investment. This is a significant investment to again establishes a line a line that if you're going to develop this type of property in the South Fton, here's a standard. Again, comply with the C Cedar Grove overlay district. No temporary can tents, canopies, uh banners, temporary streamers. um within the first opening of the business, we might do an o event opening um or some type of celebratory community service, especially when it comes to the other

tenant uh businesses that will open, ensuring that we're uh giving them opportunity to launch themselves. Again, this area is in need of commercial space where people can open small businesses that serve the neighbors. And these are the last uh five uh conditions. No outdoor loudspeakers. um an enhanced vegetative buffer around the residential part uh in every part of the property that borders a residential property. Um keeping the ensuring that the natural vegetation remains on the property until we get a development pro permit, no billboards added to the property. Um and all these things will be obviously subject to the city of South Fulton of planning and development. And so, uh, with that, I'm looking forward to answering your questions and addressing your concerns, and we hope we get an opportunity to dialogue further. And I reserve the rest of my time.

Thank you for your presentation. Um, Mr. Clerk, do we have any names in opposition? No, ma'am. Madam, mayor proip. Okay. Would you like to make a closing statement? You have three minutes and 24 seconds left.

Uh, no, no closing statement. I would just like to offer to the the council that we are happy to continue dialogue. MK Energy, as I mentioned, is an African-American-owned energy company that wants to do business here in South Fton in a way that's different. Uh we recognize that there's a general adversion uh and certainly um restrictive laws when it comes to the buffer area. And I think that we keep in mind that there was and is a concern about the proliferation of gas stations in this city. This is a type of commercial development that has other uses that are accessory and complimentary. And so we'd love to have dialogue and discussion about why we think that we shouldn't be granted monopoly to the bad actors in the city who are here and who have no incentive to change their behavior except for um competition coming in and saying this you do different business in the city. Finally, um again, our goal is we're at home here. I live right up the road. Uh I have we do business here and we want to continue to uh manage relations here and so to the extent that there are things that we need to know, we are open. We are here to be partners with this city. this great city that's on the rise. So, with that, I'm looking forward to questions. Thank you.

And at this time, um, we I close this public hearing and, um, as customary, uh, if we'd like to hear from the district representative, Councilman Sebastian, if you have any questions. Thank you. Um, I I do have a few questions. Sure. And I want you to bear with me a little bit. Yes. But I'm going somewhere. Yeah. Um, when did you and I first meet? We had a conversation probably in would have been October, I think, when we were in Washington DC. Correct. Was it was that when we were traveling to Washington DC?

You were in you in Washington DC and we we we I was in Liberty County and so we uh did a virtual meeting. Yes. And after our call, what was my recommendation to you guys?

So to your credit, a lot of the recommendation that you had was to make sure that we were open up the lines of communication with the city, reaching out to the neighboring owners and having the discussions with the neighbors as best as we could. You also mentioned that in this particular community, there are general concerns with the the gas stations, but there's a need for commercial development, but perhaps in other areas of the county, we didn't have other areas of your district. um to that end we didn't have the benefit of obviously putting another property on under contract and we see this as a good opportunity and a great value proposition but that was part of the discussion I think that might answer your question.

Yes. So I I want to make it clear not only with this particular um proposal but also with at least one maybe two others that I've had conversation with people approaching me about these types of projects and I have shared and I've said this to some of the residents in district 4. I said, "Y'all are the only folks that I've ever heard asking for gas stations, okay? But not in this location." And I've been quite clear, not only in our first conversation, but in in our subsequent conversation. Um, you guys have made a lot of adjustments and I believe in one or two community meetings. I don't think I had the pleasure of attending any, but I know certainly at the planning commission commission meeting, I know some residents came out to express their concerns and I believe you might have made some adjustments, including the um the right in right out lane. Um I I still have concern about this project in this area because

it is one of about five lots that are occupied in all zone AG1 and this one is going to be stuck in between at least two senior residents that have concern about them aging in place. Right. And at at the end of the day we have a responsibility.

Right. um to ensure people's quality of life as much as possible can remain what they expect. I have a lot of challenges with this ordinance of the distance because I think you're right. Uh and this is not the only case. I think we have something to vote on tonight. But the problem I have is that the law is on the book and the best and safest way of keeping ourselves out of trouble is to follow the law. Okay? I am I am an advocate for changing the law because I think we're big boys and girls.

We can look on individual projects and decide whether it goes there. I've been to other cities where their gas station lives way across the street from each other. And I think I shared that with you because it's a safe way and there's enough traffic that if you're going in one direction or the other, you can select which one to stop into. I've seen that all the time. And but for our city, the law on the book says we can't have a service station within three miles. But this came up last meeting again in another district where we have clearly businesses that are not of high quality.

Correct. And we are trying to get high quality development into our city, but this law is preventing us from moving forward with it. So I hope on a bigger picture that this council can take a look at at this and for my re recommendation again um I like the things that you're proposing but I continue to say it it is not the best of locations and I I think I've encouraged you guys to maybe there's a lot this has a lot of land and a lot of opportunity. It does. It does. So if not here then hopefully someplace where the community will will support it hopefully.

And but but those are my thoughts.

If I may just respond to a couple of different things. So you know Mr. Councilman you're exactly right. Right. Um I have been on the one side of the V evicting derelch commercial tenants. Right. So I feel personally frustrated when I hear at community meetings as we heard at the planning commission and at the city council at the planning commission at the community meeting that we heard the type of bad behavior that happens at these sea stores that are not owned by our folks and don't care. They want to sell lottery liquor and gas to folks and nothing else. Uh that's why we want to do something differently and that's why we are again proposing to do something differently. Um, that's not to say that we wouldn't have those things available to the extent that people want to patronize, but there's a lot more to folks in the city of South Fulton. Secondarily, in on in terms of the location, what we see, and perhaps we're a little bit ahead of the puck, is that Highway 42 going into this direction,

92

92, excuse me, going into this direction, um, is essentially on a border between two jurisdictions. And on one side of the street, the city of Southton has no control and they're putting things there that might be offensive. And on the other side of the street, we have an opportunity to put some type of transitional commercial uses that complement that area. And so from my view, that entire block with that is zoned AG1 uh could be and should be used for transitional potential commercial uses that are neighborhood serving. Uh, finally, you know, when it comes to use and activity here in the city of South Fulton, I view this as a city of opportunity that is worthy and deserving of the best type of thoughtful investment. I recognize that we're restrained to some degree, even though there's a legislative waiver that could be um used. I recognize that there a restraint a restraint at the present moment. But again, our goal here is to make a significant economic investment in this particular piece of part property because we view it as an opportunity uh that could again unlock the potential in this area. Um I think that addressed a lot of your concerns about at least the location, why we chose this location, what we'd like to do. Um and then you know finally I just got tell you guys keep going keep on keeping on. I was involved in the city before it was a city. Uh, I I'm I'm a little bit older than what I look, but I'm very proud to see you guys' progress. So, with that, I I'm happy to answer any other questions that the council may have.

And my last comment is this. I want to thank you for going through and putting through your um your proposal. Even though coming out of the conversation that you had with me, the first one and even the second one, you could have said, "Hey, man. I'm just walking away from this." Um, a lot of people don't understand that this whole zoning thing is a it's a legal process. Correct. And we as council members, while we encourage people to come and talk to us and get a pulse from us of what the community is is feeling and sensing, we as a council, we as council members, we just can't give a thumbs up and thumbs down. Correct. When you guys come and say, I want I have a proposal I want to put on the table.

Okay. It's a legal process. Correct. that has to be followed and has to be followed in the correct way by all of us involved both the proposals the staff and the council.

Can I just can I just add a couple different things to point out one of the the things that we adjusted just so the council gets a flavor. Um so we heard that you know the the first thing that I led with about what we weren't those are things that we heard from the community about what they didn't want to see and so we made we led with that. Uh, I obviously I mentioned the right in, right out, the hours of operation, making sure that it closed at 11:00 p.m., but not being a 24-hour obviously type of business. Um, the type of businesses that we want to market. We know that a this particular district is zoned to agriculture because there's an agricultural presence. So, we've done the due diligence to say we're going to work with potential local farmers and local um um agricultural entities to bring those fresh fruits and vegetables to the commercial uses. We recognize that again a lot of what we heard was we want more places to sit down and eat. We want more places to actually patronize and kind of enjoy going. And we recognize that every um sea store and fuel fuel place isn't created equally. And so our goal with adding the commercial space was to ensure that our tenants are picked from a narrowly tailored type of uses. So for think savvy productions or savvy uh uh sav savvy like the small grocery stores that are in parts of city of Atlanta. Again our goal was to adapt and limit and narrow the approval conditions and the site plan in such a way that it gives the city and the residents not just the confidence that we're representing things but something that we're held to by law. If you approve it with these conditions then we have to adhere to those things. Um and so we want you guys to know that. Uh, I recognize that, you know, you guys are restricted, but we're we're we're looking forward to continuing to partner in every way we can with the city of South Fton.

Thank you. That's those are all the questions I have. Anyone else? Okay. Thank you. Thank you very much, Mr. Clerk. Next item, please.

Brings us to letter C. Case U25-013. This is a public hearing application by Early Rocket requesting a special use permit to operate to allow a group residence for 6 to9 children in the community unit plan in the old national overlay at 120 Canewood Court East. It's located in Council District 6. Staff recommendations approval conditional and planning commission recommendation is denial. And it's my understanding from staff that a deferral is being requested. That is correct. Thank you, Mr. Clerk. Reggie McClendon, managing director of the community development and regulatory affairs department. Staff is requesting a deferral on this case. We do understand that uh there is there are some people who are signed up to speak on that case and we apologize for the late notice. Uh however, there are some technical issues that we want to ensure that we um are ironing out prior to bringing this before council uh and some conversations that need to be had. So, we are asking for this case to be deferred until the January public hearing.

Okay. So, at this time, I will entertain a motion. Uh, Miss um Mr. McClendon, does this need to be deferred which meeting? The 13th or the 27th? Uh the I believe we're holding public hearings on the first meeting uh in January, which would be the is it the 13th or the 14th? The 13th. The the 13th. Okay. I move to defer this case to um the January 13th, 2026 meeting. Second.

Properly moves with the second. If we can take this vote by a show of hands. Mr. Clerk, next item, please. Brings us to executive session if necessary. Um, this is a good time for executive session. I'll entertain a motion. I move that we um recess to executive session for personnel, real estate, cyber security, and litigation. Second. Probably move the second. If we can take this vote by a show of hands.

That's the 5:33 p.m.

Oh, that's all 12. Thank you. I don't know.

Okay. Is everybody ready? Yes. Well, uh, no, we have to adjourn executive session. So, I will at this time I will entertain a motion to I will entertain a motion. I move to reconvene from executive session. Second. Probably moved with a second. If we can take this vote by a show of hands. Court, that motion approved unanimously. We are reconvened at 7:06 p.m. U Mr. Clerk, was there any any actionable items that were taken in executive session? There was no action taken in executive session that requires a public vote.

Thank you. At this time, I will um entertain a motion. I move to adjourn the um 5mm alcohol licenses on public hearing special meeting. Second, properly moved with a second. If we can take this vote by a show of hands. Court, that motion approved unanimously. We are adjourned at 7:07 p.m.

Roll the video. You're joining us live from city hall here in the great city of South Fton. Introducing Mayor and Council, Mayor Khaled. Councilwoman Dr. Katherine Ralph, District 1. Councilwoman Carmeltha Gums, District 2. Councilwoman Helen Zenobia Willis, District 3. Councilman JC Sebastian, District 4. Councilwoman Kosha B. Bell, District 5. Councilwoman Natasha Williams Brown, District 6. Mayor Proim Linda Becker Pritchette, District 7. Interim City Attorney Sarah Kelly, City Clerk Corey Adams, City Manager Sharon D. Subdan, thank you for joining the city of South Walton council meeting. A city on the rise. Good evening everyone. I am Mayor Prom Linda Pritchette and I'm calling this meeting to order. Uh Mr. Clerk, if you can please call the role.

Good evening. This roll call for the December 9th city council regular meeting. The honorable Katherine F. Riyle, District 1. Present. The Honorable Carmelita Gums, District 2. Present. The Honorable Helen Z. Willis, District 3. Present. The Honorable JC Sebastian, District 4. Present. The Honorable Kosha B. Bell, District 5. Present. The Honorable Natasha Williams Brown, District 6. Present. and the honorable Linda B. Pritchette, District 7, here. Madame Mayor Prom, you have a quorum.

Thank you. Um, at this time, I would like to take a point of personal privilege and congratulate our mayor elect, Councilwoman Carmelita Gums, who will be our next mayor. If everyone can give her a round of applause. I look forward to continue serving with you. And with that, um, if our chaplain is here, um, to start a prayer, God, we come to thank you for not an evening, but God, the dawn and rising of a joyous day. God, we're grateful, God, for this time and this season, for this opportunity to be in service of the city that's continuously on the rise, rising to be full of grace, full of joy, full of peace, a city that's been extended your grace and your mercy. uh city that celebrates uh the inauguration of our first black woman mayor, a city that continues to show that we're going to improve and that we're going to continue to work. Now, God, I pray God you bless every council member here. That you bless bless every city person that's here, God, and everything that's going to be done on the agenda, God. Watch over us and keep us keep us safe in this holiday season, God. And we give you the glory, honor, and praise. In Christ's name we pray. Amen. Pledge of Allegiance. Pledge of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

Um, let's see. Next on the agenda, Mr. clerk.

Madame Mayor Pro Tim, uh we are at the presentation of proclamations and I see the mayor coming in. It's my understanding. Um did you Yes. U Mr. Clerk, at this time uh do you have the proclamation? Yes. uh the special proclamation. Yes. Okay. I'd like to present that at this time.

Okay. This time we do have a proclamation uh presented by by the city council in honor of uh Mayor Khaled Kobe Kamale. Thank you very much. So um at this time we'd like to present this proclamation. He's listening. honoring uh Mayor Khaled Kobe Camo upon the conclusion of his term as mayor of the city of South Fulton. Whereas Khaled Kobe Camau, distinguished as a founding council member and later as mayor, has served the city of South Fulton with vision and dedication since its inauguration on May 1st, 2017. And

whereas Mayor Khali became the first Black Lives Matter organizer in America to be elected to public office, inspiring a new generation of young activists to transition from protest to public service and amplifying South's voice on the national stage through features and CBS the nation Jacobian governing magazine and other media outlets. And whereas Mayor Khaled has championed the mission to make South Fulton America's blackest big city unapologetically black on purpose positioning the city as a laboratory for economic housing and restorative justice policies designed to advance the well-being of African-Americans. Whereas prior to his service on city council and as mayor, Khali served as a labor and community organizer, advocating for moder transit workers, recognizing, excuse me, organizing the Atlanta chapter of the number one black lives matter, and working tirelessly in Atlanta's neighborhood planning units, VNP, and Mayor Khali created Electoral College educational event to empower citizens with knowledge of local, state, government and author and author resolutions declaring a public health crisis and establishing Junth. whereas he has advocated for affordable housing, supporting raising the city's minimum wage to $15 per hour. Uh I don't know what is it.

Just go right. Yeah. Um go right. Something something minor marijuana offenses. ban ban the box on city job applications and champion the replacement of Columbus Day with Indigenous People Day.

Okay. Okay. Whereas Mayor Khaled's unique identity as a college educated community activist, Southern Black Christian Socialist has brought a blend of professionalism, passion, and authenticity to the governance of South Fulton. Now therefore, it be proclaimed that the city of South Wilson expresses it its profound gratitude to Mayor Khaled Kobe Camu for his leadership, tireless advocacy, and unw unwavering commitment to justice, equity, and the enrichment of our city and its people.

Beautiful. Can I have everybody go with a little bit this way? Perfect. Perfect. We're almost there. That's it. Yep. Okay, we're ready. One, two. Oh, okay. One, two, three. One more time. One, two, and three. Congratulations You going to do yours now, Mr. Mayor?

Yes.

