City Council - Regular Meeting

Thank you for joining us live for the city of South Bulton city council meeting. We are proud to introduce the leadership entrusted with guiding our city forward. Mayor Carmelita Gums, District 1 Councilwoman Dr. Katherine Ralph, District 2 Councilman Aaron V. Johnson, District 3 Councilwoman Helen Zenobia Willis, District 4, Councilwoman JC Sebastian, District 5 Councilwoman Kosha B. Bell, District 6, Councilwoman Natasha Williams Brown, District 7 Councilwoman Linda Becker Pritchette. Supporting the work of this body in the operations of our city are City Clerk Corey Adams, city manager Sharon D. Subadan, and interim city attorney Sarah Kelly. Thank you for being the best part of the city of South Fulton, a city on the rise.

All right, good afternoon everyone and happy new year and welcome to our first official city council meeting work session uh for January 13, 2026 starting at 4:00. Clerk, can you please sound the role? Good afternoon, Madame Mayor, members of council, and the general public. It's the roll call for today's work session meeting. The Honorable Katherine Fry, District 1, present. The Honorable Aaron V. Johnson, District 2, present. The Honorable Helen Z. Willis, District 3, present. The Honorable JC Sebastian, District 4.

Here. The Honorable Kosha Bale, District 5, present. The Honorable Natasha Williams Brown, District 6, present. And the Honorable Linda B. Pritchette, District 7, here. And the Honorable Mayor Carmelita Gums, here. Madame Mayor, you have a quorum. All right. I just want to make sure our council is everybody logged into the portal. All right. All right. Clerk, can you please tell the next item? First item on tonight's agenda is the city manager item will be the state of the city administration presentation by our city manager Sharon D. Subidan.

Good evening, Mayor and Council. I'm pleased to be able to present to you tonight um some of our accomplishments for 2025 and um want to start by doing a quick look back. So, two years, eight months, 12 days, and probably about seven hours ago, I joined the city of South Fulton team and Dr. Mark Anthony Cooper came with me. What we found was challenging. And while I believe that the windshield is large and the rearview mirror is small, it's important for us to look back to appreciate where we are, where we came from, and acknowledge the distance that we've collectively traveled. Next slide, please. So, there are four areas that I want you to walk with me down memory lane to think about. our finances. We found there was no diversification of city funds. All of our accounts were with one bank. The last audit presented in May of 2023 when I started here was for fiscal 20. We learned that the city's financial system had not been reconciled against the bank accounts for 20 months, resulting in a large difference. The URRA bond proceeds remained unused in an account while the projects were almost complete. We were in danger of losing two years of CDBG funding. $14 million ARPA funding. The $14

million ARPA funding plan that you had adopted, only 5% of it had been executed. The rent and mortgage program that you had adopted was stalled while residents desperately waited for help in the wake of COVID. Vendors were cutting off our payments for non-payment, our services for non-payment, and it was just about time to start preparing for the fiscal 24 budget. Under workforce, we didn't have the structure or the leaders and the staff needed to move the city forward. There was no general services department, no procurement department or director, no cultural affairs department or director, no community relations and services department or director, no grants director. There was a revolving door of staff at every le level and we had numerous vacancies especially in public service and public safety. The pay study that you had commissioned was incomplete and we were losing police officers and other staff for about a dollar an hour. Here at city hall, we were squeezing two and three and even four people into one office. Even you as council members had to share space with your legislative aids. When COVID and flu ran through this building, it ran through this building. We had mold in multiple buildings, including city hall. There was no permanent meeting room for council and other official meetings. There was no movement on your police and fire headquarters, though the land had been purchased. And in six years of being a city, no other land had been purchased. And multiple Fulton County transfers promised when the city was incorporated were in limbo.

We had failing HBA systems at our largest facilities, most of which were suffering from years of disinvestment that predated the city. And let's not forget that Welcome All Pool had been closed for years. Your planned transportation projects were in gridlock. Virtually nothing was moving through purchasing. And we had 30 days from the start from our start here to implement the sanitation program. A challenging contract, but we were required to do it anyway. Junth celebrations had been promised, but Wolf Creek was in disrepair, inoperable due to damaged pro plumbing, and numerous other challenges. And so after 30 days, Mark and I looked at each other and said, "What have we gotten ourselves into, but we are not quitters. We work to build a team that, though far from perfect, has delivered results. In two years, eight months, and 12 days, we have diversified the city's funds over four financial institutions and earned 18.1 million in interest through November of 2025. This has been instrumental in managing the rising cost of projects. We have presented to this council the 21, 22, and 23 audit, and the 24 is well underway. The two years of CDBG that you were about to lose was rescued and we used it to purchase future park space on SDS. The past due reconciliations were eventually caught up. The ARPA plan was implemented by the federal deadline. Hundreds of residents were assisted through the rent and mortgage program.

New department were established and new directors were brought on board to forge a future path for the city. We grew from 484 employees to 82 employees in December of 2025. The pay study was implemented in its entirety in January of 24. The administration building was purchased and now houses over 100 employees. City Hall was rem re renovated with the permanent space for meetings and individual offices for you as officials. A complete mold study and remediation process was completed for all city facilities. HVAC replacements have been implemented citywide and our transportation projects began to move and take on steam. We implemented the sanitation program effective June 1st and subsequently renegotiated that contract so that we own all of our own containers and now include shredding and recycling events in every district. Our total land and building acquisitions now total 231 acres and we've transferred 367 acres from Fulton County for a grand total of 598 acres for $18.7 million. And in that last transfer, thanks to all of the heavy lifting of the city attorney and all of the staff members and Fulton County, we finally own Wolf Creek. As we reflect on our 2025 accomplishments, I'd like to take a moment to thank this council for your unwavering support. Nothing we have accomplished in 25 and before would have been possible without your approval.

We've been encouraged with words like go forth and prosper and let's build and receive unanimous approval on almost all of our new initiatives. Next slide please. So a couple of other things that we did in 2025 that are noteworthy. I'm going to go through them and this presentation will be made available on our website um will also be made available to you and um hopefully when people ask what has the city been doing they look at this and recognize all the work that's being done. But in 25 you we went through the process of our strategic plan and you all adopted the strategic plan with our four strategic goals. As we create our budget, as we work on our work plan, even as we do our daily work and prepare our monthly report, we incorporate the four pillars of the strategic plan. Next slide, please. So, I'd absolutely think that one of the biggest and heaviest lifts in 2025 was the award of the contracts for police headquarters and fire headquarters and training facility. Stay tuned for a groundbreaking soon. We have worked tirelessly to be able to get to closing on our bonds. And I have a little bit of good news to report. We've been able to negotiate the rate down another 20 basis points. And we'll be looking for new documents to be signed by the new mayor and the new chair of the PFA in order to take advantage of that $2.3 million savings over the life of the loan.

Um, and we anticipate a closing soon. Next slide, please. We already talked a little bit about the overall process of acquisitions and we've already talked about the interests. I'm not going to belabor it. But in 25 we very were very intentional about public safety and were able to acquire land on Old National for future fire station and the future home of municipal court. Next slide please. In public safety, we've had our share of challenges, but I'm happy to report that we've seen another year of crime reduction of part one crimes up by 6.73%. We've increased our staffing both on the police side and the fire side, including the hiring of EMTs and the expansion of our um our EMT program to include units that can now transport city of South Fulton residents when we get there ahead of Grady. Next slide, please. We've also spent close to $2 million on additional fire apparatus, two engines, a water tanker, which is in important when we go into areas that don't have hydrants, um a ladder, and a supervisor vehicle. Next slide. And in public works, we completed $24.6 $6 million in public works projects and we have another hundred million that are under construction currently. We've reviewed Tesla for impact and um reallocated funding to ensure that we were able to take advantage of some lowhanging fruit that was necessary and expanded citywide infrastructure for all districts. Next slide. Some of you may have noticed our large

format signs on all of our major corridors with a city logo. And stay tuned, we're going to be moving into backlit signs um in 2026. We also have incorporated 500 and new street lights in the city in 25. Next slide. This is a breakdown of all of the projects that we currently have in process. And you'll see that these are state, federal, and local. Um, and of course, we have shared projects that are underway. Um, second to last line, it says construction. And I'm happy to report that even though we haven't broken ground, we have signed all of the paperwork for the old national highway phase 2 sidewalk project. So stay tuned for a first quarter groundbreaking on that project as well. Next slide. And these are the completed projects that were sidewalks, roundabouts, and bridges. Next slide. And these were resurfacing projects that were well overdue. Next slide. And this one is my favorite. Say this fast three times. Full depth reclamation projects, which basically means super resurfacing. Next slide. And here are some of the street lights on the facility side of the house. Um, a year ago, almost today, we reopened this facility um to a welcoming space for residents and staff. As you all know, we um cut the ribbon on Creole Park renovations and Southwest Arts Center renovations and station six with the new

community room for neighborhood events. Next slide. One of the things that we really focused on in 25 was placemaking and really trying to help people to know they're in the city of South Fulton. We replaced outdated signs. We incorporated new monument signs at all the facilities that have any any park that has a facility and we did park and community signage upgrades at every park that we own andor operate. Cedar Grove, we've been working with district 4 and residents on a design. The RFP will be coming out uh going out after our public meeting and we continue to make progress on the design of the welcome center um which is a work in progress also coming soon for residents and visitors. Next slide. The you are here initiative really started as part beautifification, part wayfinding and awareness and part litter control. But the biggest part of this is to try to bring pride to the city of South Fulton and discourage littering and encourage beautifification. While we're in our first phase of this project, I look forward to more of this as we move into 2026. Next slide, please. Our electric vehicle program is part of our commitment to sustainability. We're up to 27 electric vehicles and we are working closely with Georgia Power on the installation of electric vehicle charging stations across our city which once we get the green light from Georgia Power will be open to our community at no cost to them as part of our pilot project to encourage the use of electric vehicles. Next slide.

We already talked about the mold assessment and remediation. Next slide. And early in the year, we did our first planning university where this council with the planning commission and the zoning board of appeals met collectively, I think it was three consecutive weeks with the faculty from uh University of Georgia CVIG and did our um training as it related to planning and zoning. I thought that was very successful and I believe that there'll be more of that to come. The other very big initiative last year was our renewal of our comp plan. We had numerous meetings in every district across the the city. You worked to develop new uh future land use maps. We've presented those to the community. I think we have about three more meetings and then we will be um concluding that process and sending our draft up to ARC. Um and I'm pleased to say that we started that process a year in advance. So when you all are finished with that and we send it up, we will be well within the required timeline. And last part of our our ARPA grant was um facade improvements for small businesses which um which we awarded to several businesses allowing them to improve their facade as part of their um of ongoing operations. Next slide. Um one of the big things that we also undertook internally was the upgrade of our ERP financial system. Tyler had been purchased several years before. Uh we

were able to implement Tyler last year and um expanded our grants program. We were able to recover over $4 million in pending Elme funding. Um Elme is state funding for resurfacing. We contracted with Bambbo Saniki to do internal auditing for us and he has a full program that he'll be rolling out in 2026 on internal audits. And as you know, we revamped our PECAR program and have made significant progress. I'm very pleased to report that in our November accounting of PECARS, we were at 92% compliance. So, thank you everybody for getting on board with the revamp of our PECARD program and I look forward to having the discussion around the PECARD um policy at the retreat and implementing the new policy in 2026. And I'm also pleased to um recognize those departments that receive national rec um recognition in public affairs, parks and recreation and code enforcement. And our own um fire chief was named president of the fire association for the state of Georgia. We also launched our raising the standard training in 2025 and we'll be rolling that out citywide in 26. Next slide. So looking ahead, I'm happy to report that the state of the city administration is strong. Last year, we focused on remembering that today's decisions shape tomorrow's

impact. And we do have our compilation of accomplishments book. It has all the detail. What I gave you was the highle summary. It has all the detail of the outstanding accomplishments of the work of this team in 2025 and will be available for you for the public and an electronic copy so that people can have a real good sense of the work that was has been done. None of this could have been done without you. None of this could have been done without the team. And so, thank you everybody for the support and I'm open to your questions. All right. Thank you, city manager. That was a wonderful, wonderful report to hear all of the great things that are happening in the city. At this time, I'll recognize Councilwoman Willis.

Thank you. Thank you for the report, thorough report. I am looking forward to getting the um booklet. And can you send a electronic copy of the booklet as well? Um so that if we want to get um some um printed to hand out in our town halls, we can do that. Uh my question is for the welcome welcome center, where are we now with that?

So as we shared with you, we um bid the project and were unsuccessful. We had no biders. So, we're working with um a local entity that is a very large construction company. They're reviewing um our bid and our because we can do that now. It's this beyond a quiet period um and trying to get some input on how we might do it differently. And so, I think we need to come back with some of those suggestions to you to get your feedback. Um, one of the things we also have is a structural report of the of the building. Um, and because of what we intended to do there by adding a second story and adding an elevator, it has significantly increased the cost. So, I think we need to sit down and talk about the program to and figure out, you know, if we want to stay the course and if we're going to stay the course, identifying the additional additional funds. It came in at twice, you know, our our standby contractors gave us um pricing which came back at twice the price of what it was budgeted for.

Okay. Um and when can we have that discussion because we need to the community has been waiting nine years um for this welcome center, but more importantly, our um Main Street program needs a home.

Sure. you know, they need to be where Red Oak is. Um, so this is a project that we need to expeditiously deliver for the revitalization of um that area, which is really doing well because they're opening several small businesses and one of the blighted properties that we've been having difficulties revitalizing. the bank is now going into a um being turned into a uh brunch spot that should be opening in February. So um but we really need um this the Red Oak Historic District staff over there. So when can can we have that conversation along with Mayor Gums this month?

Absolutely. I was thinking next week. Okay. And I think that's it for right now. I'll yield. Oh, the restoration project for the Welcome Mall flooring. Where are we with that? Um scope has been pulled together. We're getting pricing. Um we're going to do a little bit more than flooring, I think. Um and we're going to work with the department on phasing it so we don't have to shut the whole facility down.

Right. And so I would ask that we um try to get as much as that accomplished during the winter months because every year um for the past three years we have been the budgeting for those restoration projects and we always run into not wanting to do it because summer camp is uh approaches us. So I don't want to run we're in January and don't want to run into that again. Sure.

All right. Thank you. All right. At this time, I'll recognize Councilwoman Natasha Williams Brown. Thank you, Mayor. Um, and thank you for a very thorough for thorough report. I look forward to getting the details because the devil is always in the details. Yes, ma'am.

Um, my question, and this probably a two-part question. Um the I noticed that in the charter section 416 where it talks about the internal auditor there are in um H reporting to council and public. There's a provision for a quarterly summary to the city council as well as a quarterly report to the public. And I've not been able to find where we've ever received those reports um since the Bimbo has been here. Bimbo, I'm sorry if I butchered your name. I didn't mean to. Um but I don't see that we've ever received those reports. Um so I wanted to um please request that if we can get an updated report

um both to the council as well as on the website to the public as per the provisions of the charter. And um if we can ensure going forward that we are getting those reports timely. Absolutely. Um and then the second part is I know that he is a contractor. Yes.

Um what is the plan for hiring someone uh a permanent employee? So, after a year and a half of trying to get a permanent employee and using a search firm and being unsuccessful, we um I actually presented to you, I think it was in November, a contract with Bambo. He came on board to help us with Pecards. Um but what we found is he has a much broader capability than that and had capacity to be able to contract with us. So, his contract is for a year. Um, if you are intent on wanting it to be a city employee, we can revisit that. Um, but right now, in order to get the program jump started and to get you those reports that are due to you, we brought him on board as a contractor and that was put in front of you for approval, I think, in either November or December meeting. So, is the plan to convert him because the charter doesn't provide for a contractor, it provides for a permanent employee.

But we can't we're not going to convert him. He's has his own business. We can continue the recruitment. Um, but I did want to get the internal audit program jump started so that we can start to get reports to you all. Okay. Thank you.

All right. I recognize Councilman JC Sebastian.

Thank you, Madame Mayor. Um, thank you, um, Mr. Subdan, for um, the thorough reporting. Um, I am looking forward to getting a link and a permanent one so that we can because I think last year I said they should go everywhere and I hope we do a really aggressive um publicity program in pushing your report out everywhere because a lot of citizens don't know. You know, I've heard people say serious cell haven't done anything in eight years, right? And I'm not the only one who have heard that. And so I tend to say I don't know where y'all have been. Y'all have been but we have done some stuff. So I am looking forward to getting that report and learning more about the details. And um I do have one question.

Yes. Um I I know you have often said of our support um for you and feel free to answer this question. I'll say I'll table that one. Um, well, what can we do to help you move the things forward this year that you need to move forward? Great question. You want the honest answer or do you want the I always the honest answer?

Um, I will be honest. We have had real difficulty in 2025 attracting talent at the highest levels. Um, I just spoke of the internal auditor. Um, we did a national search for HR director. We did a national search for an economic development director. And in all three instances, we came up empty. Um, when we asked the recruiter what why is this happening and had they talked to applicants, they told us the reputation of the city is challenging for executives. They have Googled us. They have seen the media reports on us and they've passed on us. I think as leaders in the organization, it's important to reflect really what the city of South Fulton is, a city on the rise. I think um many cities have conflicts and they fight in public in private but when they come out in public you know they're one team one fight. Let's be honest we have not been that place and it is hurting us. It's okay to disagree. We can't agree on every topic. If we did, then some of us would be unnecessary. But the vitrial, the fighting, the division, the backbiting and backstabbing in public is hurting us. Think of how much further along we would be if not for that. So, you asked a telling question. I gave you my honest opinion.