Okay. It's a proclamation recognizing Larry Ford. It's a night full of surprise proclamations. Come on up, Mr. Ford. Whereas on a spring on a spring day in Huntsville, Alabama in April 30th, 1970, the world was graced with the birth of Larry Ford, Larry Laneir Ford Jr., born to two young scholars in Alabama&M University whose extended family in Birmingham nurtured and shaped him until his parents completed their studies and planted roots in Atlanta, Georgia. And whereas from his earliest years, Larry split Larry's spirit was ignited by a passion for sports and camaraderie. His journey at Love Ty Nolan Elementary School blossomed into remarkable athletic pursuits, culminating in the participation of baseball and wrestling teams at MD Collins High School. That's old school for y'all. Uh continuing a proud family legacy, he too attended Alabama&M University, furthering strengthening the foundation of excellence laid before him. And whereas following his graduation, Larry embraced his love of the great outdoors through his service with the Georgia natural Georgia Department of Natural Resources, stewarding the cherished parks and national treasures of our state. His athletic seal endured as he became an active and celebrated member of the Atlanta Lawn Tennis Association, ALTA, securing numerous city championships in mixed doubles, men's doubles, and singles, victories that reflected his discipline, resilience, and infectious enthusiasm. And whereas guided by the shining example of his parents, Larry stepped into the noble calling of education. And for 47 years, as a devoted resident of what is now the city of South Fulton has uplifted, guided, and mentored countless young people throughout the Atlanta, South Fulton and

Dicab County school systems. For two decades, he has served as a middle school educator, founding a tutoring service to nurture ac nurture academic growth within his community and supported youth baseball, all while raising his son as a single father, leading him to proudly follow the same path as a graduate of Alabama&M University. And whereas for 35 years, Larry has been a steadfast and beloved member of Pine Tree Park Baptist Church, where his service is woven into the very heart of the congregation. Whether teaching or tutoring, supporting vacation Bible study, Bible school, leading his hands to maintain the church grounds, honoring black history, or distributing food to families in need. He is a pillar of quiet strength, unwavering kindness, and dependable faith. His church knows with certainly with certainty and gratitude that Larry Ford is one they can always count on. So now therefore be it resolved that the mayor and the city of the city of South Fulton do hereby proclaim Saturday, November 13th as Larry Ford Jr. Day in recognition of his profound and enduring contributions to our youth, our community, and the spirit of service that strengthens the city of South Fulton. Wow. Wow. Uh I'm shocked and surprised. I I would just like to say uh thank you, mayor, uh council members, uh the great city of South Fton. I really didn't have any prepared uh statements, but uh I'm very grateful to the city of South Fton. Uh I've been living here for a very long time, and thank you all so very much for this this great honor. Thank you so much.

Perfect. All right, everybody's looking right here. Can you tilt the proclamation just a little bit? Perfect. One, two, and three. And one more time. One, two, three. Congratulations. All right, Mr. Clerk, please sound the next item.

Next item is Roman number six, approval of city council meeting minutes, regular meeting minutes for November 12th, 2025. Work session minutes November 12th, 2025, and the alcohol zoning public hearing minutes November 12th, 2025. All right, the chair will entertain a motion. I move to approve the minutes as sounded. Second. All right, it's been properly moved and seconded. Is everyone in the 700 PM queue? As not yet as we move to that, we'll just take this vote by a show of hands. Court, that motion approved unanimously 70.

All right, please sound the next item.

Next item is adoption of the council agenda. Mr. Mayor and members of council, I did um hand out a rather lengthy um list of additions to tonight's meeting. I will uh read them into the record. Um the first request approval of the following resolutions acquiring real property. Uh resolution to approve zero Cascade Road resolution. I need to check. So just for clarification, there are several parcels labeled at zero Cascade Road, but the individual parcel numbers are listed in the resolution for differential purposes. Thank you, madam city attorney. We have resolution to approval of zero Cascade Road, Zero Cascade Road, Zero Cascade Road, 40 Cascade Road, and 50 Cascade Road. As noted, the uh particular parcels are noted in the resolution. Also approval of zero Rivertown Road, zero Union Road and zero Wallace Road. Request approval of zero Van Diver Road. Request approval of 1210 Elva Drive. Request approval of 3025 MK Road. Request approval of 3034 Union Road and approval of 4760 Fton Industrial Boulevard. We also have requests approval of board appointments. Council member Gum seeks to reappoint Dana Tucker Davis to the South Fulton Development Authority by resolution. Also, Council Member Sebastian seeks to appoint James Ree Jr. to the South Fulton Development Authority by resolution. Council member Sebastian seeks to appoint Naima Gillyard to the Environmental Committee. Council member Sebastian seeks to reappoint Charles Storm Mitchell to the Historic and Cultural Landmarks Commission. Council member Sebastian seeks to

reappoint Barbara Mustella to the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board. Council member Sebastian seeks to reappoint Chiron Jefferson to the South Fulton Planning Commission. Council member Sebastian seeks to reappoint Brian O'Donnell to the South Fulton Zoning Board of Appeals. And Council Member Sebastian seeks to reappoint Jeffrey Williams to the Veterans Advisory Board. We also have the following uh requests approval of events. Uh, Council Member Sebastian has listed his events for 2026. Um, that is listed on the uh, sheet for your review. Also, Council Member Williams Brown has submitted her list of calendar events for 2026, uh, January through December, which will be included as part of the record. Next, request council approval of donations. Council member Willis requests approval of the following donations. Uh a donation of $50,000 by Dove for toys and food for the Christmas extravaganza. A donation of $100,000 by Integrity Dental Services, Robert Drinker for toys and clothes for the Christmas extravaganza. Donation by Coke for drinks and water. And then lastly, council member Sebastian seeks council approval for the purchase of 160 turkeys for a total amount of $1,787.69 for the food giveaway that took place on district 4 in district 4 on November 24th, 2025 to hand out the remaining goods from the citywide giveaway on November 23rd, 2025. And he requests that the funds be paid from the food and security line. Those are all of the the additions to the agenda that I have.

The chair will entertain a motion by gross unanimous consent.

Okay. Um, yes. So, is there is there Okay, the chair recognizes Dr. Ralph. I'm entertaining a motion and then we can get discussion. After I have a motion and a second, I'll ask for discussion. Motion to Is there a second? Second. It's been properly moved and seconded. Dr. This is a clarifying question as a council woman.

We don't there's no such thing.

Okay. I'm I'm just trying to make sure since we going other question. This is um for the assistant city manager. Um are we going to get the comprehensive list of all of them? Because I see a lot of them are thought we were trying to work on not duplicating. Do you have everybody else's events? Assistant city manager Dr. Mark Anthony Cooper. I have reviewed all of the list of events that have been um submitted to me. I've t I've talked to the council people with the conflicts that were had. I have not yet reviewed D6 yet, but she did get the original calendar. So, just once we get all of those, then I can put those together. But so far we have no conflicts.

Okay.

Everybody's he's got a for mine that I thought there was a copy for everybody and I'll just review yours compared to what we got. That's what I'm working on. I'm working on putting together the master calendar for the building somewhere. They may still be on my desk because I see two things on April 4th and that's problematic.

So, I'm sorry. Do you yield? Uh, Dr. All right. The chair recognizes mayor prom Linda Pritchette. Thank you. Um if Dr. Cooper can come back related to these events. Um Mr. Clerk, I it's a lot of paper here and I don't see these events that you just sounded off. We don't have them, right? It was presented to you to just sound off. Yeah. District 6 is coming around and District 4 is listed on the sheet that I gave you before the meeting started. Okay. So, my question um Dr. Cooper, you have a copy of this? Yes, ma'am.

Okay. So, um because we spent a lot of time working on our special events policy and I know that part of that policy um does require submitting um documentation to our special events coordinator. Is it possible to confirm that? Well, here's my question. Do you confirm when you receive this that there are that there is documentation submitting submitted for all this that's on this sheet and all of this that was on this I know on the agenda you confirm that but for everything that's on this sheet is it confirmed that you re that um Miss Jackson received the documentation the We don't have the events forms for each one. We do not have that. We do have the dates that were submitted um the event and the time which is what we are comparing with the current calendar that we have of events that we already know of. So, when council actually approves the events, I try to go through all of them prior to to let any council member know of any conflicts that come in because we did have a couple of them um that we were actually able to work out alternative dates. So, I do try to get these in advance to go through them. I did not get all of them to go through, but the ones that I do have, I've already went through and I'm actually going to go through this one now. But we do not have the official event form for each event as of yet. So if well I know that um Miss Suban has continually brought to my attention that uh part of the process with the special

events um the new special events ordinance is that the documentation be presented before this stuff is placed on the agenda. Um because it's not for me the issue I'm raising is not a matter of whether or not there's a conflict.

The issue for me is that many times there is not proper documentation and um events are happening that were never authorized. then the events coordinator doesn't have all the information that they need to be able to coordinate with the departments and the staff to be able to properly um execute these events. So I believe that this that that approving events that have not had documentation submitted goes against the ordinance. The ordinance does state that an events form and all of the logistics are worked out before the event is actually put on the agenda. However, you know, and I go by what council's pleasure is. And

so, I appreciate that, but I rather go with what's on paper than what's the pleasure because we get in trouble. um or it causes a lot of confusion and it causes uh it causes a lot of it causes a lot of confusion for staff and um I since we work so hard on this process I'd like to follow this process. So um um I I would offer a substitute amendment that until such time that these everything else that was said um in the previous motion until such time that these events can all be verified as having submitted documentation. I guess the term provisionally approved until that time but not approved at this time. Say it again.

So the majority of my of what's on the agenda. Well, I guess we do have a queue. A substitute motion was made for which there was no second. I'm sure we're going to have a little bit more discussion. We're going to come back to it, but first we're going to follow the queue and go to Councilman Sebastian. I'm sorry. Councilwoman Willis,

I really do think in essence of time, these are a lot of events. We don't have the master calendar. Um, is there anywhere possible that we could look at the December events, so we won't prevent anybody events? Um, we don't meet until what? January.

Huh? Can we get all the events together and talk about them in the retreat in January? Put that on the calendar. But anybody who needs to have an event before we convene again. Can we look at maybe approving December possibly some of the January events? Um so that because I would hate for us to approve over 50 events cuz that's what I'm looking at now. We're looking at about close to 30 events on district 6. We're looking at about maybe 15 to 20 events from district 4. So, I would hate for us we we we're trying to prevent the conflicts. We're trying to prevent from staff being um overworked, overburdened, having to bounce in there between several events on one day. And nobody don't want to not approve people events, but to the point of several of us who are concerned, we do need to have all of us need to have the master calendar. So we are cognizant of what events um we try to get approved and um try to follow the policy that we all unanimously adopted. So, can we um look at maybe the December in any event before we meet and can you uh let us know make sure there's no conflict even if we have to put this at the end of the um meeting so you can have time to look at your master calendar and ensure that there's no conflict so we can approve the December and January event.

Yes, ma'am. cuz we only have two events that need approval for December. All the other events for December have already been approved and they're on the calendar and they're already in in works. Uh we have two uh one with district 4, one with district 3. Um so those are all done, but yes, we can get everything on the calendar and and give it but because that's part of what we're working on right now as we're getting events. We're making sure that we are putting them on the calendar, making sure that there are no no conflicts with them. And so the other thing, okay, so I would ask that we just approve the December and January events that are here for for and then we come back with the other events. I have um since I have the floor, I do have a question. Um seeking approval for uh 160 turkeys for in the funding come coming from the food and security line. And so that's the bottom request for approval. And so is that is that um is that uh opportunity afforded to everybody? Is that opportunity afforded to everybody? Can we just go out and do cuz we were working on a process but city manager you allowing us to go out and organize distributions and then bringing it before the council to fund them out of that line. So I think there were some extenduating circumstances. Um the I saw it on the agenda um when I got here too, but I think there were some

extenduating circumstances. So perhaps Councilman Sebastian can explain. Okay. Um because if that's the case, I I need I need to request for some funding so that I can address some food insecurity in my area for December. ridiculous. I mean,

so what you know, we we're doing this. I I just want us to be equitable cuz cuz cuz we you know, people are asking me about December. I do I need to how do I properly do I need do I mean uh mayor do I is it okay if I ask um I I don't know I don't know should I can I can I allow him I mean cuz if I I'm ask she said she can't answer she want to answer cuz I think all of us are saying we want the same opportunity if that's the case

uh how do we how do we handle that process I I I I think Yeah. I I I I I wonder I I I don't have an opinion as the chair, but I I I wonder if we might just approve the events that we have now and maybe by the end of the meeting we can come back with with something else.

Okay. So, mayor, thank you so much. Uh, I would ask that we u push that item to the end of the agenda and then uh maybe um city manager you could come up with an amount that you could distribute to each district so we can make sure that we have Oh yeah, but your people were served. Trust me. Oh, okay. cuz we didn't get anything. We didn't get nothing. Automation turkeys that went to churches, none of them. I'm going I'm going to yield to the city manager. Perhaps you have a city.

So, I was asked to put together a process and we did it is there was a small committee that met and um the turkey distribution was done. Um what I would recommend if you want to divvy it up by district is we equally divide the remainder or you know whatever you decide that you think is equitable since there are um more turkeys given out in one district than the other. We work at your pleasure. You asked us to put money again aside for food insecurity. We drafted a um a RFP that we were going to send out for the rest to engage churches and nonprofits that are doing this work to, you know, especially those who already have skin in the game and they already have a process to be able to help them and they help us for distribution. If you want to do something different, then let us know what it is you want to do. Um, and so this decision is not my decision. So I still I'm here for your consideration.

I still have the four. It's 3:41, but I don't want to take three minutes, but I I have think I have um if my colleagues agree, I think we should take um at least $200,000 of the funds and um do the RFP um so that and then the rest of it um divvy it up um according to each um district. And in district 4 minus the $1,78769. And what would that be? Can I 200 left?

Yeah. Take 200 thou Well, how much do we have left? Cuz we had to we did the How many How much do we have left? We have about 230,000 left. So, so should we take the 200,000 and um and do the RFP and then the 39,000? What's 39,000? Um divided by 700.

You want what's the recommendation? You all of it divided by seven. Okay. What's that? divided by seven. Oh, the whole thing by eight. My clock's still going and they that it shouldn't be cuz they doing the calculations and I need my time back. Oh, I divided.

You want it by 28,7? That's what's left. Yeah. 29,7. Yeah. So, what do you want us to do? Okay. No. If what's what's remaining left? What's remaining left? 228,000. It's about 230,000 left. Divided by 8 29,000 actually 238 divide by 8 29,750. That's what I that was what I started with but then I heard over here divide the whole thing.

The difference of what what do we have left? What you mean? Originally you said 200,000 to be out and then the balance would be what00 but your colleagues don't want to do that $750. I think that's fine. I think the what she's saying is take the 39,000 divided by eight people and let her RFP the 8 the 200,000 out. But they're saying they want all of it divided by eight. at the retreat. I'm not trying to be funny. So, so I think it's consensus.

I I think that um I can we take for now. Can we take the 200,000 hold it? Um we can workshop that at the retreat, but the 39,000 can you divide that by 8? 38,000 divide by 8 is 4,750. So, can we split that? Can we do that? Each person gets 4,000. That'll get us through December. But minus the minus the 17,000 se the 1,700 from district 4. So that would that would come out of his 47. Right. So can you get that calculation and we vote on it at the end of the meeting? It would still be 4750. Okay, that's fine.

Does it his remaining amount would be So I move that we we do that would be Huh? I'm sorry. Okay. So, we're we're in the middle of a motion and discussion. Um, we're in the middle of a motion in discussion and another motion is being presented. So, does So, do I need to do a substitute? Does the first motion who made the first motion, Mr. Clerk? First motion was by council member Sebastian. Second by Okay. So, Councilman Sebastian, are you willing to withdraw your motion?

Absolutely not. Okay, understood. No, I understand. Okay, understood. Um, Willis still has the floor, so Okay, I want to make that substitute motion. Okay, so the substitute motion is made. Is there a second? Second. Okay, the substitute motion is made with a second. Can we take the vote on the substitute? No. Is there discussion? Okay, there is a queue. Wait, we Okay, so we are taking a vote to accept the substitute motion. Whether or not we'll allow the substitute motion. So,

can we please? Okay. So, okay. So we will take this vote on the substitute motion that Councilwoman Willis made by a show of hand hands. Okay. And that Mr. Clerk that's to split the the 39,000. Okay. No, this is to allow the substitute motion. Yeah. Okay. So the substitute motion is yes 61.

Okay. So the substitute motion is on the floor council for consideration and Councilwoman Willis has 2 minutes and 13 seconds left and the mayor has returned. Thank you very much. So do we vote on the substitute motion now? Okay is next. Okay, I'll go ahead and y the chair recognizes Councilman Sebastian. So,

Mr. Mayor, what am I able to speak on right now? Because there are a couple of things that I need to address here. Um, Dr. Cooper, uh, I submitted the list to you and the clerk today and you emailed me back about one clash, correct? And what was the result of your email back to me? Tell me what the clash was and what the resolution was, please. The the clash was that the international festival that you hold annually was held was requested to be held on September 19th, which was the same day as the Isuka Festival. So, you did move it to agree to move it to September 12th.

All right. Thank you. Um, the next question I have for you is April 4th is the annual autism fest and I'm I'm hearing that there's a something else that's clash but even if I have the floor um council one but even even if that is the case is it okay for us to do two events on the same day? Per policy it is okay for two council events to occur on the same day? Uh but when you look at the times I don't know exactly what time the autism fest but these seem to be running simultaneously 9 in the morning and this is 12 to 4. So sorry

the extravaganza would be 12 to 4. The autism festival was 9 normally like 9 to 6. Okay. Yes. So is that a problem for staff? It would be we would be stretching staff thin, but according to policy, we do have we can have two council mayor council events on the same day. So, and by the way, we would accommodate the the autism fest is done with a partner organization. Yes. That basically we once we get set up, people leave us alone and we have our day. We just need some security typically. Yes, sir. Typically, right? So it's not a high unholding event for the city. Correct.

No sir, not at all. No. Um the next thing is the policy that we have really addressed when we're adding events like in the middle of the year so that you add it before you add something on before we add something to the calendar. We check with staff. we fill out the form to make sure there's no date clash and then that gets added to the calendar. It is not typical that we submit all of those forms at the same time as our dates because how would we even know those dates are available before we go and do all that work in the forms?

Is that not correct? Because that's why I didn't get a push back from you or the clerk. I think

it's not typical. Um, it's not typical, but policy does address the fact that the forms must be submitted before events go on the agenda. However, that's not been the practice of what we've been doing. Um, I know I've said it, but that's not been the practice what we've been doing. So, we've been accommodating when the council approves the events. So, so typically for me at the beginning of the year, and honestly, I think I've been the first one who have done this since I've been here on council where I submit all of my major events from the top of the year down. Right. Excuse me, ladies. I have the mic. I didn't interrupt you all. I sit back and listen to y'all talk for half an hour. All right. So, Council Member Bell, I was here before you, so I I'm not sure how that could be a thing. Um, but that has been my my strategy to secure those dates. And some of my major events are really partner-based. Slingfest, one love bike ride, right?

Um, the the um autism fest as I mentioned, and there might be one or two more. I also started the whole thing of the veterans thing. I hope there's no clash with that one either. But again, we know that there have been times when we have had multiple events on the same day. And yes, staff get um stretched a little bit. Mhm. But there have also been times that I've had events on calendar on the calendar that has been approved by this body and other council members add stuff on top of those dates

and no one ever hear me come here come. As a matter of fact, what I've told you guys a lot of times, you know what? I am fine in district 4. If you if you give me the date, I recruit enough volunteers that we get our stuff executed in district 4 a lot of times without staff help. So, let me talk about the turkey gate. I am so disappointed in this discussion. You know why I'm disappointed? Because a lot of you here after the welcome all citywide event were begging me to take the extra food and to find a way to give it out to the community.

You right. Okay. So I had to call three persons with pickup trucks and my Suburban stock them with all the leftover. I had a call in a box truck to fold that thing to the brim and in less than 24 hours hurried and arranged to give that food out the next morning before it went bad. We had more product than we had turkey. And so all this is is to say we fed over 300 more families that day, that Sunday after the Saturday event. Everybody up here know that's what happened. And that's all those extra turkeys was supposed to be for. They people from across the city came to that event on that Sunday morning. So for people to stay up here and be behave as if they don't know where those turkey went or or why they were bought and talking about you know what y'all don't approve it but guess what I'll do? I'll find the money. I'll pay the $1,700 back. Believe you me. I I will do it. But for us to be sitting up here and behaving as if we didn't have a problem with extra food, that would have probably gone to waste. And from 9:00, I was the last one to leave Welcome Park with me and some of the volunteers that I called in afterwards to clean up the place and to give that food out starting I think 12 or whatever the next day. And we sitting up here arguing over 1,700 extra dollars for turkeys. really. So, y'all do what you ever y'all want. Y'all going to do it anyway.

But it but to me it's bordering a little bit being a little disgusting. I'm sorry, guys. I'm sorry. That's the story. My finished, man. Yes. But that's my that's the story. And everybody know I don't have to give a story because that's the truth. But we're going to make the decision we're going to make. Thank you all. The chair recognizes Councilwoman Williams Brown.

Thank you, Mayor, for recognizing me. Um, Assistant City Manager Cooper, what exactly do I need to get approved? Because if you look at my list, there are only five things that are actually coming out of my office. actual five that are being set by me that are coming out of my office. And of those five, none of them are going to require any re any city resources, right? So, the food distribution dates are set by the Atlantic Community Food Bank.

Do I need to do forms for all 12 of those? You still should do forms for those just for we so we can have them on the calendar. Okay. Okay. So, I need to do forms. So, we need to do forms for everything. Yes, ma'am. So, the things that are coming out in parks and wreck, I need a form. Yes, ma'am. And the things that are set by public works. Okay. Yes, ma'am. Cuz I'm looking at these dates. I didn't pick recycle and shred dates. Y'all picked that. Yes, ma'am. But I've got to do a forum for a date that you picked. No, ma'am. Not those dates.

Okay. Yes. And so town halls, I think I've only I don't even see town halls on here cuz I don't think we've made those decisions. So the bingos, the the district 6 bingo, six bingos. I was given those dates by park and wreck. I didn't pick them. Do I need forms for those? Because y'all gave me those dates. Okay. So if parks and reccks gave you those dates, that means that's part of their their events form. So, they will actually have those already with us. Okay.

And that's what I'm trying to get to is like what needs to stay on here because I can pull this whole thing. you know, we were trying to give you everything, but outside of there's only five things that are actually being initiated by district 6, everything else is an external date that we have been given.

Okay. So typically if you look at the policy, the policy states there are specific events such as town halls, um community meetings, those are the only things that are not required to have a council approval. Any other events outside of that, um whether you're partnering with someone or whether you're doing it yourself or whether it's coming out requires a council approval on the agenda. So when you actually turn in the form to us, we still put those on the calendar. So we can let everyone know when other events are being submitted that you do know that we have XYZ events on that day. So if there are other options that they want to make, they can. And I do try to give and I know the staff is trying to give alternative dates. you know, on of of your list as I reviewed it, there's only one conflict on your on your uh list, and that would be June 20th, and that's your bingo, which I will be talking to Parks and Rex about.

I don't wait. The Father's Day bingo. Yes, ma'am. Okay. But we're clear that I was given that date. I didn't appreciate that. Mhm. Okay. So, what what do you need a form for? What do I need a form for? If you look at the policy, we need a form for everything that's not

your town hall or any of those things that and I can't remember every individual item, but there are like maybe three or four meetings or events that are under the policy that do not require council approval. I would recommend you turn the form in so we can make sure that it's on the on the calendar, but it does not require council approval. All other events, they require council approval. They all need a form. But with your situation, I did not know you got your bingo dates from parks. So, I will be talking to parks about the bingo dates because their information should already be there. So, if their information is already there, we already have it with the calendar. Okay. What do Somebody tell me what I need to do next.

December and January. Okay. And then we work the rest. Okay. No, because if we're going to I don't I'm while I'm off while I'm off for Christmas break cuz I I put in for a lot of PTO. I want to be able to fill out all these form. This is a lot of forms. So, like we not going to have another meeting. I would like to know what I need to spend my Christmas break filling forms out for. There you go. December and January. Okay. All I want is somebody to tell me what I'm doing so I can do it right.

If you have anything in December and January and we don't have a form, that's what we need. Okay. recognizes mayor promot.

Thank you. U Mr. Clerk, I would like to bring to your attention that on this form the last item that's for 1219, it is not 2026, it is 2025. This is the old national Christmas party that is happening happening on the 19th. And so I'd like the record to reflect that is 2025, not 2026. The last item, the last item. Yes. And that's not a that's not a city event. We are right paying to be off city property. Right.

Correct though. Okay, I'm done with that. No, that is this year. It's a typo. It's a typo. It's a typo. And y'all can come to I figured so but that event has already been approved by council. So that's already there. Yep. I yield. The chair recognizes whoever's next. me. I'm in the queue next. The chair recognizes Doc. No, it's me, Dr. Row.

Um, I think what would be helpful I hope that we do get to agreeing to the December and January dates, but what would be helpful if we truly had a master calendar. Um, I think several people have managed u mentioning they've coordinated with the various departments to get their dates. But this is not helpful. I think we need to see it in the whole context and rather than keep going back and forth, we've already said let's deal with it at the retreat. If we could just agree on December and January, we'll be in good shape and please come to the retreat with everybody's stuff on one list so we can look at it because what I'm concerned about and you know, we have to pay attention to some of these constituents. I mean really like it's multiple of the same holiday. Can we look at merging some of this stuff so it makes sense? That's all I'm asking. And so I I hope my colleagues will

I hope we can find grounds that people own certain h or whatever and and and figure it out. And I will say, Councilwoman Ralph, that's that's part of us wanting all of this so we can put it all on the master calendar because actually I did um uh Councilwoman Williams Brown did ask me for a calendar as she was doing her event. So I sent her the format of the master calendar with what we already had, which is the recycle dates and all those things already on there so she could see what was there. Like I I mean I for example I have a list I've had a list a long time but I was waiting because I thought we were going to come back with a with a comprehensive look at events and I share that and I you know Clint has

if everyone shares it with us we will have that we see the totality and we're looking at and I think it's also helpful with council um woman Natasha Williams Brown said some things don't require city resources like when I do my fleet food I don't use staff I use a contractor to help with that food distribution. So I think being clear about that when we have this conversation so we get a real feel about the resources that are needed and when we should really fill out a form. I think that needs to be a part of that whole conversation. So that's my 50 cent. The chair recognizes Mayor Elects.

I'm going to um withdraw my comment similar to Council Moral. So, we can move on. The chair recognizes Councilwoman Willis. Um,

um, I I just would like to add just because we can have two events on the same day, I still think we need to look at that because it makes no sense for us to have two festivals on the same day. Last, um, this year we had Veterans Day and you had a festival and a parade one day and then a big uh, Veterans Day parade. I mean um event on one day. It makes no sense. Just because you can do something, that doesn't mean you should do it. It's not fair to employees. We should never have two festivals on one day. We should never have two veteran day events on one day. You know, I just think that the suggestion about us going into a retreat, looking at this holistically and realistically is what we should do. Now, I want to say this. I am an I'm I'm extremely proud of us because we are acting like adults in a room after a very contentious election and I did not witness anyone up here arguing about anything. I witnessed everybody here discussing deliberating respectfully. The $300,000 food insecurity fund was something that we approved during the budget process. There was a small committee of us working with staff and the city manager on how we were going to allocate and how we were going to address food insecurity. We did not decide that we were going to take monies from that fund to do anything aside of what we agreed on for the Thanksgiving's meal holiday giveaway. And so that is the bone of contention of everybody up here without the exception of district four. Nobody is questioning you taking extra food and dispersing it cuz we all work to do that. We all work to make sure that whatever church that was having a food

distribution the very next day, we we sent that food to those churches. And our churches are not district specific. We have people that live in all districts that go to churches in our city. And so we made sure that if there was a food distribution that we knew of, anything extra went to those areas. And so while we are appreciative that my colleague got a truck and took extra goods to distribute, we did not agree to touch that fund for that purpose. And so we just want to be fair and we want to be equitable. Several of us want to address food insecurity for December. I think that we all came up with a uh a fair agreement to divvy up the 39,000 and then discussing the retreat. How are we going to move forward with the rest of it? No one is arguing. It's not contentious. We all once in a blue moon agree on something. And so to um put out that we're arguing, that we're questioning, we are accusing somebody of doing something wrong, that's not what we're doing. We're that's not what we're doing. We did not agree outside of the food distribution to distribute that money in any other way. So for someone to make a unilateral decision to pay for extra turkeys, we just most of us, super majority of us feel like that was unfair. And as a result of that, we feel that we all should be given the opportunity to address food insecurity in our respective areas for the month of December. And I think we fairly deliberated that with our arguing and with all of us agreeing. And we all are saying we want to make sure that we don't have a conflict with events. We all deliberated and we all agreeing.

Let's approve December. Let's approve January and discuss everything else later. I haven't seen one contentious comment come out of anyone's mouth. Now, I just want to yield and clarify that we're not saying you did anything wrong. We just want what we agreed upon to be fair. That's it. Thank you. The chair recognizes Councilman Sebastian.

Thank you, Mayor. So, I'm going to say this for the last time. Council member Withers, Miss Suban, you all were there at Welcome Park. The food giveaway that was done the next day was not a planned event at any church. It we got the leftovers that were literally left on the sidewalk at Welcome Park. That is not true. When you have the floor, council Sebastian, when everyone left.

Uh, you have the floor, Councilman Sebastian. Now, what are you? Uh, the chair recognizes Councilwoman Bell. I'll just agree with my colleagues. We'll wait till the retreat seeing that I turn in my list in like October and November. Okay. Uh I just had a quick question for Mr. Clerk and I guess you all could coordinate. Can y'all put that calendar in SharePoint just like the legislative agenda? So it's like a real-time calendar. People can look at it all the time.

We will change it. Um right now the house it's housed in Monday which is a uh program that public affairs is using but we will look at how we download that and put it in a shareepoint. The issue with it is that we would have to try to lock it so it couldn't be changed because we wouldn't want any changes done to it unless it was approved by council. So use Monday in our office what we do. Oh yeah. Okay. Uh all right. So, are we voting on something now or we is there is there a vote?

Okay. Mr. Mr. Clerk, would you restate the motion and we'll vote? So, the motion that I have is made by council member Willis and uh it's really two parts to uh hold the $200,000 and uh develop the RFP and divide the remaining I think it's $39,000 by 8 which uh allocates $4,700 to um the remaining folks the remaining council members and to subtract ract the $1,787 from district 4 allocation. And then the second part was to approve the December 2025 and January 2026 events, at least place them uh on the agenda for approval cuz right now we're just approving the council agenda and then we will vote on this at the end of the agenda. Those were the two things that I had from you.

So there's no there there is a motion or no motion. There there is a motion to add that to the agenda. Okay. All right. Uh the motion has been sounded. There is a motion in a second. Yes. All right. Let's take this vote by a show of hands. What motion are we which motion are we voting? We're voting to add this to the agenda. The substitute motion. The substitute motion.

Yes. Uh, hands up. So, we have one, two, so 61. Okay. Okay. Now that we have added that, do we need to go ahead and vote to adopt the council agenda?

Yes. But I would like to make one clarification since uh we made that uh correction to the add-on events. As Council Member Bell mentioned, uh she submitted her um her events previously, so they're listed on the consent agenda. So, um, there would need to be some action taken to, um, well, I guess I I'll I'll defer I'll defer to the city attorney on that, but we can just do this.

Okay. I think the chair All right. Councilwoman I mean, Mayor Proen Pritchette is next in the queue. The chair recognizes you, Mayor Pro Tim Bridget. Okay. So in with regard to Councilwoman Bell's events that are on the agenda that I approved, I did confirm that all the paperwork was properly submitted. So I believe that it is appropriate for it to remain on the consent agenda unless anybody has an objection. It's part of the I mean I'm just

Well, okay. Okay. I'm I'm just I'm just putting it in context. Okay. So, I I believe the chair will entertain a motion to approve the agenda as adopted removing the events from the consent agenda to the events agenda item at the end of the agenda. All right. Is there a Is there a Do I have a a motion for I may I'm ask I'm entertaining a motion. Do I have a m someone to I move for whatever you just said. Second.

All right. We had a motion and a second. Let's uh take this vote by show of hands. Record that. Motion approved 6 to one. All right. Now that we've approved our agenda, we're going to start our meeting. Uh I will uh Mr. Clerk, please sound the next item. That brings us to approval of the consent agenda. Roman numeral 8. All right. The chair will entertain a motion to approve the consent agenda. Move to approve the consent agenda. Second. It's been properly moved and seconded. Let's take this vote by a show of hands. Point of order as amended. Remember we moved herself off. Yes. As amended. Can somebody mayor can you have some? Okay. Second.

All right. It's been properly moved and seconded. Let's take this vote by show of hands. All right. Please sound the next item.