And thank you for for your answer. Um, but I'm also going to suggest that this is a new day in the city of South Fulton, right? And um, I I can't speak for anybody else, but I do want to make sure I contribute positively to the image of our city, right? Um, and honestly, that's that's really why I asked you the question because I want us to do our jobs and get out of the way and represent our city well. And I I think each of each one of us up here has that ability. And again, congratulations to our mayor, but we cannot put all of this on one person. And I want to make sure I say this publicly that we all have that responsibility. Thank you.

Thank you. Excellent. Councilman Sebastian, Councilwoman Helen Willis.

Thank you uh Miss Suban for bringing that and making those points. Um, and I was going to when um, council person Williams Brown mentioned um, converting the auditor to a permanent employee, I was going to mention that um, not only under your leadership, but under every leader that has been at the helm, we have historically had issues with uh, recruiting stellar uh, qualified uh, and uh long-standing talent in several divisions. And so, but I do agree with some of the things that you just said, but I also want to uh add to what I am hearing from my constituents that uh over the 9-year period when we per the charter send things from the constituents over to you and per the charter and copy department heads and things don't get done. You are not the person they come to. They lash out at us as if we are the persons that go out and do the work. And so what I would ask in a very respectful and constructive way is that when we send things over from the community that we do a better job with communication. Um when is it going to when are the things that constituents ask to get done? When are they going to get done? What's the time period they're going to get done? Um, the biggest complaints that I do hear about is, you know, the

lack of customer service in our business licensing and our permitting department. Um, and people want to see some wins in economic development. And so while you have been honest and I thank you for that and I own and receive what you said, I'm going to be honest and tell you that we need to improve in how we communicate to our residents. I am consistently hearing how they don't know about things. Um how we assume everybody is on social media. how we don't get press releases out. Um, mayor, I hope it is in your um that you'll send out an annual mail something out. We on this council have asked that we need to do a better job with communicating with residents, not only via social media, but through texting, you know, through robocalls. Uh so you know communication and branding is a big problem. Um I looked at the new uh head shots that were taken and everybody had on a different lapel pin. You know our branding is important. We did such a beautiful job for um the inauguration and one of the things that I love was the branding. the branding, the colors, the, you know, it was refreshing. It was a new day. And so I just want us to do a better job around branding, communication. Um, when people come and perform at our city, they need to know they're performing in South Forge and not City of Atlanta. You know, um, when we have these type of accomplishments, how are we going to let

people know all of these accomplishments that we made? you know, how is this is our mayor going to have town halls, you know, bring you around the city so that you can talk to these accomplishments? You're going to put these You're going to give us these books, but is this something that we could try to put in a a cadence in a trifold and mail to our residents? You know, our community is city is yearning for the information. Um, yearning for the accomplishments and I think we are failing them in that area when it comes to communication, when it comes to branding, when it comes to followup. Um, sent you something today. You all ask us, let us do let y'all do your job. Y'all do the policy. And so when we do that and things are not followed through, then I'm like, "Okay, but you asked me to let me do your job." And I'm not complaining. I'm just being honest because you were honest. Um, I just want to see more follow through. If we send something to you from a resident, I don't want to come I don't want a resident sending me an email saying three months later it hasn't been addressed, it hasn't been done, they haven't been followed up on. So that's that's what I would ask. Their residents come to us, they blame us, they want responses on when things are going to get done. Thank you.

Thank you, Councilwoman. Um, Councilwoman Linda Pritchette, Mayor Pro.

Thank you, U, Madame Mayor. Um, city manager, I'm not really piggybacking on what Councilwoman Willis said, but I will say this. Um, with regard to uh positions that are advertised in the city, I have occasion to get phone calls from all kind of people say, "You got you have jobs? Are you guys hiring?" And um I make sure people know that I have absolutely no pull um with any of that. I don't think anybody has ever been hired that had anything to do with me. However, what I'm disappointed about is the fact that everyone who has ever applied for a job that I know has not gotten call backs, not gotten interviews, and I guess I don't understand that. And um you know, when I hear that we're trying to recruit people,

um I don't I'm not familiar with the specific process that your recruiting agency or HR is using. Um, I know when I worked here as a as an employee, the position was open. I applied and then the position was closed and I I don't know how many people had an opportunity to apply, you know. So, I I would like to see us think about using different methods of um accepting applications. Um, I'm really I'm not in the HR field. So, I hear that, you know, people look at people's LinkedIn and based on what it looks like, they're not even considered or, you know, their programs that scan applications. I don't know what they do, but I'd like to see people who apply actually get considered, actually get a return call, a response. So, that's one point. Um, I do uh appreciate that issues that we had with customer service are um changing. I like the staff that we have, how they try to accommodate for everything, but we did have um issues with communication as Councilwoman Willis did bring up. Um my next issue, and you may have gone over this and I just forgot, um related to the police headquarters and that roll out. um a timeline. Maybe I missed it or maybe I don't know. I probably missed it.

Yes. So, I mentioned that we were able to get a a 20 point basis point reduction on the bond and so we are going to have to resign paperwork, but for $2.3 million, I don't think you mind signing some more papers. So, um that part has been delayed for that reason, but we're looking for groundbreaking in the first quarter. Okay. Appreciate that. Um, with regard to the court building that we purchased, I know that you were you've told me a few times that we put out for a design build, but I just wonder how long could that possibly take.

So, design builds take forever. And so, we're not doing a design build. We're actually we have hired um two internal architects um both of whom I uh introduced to you at our last meeting and they're actually working on a program. They've interviewed the court staff. They've identified you know what their requirements are. They have a basic layout. Once they have that layout then we're going to bid the project for um for for build. So rather than doing a design build which really takes a long time because of the nature of the project the shell is already there the the site is already there. So our plan is to be um have substantial movement on that project in 26. We've budgeted quite a bit of money for it. Well we finished in 26 but you'll see you'll see a lot of activity um providing that we get you know a bidder that's within our budget. And lastly, um I did see that there were subdivisions that were paved. Um however, what I've experienced in my district is there are many subdivisions that have not been paved as far as a builder developer comes in, builds a community um and then just leaves and leaves the asphalt unpaved. And some of these builders um some have happened while we have been a city and some have happened when it was the county. But I think that it's that that thing that slips through the cracks that um the only way that I know is because residents are asking me um what is going to happen here? and um developers who we do still have a bond for. And there's one in particular I've been going on and on for the last three years about this. And I'm just um want

to I'm wanting to see that prioritized because the longer that we continue to delay the process trying to figure out who's supposed to do what, nothing is being done. And the honest truth is these are the developers that have done this to us. And um people residents are apprehensive many times about different development projects because they feel that developers come here and they know that we're not catching these things and they leave and don't complete their projects with the conditions that we've outlined for them. So, I would like to see us being able to do something aggressive to be able to address this because it's been going on way too long.

So, it's really interesting that you bring this up because one of the internal discussions we've been having is how does infrastructure get turned over to the city? And um I don't think the process is as defined as it is in other places. Everywhere I've come from, there's a very defined process where when a subdivision is finished, it comes in front of this council or the council or the commission and everything is outlined and you have all of the sign offs from all of the departments and you feel confident that the infrastructure is good to accept. We don't do that here or I haven't been able to ascertain how that process works. So, we are working actively on how to make that work before bonds are released to make sure that we're all on the same sheet of music. And you as a council are very aware of the infrastructure that you're adding to our inventory because that's that's inventory that we have to maintain. So, right now it's very timely. It is something that we're working on because I have not been a able to clearly identify a process as similar to what I'm accustomed to in other places. And my last commentary is related to litter. Trash um parking lots in shopping plazas that are trash that there's constant litter, dead trees, those things. What I've noticed is that some of the property owners aren't being notified that there's trash, illegal dumping. When the monks came through our city and came through District 7, I was completely embarrassed that they walked right past a whole heap of trash that nobody really noticed, but it's still there right now. And it's because the property owners don't know that they need to come and see about their lots or about their um land. And

so I would like to see there be more aggressive um work done from code enforcement to make sure that property owners are notified and um and if they don't comply then we can take more aggressive steps because I'd like to see our city be a lot cleaner and land owners responsible for what's on their property. All right. Can I get a response? Thank you. Can you respond?

Sure. So, um on the on the last issue, first we we do have a record of between cicklic and code enforcement, how these property owners are being noticed. And so perhaps we need to give you an updated report on that. Um, in terms of communication, getting information to residents, you know, we have the records. We can demonstrate where calls are answered, where citizens requests are fulfilled. Um, we've already talked about the the subdivisions, but, you know, there's always room for improvement,

you know. Um, and so for us, it is a continuous improvement process. All right. Want to recognize uh Councilwoman Dr. Katherine Ralph.

Thank you for recognizing me. Um I want to thank you for the report. It's been a a lot of work done in these last two years and eight months. Um I think how you started this presentation where you talked about where we started and where we are now. Um I think without question we've made significant strides to moving the city forward and um I don't want to focus on the negative. So it was some things and I'm I'm going to be oriented towards solutions based on even things I've heard from my colleagues that I think will help. Um I really think we need to promote that customer service number. I don't think it's widely known

and we really need to check with all the numbers we have out there. Maybe they shouldn't be published because they're confusing people. So, if we want everybody to use that main number, I think that's what we should put out on our social media platforms. The first thing, um, another thing, public works is in the field daily. I run into them all the time. But those projects aren't on our social media when they're paving the roads where they're litter pickup, those kind of things. I think that helps our residents see the work that's being done. I mean, you can see it on the report, but people are visual. And I think, you know, just like we promote our, you know, the various events we have in the city, we also need to highlight the work of our employees. And um a lot of people didn't know that on our website we have monthly city manager. Every report you give since you've been here has been on the website. A lot of people don't know. And those those reports are generally about a 100 pages. So it's definitely a lot of content they can read. But I think we need to constantly put that out there and highlight those reports. When you give them here, maybe the next day it's on our, you know, social media and people can go to it and and read. And um every project in your report should be on our social media even though it's happened already. It needs to be some content talking about it. So those are just things um I thought about as you gave your report. So that way for those who don't read and a lot of people will not read to be honest um they can get the snippets on social media. So, those are just just some general feedback, but other than that, thank you for your presentation. And then it's just one request I would have. I noticed um and this is really in your city manager report, not necessarily in the one you gave. Uh the three areas where it seems like we have the biggest um complaint for constituents are in property

maintenance, which is of course code, illegal dumping, and abandoned inoperable vehicles. If those are the three biggest categories that we have, I want to make sure that, you know, u we're continuing to do education, especially I get a lot of call about junk cars on the street and even in our systems, they battle back, you know, they back go back and forth. Is it the police or is it cold? But if it's on the street, it's the police. If it's in the driveway, it's cold. And so educating the public on which one is which. and even making sure our staff because I've watched it even to see click fix. I'm like it's got a sign in the wrong place. So those just some things I observed. Thank you. Sure.

Councilman Sebastian for your second time.

Thank you mayor. Well, Mr. Suban, I just wanted to um just tell you we are we have appear we it appears as if we turned the corner and see click fix. I used to hear a lot a lot of complaints about cyclic fix and how it's working. Now I'm starting to hear cyclic click fix is working well and when I put stuff there it gets resolved. It's still not perfect and I think that part of it is the education of the public but also the customer service team that we have. I think we need to make sure folks are aware that they are there and um and available to help not 24 hours a day but they are there um to help. I know there was one resident one time that was calling an old number um that he had for many many years from public works and he was very frustrated and he called and I said no this is the number that you call to get to that chain and he was able to get his issues um resolved pretty quickly. Um but finally uh I don't know if Mr. Philpot is here but I especially wanted to shout him out because a resident did call um a couple days ago and said I just want to give you and this is one of the residents that have higher standards than the clouds. He said I just wanted to especially shout out Mr. Lamont Philpot for his customer service and his response to some issues that I contacted them about. So it's not all doom and gloom. this. We're turning the corner, but we have to continue to push it to a higher and higher standards as we all know that we can do. So, thank you.

All right. And Councilwoman Natasha Williams Brown for your second time.

Thank you, Mayor. Um, I think my colleagues covered a couple of the things that I wanted um to follow up with, but I do want us um to put a conversation about communications and public affairs on our retreat agenda. um because um I think that it is true that is an area that needs a lot of improvement. Um because yes and you know that I will be the first one to say we absolutely could behave better um in terms of how we are presenting the city p in to the public but a lot of I think there could be a lot of damage control done if we had a communications plan and a public affairs plan that was buffering that with communication about good things. Um, and what I see is I see a lot of social media postings and that's all I see is a lot of social we we can post on social media five, six times a day. Um, but then news stories come out that are negative and there's nothing. Um, so I think that and and particularly one example, I mean outside of you know what happened January 1st, but one example that stands out is the story, you know, stories about employees engaged in corruption that are on the news where there's radio silence about that like We're we're we're not we're not doing

this in 2026. All right. We're we're we're going to do better. But when those those things happen and then there's no response or the response is delayed and and I've said this recently to the city attorney, things don't have to be true.

They just have to be out there. So while nobody in Minnesota is eating pets, Hillary Clinton is not running a child r child porn ring out of a pizza parlor, people it was out there. People believed it. People acted on it and lots of negative consequences followed behind it. So, it doesn't saying that something isn't true does not take away the need to respond to something with a posit with a positive story or a positive outlook. It's so it's not enough to say it's not true. Um, so I really want us to hone in on the communication um and the public affairs because I think that is something that does um have to be shorn up in a real way. And of course, you know, as someone who represents Old National, you know, I'm I'm tired of chasing down carts and trash. Um, you know, but again, as as has been pointed out with when I go back and I read the ordinance and I see that carts are supposed to be tagged and if they're not picked if they are not removed in 24 hours, they're supposed to be picked up. That that is what it says. and deviating from that to leave those carts there and allowing an employee to decide, oh well that's not what I want to do. I want to do something else. When we have written a policy that says if they don't come get it in 24 hours, pick it up. That also creates problems because residents are riding by seeing that the carts are there. And yes, we while we may not want to be punitive in our emotions, we have a policy. And when we don't enforce policies and we allow employees to decide they're not going to enforce policies, that also feeds the

perception that people have about the city that we really don't care. We'll put it in writing, but I can do what I want to do because it's not going to be enforced. Um, so I'd like to see that get get shoring up as well.

And I look forward to the retreat discussion around that and and on the communication side as well because admittedly, you know, I've told all of you, you know, events and public affairs are not my strongest suits. You know, you give me um spreadsheets and capital projects and, you know, logistics and operations and that's my strength. Um, so I am very open to improvement, open to your feedback, open to your suggestions on how we can do better in that area. So,

well, we are definitely looking forward to a robust conversation at the retreat, but again, I do want to say thank you for a thorough report. Um, I think you have done quite a bit of work in these past two years. We have not been the easiest. Um, but there are some true wins within that report. Um, I do want to let your staff know that it is a new day in the city of South Fton. I want the staff know that they are appreciated, valued, but we are moving and turning the tide. So, what we used to do, we're not used to the same status quo. We're moving this city forward. So, if you got your best, you need to bring your best to work every single day because the city of South is expecting it and we deserve it. So, thank you again and um we'll talk soon.

Thank you. All right. I want to take a moment to allow um before we move to the next item, Corey um Councilwoman uh Pritchette to take a moment of personal privilege really quick. Thank you, Madame Mayor. Um I'd like to recognize some visitors that came to see us uh for the new year. Um Councilman from Centerpoint, Alabama, Councilman, newly elected Councilman Moses Whitaker, and Councilman Glenn Williams. will you come up and say hi to us, please?

And they are members of the National League of Cities and they've been telling me the wonderful things that they see us doing here and they wanted to see it up close, especially our wonderful new mayor who we are looking forward to seeing great things come from. Uh good afternoon and greetings from Center Point, Alabama. Uh just we want to just come out uh one to support um Miss Pritchette and Miss Bale as members of NBC Leo that we met in Utah. And so we're just here to see how you guys do things and support our colleagues across the state.

How y'all doing today? My name is Councilman President Glenn Williams. I just turned president and I want to tell you with NBC Leo in the National League of City we work with all cities all administration and I said I was going to come around I want to make sure that people know exactly what we are capable of doing as a whole and we councilors we all council in United States we all work together and we want to keep that collaborative work I appreciate y'all for inviting me thank you well thank you very much for being here hopefully these these nice council members will treat you to a nice chicken sandwich or something. I don't know. But thank you. Thank you.

Clerk, can you sound the next item, please?