That brings us to public comments. Just a reminder that comments regarding zoning cases are not allowed. Speakers will be granted a total of two minutes each and public comments will not exceed 30 minutes. Speakers will not be allowed to yield or donate their time to other speakers. Speakers must identify themselves and their addresses prior to speaking and speakers may only address the presiding officer shall observe all rules of the quorum. No debate, disrespect or obscidity shall be tolerated. The presiding officer shall rule any such individual out of order that fails to comply with the foregoing. with those rules read as stated. Um we did uh we got two cards regarding looks like zoning items, but we do have two cards that um request public comment. They are Mike Johnson and Marvin Plowen. Mike Johnson uh district 4 came to fab road. First of all, I would u I'd like to congratulate um each of the elected officials that won. They respect the offices. You know, I know it's tough out there and um whether I supported any of the candidates that won. I do truly respect the outcome. Uh it's tough out there running. So, you know, we uh respect that and that's what we do. As we do know that um about 10% of our 80,000 registered voters within our city of about 115,000 citizens, they make their voices heard loud and clear. And like I say, we respect that. But uh I want to make it real crystal real crystal clear here that um

the entire city will be watching and holding everyone accountable for transparency and clear communication. I'm sorry. No.

Oh, okay. Okay. Yeah. Uh just want to make that real clear that you know that's we expect that. I know each of you guys ran on transparency. that you guys ran on having clear communication so that we as citizens do not have to try to sift through and navigate what's being said. You know, it's a lot of you guys up there. We we we see who really trying to work and really trying to be peacemakers. And that's what we expect of you guys. So, you know, it ain't never too late to turn around and change the opinion of some people. You know, it's about 90,000 other uh 90,000 uh it's quite a few people. 90% of the people that was registered to vote just chose not to participate for whatever the reason. And uh it's not too late to try to get them guys on board. And I just say, hey, look, let's just do what we got to do to make it happen. You know, it like one of the council person said earlier, it was a contentious race. A lot of lot of back and forth. Uh some of it probably approvable, some of it's not, but it was very contentuous. Just know that the entire city will be watching. We'll be holding everybody accountable. It's never too late to try to turn it around and try to uh maintain, you know, we moving in the right direction. This is a great city. A lot of people want to be part of what we got going on down here. And I just say we just, you know, let's move forward and try to do it. Thank y'all.

Good evening. My name is Marvin Ploudin, resident of North Castlegate.

Is that better?

All right. Thank you. My name is Marvin Plausen. I'm resident in North Castlegate Drive. Um, I stand before this council on behalf of the South Fton Police Athletic and Activities League. I serve on the PAL board of directors as the board chairman. I'm here to discuss several ongoing issues. the board of directors has encountered in the last calendar year which the board seeks the assistance of this council in resolving. In December 2024, the acting executive director Timothy Abrams was placed on administrative leave by the South Fullton Police Department. The board was told that Mr. Abrams was placed on leave involving his work with PAL, but the board was not provided with any specific reason for his leave. The board was also informed that there was an investigation of Mr. Abram's work. However, the board of directors was not asked for any information in association with said investigation. On April 8th, 2025, the board of directors received an email from the South Fton Police Department stating that the department had hired a new executive director Veronica Karu. And Miss Karu would begin work on April 21st, 2025. Until that email was sent to the board of directors, we had no knowledge that Mr. Abrams had been officially terminated. However, in an effort to commence advancement in the program, the board attempted to work with Miss Karu. As chairman, I called for the board of directors to meet on May 14th, 2025. On November 12th, 2025, the board of directors received notice of dis dissolution from Miss Karu, which was written by the city of South Fton's interim city attorney, Sarah Kelly, stating that it was the intention of SFPD to dissolve the board for South Fton Police Activities League. The letter alleged that the PAL board had made critical violations of the

organization's bylaws among other allegations. However, none of the alleged violations were outlined within the letter. I'm sorry, sir. That is we you get two minutes. I don't I don't think we read the public comment rules, but that is your time. You can email that to the clerk and we will all get the copies of your full letter. If you want to just take 20 seconds to to wrap up, you can do that.

Okay. Yes. So basically um in the last month uh the executive director it was found out that she uh changed the secretary of state registry. She removed all of the board members off of the secretary secretary of state registry. Also removed all of the board members off of the banking account. She has been terminated by the board of directors. The board of directors has requested that she return all items and all credentials on December by December 5th, 2004. We have not received those items.

All right. Thank you for informing us about that. We will deliberate and someone will get back to you. All right. Next speaker.

Mr. Mr. Mayor, that I did, like I said, I did receive two other cards, but uh per our rules, um we cannot hear any public comment regarding zoning cases since the public hearing was held um at the last meeting. With that being said, unless there's someone who didn't submit a card, we That's all I have, Mr. Mayor. All right. I'm going to go on a little different order tonight. Council comments beginning with our mayor pro Tim, Councilman Bridgetette.

Okay. I wasn't prepared, so I really didn't don't really have a whole lot to say. Um, happy holidays and um uh we are having an old national Christmas celebration once again. The talk of the town, the party to be at that is super sold out. And everybody who I told that you could be on my list, I'm not lying, you could be on my list, just get there. But uh that party will be at Crestwood Event Center on December the 19th at what time? At 6:00 p.m. Uh come early, but don't come too early cuz some people show up at like four or five. Last year that's what y'all did and I just happened to be there. But we we will have a wonderful time and um look forward to seeing you there. have happy holidays and uh thank you again for your confidence confidence in us in allowing us to serve you.

All right. Thank you, District One. Dr. Row,

um I want to thank everybody who um well, group of volunteers to help with uh the senior food distribution at Anthem uh Riverside. um particularly um the students who came from Kennesaw State to help with that effort. Um and as well as I want to commend the mayor on his film festival which was a huge success and congratulations on your your premiere. Um, in addition, I would um I really wasn't totally prepared either, but um again, as council um one and mayor pro Tim, we look forward to seeing you at the holiday party. We try to respond to what we heard in terms of doing something joint.

Um obviously it sold out really fast before any of us can, but but that's a good thing. So, we look forward to growing and figuring out the right space as we move forward in the future to try to do things jointly. And um I'm sure I'm forgetting something, but that that pretty much covers it. All right. Thank you, District 3 Councilwoman Willis.

Thank you. Um Mayor, I did enjoy the film festival and kudos to your uh your appearance that will be on what? BET Plus. Um, I hope in your future endeavors you continue to pursue acting cuz you were pretty good um in that uh series. What is it? Christmas. A soul for Christmas.

A soul for Christmas. Uh, I want to thank we did jointly feed over 2,000 residents in the city of South Fton for the Thanksgiving holiday and we pass so much leftover because some people did not show up. They registered and did not show up. Um, and so as I stated, um, any church that we knew of that had a food distribution the next day, uh, several residents were able to take items to their churches throughout the city. So, we were able to get uh, share over 2,000 meals to residents in the city of South. I want to thank staff, park and recreation, and all the volunteers. We had over a hundred volunteers to show up. Uh, several divine eye organizations showed up. We had

trouble hearing you. Could you repeat that? My time. I'm reclaiming my time. We had the Kappas, we had the Omegas, we had the Deltas, we had the Zetas,

and that was it. But it was all love. We had the Meme. It was all love. And um, everybody enjoyed serving the community. Um, on December 20th, we will have our sanitation and bulk waste day at Walamar Park. So, please make sure you bring your cardboard boxes, uh, any waste that is eligible to dispose be disposed of. It is free. And, um, Saturday we will have our third annual Ben Crump and Friends Christmas Extravaganza. If you want to come and volunteer, please show up. We need elves to uh take the kids around to pick out their toys. We have about um I think about 1,300 kids registered. And um I want to thank all of the I want to thank Ben Crump. I want to thank our Fulton County Sheriff. I want to thank Commissioner Marvin Arrington. I want to thank our mayor elect. Um, I think with all of us working together, we raised about $40,000 to purchase toys. We got donations from Coke. Uh, we got don donations from uh, Integrity Dentl. Um, we got donations from Georgia Power. So, we're going to be able to help a lot of families uh, during the holiday uh, that need uh, Christmas. I want everybody um to have a safe Christmas holiday. Remember to wear your seat belts when you travel. I'm very passionate about reminding everybody to do that. I uh lost my brother in 2003 due to a fatal car accident. And the most hurtful thing about that is if he had his seatelt on, he would have still been with us. and and and so every Christmas at 4:00

in the morning, we are reminded of that call that we receive from the corner. So I ask if you're traveling, please wear your seat belts. Please be safe so that we can see you in January and we can enjoy our festivities wearing our new mayor and council. Congratulations to Natasha Williams Brown, to JC Sebastian, to uh who did I miss? Oh, May you Mary Le, Council Member Gums, and that's who I miss. U my church member and friend Aaron Johnson. Um I'm looking forward to serving you and the city is looking forward to having you serve them. Congratulations on winning your elections. Thank you.

All right. And District Five, Councilwoman Bell.

Happy holidays everybody. Thank y'all for coming today. Thank you to all the residents, but thank you again for allowing us to be in leadership and serve the people. I do want to again say happy holidays. Be safe. Let this be a wonderful time with family and friends. But nevertheless, again, we're wishing you love, peace, and soul this holiday season. Um, I do want to give a few thanks since we are in the cheer spirit. I want to thank the students at for at Banaker High School in the 3D entrepreneurship program. I had a wonderful opportunity to be um a guest judge last week for a few days over at Banaker High School. And many of you know part of Banicker in South Fton, part of it is in Union City. So I always get a the pleasure to be able to serve our youth and young adults. So I it was very similar to a Shark Tank. And so we had pitch competitions where students were able to create their own businesses and products. So, thanks to the students at Banuker High School as well as the director, Miss Latana Balden over that 3D program. Again, in the in the spirit of giving and love, um, I want to thank our parks and recreation center uh department, specifically Patrick Swanson, Coach Nicole, and Coach Raquel. If you were at our second annual Christmas tree lighting, we had the official name is Bird at Park Jubilee that performed for us on last night. And so with all of our staff at Birdad, um they had me in there dashing through the snow and had a lot of different movements. So I just want to thank them for all of their continuous work that they do in the district and throughout our whole city with working with our youth as well. Um many of you know next week is Outlaw Classic. It's an annual Outlaw Classic that we have each and every year in December at Berdat Park. And so um we will be having our ugly

sneaker ball in collaboration with Dr. Travis Barber PAL and parks and recreation as well as our annual outlaw classic banquet which is on the 18th and many of my colleagues have already shared it is party season. So we are welcoming our residents to come out and just get a little twost snap get your snap on get your dance on at the community holiday party which will be at Crestwood. Um that's on December the 19th, districts one, five, six, and seven. So if you were unable to um obtain a ticket because they vastly sold out, please feel free to contact me or my office. I am having a list of residents in district 5. So please feel free to email me or contact me directly if you were not able to secure a ticket. And then right after that on the 20th we have our annual breakfast with Santa at Berdet Park from 900 am to 11 pm. It's a great time to fellowship with our babies, our kids and the parents. So please come out for a morning of music, laughter, arts and crafts and of course we will have a surprise visit from Santa Claus from the north part of Old National. So again, um if you are not receiving our newsletters, please feel free to contact myself or Philip Watley and we will get you connected. And again, wishing you all a safe, prosperous, happy holidays and a happy new year. Thank you.

Thank you. Point of information, ugly sweater or ugly sneaker ball? Ugly sneaker ball. Oh, okay. All right. And now on to our not so newly elected mayor elect Councilwoman Gums. Mayor Elect Gums, sorry.

Well, hello everyone. Um, first of all, I do want to say, um, it has been an absolute pleasure serving as your council woman for eight years. I know I look young, but um we have all grown together and kind of aged a little bit while doing this, but um running to be the next mayor of the city um was not an easy task. And um I do understand that it was contentious, but again, that's because we all love the city of South Fton and we see its potential. So, first of all, mayor, thank you for your service. um as well as all of the council that is coming back and our newly elected gentlemen uh that will be joining us on the council as well to represent district 2. Um so that's exciting in a sense. Um so what I do want to share is that again it is a time for healing and it's a time for uniting the city. So, I am looking forward to leading that charge and you will see a very sharp and united council. Even though we're passionate about what we're passionate about, we will do our best to lead the city in the right direction. So, I'm looking forward to that. And just so you mind, Christmas is my favorite holiday, but I do have to give just a few shots out and I don't have all of my events because I am waiting for our retreat. I want to give a congratulation to Westlakes band. They are ESPN's Red Lobster band of the year finalists. So, um they got a lot of spotlight going on them. So, they will be honored um this weekend, uh December the 12th. Um and they will also be honored as what? What is it? The what bowl we have coming up? Is that the H

the celebration bowl? They will be performing in the celebration bowl as well. So would love for you city of South Fulton residents to go out and support uh one of our rising high schools that is a shining star as well at the celebration bowl. And um with Christmas, I need you all to have your heads on swivels. I don't know if you all understand what that means, but don't leave valuables in your car. Um, that's one thing that we have been promoting throughout the city for the last eight years. Um, because people will take our opportunity. Oh, and we all know uh with Councilwoman and her purse being swiped cuz she didn't she took a chance and didn't pay attention. Um, so we want to make sure that that doesn't happen again to any other residents here in the city of South Fton. Um, and I think you'll follow a lot of what we have with our police department that they are promoting making sure that you all are safe during the holiday season. Am I right in that? Cuz I think y'all have that on the website. All right. And that's all I have. I am looking forward to serving as your next mayor for these four years and as a community, we will move this city forward. Thank you so much for your consideration and um, happy new year. Happy holidays. Thank you,

Councilwoman Willis. Y'all, we got a high school going to the uh second round of playoffs here. Creek High Creek Side High School. We need to We need to look the Southside has something to say. We have We have very good sport programs. I'm excited. They're playing a Savannah school, uh BC Benedicting, but they are going to the second round of playoffs. I'm extremely proud of Creek Side High School. And with that, uh, District 4 Councilman and Councilman elect Sebastian.

Thank you, Mayor. First of all, I want to thank the people who have been texting me this evening. Um, madame city manager, I think we have the cost of the turkey covered. There's no need to deduct it from whatever you guys are going to divide. will be submitting a check of 1,700 of whatever that money is. So, let me say that offh hand. Um, I really want to thank the residents of District 4, this election cycle was engaging and without saying too much, this has been my second election. And the last three times people have voted for me in district 4, they have been records. In 2021 runoff, I got the highest votes ever for a runoff in District 4. in the general election this year. I got the highest votes ever for any candidate in the general election. And in this concluded runoff, even though it was close, I set another record for the top amount of votes uh in a runoff. There were a lot of people that came to the polls, not lot of new people. Welcome to the engagement. But I heard a lot of things. I heard a lot of things. We don't like you because of the company you keep. I was like, "Huh? You mean my colleagues on council? We don't like you because you brought warehouses." I'm like, "H what? Why don't I have a warehouse in district 4?" So rather than really looking at the facts,

a lot of people came to the the polls and voted on the misinformation. So, I would continue to admonish the citizens of our great city to stay engaged and get your information correct as you continue to help us push this city forward. I am not deterred by any any election result. I would continue to stand. There were many people that came into District 4 to try to get me out of office. I am still here

and I will remain here and continue to fight for this city and for what is right. A citizen called me and was crying on the phone a couple days ago about the same gas station project. I had to explain to the citizen. It's a legal process and we as a government and as staff have to see this thing through because it's a legal process. Anybody can come with a proposal. But when people are going to intentionally pass misinformation, I have a problem with that and I'll continue to have a problem with that. I'm going to continue to tell the truth and push the truth forward. because I strongly believe that in the end good always wins. I really want to thank those citizens who came out and gave up their time to help collect this extra food. Corey Smith, Mel Keaton, Joey Mitchell, and others who came out, collected this leftover food, and got it out to citizens the next day. So, if that's a problem for folks here, well, so be it. It's better than leaving the food. Let's go to the dump. I think sometimes up here we play too much politics and that's why the citizens are disgusted with us. And I really hope that we're going to put a lot of this nonsense aside

and in 2026 we move forward in honesty and in truth and stop playing the games. I've been the one for years now, especially when I started around this whole issue of veterans, to have asked for us to combine events. And I've been told, "No, you guys can go back and look at the meeting records." I know I hear people up here talking about we should combine events. I'm like, "Okay, welcome." I've asked staff to take over some of these big events that I do in District 4 that should be city events. Slingfest brought people from 10 states and the Bahamas here right to our city, fill our three hotels back in the summer. That is that is something I recruited to come here to help us with our tourism dollars. So, if we want that to go away, if we wanted Autism Fest to go away, the people came from, I think it's 10 counties and from Mississippi and Alabama to come to Autism Fest. If we want people for that to go away again, y'all can kill it. If y'all if y'all want the one love bike fest that have been here for 20 years and people come from internationally to attend it that know our city. Y'all can kill it. Play games and kill it. But I'm not going to be playing the games with I'm not going to be playing the games. I'm here to do the people's business and I will continue to do that. May saying that's my time. So, I'm going to respect the mayor in his last meeting and thank him for his service to the city. Council member Gums, Mayor Le

Gums, look forward to working in your administration and also with Aaron Johnson, one of the founding members of our city was who is now a city council member like myself and with Councilwoman Elect Brown. But make no bones about it, we are the ones that going to bring healing to this city. And if we're going to keep fighting over these events thing and $1,700 worth of turkeys, that's not going to move our city forward. And Councilwoman and Councilwoman elect Natasha Williams Brown.