Yes, madame mayor. That brings us to uh the one presentation we have for this evening. And actually, I say uh just a report. 2026 state legislative agenda will be presented by our city manager Sharon Suban and our lobbyist Aaron Andrew Long AR Long Company. Uh good evening uh the honorable mayor Carmelita Gums. Good evening to this illustrious city council. Um, madame city manager Suban, Mr. Clerk, M. Kelly, um, my name is Andrew Long, and I am going to briefly present to you, um, the priorities that are included for the 2026 uh, city of South Fton legislative agenda. Let me start by saying um, the legislative session started yesterday. It will go for 40 legislative days. Uh they have already presented us a calendar um of every day that they're in session which I will provide to you. uh the two most important dates, one crossover day uh for when uh a measure has to cross from the house to the senate or senate to the house that is on Friday March the 6th and then snee die the final day of the session is on April 2nd. Um, one other note that uh you might want to mark down March 2nd through March 6th uh is qualifying week and anybody who is qualifying to run for anything uh in this state will be up at the capital making sure that they um that they qualify. There are several members of the general assembly, both house and

senate, uh who aspire to uh to run for higher office. Um with our 2026 legislative agenda, we um have several items that I want to get to very briefly, then I'll open it up for questions. um the development authority, uh Independence, uh there was a House bill last year 155 that allowed the northern cities of Fulton County uh to be exempt from having to use the Fulton County Development Authority. And uh in speaking with legislative counsel down at the the capital, um we are now in a position where if we would like to add our city uh or work with the southern cities of Fulton County to also um uh not have to use the uh Fulton Development Authority. We are able this measure helps us uh to be able to do that and and move that forward. Estab number two, establishing the South Fulton Senate delegation. Um, for your information, so you know, there is an official uh city of South Fulton House delegation. There is not an official city of South Fulton Senate delegation. There are four members um in the state senate who represent parts of or all of um in their district uh the city of South Fulton. that is Senator Rashad Kemp, Senator Danzella James, Senator Sonia Halpern, and newly elected Senator Ja Howard. Um, parathetically, I've spoken to all four of them uh and just about all of the nine members of the House uh legislative delegation and they are excited about uh this mayor and this

council moving forward and they've expressed that to me. Um, number three is the squatters loophole legislative fix. Um, I'm not an attorney, but in a nutshell, I can say that it is my understanding if law enforcement comes to a property and that property um has squatters, if there are three squatters downstairs and three squatters upstairs, but when law enforcement gets there, they only address three of the squatters, you know, whoever. And they are served. um which means in 3 days they have to produce um documentation that they are legitimately staying in that house or else they have to um get out or they can be removed for the other three that were upstairs that they haven't served yet then they have to start the process all over again and again and again and again. There could have been two more in this room or two more in that room. So, um I understand the need for this fix and uh we are going to submit that to our our legislative delegation so that uh they can move on on this effort. Um number four, recetivism resources for the city. This is somewhat of uh an appropriations request um so that we can enlarge the resources for the city specifically for u recidivism. Uh, number five, trucking restrictions. The purpose of this legislation is to repeal state law that a county has to approve restricting a truck route on a municipal road. Uh, number six, the Camelot crisis, state of emergency. Just a little bit earlier, um the city manager at the end of her report, which was a a great report, at the end of her

report, she said the state of the city is strong. Now, perception is not always reality, and what people see down at the capital is not what she just reported. They don't see that. They don't see the good news. They don't see the accomplishments. They don't see the awards uh that the city is giving. So um a lot of people may not understand the level of crisis um regarding uh Camelot and something needs to be done. I do agree but this has been added to our list of priorities um to make our legislative delegation aware that it's not just oh whatever but this is a crisis and something needs to be done about it. Um, number seven is a charter amendment um that the uh city of South Fulton judges are to be full-time and not part-time. I think that's self-explanatory. Uh, number eight is also a charter amendment um to uh amend the charter by increasing the salary of the mayor pro Tim by $5,000. Uh number nine is a charter amendment to clarify the roles and those roles to be specific. Amend the city charter to clarify that the mayor is chief executive officer and the city manager is chief administrative officer. Um number 10 is also a chart charter amendment um regarding the powers of the city manager and some of those changes include u residency of the city manager to which it is now my understanding that the state of Georgia has a current law on the books that a municipality uh cannot mandate that an employee of

its city uh must live within the city limits or boundaries. So, some of that we might have to to take off of uh the agenda, but there's more to be said on um powers of the city manager, and we'll get to that in a minute. Number 11 is a constitutional amendment uh to define the uh to to clarify the definition of hospital and that is under an umbrella of elections. so that if someone is hospitalized during a campaign or during an election cycle that they are still given the opportunity to cast their vote. And as it currently stands, the definition of hospital uh does not include um rehabilitation centers, urgent care clinics, and medical overnight facilities. And we are asking that it does include that. Now, this would not be local legislation. This would be a general bill to to change the entire state law um for for this effort. And then finally, um strengthen candidate residency requirements. We've asked that of our legislative delegation, I believe, for the past two years, and uh they have not moved on it as of yet. So, I'm hopeful um that one of one of the chair of the delegation um will move on it and someone in the delegation will introduce legislation to that uh to that effect. So, um municipal deanexations is something that obviously is important to our city. Um and a year ago it someone tried to sneak in legislation that would allow deanexations without your approval. that measure was defeated. And

so now it's almost like I'm on alert to make sure no one um tries to get any measure in uh sneak that in to legislation and have it passed u which would negatively impact our city. Um, with that, I am open to any of your questions. And, um, if I don't say it enough, um, mayor and council, I am, uh, honored that you continue to trust an AR Long Company and I remain honored and privileged to represent the city of South Fulton down at the state capital. Thank you.

All right. Thank you, um, Mr. along for your presentation. Uh does the queue need to be refreshed just to kind of see I know it's a few people. Okay. Um at this time I will recognize uh Mayor Pro Tim uh Pritchette. Thank you Madame Mayor. Um Mr. Long um I am in the legal field and when it pertains to this squatter issue Yes ma'am. I know that some people would some it's people's opinion that if the police show up, they're are squatters, they serve a citation, three people are in the house, and then three more people come later. In my legal experience,

that doesn't even matter. Um, when a house is identified to have squatters, the language that they use is for everyone. It's the same as when people are evicted, like you know, a mom and she could have two, three kids, the kids are not listed on the lease or not listed on the eviction notice. It says mama and everybody. And when you go to court, nobody cares. Well, I didn't know. It's everybody. It it has to do with um evictions, foreclosures, and I believe ejectments, which is the formal term for when people are put out or given um notice after they've been given notice. So, I personally, well, professionally, do not believe that there is a significant loophole. I think that it's something that law enforcement has to um either decide what they're going to do in terms of I'm not even saying being aggressive. It just um we talked about this earlier before you came where people pick and choose at their discretion how they will execute their duties. If there is a squatter in this city and that house has been notified, anybody who comes back actually and I believe it's in the law is can be found to be trespassing at that point. So, we really have to look at this and I don't know who has looked at it and I know that there is a problem um in Camelot with that. Um if somebody is somewhere that they do not live and they cannot demonstrate that they live there um at the time that notice was given generally to the whole to everybody who could have possibly been involved. If those people are to return, I believe that they should be arrested

for trespassing. But I would defer to our law enforcement um personnel to further clarify that if that's the case. But that that's how I see it being in the legal field and what I've seen related to these type of situations.

Trust me when I tell you I I don't want to speak out of ignorance. I I I do I'm not an expert in that field. But what I can tell you is the the problem that I was presented with is that if there are, you know, two persons living in basement and they get served, I don't know if their names have to be on the citation or whatever it is, but if there are two more people, not necessarily that come back, they're there. The same time that the law enforcement shows up to present the citation, they're there, but they weren't served. They w the citation wasn't to them. It was my understanding that then when they come back to try to take control of the house and there's more people there, they have to do that same process over again. That just keeps going. So now I could be very wrong, but that that that is what I was presented as the problem or the loophole and we have to somehow um draft language that would fix that.

Well, I I think it's a conversation that needs to be had with our sheriff's office, marshall's office, and our police department. Yes, ma'am. And and some attorney in between there somewhere. Yes, ma'am. Thank you. All right. I'll recognize Councilwoman Kosville.

Thank you, Mayor. Um again, um I definitely want to pick it back on Mayor Proim. Um I know squatter issue is not just an issue specifically in Camelot or specifically in our city. It's it's going around everywhere. And so I know that there was some potential legislation that may be presented this year and during this session that really can help with a lot of the problems that we are having specifically in our in our city most importantly in Camelot because we are and we have had several issues with mandating regulating the squatters that are within our cities. We see it in our neighborhoods each and every day. And so, um, I know this is a passion of mine so that we can bring some relief. Um, I've been working with the, uh, city attorney as well in regards to what we can do and legally what we can do, but also, um, enforcing that with our police department. And so, yes, any due diligence that you can do to to see what type of um, solution we can have long term and moving long term is something I'm definitely interested in. But I did have some questions regarding the mayor prom salary. I'm not sure when and how that was added. Okay. But I just wanted to know will there be a defined list of responsibilities that would kind of trigger the need for a mayor prom salary. Um in addition to that, you know, I really want us to take a look at other cities and what neighboring cities are doing if that's something that they offer because, you know, that's just some some concern that I would have um as far as that. Not saying that I'm opposed to it, but is it needed? Um, and then based on the position as needed, based on the charter of what the mayor prom responsibilities are, you know, I just want some clarification around that.

Okay. Thank you. Thank you. Next is our newest council member, Councilman Eron Johnson.

Oh, thank you, Madam Mayor. First time I get to speak, I I feel like I should have worn a bo bow tie today. Uh, a couple things. First thing I want to talk about is when you say define strengthening residency, what does that mean? making sure that the person who qualified to run for a specific seat is a resident of that whether it's district or city or whatever that they're actually a resident of where they're deciding to to run.

So what's the weakness right now that will require you to strengthen it? there's some vagueness to where if a person has two homes um or if a person has a primary residence and has a home that is like an Airbnb or something different. It's just not clarity in current state law that mandates a person. Well, it is that says the person must live in that district, but there's it's almost like a a loophole if they especially if that person has more than one property and they can claim a different address.

Okay. Uh the next thing I wanted to talk about was the uh development authority. One of the things that you mentioned is that the North Fulton, make sure I heard you correctly, that the North Fulton cities have pulled together and are currently trying to be able to remove themselves from the Fulton County Development Authority, which currently covers obviously Fulton County. Mhm. You said the potential for us to be a part of that, but I thought from my understanding from the legislation, it's it's very specific to North Fulton and does not include That's correct. Atlanta and South Fton.

That's correct. That legislation passed last year to include the northern uh cities in Fulton County. What I'm saying is because that legislation is now passed, we can introduce our own legislation to include the city of South Fulton or the southern cities to be a part of that that same legislation. We we can easily go into that code section now and just add us so that we are not mandated to use the Fulton County Development Authority.

So again, I'm new so I'm still learning all the good stuff, right? Yes, sir. Would you be a has there been a conversation about creating a separate development authority for say maybe the city of South I mean the South Fulton cities or dare I say join invest Atlanta or create a Fulton something specific just for us separate from because if we pull out of Fulton County then what would we do we would create out our own development authority right that's correct the city of South Fton has a development authority but I'm saying right now we have kind of a double layer to be able to do have a broader scope right now. Well, if we pull out, we don't have that broader scope anymore. Correct. Yes.

Well, why not? We We already No, no, no, no. We have a development authority, but we also have Fulton County that's looking around us as well, right? But if we pull out of Fulton County, we no longer are part of Fulton County. Correct. So, we would be we we would then be down to just our development authority. Correct. Yes. We're not pulling out. So, we This will end the conversation. I just want to be sure cuz that's what he said. No. Yeah. He said we could do it. So, that's why I'm just making sure. Has there been a conversation? If we do it, what's next? Which is my ultimate question.

Okay. Well, that's a good question. But before we get to what's next, the priority that was communicated to me was we need to add ourselves or the southern cities be added to um the same language that the northern cities use so that they're not mandated to use um the Fulton County Development Authority. And it's also my understanding that it's not necessarily a pull out. It's just saying that we're not mandated to use the development authority, the to the Fulton County Development Authority. We can use our own authority. But if if it is better for us to partner with the Fulton County Development Authority on a particular, you know, effort, then we can do that as well. But we're not mandated. It's not mandatory for us to to always have to use the Fulton County Development Authority.

Okay. Okay. I hope I explained it right. Okay. Okay. That's it. All right. Thank you, Councilman. Next, we will have uh Councilwoman Dr. Ralph. Uh thank you. I I had a couple questions about things on the agenda. I I know in the past like it was generally a little bit more um narrative under the paragraph to put it in context and thank you for being here to explain but outside of that we could really only kind of go on the title on on some of these in terms of what they meant.

So I wanted to get a little more clarity on um you talked about the residency requirement. Was that the only thing that was proposed for that? Because you addressed that state law precludes that. That was my first question. What was it more to it than that? No, we're talking about two different things. What the um No, I'm speaking about for the city manager, right? Specifically on the city man. So, you're talking about the charter change, right?

Um the the charter change for the city manager. There were two I don't do addendums. There were two um additional um documents that were attached and sent with the with this draft um proposal of the legislative agenda. And those documents had specifically what changes um were going to be made to to the charter.

Okay. I I I'll go back and look before we get the vote on it. I I just wanted clarity if it was anything other than the residency requirement. And then as it relates to the mayor promp I I'll just say in general um I know we kind of were on a cadence um and if I believe can we only give our raises can only be given in election year I thought correct me if I'm wrong city attorney and if so um the mayor promp only serves if it's delegated by the mayor so I'm I'm you know we have been on a cadence that when we do address it we dress compens compensation across the board. So, um, can you clarify? Can this even happen? Cuz I thought it had to be an election year. So, that is my understanding that the raises do occur um in the election year. Um, however, this is a conversation that we can start with the delegation to perhaps be implemented um at the time of an election year. But that is correct. That is my understanding as well. Yeah.

Oh, I was going to ask the city uh clerk if he could speak to the residency requirement, some of the challenges.

Yes, thank you. Um, as the, uh, election superintendent and qualifying officer for the city, um, I welcome and, and and support this proposed, uh, amendment. Um, in terms of residency requirements, there are a couple of things that u I've seen as deficiencies in our process well in state law uh that prevents us from um delving into candidates outside of a challenge being um um submitted. Um number one um in terms of the residency right now candidates uh submit a affidavit and they attest that they live at their address and they've lived at their address for the requisite number of years. And um outside of that um the state law doesn't give us any uh leeway to require um additional documents to further prove that you live at that address such as a lease, a a bill or something to that effect. Um I think the state law is um very um basic in terms of its requirements and it affords or has a remedy that if you have suspicions that someone doesn't live there then you submit a challenge within two weeks of qualifying. But I think that if we could um strengthen that and put some additional uh requirements on the front end, um we can um assure the public that um all candidates are indeed City of South residents. And then lastly, I don't know if this speaks to it, um there's been um some talk about background checks for candidates. Um, right now, um, there is nothing in the law that, um, would allow qualifying officers to require that. Um, and I know

there's some legal, um, considerations around that as well. But those are the two areas, um, Miss Dr. that, um, you know, I I would put in the record and and definitely, um, ask the support of the mayor and council, um, to ask the delegation to consider. Thank you, Mr. Clerk. All right.

Can Can I do one follow on just to clarify? So, I think I have it. So, um as it relates to the city manager, it it it takes away the um the city council affirmative vote of five of the members. Is that the primary thing? And we still have to address the residency. Is that correct? Are those the only two? Because it it it strikes out a significant portion. So they can just be terminated at will with 60 days. That's Yes, that's that's my understanding. Okay.

All right. Uh next we will have Councilwoman Helen Willis.

Thank you. Um, I just want to add some clarification around the development authority legislation that was passed last year for North Fullton. This the legislation that was passed for North Fulton simply requires that in order for the Fulton County uh development authority to do a deal in North Fton and any of the North Fton cities, they have to seek permission. That's all it simply does. Historically, the south the Fulton County Development Authority would do deals and not anybody would know what they're doing in respective cities. And that's when Atlanta really got, you know, aggressive about making sure they had representation on the Fulton County Development Authority Board because they were doing tax abatements that impacted, you know, um taxes for schools. And so um so that's what essentially happened and it was legislation that was led by uh Senator Brandon Breach, former Senator Brandon Breach. Uh I kind of worked with this situation to ask questions um as it related to South Fortune. Um, and what I would like to see us do before we go down this road, um, is see if we can enter into some type ofou agreement with our Fton County Development Authority to ask if they would simply let us know when they're doing developmental deals in our city or um, you know, and let us know. We don't have control if a developer wants to use them over us. that's that's their choice. We would hope they will want to come to our development authority and induce deals, but I have seen instances when our development authority have not wanted to do certain deals, have turned

deals away, and that leaves the developer no choice but to go to development authority or when it comes to certain deals, they feel like this the Fulton County Development Authority has more experience and they just that's just their choice. And so I just don't I think it's a divisive um measure to take to have state legislation to say um I think we can work it out amongst ourselves. I would love to see our mayor go talk to the chair of the Fulton County Development Authority um along with the city manager and economic development director and ask if we can enter into some type of agreement, mutual agreement amongst ourselves, formal agreement to say if they're going to do any deals in our city. They let us know what's happening. Um that's that's will be my recommendation. And I would ask that my colleagues consider that before we go this down this route.

Yes, ma'am.