Thank you, Mayor. Because Because why? Yes. I am still a sitting council woman. Um I I it looks like all of our it looks like I don't see anybody from parks and wreck, but I certainly want to they're in the room. Somewhere somewhere in the building is parks and wrecks. Park parks and wrecks. Thank you um for a year that has been well served. Especially thank you Taye and um the grounds crew for all of your hard work um in helping to get us set up for each and every month for the um food distribution that we do at Krill Park every third Saturday. as well. Um all of the community partners and volunteers um who have come out every month for really now going on two years to come and um make sure that people who are in need um get the best of us on a monthly basis. Um certainly want to thank um Onero as well as Dots and Pearls um for providing breakfast and toys for um families in the community. Thank you to our police department deputy chief. I think I saw him at some point earlier, but thank you for always coming out and supporting the community and, you know, going above and beyond in in your service um to ensure that not only are we safe, but that the community gets to

see you um just being a part of the community and loving on them and caring about them um each and every month. Um, my colleagues have already talked about the um, Christmas party on Saturday. Um, before y'all start sending in massive lists, we have only got 19 slots left and Okay. And and they gone.

So, um, I just put that out there that, you know, before we get a stampede, um, it is it is sold out. Um, unless somebody has got $4,500 to give us to add some more slots, we're full. Um, December 11th, the Old National Merchants Association is going to be doing their annual toy drive at World Changers. The community is invited to come out um to make a donation of $25 or to make a donation of a toy. There will be dinner. There will be entertainment um and activities at World Changers. And again, this is this is being sponsored by the Old National Merchants Association um assistant manager Cooper. So there is no form for this. Um our regular food and that's going to be on the 11th at World Changers. The regular monthly food distribution is going to be Saturday the 13th. um starting we say that we start at 10:00 but people start lining up at 9:00. Last month the line was stretched almost almost from the park to the school. So um the only thing I can tell you is to make sure that you're getting in line or if you know if you're sending people our way, tell them to go ahead and come and to register. Make sure that we can get you through the line faster. If you register, there's a QR code on the flyer. If you sign up, we can get you served um a lot faster, but the lines are um unfortunately starting to get longer and longer each and every month. Um my final senior technology class will be on December the 17th.

Information is forthcoming in the newsletter that I'm trying to get out. Um that is going to be with our partners with my community partner facts to thrive. Um again assistant managing quickly there is no there is no form for this cuz I'm not doing it. I just want to be clear. There's no form there's no form for this one cuz it it's it's not me. Um I think this is the point where I look in the back and find Marilyn and ask did I get it all? All is well.

All is well. Um and with that, these are your what church announcements. Let us all do what? Governs accordingly. Happy holidays, y'all.

All right. Thank you all. Uh first is flu season. Um there it's going around already. It's hitting several of us who are working in public service. So, I got my flu shot. Please get your flu shot. Thank you for everyone, uh, as it's been said, who came out to the Global South Film Festival. Uh, special thanks. I'm not going to name all our partners, but our special partners, the City of South Folton Convention and Visitors Bureau, Georgia Entertainment, and BET, who did bless us with the world premiere of their next holiday classic, A Soulful Christmas, streaming on BET Plus beginning Christmas Day. Uh, a most special thanks to my film and media manager and the Global South Film Festival's artistic director, Miss Danielle Duncan, for a round of applause.

Stand up.

She is not only an impeccable event organizer in her own um just period, but in her own right, she's also an amazing visual storyteller. So, we look forward to the films coming from you. And to Mr. Justin Akoma, uh, who has been, uh, who is my last chief of staff, I want to thank you, uh, want to thank you both for, uh, making these last couple of months peaceful and productive for me and Zion. Uh, this is my last set of council comments. So, um, to the citizens of South Fulton, it has

Thank you for the opportunity, Bless Lord. To serve here in my hometown,

first as your councilman, then as your mayor. I really did the best that I could, and uh, it has been the greatest honor and education of my life uh, serving you all. I want to leave you with one final exhortation and that is dream bigger. Demand more for our community, for our elders and our children. Demand more of yourselves. We must vote for our dreams and not just against our fears and embrace the discomfort of change over the comfort of going back to normal, whatever that is. There are corporate interests working very hard at every level of government to poison our political process and try to convince us to accept a little less each year uh to avoid all the fighting that real liberty requires. But stability is not freedom. And in a tub of slowly heating water, you will be boiled alive before you know it. But we here in the blackest city in America are the direct descendants of those who did not die in the shadows of the doors of no return or the bellies of slaveships or the hellscapes of southern plantations. We are the earth's original people and the architects of democracy and civilization itself. There is nothing

we cannot do. South Fulton forever. Mr. Clerk, please sound the next item. So that brings us to Roman numeral 11 alcohol license resoning variance and modification cases for motion and vote. First is letter A, second read and request council approval of a reasonzoning ordinance KZ25-028 CDP25-010 application by John W. Jordan car of Lee and Ree Ocean requesting a resoning from R3 to AG1 to develop a community pro produce farm on 3.41 acres at 1880 and 1860 Dove Drive 4943 and zero zone Avenue in request of future land use designation amendment from suburban neighborhood 1 to agricultural neighborhood. This propert is located in council district 1. This case was deferred from the October 14th, 2025 meeting to today's tonight's meeting. Staff recommendation for both cases is double denial. Planning Commission recommendation is approval of the zoning case with conditions and approval of the CDP. All right. Uh before I begin, um we're going to take all these votes in the queue. These are legally uh binding votes. Is everybody able to get into our queue? You're in for the 7 PM meeting. The chair will entertain a motion. Um, I approve uh the future land use designation amendment from suburban neighborhood one to agricultural neighborhood and the application to reszone KZ25 028 CDP25-10

an application by John W. Jordan Carroll um uh the oceans requesting a reszoning from R3 to AG1 to develop a community produce farm on 3.41 acres. Um the only condition is that the property the parcel facing Hamilton Road maintain it current zoning. Second. All right. Second.

It's been properly moved and seconded. Can we take this in the queue? The motion was approved unanimously. 70. All right. Please sound the next item. Brings us to letter B. Second read. request council approval of a zoning ordinance case Z25-011 CDP25-006. The applicant is requesting resone from C1 in the old national overlay district to TR at 7210 Old National Highway and is requesting a comprehensive development plan amendment from regional lift work to suburban neighborhood 2 for the purpose of constructing 107 town homes on 13.4 acres of land. This property is in council district 7. that this item was deferred from the October 28th, 2025 meeting to tonight. Staff recommendation and planning commission recommendation is denial.

All right, I will entertain a motion. I move to approve this second read as sounded and I'm asking for discussion to put it into context. Second.

All right, it's been properly moved and seconded. Let's take that. I'm sorry. Uh, Mayor Potim, you have discussion. So, uh, just to put this into context, um, Mr. McClendon, if you can come back up, come up, please, can he? Um, so to explain this is this is um a development project that um off of Old National Highway in an area where we have we have suffered significant issues with the sewer pump. And this project um part of the con the conditions would be their contribution of I believe 1.2 million dollars for the improvement of the sewer pump. Um I spoke to Mr. McClendon about this because we do have or it's been the practice of CDR that if they give a denial initially that they do not re um do an an additional recommendation but I did speak to Mr. McClendon about this and I think that they have gone back and worked on some things that would allow for a staff approval. So Mr. McClendon, if you can speak to that, please.

Attorney and Director McClendon of the business friendly community development regulatory affairs department.

Thank you. Reggie McClendon, managing director of CDR. Um the so uh as stated, our policy is that we do not uh change our recommendations once made. Um and and that will remain so in this case. Uh but the council member is correct about the uh applicant um making a significant investment to the um sewer situation in this or the water and sewer situation in this uh neighborhood. My only suggestion would be to make sure that we place it on the record that it is a condition that that investment actually come to fruition. With that I yield.

All right. Seeing and hearing no further comments, let's take this vote in the queue. I'm sorry. Did you have a mayor elect Gomes? Yes. How much is the investment again for the sewer? And are you going to read it on record?

Um I Yes, I can read it on record. It's $1.2 million. Um this is a property that's attached to a church property. um that the is serving as live, work, play, having the church being I guess the commercial arm and the town houses as the live part, if that makes sense.

Yes. And so I'm reading that into the record, Mr. Clerk, that this um will include a condition of the $1.2 2 million investment into the upgrade of um the sewer. Not just upgrade, they're replacing the sewer pump for that area that uh has been extremely problematic for the last 20 years.

Does that answer all your questions? All right, we ready to take this vote in the queue? You want to just restate that motion, Mr. Clerk?

So, approval uh by council member um Bridgetette, second by council member Williams Brown uh with the condition that the $1.2 million investment into the upgrade and replacement of the sewer system That motion was approved unanimously 70 as condition.

Thank you, Mr. Clerk. Um, next item, please.

Brings us to letter C. Second read and request council approval of a zoning ordinance KZ25-001 U25- 2 application by Randy Pimpsler requesting reszoning from MIX to C2 with a special use permit to allow a self-s storage multi- facility and retail on site at zero Riverside Drive. This property is located in Fulton Industrial Business Overlay District in Council District 1. Staff recommendation uh for both cases approval conditional and planning commission recommendation is approval conditional. I'll entertain a motion.

I move to deny KZ25-00001 based on the current zoning for this particular property which envisions a mix of uses including neighborhood skilled services to act as a buffer between adjacent residential uses and includes a large senior citizen population. Um the current developer has made efforts to u work with the community but one of the concerns was a self- storage facility and not as much focus on the proposed retail and restaurant uses which would serve the neighboring residential.

Yes. Do we have a second? Do we have a second? We don't have a second. I have a discussion. I have a question. If we don't have a second, then I guess it would fail. Yeah, I have a question. It fails. There's no second, so it fails. So, there's no discussion.

Second for discussion.

I have a second for discussion. Okay. So, I guess my question would be for, if you don't mind, the CDR um director, um I think several of us was contacted and there was a revised condition language that was approved on October 28th. And I just have a question with why was that taken out? Why was that language taken out? It says revised condition language as presented in the October 28th. And it says so long as a property is under unified development control or ownership. The proposed retail and restaurant uses must be constructed prior to our contemporaneously to self- storage facility. No building permit for the self- storage facility shall be granted prior to building permits for the retail and restaurant uses. No certificate of occupancy shall be granted to the self-s storage facility prior to certificates of occupancy being granted to the retail and restaurant uses. Um, and it's my understanding that uh staff was worked with closely and it was a mutually beneficial agreement between the developer and the city. and then the condition was taken out. Can you explain why? I I can. So to be clear, um the condition as currently written is the condition that was drafted by CDR uh and has remained as such uh since the

beginning of this case. Uh the there has been quite a bit of back and forth with the developer and um staff and council members on this matter. Um the there the language that you just read was a proposal from the developer. Um it was our understanding at the time that the district council member was okay with that language. Subsequent um conversations revealed that that was not the case and so we removed it and went back to our original language. But to once again to be clear, the language as currently written is the recommendation of CDR.

So when this language was written um on October 28th, let's take cuz because we're as district people, we're not supposed to get into it like this. They're supposed to be working with you all and then you all give us a recommendation. I just have a question. Did you or did you not agree that this language was okay as a condition? I understand what you're saying, what you wrote based on what you discussed with the district person, but did you at any time I'm asking discuss with the developer that this condition in October 28th was a aminoable condition to move this project forward. We had discussions I had discussions with the developers council uh and it it was agreed that that language would be placed in as an as an alternate to the original language. Uh and that that was the that was agreeable from the district council member. Again, I'm I'm taking the district council person out. I'm talking about legally legally. Well, let's take legally out because I know you don't want to pine on anything legally. Uh my question is was this a condition? I'm I'm not discussing the council person because truth be told each of us have a vote up here. Each of us have a vote and we have to vote our conscience. My question is, was the developer told that this was this condition on October 28th was a viable condition.

They were told that that was language that was acceptable.

And as a result of that, they told that was language that was acceptable. But you're stating because of the council member told you she did not agree with that language, that condition was taken out after the person was told that the language was acceptable. Well, to to be clear, before the language was placed in, the the conversation was had. And so there was whether there was a mixup or a miscommunication or whatever the case was, the before that decision was made, uh the conversation was had of whether or not that language was acceptable. uh it was CDRA's understanding that that language was acceptable uh from the council level and so we added it in as an alternative. Uh but once again to be clear we we were never the the language as written is the recommendation that was originally made by CD.

Okay, I'm going to yield. Thank you so much for respons. Thank you. Um, Councilman Ralph,

I just want to clarify while this is a mixeduse development and they worked on that language, of course, self storage require is required to come back to us. It's a special use. And so again, the feedback that I've overwhelmingly heard and you've also gotten those emails from residents was they were concerned about the storage portion. And again, this is a mixeduse which has two components. And so again, I'm working with and responding to what constituents in district one asked. You yield? I do. Okay. Anyone else?

Yeah. I just want to put on the record that I only received two emails. Any uh Okay. So, do you yield? Okay. Anyone else? I just want to clarify, we've done multiple deferrals. You've seen them over the course of year and may not have realized that that was the last meeting that you got it. The clerk can verify. We've been getting them with everyone, but with the deferrals, they never I mean with the deferrals on the uh zonings, they haven't been heard. So, there are multiple going back months on this. Okay. Now that every Well, now that two members have spoken twice, has anyone would anyone else like to make a comment? Councilwoman Gump,

is this in off of Fton Industrial? Is it in the Sand Town Community Association? Yes. And it's been before them multiple times and you have one one of the most recent and one of the most recent communications I think Councilwoman Willis is referring to came from the president. Again, they've been following this for months. Is everyone yielded? Okay. Um if so to restate the motion. This is a motion to deny. Yes.

Okay. And can we take this vote in the queue? Um okay. Um, so I will entertain a motion.

I would like to motion Hold on one second. I will motion that we um approve with the revised condition language from October 28th. So long as a property is under unified development control or ownership, the proposed retail and restaurant uses must be constructed prior to a contemporaneously to self-s storage facility. No building permit for the self- storage facility shall be granted prior to building permits for the retail and restaurants uses. No certificate of occupancy shall be granted to the self-s storage facility prior to certificates of occupancy being granted to the retail and restaurant uses. That's my motion.

Properly moved with a second. Is there any discussion? Councilman Sebastian. All right. Just just for my clarity, I want to make sure I'm understanding what I'm voting on here. Um, first of all, I thought I saw the drawings um with regards to the Clifton Dale the Sant overlay and I believe this spot is just outside of the overlay. It It is within um Mr. Mr. Mr. McClendon, are you here? Can you clarify this for me?

Is it within or or outside? The question is what is what overlay district this located in? The the um Santon overlay. Is it inside or outside? Cuz I thought this was in Fton Industrial. Our staff report is showing that it's in the Fulton industrial overlay. It's in the Fulton industrial overlay, not not in the Santon overlay. Correct. That's correct. And it's

and what we are asking what we are asking now is for the the developers to build the commer the commercial pieces before the the storage. Is that what we're asking? That's your motion. Okay.

Build the commercial first. Councilman, if I may, just for clarification, if you are intending to include the other conditions in the staff report, I'll just make that a part of your your motion just to be very clear for the record what it is that the council is voting on. Okay. So we're saying we're okay with this vote is to say that we're okay with the project with the conditions that the restaurant and retail and stuff come before this storage. Is that what is that what we're saying? That's that's not what the language that was just read into the record ref. So clarify for me what that language put it in plain English for me.

All right. So, um the the condition that was recommended by the Department of Community Development and Regulatory Affairs would require that the um if I could back up for a second, the proposal is for a a development that will include a self-s storage facility as well as a uh commercial use that is intended to be a restaurant and a commercial use that is intended uh to be a retail facility. Uh so there will be so I believe there's four separate buildings being proposed. Uh two retail facilities, one restaurant facility, and the self-s storage facility. The recommendation of the CDR department was that all of those um uses would have to be built contemporaneously. um in that the um self- storage facility would not get its CO if the remainder of those uses were not constructed. Uh the language that was just read into the record um I believe reflects that uh that will not have to happen. Uh but if certain pieces of the project are sold off from the um from the self-s storage facility um then those uses won't necessarily have to be constructed um at the same time or or or before the self- storage facility.

So basically we saying they can go in any order. I'm sorry. We we're basically saying they can go in any order. Right. That's what's on the table right now. That's correct. That's not what I said. Okay. So, again, I sense that there's some confusion here. So, I want to make sure I'd be happy to to reread it into the record so that we can be sure. Uh I don't have a copy of the October 28 staff report. Mr. Hmore, you do you have it? Would you like for me to reread it? Absolutely.

Okay. I will reread what I motioned. Do you mind if I He said it's okay, Mayor Portim if I read it. Okay. So, as the property under unified development control or ownership, the proposed retail and restaurant uses must be constructed prior to or contemporaneously to the self storage facility. No building permit for the self storage facility shall be granted prior to building permits for the retail and restaurant uses. No certificate of occupancy shall be granted to the self storage facility prior to certificates of occupancy being granted to the retail and restaurant uses.

Thank you. So if I if I could reread that with explanation, the first sentence says so long as the property is under unified de development control or ownership, that's qualifying language. So if once the property is no longer under unified development control or ownership, meaning it's sold to multiple owners, then the remainder of that language goes away. Okay. the CD's recommendation reads differently than that and and I'd be happy to read that if necessary.

So again, come down to high school. So what you're saying right now is that if this developer gets this approved and then go and sell these pieces, then the other the things that gets constructed can be then built in any order or not at all. Or not at all. Okay, I'm good. I'm glad I have one more question.

Okay. I can I see the C um Councilwoman Ry is next in the queue and then Councilwoman Gums, would you like to Well, again, I I've said it. I mean, it's an industrial area, but we have a few parcels along foot and industrial that um are designated for commercial. This is the commercial area. It abuts a residential area. The senior community, the Anthem, Riverside, the Hope, most of foot and industrial is not immediately adjacent to that. This is right there. And so again, um I'm looking forward to it. I would like to see it for retail use. There are other areas that make sense for that kind of industrial.

Councilwoman Gums. So my question was when she said residential, is it near apartments or is it homeowners? Both. It's at the end of Riverside Drive where the Publix is. That whole street is residential and at the corners of vacant undeveloped plot of land.

Um I saw Councilwoman Willis in the queue. My concern is, you know, several of us are getting calls that and and all through the election cycle, the the thing that we cons consistently hear in the rooms that some of us go into, I know in a lot of rooms that council member uh Gums and I have been into, We keep hearing that this city is bis is not businessfriendly. And um and this was the the the business owner worked with the staff and came up with a condition that our director said that staff said it was an immunable condition until he felt like the council member felt like that condition wasn't cool anymore. And that was said on the record. I I have the floor. I'm not trying to be disrespectful, but I do have the floor. And and and so my concern is I we are told that we should not get involved like that. and to be given language that the business owner work with staff and was told by staff it's okay it's amanable you know and then to be told that somebody single-handedly said no we just going to destroy your project for you know I I that's my concern we can't keep with the narrative that

we're not business friendly so I'm going going to yield. Okay. And so, um, everyone has spoken like two and three times. Oh, you want to one more time? Okay. One more again.

District one has had more development than almost the whole entire rest of the city. So, clearly I am not not business business friendly. And again, I've had multiple conversations with this developer, encouraged him to look at other parcels. This is a special use permit. and I'm responding to what I heard from my constituents. Bottom line, if y'all want to do something different, that's on y'all. But at the end of the day, y'all got those same emails. And if you Google it, there are multiple feedbacks throughout this process. Even to the last point, when the developer came, he had pe five people allegedly signed up to speak in support. Not one person came forward, even though cards were filled out. So remember the whole context of the conversation,

okay? And that's why everyone will have a vote to take. And um Mr. Clerk, because we've heard a lot and I almost forgot. Um what are we voting on right now? Yeah, you're voting on approval uh with conditions as read by Council Member Willis a couple times. Uh you have a motion and a second. And if we can take this vote in the queue. Can I ask you? Oh, the city manager has a question. Um, city manager, why not? Why not? Sorry, you too.

I'm not trying to upset the card here. Um, in the original package, one of the conditions is confirmation of a curb cut onto Fulton Industrial Boulevard. I'm not sure if that has to be reread into the record in order to have access. It's condition number two in your packet.

You address the chair. Oh, sorry. You asked the city attorney, do we need to include that motion? I mean, include that condition in the So, do you mind if I ask the clerk to sound it so that I can include it? You can include it by voice. Yes. Yes. Amend your original

I would like to amend my original motion to include that condition. Do you mind reading that condition um clerk because I don't have it in front of me. Is it three? Is it all is it Huh? Can you read could can the clerk read all three or can you read all three conditions? I would like to amend my motion to include all conditions, all other conditions. And can you read those conditions into the record, please? M. Would you I I can I'd be happy to read them. Um, Madam City Manager, if you

All right. So condition one is that the property must be subdivided and developed substantially in accordance with the proposed site plan received on May 29th, 2025 by the South Fulton Department of Community Development and Regulatory Affairs. That site plan is attached here too. Says site plan is conceptual and must meet or exceed the requirements of the South Fton zoning ordinance and subdivision regulations. Compliance with all regulations shall be in place prior to the issuance of the first certificate of occupancy. Prior condition number two reads that prior to the issuance of any land disturbance permit, the developer is required to confirm Georgia Department of Transportation approval of a curb cut from Fulton Industrial Boulevard allowing access to the property from that roadway. And then condition number three would be so long as the property is under unified development control or ownership then the proposed retail and restaurant uses must be constructed prior to or contemporaneously to the self-s storage facility. No building permit for the self-s storage facility shall be granted prior to building permits for the retail and restaurant uses and no certificate of occupancy shall be granted to the self-s storage facility prior to certificate of occupancy being granted to the retail and restaurant uses. I would also like to add um we have over 30 signatures from businesses and res residents of the multi-family that's next to the site. They're all multif family right um residents right there. Thank you. I yield

in support. Thank you. Can we take this vote in the queue? is Mr. Clark.

Okay. your microphone. Councilwoman Willis, that motion is approved six to one. Thank you. That is your taxpayer dollars at work. Next item, Mr. Clerk.

Brings us to letter D. Second read and request council approval of a zoning ordinance KZ25-029 U25-010 an application by Quick Trip Corporation Carol Battle Law question reszoning from C2 in the old national overlay to C2 with a special use permit to allow for and operate a convenience store with gasoline pumps with accessory car wash at zero Jonesboro and Kinwood Road. It's located in council district 7. Staff recommendations approval of Z25-029 and denial of U25-010. Planning Commission recommends denial of both cases.

Okay, this may seem unusual, but since this case is in my district and I didn't actually plan on chairing, I am moving to defer this to the January meeting. Amen. Um, can I get a second? Second. 13th or the second? The 13th. Yes. So, properly moved with a second. Is there any discussion? Please don't. Uh, okay. And with that, uh, can we take the vote in the queue to defer

motion to defer is approved 70 to to January 13th meeting. Thank you. Uh, next item, M. Clerk

brings us to letter E. Uh request council approval was on resolution case U25-012 application by Quinn Bennett requesting a special use permit for a gas station with a convenience store to expand the existing facility for additional retail space and two new restrooms in C2 and M2 at 4285 Roosevelt Highway located in council district 5. Staff recommendation and planning commission recommendation is approval. At this time I will entertain a motion. A motion to approve. Second

properly moved with a second. Is there any discussion? With that, if we can take the vote in the queue,

that motion was approved unanimously. 70. Thank you. Next item, Mr. Clerk. Brings us to letter F. Crush council approval of resolution establishing a six-month moratorum on the acceptance of any applications related to the new to the new development or establishment of any data center or other largecale data storage and or distribution facility. This is sponsored by council women gums ri and williams brown. With that I'll entertain a motion. A motion to approve.

I'd like to make a motion to approve. Councilwoman Bell, move to approve. Can I have a second? Thank you. Um, is there discussion? Councilman Ralph and then comes. Um, I I think it's just supposed to address data centers and not other largecale data. Well, it's supposed to say data centers or large scale data storage, not the distribution facility component and or distribution facility. Okay. Um uh would Mr. Can Mr. McClennon uh I think the city attorney wrote it something.

Okay. So, you're saying that was sounded is not what you want to vote on. Correct. because we don't want it to in impact other things that developments. We're specifically trying to address the data centers and data storage facilities, not distribution facilities. Correct. That I don't know where that came from. So would someone like to withdraw their motion or amend the motion? I like um I would like So, Councilwoman Bell made the original motion. But she can withdraw.

Um I I'll withdraw so you can amend, but either way. Okay. Okay. Councilwoman Gums, I'd like to make a motion to uh establish a six-month moratory on the acceptance of any applications related to the new development or establishment of any data centers or large or large scale storage removing the verbiage that says distribution facilities. Can I have a second? Second. Discussion. Properly moved with the second discussion. Councilwoman Goats,

this is um again as we we are trying to move forward to become a more businessfriendly city. This is just an opportunity for us to really get um I guess an understanding of data centers because we do know that they are um becoming an influx into the city of South Fton. So this will give us a opportunity to number one educate ourselves along with the residents here in the city of South Fton. So, I do want to make sure that we preference that that we're not not being business friendly, but there's a lot of um research and data that needs to come along with understanding what data centers bring to cities like ours. So, thank you. Thank you.

Um so, we have Councilman Ralph and then Willis and then Sebastian.

Okay, Councilman Willis. So, I had a town hall um a couple of months ago with over 100 attendees and all of the stakeholders and um and I think we need to have more. Uh I also am in process of working with ARC to strengthen our ordinance even more. One of the things that we need to add in our ordinance is to make sure that uh if we do have data centers which has to come in the city by way of special use per permit due to the last ordinance that I put in place that that we put a condition that they must be built using the water loop system. Um we typically have been putting that condition in but that needs to be a part of our ordinance. ARC is also going to give me some more recommendations. I also think um and I'll yield um Mary Lac and and colleagues that we do need to come up with some type of committee uh that will um sit citizen committee but have people who have some type of legal background and experience with community benefits. um because that's not something that we can delve into as elected officials and um CD has been challenged in that area and so um I will co-sponsor that with um anyone who's willing to uh you will um council member Williams Brown so that we can come up and it don't have to be seven people on that just you know maybe four or five people that has experience with community benefits and that would give uh that we can that we can um have go into situations to maybe negotiate on

behalf of communities in our city um as it relates to these data centers or any other development. I just think that we need to do that. So, thank you Council Member Williams Brown and anybody else who want to work with me in getting that done. I appreciate you recognizing me and I'm going to yell. Okay. Um, let me see the queue. Councilman Sebastian.

First of all, Council Member um Ro, thank you for clarifying that language. Um, as I discussed with you, I I didn't think it was really appropriate because it could have had some unintended negative consequences. Um I have a question for staff in terms of applications um for data centers. Have we had how many applications have we had for data centers if any in the last six months? City of South. Uh thank you Reggie McClendon, managing director of the again businessfriendly CDR. I um since we've implemented the special use permit process, we have not received any uh new applications for data centers.

All right. Thank you for that. And um is there a plan? This is for the sponsors of this legislation because it's one thing to put the moratorum in place, but is there a plan to collect data so that we can be making informed decisions when this time comes. I I personally feel the special use permit that we have in place, we need to get some more education. Yes. So, I agree with you on the um study committee, Council Member Willis, but I don't want us to have to do something that could negatively impact our ability to do business, especially when they're in the right place. I've often times say to people, if we are not going to use data, we won't need data centers. and all of these multiple phones and streaming TVs and streaming microwaves and whatever not, they all use data. So, unfortunately, it's a necessary evil if you want to if you want to call it that. But, I've I've heard that the technology is not what it was. And I hope that we can do this sooner rather than later in terms of the study because remember we have Fulton Industrial Boulevard right here. And I know there are probably some empty warehouse spaces and one of the things I asked someone the other day, can some of these be retrofitted into data centers? And I I was told yes, that's a possibility. Again, I'm not an expert, but that's what I was told. So again, if we have the opportunity to put data

centers in the right place and to negotiate through that special use permit the appropriate community benefits and so on and so forth. These are things that can help us as a city and help us to get an additional stream of revenue that can help us then reduce the tax burden on citizens and and their home taxes. So, I hope this does not turn into an anti- data h data center thing that we're not going to ever do and we're going to resist forever because I don't I don't think that would be a good policy idol. So I look forward to somebody pushing this whole study forward and hopefully we come back here in 6 months and we can determine how are we going to deal with this whole phenomena of data centers because they're not going to go away with AI getting more and more in everyday use. the need for data, it's it's just going to keep increasing and we could find ourselves just like with the warehouses with data centers being put in our borders in places that we don't want them. So, I I'm hoping that as a city we could truly live up to that businessfriendly piece and get this studied properly and get it back in the books so that when we have when we do have opportunities for data centers, we did a great thing with this special use. Thank you, Council Member um Willis because they were sneaking in on our industrial zoning before we stopped that. So we did a great thing but we have to go to the next step doing that study collecting the data and to be able to say when they do come when we have the opportunity to

put them in the right places where they don't affect citizens and we do the study around water and and electricity use and all that sort of stuff. Yes, I've been in conversations with some of the power companies recently and they they have said they're not on the usual grid so they don't affect your homes. Again, that's what the experts saying. So, that's what I wanted to to mention. Um, looking forward to the study sometime down the road and for us to come back and get the thing and present this as an option for us as a city.

Thank you, Councilman Sebastian. Uh, Council Councilwoman uh Dag, I was going to try to jump in the queue right quick, but Councilwoman Williams Brown. Um, so I think that well number one the whole per just because we have not gotten applications doesn't mean that we won't get applications. Um, and I believe it is a prudent step. Well, I think that it's a prudent step to put the moratorum in place. so that we have the time and the space to bring the experts to the table. Um, again, as someone who works in the research space, there are over there have been over 23,000 studies published in PubMed just in the past year. and none of us is a researcher in that area. Um, and so yes, we we have to do our due diligence because if somebody who's an Alexa streaming every gadget on the planet household, if it's a gadget to make life easier, it's probably in my house.

Um, yes, we're generating it generates lots and lots of data. Microsoft just announced that they are un that they are getting ready to roll out to companies the ability for the company to opt in to be able to track location data of remote workers so that they are going to be able to know where you are logging in from. We can talk about that in terms of big brother. But again, as someone who works in the research space, the implications for that information to be repackaged and to be resold to the business community, which will allow them to do geo fencing and geospatial microargeting of where to put things like restaurants, um, hotels, because now you're going to know as remote work is here to stay, they are looking to see where to put things. So all of this data isn't just being stored somewhere never to be used and seen again. This data is being collected up and packaged and sold. And as policy makers, we need to not only understand the data center aspect of it. We need to understand the economic and economic economic development implications of what happens with that data once it gets stored and how it gets packaged and how it gets sold. And again, my expertise is public administration. It is not data centers. So we we have to take the time to walk through all of the pieces from the generation of the data to the collection

of the data to the storage of the data to the aggregation and dissemination of the data and then how it's going to be used in commerce because at some point we're going to have to make decisions along that whole continuum. Um so this is I think a prudent step. I think it's a smart step. Um, and 6 months should give us enough time to be able to get with experts, not just industry experts, but people who actually do the research and publish the papers that end up, you know, in grant proposals and all the other things that we use research for in academia. Um, we we should be able to have this wrapped up in 6 months so that when we come back, we can have a coherent strategy that doesn't just address where a data center goes, but gives us some direction to be able to forecast. So instead of being reactive, we can be proactive on the other end of what that data dissemination looks like when it starts to hit the marketplace. And with that, I yield.

Thank you. So, um, I acknowledge myself and, uh, Councilwoman Williams Brown, I'd like you to know that when I was an employee here in the city of South Fulton, that technology exists where you have to log on and uh, it knows where you are when you log on. Uh secondly to Councilwoman uh Willis to your point um of who we should include in studying this information I would encourage us to invite the CIDs. I know the South Fulton CI that's along Oakley Industrial and I believe it's the uh Fulton Industrial CI because that's where a lot of this warehousing goes. So, if we can invite some of those people that do know about community benefits or infrastructure projects and stuff like that, um I would love to invite them and work on that with you if y'all need me. And with that, I yield. And Mr. Clerk, if we can take this vote in the queue. Motion was approved unanimously 70 as amended.