Secondly, I would like to ask that you removed the measure to increase the mayor prom salary to $5,000 because if we're going to do that, we need to look at it holistically. I honestly think that um these roles need to be full-time. I honestly think that we need to move to committee structure. Um, and that will require full-time work. I honestly do not think we have enough time to vet our legislation with the way that we're operating now. And so, I think if we go down that road and present this to legislators, that is not going to be a favorable thing to them. I think if we're going to do this, we should look at it holistically. And I don't think this year we should even tackle that. Um, I think we should talk among each others, come up with a plan, and I think they will love to see why we feel like we should be full-time. I think they will want to know what are the things that we're doing cuz that's what I constantly hear that you all are supposed to do policy and go home when we all know that's not what happens. And so, um, I would like to see that removed. So, I would like to make that motion um when I get finished. Um and I also would like there's nothing in there about putting accountability around um our Grady service, our ambulance service. We have a wait time that are that's 18 minutes or more. And the public the department of public health controls um the regional council controls what service we get. There's no accountability of whoever controls the service as it relates to ambulances. There's no they're working off of a um proposal that was submitted in 2018 when we've

had house hospital closures since then and we've had uh unimaginable growth since then. And so there's no kind of accountability how what type of service we get in this area and we don't control what service we get in this area. That needs to be addressed. And what also needs to be addressed is if we have to transport due to for priority one situations then we should be um allowed to be compensated for it. Right now if we transport anyone to the hospital there is no compensation or there's no reimbursement back to our city. And so those are three things that need to be addressed if they don't allow us to have our transport license. But we should be allowed to have our transport license. But if they're not going to do that, they at least need to do those three things.

Yes, ma'am. Thank you, Councilwoman Willis. Um, next, Mayor Pro Tim, Linda Pett.

So, um, I want to address two things. The first thing with the residency requirement, although I know that people hate the fact that it seems like people qualify uh to run for office and they don't live in the district um based on a lot of different things. The affidavit that they sign is under oath and it is like it is I believe it's a misdemeanor. It may even be a felony to lie. People go to jail for election fraud. People who try to bypass that, not even bypass, people who try to get away with it, they think that is something very minor and they think that people are hating on them and doing all this stuff. But when you get placed on charges for election fraud, you'll understand that no one in the state nor this city is playing when it comes to running for office. So, I understand that people think that we should be that the that this election superintendent and his office should be doing background checks, looking into all this stuff. Running for office is not it this the legislation is there. All people have to do is challenge it. I've seen successful challenges. Um and and even if there is a loophole, if someone has another home and did all this stuff, you know, at some point it comes out, you know. So I think that we're trying to get in the weeds of something that for hundreds of um for the as long as the state of Georgia has been a state, it's been an issue. And um I think we're overreaching to try to to engage our delegation in a resolution for something that just is what it is and there is a resolution for that. The

second part so I can bring clarity to this issue about Mayor Pro Tim. Um, as mayor pro Tim, I know that I have had to do a lot of extra um, a lot of extra work in this last year. And anyone who serves and most of the council have served as mayor prom knows that it's a lot of extra work, whether it's attending an additional meeting or making yourself available from your full-time work or your other work. Um, the difference between the council person's salary and the mayor's salary is 10,000. I figure that the mayor prom should sit somewhere in the middle for the year that they serve because they really should be compensated for the additional work. It is a lot of work. A lot a lot of work. And um the same way that council members on this day is have provided you and submitted to you what their legislative priorities are, I feel that the legislative priority that I have raised should be acknowledged. So I would I would um ask respectfully for everyone to give me that same respect. Whatever your issues are that are your concern, I voice my opinion on these issues. Yet, I have not asked anyone to remove anything that y'all have talked about. So, I'm asking for that same courtesy and to allow that to be something to be considered, to be discussed because I'm just raising a valid concern and I just would like that and I respect everyone else's concern regardless of my professional legal opinions. And that's it.

Yes, ma'am. Thank you, uh, Councilwoman, Mayor Pro Tim Pettit. And next, I believe I have on my list is Attorney Kelly. You wanted to share some comments.

Yes, Mayor. Thank you. And Mr. Long, as always, thank you for being here with us. Um, I'm particularly excited to see the squatter provision on the agenda. I believe this is an extension of the conversation we started about a year ago. Um, a lot of these issues and even like with evictions and things of that nature, a lot of them are what's categorized in the law as inrem, which is a Latin term for against the law, the land or against the property. When it comes to squatters, because this is criminal in nature, we do have something called due process, where part of due process is notifying the person directly that there is um that they've are uh in violation potentially or allegedly of a crime. So I'm excited to see this provision come forward as an extension of the conversation we started with the delegation about a year ago. Sure.

I think by extending the notification that we have found squatters here and if you are also doing this illegal activity, this is this will serve as your initial notice will kind of help close um that provision and help our law enforcement as far as enforcement of those provisions. Um the other thing I want to um talk about is in section 7.18 of our charter. Okay.

It mandates that every 5 years we have a charter commission review the charter of the city. That was done I believe the end of 2022. Believe it or not, next year it'll be time for another charter commission to review the charter again. Um it is my understanding and again this was before my tenure here with the city. So forgive me Mr. Long, you may have to educate me on this. It is my understanding that the charter commission met and they gave a list of about 20 things that should be amended on the charter with the new charter commission coming up again next year. What occurred with those 20 recommendations?

Thank you. Um, madame city attorney, if I remember correctly, um, there were recommendations made by that charter review commission and there were two items in particular that made it to a legislative agenda and to the legislative council. I can't remember the second one, but if I remember correctly, um the first one was that once they reviewed the charter, they recommended that this the attorney, the city attorney for the city of South Fulton not be a contractor or a vendor, but the city attorney to be inhouse as an employee of the city. That was one. And it's my understanding, if I remember correctly, that came to um a legislative priority and was um taken up by the legislative delegation, if I remember that correctly, and I can't remember what the second one was. Um but I think of the 20 recommend recommendations that were made, um two of them made it to our legislative agenda and was uh was considered by the legislative delegation. I'll go back in my notes and I'll make sure that I get that to you.

Okay. We can follow up with that and then perhaps have a follow-up call next week. Again, I just want to make sure we're prepared for next year with the next charter commission and make sure that um whatever suggestions that they have are taken up in the most efficient way possible. Yes, ma'am. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you, Attorney Kelly. U Councilwoman Willis for your second time. So uh most of the changes from the charter commission did not get taken up. So correct

and most of them didn't get taken up for another reason is because they said a lot of the changes we can make ourself under home rules. So I know ideally you would think that would be a good opportunity but it's really not. Second of all, um, Council Member Gums and I worked exclusively on the squatter legislation. We even went along with our own police personnel to lobby for the changes that were made. Um, sometimes you don't know what's going to happen until you actually have the lived experience. We have also met with the sheriff office and their attorney and they know what they're doing. And so I would say that changes that need to be made to the law does need to happen on the state level and we need to defer to our police department to find out what those changes should be because they're the ones that's going to have to enforce the law, not us. Thirdly, we do have to vote on this legislative agenda and typically how we do it is take issue each issue and we vote up or down what we want you to include. That's what we have historically done. Now, this is my first time seeing or hearing about the mayor pro Tim potential salary increase and had I known about it, I would have given commentary in my opinion about it. I just know historically when we have gone to the capital and asked for an increase on anything regarding the the conversation has gone left. Ideally, the mayor pro Tim doesn't have to work that hard. We just had a a situation where we had a mayor that was that chose not to be as engaged and he told us that he was not going to be as engaged or as a available because he had a part-time salary. That is not the position of our current mayor. And mayor

pro Tim is typically used sparingly and is done per the charter when the mayor is uh absent, incapacitated or absent. And so it's very clear when the mayor pro Tim goes into effect. And so I don't think that we should just look at one role on this council. And it's not personal. I don't think that we should look at one role on this council. I think we should look at it whole holistically, strategically. when we go to our legislators and say that it should be a salary increase, we have reasons informationwise and I do think we should consider going to a committee structure which will require more time. So, um I'm looking forward to us vetting this um more, but we do vote on these issues independently, singularly, so we can tell you how we which what we want included in the agenda. So, this has to be voted up or down um each issue that you brought before us. Mayor, when is that going to happen? Are we going to do that today? because this because the general assembly is underway and that's how we have historically done it. Attorney Kelly every attorney Kelly that's how we have his historically done it every issue that he or every item that he's brought upon us or or mentioned or we've asked him to uh include we vote on it as a body.

Thank you Councilwoman Willis. Um, Attorney Kelly, you have one. This is your second.

And I'll be brief, mayor. I promise. Um, I'm I'm very aware of the heavy lift that you all done with the squatter legislation, and I think it was great. I think this was just a continuation of the conversation that we had last year. I do agree that significant input should come from the people on the ground who are enforcing the laws. Having been a criminal defense attorney myself in the past and having worked on both sides of the V, I know the frustration that officers do face sometimes when they go out, they arrest somebody and then they see that same person back on the street. So, I think with closing this loophole regarding notice, any savvy criminal defense attorney would make that argument if their client is in in jail or has been charged with the crime of squatting if they didn't receive the proper notice. So, I think this is a good opportunity to make sure that we're implementing that effectively across the board so that we're not frustrating our police officers who are going on in the street and that we're also not wasting resources with arresting the same people over and over again and making sure that these charges stick. Thank you.