Next item, please.

Next item is letter G. Request council confirmation of the following recorded development plat as approved by the city engineer pursuant to section 4.2.2e of the subdivision regulations appendix D. Section 4.22E of the city's municipal codes calls for the city council to confirm receipt of all recorded plat. All recorded plats have been received and logged by Fulton County Superior Court at this time. Uh the two plats are confirmed final plat for emblem at Sandtown combination located in council district 1. This final plat is for the combination of of subdivision of three parcels into one parcel. The combined parcel will be 33.713 acres. Number two, confirm final plat for 4960 Welcome all road located in council district 3. This minor plaque is for the combination of two tracks into one parcel. The combined parcel will be 6.636 acres.

I will entertain a motion. I move to approve as sounded. Properly move with a second. Any discussion? Councilman um Raul. Uh this is a question for our CDR. Is there some hearing for G1 coming up on the 19th? I got a letter from a resident. I just want to verify if so I would like to hold that after at least that hearing if that's the case. G1 is is an administrator C1 C. I'm assuming you're talking about emblem at Sant.

Uh there is a that's correct. Um there is a an administrative appeal uh in front of the zoning board of appeals. Okay. Um, can we just It's not Now, I should say that it's not necessarily based on the plat. It's based on um the I think the land disturbance request. Okay. Um I just feel comfortable we waited till after at least that. So I guess that's January. What's the meeting in January? 13th. 13th.

Um yeah. So for G1, I would ask for that plat to be held to January 13, 2026. Okay. Any other discussion? Okay. Uh with that, can we take this vote in the queue? The motion was approved 70 as amended.

Next item, please. Mayor. Yes, ma'am. Um, Mayor Pro Tim, if if it's possible, can we take um would you allow us to take um item number one, two, and four? Um a motion to uh engross by adopting items number one, two, and four by unanimous consent. And the reason I'm asking to hold off on three because I do have a question around three. Yes. If every if no one is opposed by unanimous consent.

Yeah. Um can we sound these items off? And I do have discussion on item number one. Okay. Okay.

So miss um if you can release your mic. So lot item A1 under procurement of contracts number one is fire and rescue department seeks council approval to proceed with the procurement of a permanent multi-level burn training facility that allows Southfold and fire rescue to conduct realistic live fire rescue and ventilation training in compliance with national standards. Firefighters currently lack a dedicated NFPA compliance space to conduct full-scale training. This project addresses that gap by installing a modular steel burn building capable of supporting training for structure fires, confined space rescues, vertical ventilation, search drives, and ladder operations. The total cost of the burn building is 2,695,8780. Number two is public works seeks council approval to award ITB25-13 standby reservicing minor projects to tripleR paving the lowest responsive and responsible bidder. This rebid of ITB25-06 broadens the scope to include citywide resurfacing and minor roadway rehabilitation through a competitively bid unit price contract. uh work will be executed under individual task orders for mill and overlay deep base repair, subdivision resurfacing and asphalt patching. Task orders will be issued on an asne basis in accordance with the contractor's submitted unit price schedule. Uh number four is Parks and Recreation seeks council approval to move forward with the installation and relocation of emergency call boxes at hightra city parks with the not to exceed project budget of $250,000. The initiative enhances public safety by providing direct emergency communication links for park visitors. Work will be

completed by A3 communications using the state of Georgia cooperative contract. The locations are Creole Park, Berdett Park, Wilkerson Mill, Tremacrow, Sandtown Park, Old National Park, Welcome Park, Clifton Park, and South Tennis Center.

Okay. And so that is items one, two, and four have been adopted by unanimous consent. Next item, Mr. Clerk. That brings us to item A3. The procurement department is requesting council approval of a resolution to adopt the updated city of South Fulton purchasing card and credit card policy which provides stricter internal controls, clear accountability measures, and compliance with the applicable procurement laws. The city's original purchasing card policy has been revised to incorporate internal auditor recommendations, tighten fiscal controls, and standardize use across the departments. The updated policy includes defined monthly limits by position, prohibited purchase categories, audit protocols, card holder responsibilities, required documentation for meals, temporary spending increases, and disciplinary procedures for misuse. The revision was developed collaborative with the city manager's office, internal auditor, legal, and the procurement director. Key updates ensure alignment with Georgia law and industry best standards, including the fourprong test for public purpose spending and increase oversight by the procurement administrator.

I will entertain a motion. Ma'am pro Tim.

Yes, ma'am. Um, I would ask that we pull this and hold this motion to hold this and we discussed this in a retreat and here is why. We have new uh a new council member coming on. None of us have seen this new policy. We heard about the policy. It's in the agenda, but I just don't want us to get caught up in we need to understand everything this policy is asking us with all the confusion around these peards. We need to understand everything this policy is asking us to do and make sure this policy is not asking us to do something that is not um feasible with our uh working conditions. We knew this policy was coming, but we haven't had any in-depth discussions about it. And I would ask if we could have a discussion in a retreat, go through this policy uh with a fine tooth tone, I mean um comb, and we got a new council member coming on. We got a a new mayor coming on. We just need to be clear cuz I don't want to assume that we getting stuff approved that we not getting stuff approved that should be getting approved. And I just we this this it has been a lot with these PE cards and I you know I I just I haven't had a chance to do a deep dive into the policy the updated policy. So am I understanding that you would like to say table this

and to the can we have this can we have a discussion can we have a thorough review of the revised policy in the retreat but at this moment you want to table it and if you want to pull it period I want to pull I want a motion to pull this policy and we can bring it back in February is there a second properly moved with a second uh there is discussion Councilwoman woman Williams Brown, please release.

Um, yes. So, I I'm going to agree with Councilwoman Willis that you know, we've been given we've been given a policy that we haven't had um I think sufficient time to really dive into. Um, and there's some things in here that I think we do need to flesh out and make sure that we have an understanding. So, things where it talks about language about um serving a public purpose because as elected public officials, everything is a public purpose.

Um, and so what what does that mean? Because if we are if we are serving our residents and we are serving the public, how is that not a public purpose? What does that mean? Um, you know, I there there's other things that are in here that I agree that we would want to make sure that we are that we are un that we are just really understanding. Um particularly when we start talking about how we how we actually function in practice. um that we are not handicapping ourselves and preventing ourselves from being able to do the things in our office that, you know, make sense for us to do and and that are in keeping with the way we've been doing things and what the residents have come to expect from us to do because we have set these precedents. Um, and so I, yeah, I'm I fully am in support of pulling this completely until we can go through it, um, thoroughly and ensure that what's in here is something that is realistic for us and that the people who make the policy are driving the conversation and not the employees that we pay to do the work. Okay then. So, um, you yield. Okay. Uh, no, we have a queue. And Councilman Rouse's next.

Yes. I guess this is a question. The only, if I'm correct, is the only addition that to this document on page three that's highlighted in red, participants must sign an agreement. Can you Yeah. I just want to know why it's highlighted in highlighted incor.

Yeah. So, there were several things that have been changed. One of them is, you know, we've realized that we need more time to um to approve and reconcile intruist. So, that was changed. Um I totally agree. I think we sit down, we can go through it page by page. It's been in the portal with the attachment, but I know everybody's been very busy. So happy to have some, you know, a deep dive into it. Um, there are things that, you know, things like constant contact, which we know is not, you know, it purchase. We've made those changes, but I am in total agreement go through it, you know, line by line. Um the city attorney gave us a fourpart test on what is a public purpose. We incorporated that. So some of this was um is not new to you but that was shared with you but happy to go through it at the retreat line by line make sure that because the the first time we did this we absolutely um missed things. So this time we took the time to go line by line. We did take the auditor's recommendations and to the extent that it, you know, made sense for us, but happy to go through it at the retreat line by line and make sure that everybody's on board.

Um, just a followup, um, can, before we get to that point, can it be sent to us with a marked up version because I didn't understand why that one section was as well as the table of content with the bookmarks updated. So, that that would be helpful. And maybe that's where the changes took place. It was hard to tell. Um, but I I think that would be helpful at least to me. Absolutely. Uh, Councilwoman um Ralph. Um, okay. Once we finish at the end. Uh, okay.

Okay. And so, um, I guess I'm next. Um, Miss Suban in our in in our reconciling with our pecards. Um it appears that items that we have gone through um are still pending as far back as June. At least in mine it is. And so I guess I'll talk to you later about that. But, uh, yeah, um, I'm in concurrence with what everyone else is saying so that we can provide input and put some things into context and really get a better understanding. And I think that the, uh, that the retreat is a perfect time to shape this policy. um especially you know adding the experiences that we have who are the card users so that you all understand what we go through and the different glitches that like the glitch I'm just um explaining that we have on our end so that this works for everyone and um it's functional. So with that I yield and can I see the queue again? Councilman Sebastian.

Uh,

thank you. I am actually okay without having a PE card. I I really am. Um, we had this discussion last January again in a meeting. We have spent the entire year going back and forth and trying to do and clean this whole thing up. I remember along the way expressing my concern over being responsible for a budget and not having approval of things that hit that budget. And to my surprise, during this contentious election season, finding out that staff charged something to my budget without me knowing or having any insight that that thing was happening. I am really disappointed that that happened. I go back again to say this process here, it is very messy. And I do understand having the flexibility of having a pec card helps, but at the end of the day, I'm wondering if all this is even worth it. I've I've said before I have not one but three pec cards for three different organizations and one of them have to beg me to use my card so we can keep some of the benefits that come from those cards. So I don't I can operate without a PE card. But I I think this whole thing of not being able to easily approve things and see what is happening with your budget. It is a big problem for me. If nobody is

have a problem with it, then you don't. But I have a problem with it because I don't think I should be responsible and my name gets tossed over to the moon being on something and yet not even knowing when something is hitting my my budget or my account. I have a problem with that and people can get upset with me for saying so. But as they said them they are the facts. I didn't make this up. I look forward to going back into that retreat again to talk about this whole budget process and I can end up on an island by myself. But again, I don't I don't mind fighting alone. But this is a problem for me how this whole thing is too complicated. It is too time consuming for a part-time position and it feels as if it's not quite worth the squeeze. So again, we are the top elected officials of this city and if we cannot do right by a peard then it is the citizens responsibility to deal with us when it's our actions not when it's other people's action. I'm not an employee here. The people of the city of South Fulton, specifically district 4, elected me to be here, not to come here to work for nobody. And I'm actually disgusted by this because this is a whole year now and we don't even we can't even get this

straight. And we pay a lot of people a lot of money every two weeks to make our lives easier and it doesn't feel as if it's easier. So, I'm sorry if some of you are offended by my language and my tone. Welcome to the club. But I've been offended a lot of times and I've bitten my tongue for the last four years and I've kept quiet. And you know what? It got me vilified. That ends today. It ends today. So y'all up here, some of you came for me at the botto box. they lost and you all weren't lucky enough to find the 23 votes that you called about. So for me, I have tried to choose peace, but people here have chosen war with me. Councilman Sebastian, your time is up. Um, I I would like to just say this to everyone on here. Can we please refrain from any campaign conversations? I think that that's inappropriate as we're handling business as council persons. Okay. Um, I'm asking. Um, with that said, um, Councilwoman Gums,

I am looking forward to our retreat and us healing and moving forward. So, um, let's get excited about that. Um, is there an opportunity, I guess, you know, as Councilman Sebastian said, that we have it where we voluntarily, we don't have to accept a PC card. Okay. So that's a good thing. So if you know some of you all do not want to use your PC card or don't need one, you don't have to accept it. Okay. Um secondly, we will be talking about this a little bit further in the retreat. So I don't know what else we need to do. Um but that's what I I just want to make sure that we're looking forward to the retreat and healing healing and moving forward. Okay. All right, let's move forward because we're gonna be here all night.

Okay, let's see the queue. Hang on a second. There's a queue and I'm next. So, um, what I'd like to contribute to this is, uh, when I did work for the city, I remember we had lots of training on these things. We had training actually back then from the procurement person. Um, and now we have training that the city manager has provided us on how to use, well, not how to use our PC card, but how to reconcile, how to use enterprise, all these things. We have CSRs that work for the city to assist us in doing all these administrative functions. they make good money to do what they're supposed to do. In addition to that, and now I'm only speaking for myself, I'm probably the council member that goes to more conferences than anybody. And I got more books than I think anybody. I buy y'all some books sometimes. And in saying that is when I go to these conferences, I don't go to have a good time. I go to learn things. I go to learn from other council members um nationwide best practices all kind of stuff and many of us or most of us go to these same type of conferences these topics are covered especially with GMA so we really have to um this is a part of this job whether it's part-time or however you want to look at it this goes with the territory you know and being fiscally responsible. As Councilwoman Gum said, if it's really easy not to use your PECard if you don't want to. It's super easy. You just don't use it. So, um I just encourage everyone to get more

training. Um even ask other council members who are maybe more successful. A lot of us, we all talk at some point and a lot of us have conversations about how do you do this and how do you do that and we help each other. So, um, I am looking forward to that healing and working together to make sure we move forward, but I'm not going to sit here and pretend like the right information has not been presented to us and like the city manager has not put things in place and actually hired additional staff to get us to that point for us to be fiscally responsible. And if you need help, ask somebody. And the last thing I will say is that the our budgets have our budgets are not governed by just our pecards. Our budgets can there are other things that take money out of our budgets. And if anybody has a problem with these things, communication is an important thing for us. Talk to the city manager and she'll connect you with whoever she needs to connect you in finance. I've sat down with finance a lot last year and they resolve your issues. But that's all I'm gonna say and then I will yield to the next person in the queue. Thank you. Um, you touched on a lot of what I wanted to say. Um, Mr. Bambo, I I don't know how to say his name, but he does not play.

He don't play with me. And so, um, in fairness to the staff and the people who are working on PECART, it's the information is super easy. You can see anything charged to your budget. You may just need to learn to go in the system and look at it or make sure that the CSRs had the training. But, um, they did give us those that instruction and, you know, I I just I want the staff to be recognized for the work they did to improve these processes. Um, I mean it it's not just PC car. You can see a purchase order, anything charged to your budget. So if it's a question, that's when you question it. You don't necessarily wait till the end of the year. So I I just wanted to say that for the staff. I do appreciate the amount of effort and work that has been put in to make sure that we are accountable for these funds. So that's all I got. And Councilwoman Willis,

I have been serving eight years going on nine and I have never been questioned about any of my expenditures. I've never been asked to pay anything back uh if I didn't have the proper documentation. You know, the previous auditor would, you know, maybe have to remind me once or twice. I've I've gotten in Bamboo get on my nerves cuz he audits us. He does not play that. And I mean it in a good way. I don't mean it in a disrespectful way. I What I'm saying is that he really does a good job with holding us accountable, making sure we get our receipts. He does a monthly audit. We get spreadsheets. If we don't have the proper documentation, you know, he put that on a spreadsheet and give you a deadline to get it in. Um Altha has been amazing. Um, I'm an accountant. I have a BA in accounting, masters in accounting. So, it's just a breath of fresh air, you know, to speak to somebody that has a clue of what's going on with our municipal finances. And so, I'm not going to sit here and say that we have or imply that we have incompetent staff because I will have to give Miss Suban credit since she has been here. that has been her area of focus and that is to get people in that department who actually has a clue and who is and who tried to get us on the right track. We paid all this money for audits. I appreciate her bringing that revised policy back. you know, we're going to go through it with a fine tooth tone and we going to get open gov back in operations so people can go and pull our uh finances and you know we comm we are committed to make sure that we don't have to be called on the carpet in a way that we were called on a carpet uh previous years. But I just want to say

staff for me has been amazing and I thank them and I shared a spreadsheet with the clerk office to share with everybody. Um it's a reconciliation spreadsheet and if you are reconciling your PEC card, your um purchase orders on a weekly basis, if anything is out of order, you know, you have the right to bring it to staff's attention. And so I mean I reconcile and I've asked the city manager to ask accounting to give us something that we can use to reconcile on a monthly or weekly basis. And so um you know I I know that's my colleague's lived experience and I'm not going to discredit his lived experience. The only thing that I would say is turn if you feel that the juice is not worth the squeeze and the peac process is not working for you, turn it in and just seek reimbursement for everything that you do. But just be aware that staff won't probably be able to turn your reimbursements around the in a in a timely manner all the time. Um I don't know what that process is and maybe you could put that in the policy so that if anybody seek reimbursement they can have a reasonable time to respect to in uh to to get the reimbursements. So thank you. I yield. Um sorry this discussion took so long but I just didn't want it to be put out like staff isn't doing their job. They're not auditing us. U cuz Bamboo is on it. I hope I'm pronouncing his name right. Bambo. Bambo is on it. Bambo is on it. I'm sorry. Bambo. He's on it. He don't

play. If we don't have them receipts in, we don't have the documentation in, um, you know, we going to hear from him. Thank you.

Thank you, Councilman. Councilman Willis, Councilman Sebastian, your second. I don't I don't don't want to leave folks with the impression that I have gotten a lot of communication from staff about not completing our the PE card transactions. Smart is on the contrary. I've hardly heard from Mr. Bo. Okay. My problem is the the the process as we have it now. It is too complicated. And if we all of the members of this city who use those pecarts, use them in a way as it was designed, we would not have to be dealing with a process that is this complicated. In my four years here, I think I've given back over $120,000 into the general fund because I don't spend my budget every single year. So, my issue is not really whether we have the money, so on and so forth. My issue is it's too complicated. I'm an adult. I don't like to feel as if get treated like a child and that's what this feels like. One of the options as I mentioned that was I believe recommended by the auditors is that elected people don't necessarily have to have PE cards. This came up before and I said if we can put the proper things in place that our spending can be done efficiently. I don't mind not having a pec card.

Others don't want to try it that way and that's okay. But that's my opinion. I'm not calling staff incompetent. I'm talking about the process that we use. That's what I keep talking about. I haven't called anybody's name. All I've said is we have a lot of people who are supposed to make our lives easier. And this process is not working. It doesn't feel easier. It feels too complicated. Maybe when we meet in January or whatever, we can find a simpler way to do some of these things. But right now, it is too complicated and time consuming. And yes, I understand it not only peak hard get to your budget um council member. I know it works. But if you want to tell me that it's okay for somebody to charge something to my budget without discussing that with me, I have a problem with that a thousand times and I will continue to have a problem with that. That cannot be okay on any planet. Because guess what? If that had happened to some of you, you all be calling for heads. Not calling for nobody head. I'm just saying don't do things like that to my budget.

And this is not the first time it has happened. It happens to all of us. council member have the mic. I think have the mic.

Have the mic. I am saying it is not right if we're responsible for our budget. That's why I go back to say do not treat us like children. I'm sorry if anybody's offended by that. If we abuse the PECARD and we abuse the process, put the information out. Y'all know I've said before, y'all can publish my PC card unredacted. I don't care because I don't abuse it, which happened before, by the way. And it was Big Nothing Burger. So again, I want to operate efficiently and I want us to push this city forward, but please don't ask me to accept things that I know can be done better. Don't ask me to do that. And if people don't want to be pushed to to be better, then I'm sorry. I yield. Thank you for yielding, Councilman Sebastian. All right, we have a question on the floor. And uh Councilwoman Willis, uh Councilwoman Willis, would you like to amend your motion?

Yes, I would like to amend my motion to uh pull this ordinance and bring it back the first week in I mean the first meeting in February. first council meeting in February. Second.

Properly moved with a second. If we can take this vote in the queue That motion was approved. 6.

Thank you. Next item, please, Mr. Clerk. Brings us to letter B under public safety. The police department requests council approval to purchase 20 APX70 portable radio model 4.5 units from Motorola Solutions to support public safety operations and offer concern communications. This purchase will be made using cooperative purchasing through source contract 042021 to ensure compliance and cost efficiency. The cost should not exceed $178,3060.

I will entertain a motion. Probably move with a second. Is there any discussion?

No discussion. Can we take this in the queue? And Councilwoman Willis has indicated she's voting affirmatively. Oh, I'm sorry.

That motion was approved. 6. Thank you. Next item, Mr. Clerk. Brings us to letter C under administration. request council approval of a resolution by the city of South Fulton city council establishing the Southwest Arts Center campus youth policy for clear consistent and equitable guidelines for the use of the Southwest Arts Center body department of cultural affairs, other city departments, elected officials, community partners, and external renders. I will entertain a motion.

No, because I No, because I was I was actually going to similar to the credit card use. I I want to pull I was going to make a motion to pull this because yes, while it was circulated, it was circulated six days ago. Okay. We've actually moved with a second discussion. Say what you saying.

Okay. So, yes, I wanted to move to pull this because while yes, it was circulated, it was circulated six days ago. Um this is the first time that we are coming together to look at it. We've had no opportunity as a council to review it and discuss it. And you know, much like Councilman Sebastian, you know, these next four years are going to look very different. Um because I think it needs to it it's if there are going to be policies that are going to be put on the table, those policies need to be driven by the people that were elected to make the policy. And I've got no problem. We've got experts. We pay a lot of money. People are really good at their jobs. But don't drop a policy on me and tell me to approve it. and you haven't given me an opportunity to have input into it. And I'm the one that's got to go before the people in my district and explain why it's a policy. And I can't answer questions cuz nobody bothered to ask the person elected to make the policy what they thought about the policy.

Okay. Um, Councilwoman Ralph and then or whoever is next. Is there a queue? Oh, there's um I think Sebastian is a holdover or did you jump in the Okay, you're in the queue then. Yes.

So, um, Madam, this is a general statement. Madame mayor elect, I hope one of the things that we can discuss in our retreat is this whole issue of these policies being circulated late and this agenda being sent out on a Friday night before a Tuesday meeting. We talked about this when I got here four years ago. And Mr. The clerk can attest how many times I've called him and said, "Where's the agenda packet? I'm either ready to go to print with a newsletter or I need to start to review before I get something on Friday night and have to spend all weekend trying to read every document in here. Sometimes I question whether people don't want it that way. I have to be honest with y'all. Sometimes I question and I say we need to stop play games with the people's business. The agenda items and as council woman Williams Brown said we are the ones that have to answer to the public about the policies and then you come here and we're making the sausage in public and it doesn't look good. So, I'm hoping everyone who's involved in this agenda preparation process will get these things out earlier so that we can make informed decisions because people get in their feelings. If you don't vote for a policy that you don't understand, do you vote no? Okay, you don't quite understand it. No, people are in their feelings.

So, madame mayor prom I look forward may elect sorry I look forward to the change where we can have the agenda packet sent out early we can have a proper review period and if something is not ready it's not ready push it back. Thank you. Councilwoman Gomes. Um, thank you, Councilman Sebastian. I hear you. And we will work um diligently to improve that process. In reference to this particular um item that's on here, it says request council approval of a resolution by the city of South Fulton City Council. Um I I did have an opportunity to look over the policy and it's based off of how it's written, it's not really beneficial to the elected officials who are supposedly supposed to be creating this policy. Um when you look at it on the surface, some of the notes that we took away was that it reduces the elected officials access to SWAC um by placing them in a low in the lowest tier if we wanted to, you know, have an event or um those type of things to increase in community engagement. Um it also creates a potential equity barriers. Um, so there are a number of things that I think we're still this policy is halfbaked and it doesn't have a lot of the council members input. So I definitely would love for us to sit down and talk about this at the retreat. We understand that this is a newly renovated area, but the thing that gives

me heartburn, it says that it was a request council's approval for a resolution by the city of South Folton city council and we have no input. It's kind of sad. So, um I will I think I second did I second the motion? Okay. So we can move on when we talk about this at the retreat and then we'll figure out when we need to um bring this back to the Yeah, I understand. Councilwoman Willis,

I'm just going to be transparent and tell y'all how I feel when I when am I not? I feel like we put all this money into the Southwest Arts Center to renovate it and now y'all telling us, y'all trying to restrict when we can use it and how we can use it. And if it wasn't for us approving the money for the facility to be renovated, it would still look like a dump. So, who did this? That's what I want to know. Who did this and why was it done? What's the intent? Well, I can answer. I think what we had we so first of all, nobody was intending any offense and the fact that we didn't circulate it, get your input is a misstep on our part. Um what we are really hoping for is to maximize the use and the return. Um staff put it together. We didn't seek your input. Clearly the six days was not enough. You know what we're hoping for is to draw um more outside events to the facility. I thought that was kind of what your some of your expectations were. We talked earlier about tourism, putting making the facility part of drawing in events. Um, what we're hoping for is to see more premieres like we saw on Wednesday night, but we're not trying to take the facility away. It's the city's facility, you know, but happy to take your input. At the end of the day, you are the policy makers. We're just trying to give you a, you know, our recommendation and advice, but you don't have to take it. Um,

and I apologize if there's an offense. That was never the intent. And you know, as it relates to making life easier for you at the end of the day, I serve the city and I have a fiduciary responsibility. I'm not trying to make it hard for you. I'm trying to make sure that we protect the city. So, looking forward to your input. um if you want to use a facility differently, you just tell us that and we'll incorporate that and come up with a policy that you feel satisfied with. But I don't think there's anything in in I don't think it's anything stopping staff from doing what it needs to do to have what was had the other night. I and although several of us attended, we found out at the last minute about that. I think I would like to see policies about us getting our pictures from our events more timely. I would like to see a policy around us finding out about events more timely. But we don't use Southwest Art Center like that. So, I'm not understanding why this policy is even we're not stopping staff from promoting or having events there. That's never been a barrier. But there's a huge communication barrier and I've yet to see a policy around that.

Thank you for yielding. I'm next. So, u Mr. clerk. Um, can you speak to the statutory requirement on when the agenda is supposed to be published? Per the um ordinance, it has to be out by 2:00 on the Friday before the Tuesday meeting.

Okay. Okay. So, um, you know, I I look forward to when you come in and do the agenda, but, um, I don't know how many people on this day have done an agenda. I'm not saying nobody has or that y'all have or y'all haven't. But when you find out on a Wednesday that you need to put together an agenda, and you do and then the what the clerk and the city manager are tasked with and city attorney is, as you see all these attachments, they have to have all this stuff ready before it's actually published, you know. So, I mean, I get it. I have a newsletter, too. And um when I got well I'm not going to talk about election stuff but uh there's a difference between campaigning and governing. And when you're governing sometimes I don't get out as many newsletters as I did when I wasn't governing. Um and when you get the information you disseminate the information. But I just hope that um Councilwoman Gums that you would help us to have uh an environment of decorum where we wouldn't be here just uh not say airing out our dirty laundry, but some of these things that we've discussed tonight, I think we could have discussed on the phone, you know, or discussed it at the administration building or city hall or something like this. But um hey, we I think that we all can admit that we're doing the best we can. And if we're not doing the best we can, I'm sure we can we have another day to look forward to, God willing, that we can do it better. And we're learning a lot and we're learning the things that we're deficient in and the things that we need or we'd like. And I hope that we have the opportunity to improve on these things.

And with that, I hope that we can vote on this now. in the queue to pull it. Well, as you restated, to a date certain in February to table it. Well, well, no, my my motion was to pull it. Period. And we we can bring we can talk about it at the retreat and then see when we want to bring it back. But my motion is to pull it.

Okay. So, uh, I've heard what y'all have said and I will repeat the recommendation of the parliamentarian that Shaw wanted to have here and I want to show her that we are willing to learn, listen, and grow. So, again, can if y'all don't want to follow her recommendation, whatever y'all say. I move to table indefinitely. Amen. Thank you, Jesus. Can we vote on this in the queue? Pretty please. We getting there. Jesus is in the manger. He is. Oh, we l we lit the tree and now he's in the manger

and Santa Claus is on his way. That motion was approved unanimously. 70. Thank you. And uh next item, Mr. Clerk. So we got two more

categories of the first is uh letter D. These are first read ordinances. Uh first number one is first read an ordinance to amend title 12 licenses permits and business regulations at chapter 6 deliverybased commercial kitchens of the code of ordinance to city of Southton Georgia sponsored by council member Gums. Uh second first read an ordinance by the city of South Fulton of the uh Georgia to provide an exemption of the provisions of section 302.15 of the city of Southton code ordinances for the purposes of waving distance requirements for a gas station to be located at 0 Jonesboro Road and 0 Kinwood Road to add a section 302.151 to codify gas station exemptions. This is sponsored by Mayor Pro Tim Linda Becker Pritchette. Um item three um should have been removed from the agenda because it was deferred at the 5:00 meeting.

And with that, we got one more. Oh, he has one more. So let's make sure. So yeah, U2513 is a group residence for 6 to9 children. This one is talking about

Oh, okay. Yeah, that's a different one. You're right. So number three is first read of a zoning ordinance KZ25-013 CV25-004 application by Leavarian Grundy Senior. Question reszoning from R3 to R4A to develop three single family residential lots on 1.65 acres at 4865 Camel Road. Applicant also request a concurrent variance section 405.01B2 to eliminate the 100 foot buffer. It's located in council district 1. Mr. Clerk, um, what I heard you say is Z2513. Did you mean 031? 03 031. Yeah. Okay.

Look at that wrong. Okay. So, those are that those three are first read. And the last item on the agenda, if it's okay, Madame May Pro. Yes.

Is the walk-on items, which includes the list of uh items I gave you u at the when we adopted the agenda. Do you want to go individually or just read all of them at once? Okay. So, uh, the under the add-on items, we have across council approval of resolutions acquiring real property approval of zero Cascade Road, zero Cascade Road, zero Cascade Road, zero Cascade Road, zero Cascade Road, zero Rivertown Road, 0 Union Road, and zero Wallace Road, 0 Vander Road, 0 1210 Ela Drive, 3025 MK Road, 3034 Enan Road, code 4760 Fton Industrial Boulevard. Those all uh resolutions to acquire property. We also have a request approval of board appointments. Uh Council McGome seeks to reappoint Dana Tucker Davis to the South Development Authority. Council member Sebastian seeks to appoint James Reese Jr. to the South and Development Authority. Council member Sebastian appoints Nia McGillyard to the Environmental Committee. Council member Sebastian reappoints Charles Storm Mitchell to the Historic and Cultural Landmarks Commission. Council member Sebastian seeks to reappoint Barbara Mostella to the Parks and Recreation Authority Board. Council member Sebastian seeks to reappoint Tron Jefferson to the South Planning Commission. Council member Sebastian seeks to reappoint Brian O'Donnell to the South Zoning Board of Appeals. And Council Member Sebastian seeks to reappoint Jeffrey Williams to the Veterans Advisory Board. Um, regarding the approval of events, per the motion, uh, the council approves those events for December 2025 in January 2026. Council member Willis seeks the

following donations. Donation of $50,000 by Dove for toys and food for the Christmas extravaganza. Donation of $100,000 by Integrity Dental Services. Robert Drinker for toys and clothes for the Christmas extra extravaganza and donation by Ko for drinks and water. And then lastly, uh, Council Member Willis per motion. Um, there was a vote to hold the $200,000 for food and security and do an RFP for those funds and divide the remaining 39,000 by 8 and allocate that to the eight elected officials. And that completes the add-on agenda.

Hang on. I'll entertain a motion. Probably moved with a second. Any discussion? Yes. City attorney has something to say.

Um, I would just like to just say a special thank you to the council as well as my staff. It has been a very heavy lift um getting the Wolf Creek acquisitions, the Tramocrow Park acquisition and the fire stations acquisition. Um although I have not been with the city very long, I have become very well acquainted with how long the city has long anticipated um obtaining ownership of these parcels, specifically the Wolf Creek Amphitheater. Um I would like to say a special thank you to my staff and outside council. We have painstakingly looked at legal descriptions, looked at old tax records from the 70s, trying to make sure that we cross every tea and dot every eye on this to make sure that what the city is doing moving forward, we do it in decency and in order. Um, so this is a moment of celebration for the city. We are graduating to another level of land ownership and I'm extremely excited about the prospect of being able to bring this to fruition um, after eight years. So, thank you Okay. So, with that being said, we are taking our final vote for 2025, but Williams Brown is going to say something.

No, I'm not a vote. We are taking our final vote for adjournment. We have to vote on the motion. Oh, I'm sorry. Okay. So with a show of hands, can we vote on this? Show that motion approved unanim six to one. Yeah. 6 to one. Oh, you want to So this is an affirmative. So 70 unanimous. That item is approved.

And I will take a point of personal privilege to thank you for allowing me to serve as your mayor pro Tim for 2025. and I'm looking forward to 2026. Uh, Councilwoman Bell, Amen. Show of hands. Thank you. We are adjourned at 10:52 p.m. Happy holidays.