All right. Thank you for your comments, Councilwoman uh Natasha Williams Brown.

Thank you, Mayor. Um, I just wanted to point out that when it comes to the charter commission, if you read section 7.18 of the charter, it says, "At the first regular regularly scheduled city council meeting 5 years after the inception of the city of South Fulton, mayor and council shall call for a charter commission to review city's experience and recommend changes." There is no provision in section 7.18 for this to be a recurring commission. So, um, before anybody goes too far down the road thinking that there's going to be a second call for a charter commission, that is not what the charter says.

Well, there you have it. Thank you, Councilwoman, uh, Williams Brown. All right. Uh, council, we are at the point where I don't believe there are any other speakers and we do need to vote on these items. Um, we probably will do this quicker if we do by a show of hand. So, I'll call each item that is on uh the legislative agenda draft that was presented to us and we vote um and I guess I will have clerk record that and we'll move forward. Is that easy? Yes, ma'am.

All right. As you all do you have those in front of you? All right. You can call each item and you all will present a motion to vote. The first priority is uh development authority independence.

Yes, somebody has to make a motion. I move to hold. It has been moved and seconded. Can I see a show of hands? development authority independence will be held. The second priority is established South Fulton Senate delegation. I'll entertain. I move to approve creation of South Fulton Senate delegation. Second. It has been moved and second. Can I see a show of hands? Cory, that motion approved unanimously. 70.

All right. Third priority is the squatters loophole legislative fix. I entertain a motion. I move to approve. It has been moved and probably second. Can I get a show of hands? Motion approve unanimously. Awesome. The fourth priority is recidivism resources for the city. I entertain a motion. A motion to approve. Second. It has been moved and second. Can I see a show of hands, please? That motion approve 6. There was someone that you have seen. Okay.

Six to one. All right. Thank you. Next item. Um trucking restrictions is the next priority. I I move to um approve the trucking restrictions um that would require a county to sign off on restricting a truck ride on a municipal road. Second. It has been moved and second. Can I get a show of hands for that motion approve unanimously? 70. All right. Thank you. Next item. The next item is the Camelot Crisis, a state of emergency. I'll entertain the motion. I move to approve. It has been moved and second. Can I get a show of hands? That motion approved unanimously. 70. Absolutely.

The next priority is a charter amendment. City judges to be fulltime. I'll entertain a motion. A move to approve. Second. It has been mo approved. Excuse me. It has been motioned to approve and second. Can I see a show of hands, please? Five.

Okay. So right now five to two. 5 to two motion is approved. Next item. The next priority is a charter amendment. The mayor prom salary. I'd like to have entertain a motion to hold. Second. That has been moved and probably second to hold. Can I get a show of hands, please? That motion approve the second to hold. All right. Next item. Next priority is charter amendment clarification of roles. I entertain a motion to approve.

It has been approved and second. Can I get a show of hands, please? That motion. Awesome. Next item. The next priority is a charter amendment powers of the city manager. I'll entertain a motion.

Second. It has been moved and probably second. Can I see a show of hands? All right, the motion has been resent. Are we going to do anything with this item? Second.

I apologize. Am I supposed to entertain a reason with um Do we have to vote on her resent? Okay. All right. Councilwoman is moving to hold this item. Yeah. Has been moved and properly second. Can I get a show of hands? Motion approve 6 to1. All right. Next item. The next priority is constitutional amendment hospital definition. Second. It has been moved and second. Can I get a show of hands, please? Accord motion approved unanimously. 70.

Awesome. Next item. Next item. The final uh priority is strengthen candidate residency requirements. I'll entertain a motion. It has been moved and second. Can I get a show of hands, please? Oh, okay. Court that motion approved six to one. And there is an additional item that is requested to be added uh to allow our fire department to have transport license more accountability around um ambulance service.

Make a motion. I move that we uh ask the delegation to give us the ability to have transport license to be reimbursed for any priority one transport that we uh have to effectuate and then also for more accountability around um amalant service. It has been moved and properly second. Can I get a show of hands please? That motion approve unanimous 70. All right,

madame mayor, with your permission, permission of the council, I will get with uh your fire chief to make sure I have language for exactly how we want to present to the legislative delegation, but I have that recorded as we're moving forward with that. Thank you. All right, he's on the EMC council, so he can clarify. Absolutely. Well, this concludes the items that are on our legislative agenda. Um, thank you, Madam Mayor. Yes, sir.

Um, now that the each individual item was approved, um, there is an agenda item at the 7:00 meeting. I don't know if you want to entertain a motion to approve the all together the package as amended uh for submission. Council, do you want to entertain it? I move to um accept the priorities as voted on today as the legislative packet for the city of South for 2026. It has been moved and properly second. May I see a show of hands, please? That motion approved unanimous 70. Wonderful. Thank you, mayor and council. Thank you.

All right. Uh clerk, is there any additional items? No ma'am. All right. We will now since there is no further business for this particular meeting, we do not have to vote to adjourn. I will just call the meeting to be adjourned. Any questions? Meeting is adjourned at 5:56 p.m. All right. Per action of the mayor.

Yes. We will all take a moment a personal privilege to run to the laboratory and to exchange our meetings. So we'll be back in five minutes or maybe 10 10 minutes. Thank you. I keep forgetting

All right.

Oh, okay. Council, make sure you all switch over. It said calling the right woman. Calling the right woman. He lied. It don't say that. Oh, okay.

All right. You ready? Let's go. All right. Welcome to our alcohol license and zoning public hearings that is scheduled for today, January 13, 2026 at 5:00. I will now call this meeting to order. Clerk, can you sound the role? Yes, ma'am. Madame Mayor, this is the roll call for tonight's meeting. The Honorable Katherine F. Ra, District 1, present. The Honorable Aaron V. Johnson, 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, present. The Honorable Linda B. Pritchette, District 7. Here. And the Honorable Mayor Camelita Gums, present. Madame Mayor, you have a quorum. All right, Mr. Clerk, please sound the next item.

Madame Mayor and members of council, we have uh four items listed for deferral um based on the need to go to the planning commission for their hearing. The first case requested for deferral is case Z25-034, CDP25-012. It's a public an application by RS Group Incorporated requesting a reszoning from R3 in the Sandtown Overlay district in AG1 to R4 to consolidate the two parcels into one development at 4960 and 4980 camel road. Future land use amendment from suburban neighborhood 1 to suburban neighborhood 2 is also requested. It's located in city council district 1. Staff recommendation was approval and planning commission recommendation was deferral.

All right. If there are no object, excuse me. If there are no objections, we can approve all items uh A through D. Can we have a motion to approve all four items together? If there's no objection, I move to approve a approval of items A through D for deferral. Second. It has been moved and properly second. Y'all want to try this in the queue? All right, let's unfortunately, yeah, we don't have everyone signed in. Everyone is not signed in.

All right, let's do this quickly by a show of hands since we are a little off schedule. court. That motion approved unanimously 70 to defer and this is deferred to the next zoning public hearing. Yes. Yes. All right. Is that the 27th staff? Yeah. staff one is the deferral date February 10th

I am my motion to defer these cases to February 10th 2026 I have a question are we doing fe February 10th because we don't have a planning commission meeting until When? So, the next planning commission meeting is next Wednesday, January 21st. And when is our next council meeting? January 27th, but we typically do the next council meeting that following month. Why? For deferrals.

It's just a standard practice that we always done. No, I I would like uh to make a substitute motion to bring um Z25036 CDB CDP 250015 back to the uh council meeting on the we have our next council meeting on the 27th. Correct. I would like to have that case brought back to that council meeting since the planning commission would have voted on it prior to that council meeting. There's no reason to uh hold it for a whole another two council meetings. All right. Just for clarification, uh Mr. Clerk, can you please um resound her amendment? What item?

You got your Okay, there it is. So, Council Member Willis is requesting that item C. Um, and I I think we there was a motion to uh defer and that was approved at 70 I recorded. Then there was a date added for February 10th, but uh Council Member Willis wants to um have item C uh come back before this body uh on at the January 27th zoning public hearing.

Cory say item C. So, mayor, um, just for clarification, you stated that the next planning commission meeting, this item was deferred. So, it goes back before the planning commission meeting when? January 21st. Next month, next Wednesday. We have our council meeting on January 27th. Correct. Why am I waiting to bring this back in February? So, in the past, we've just waited till that following council meeting the next month whenever there's a deferral to allow the time for the planning commission. But I see no issue with it coming back January 27th if that's your wish. Yes, that's my wish.

So, for all the other items A, B, and D, do you all wish to have that on the 13th? We know that C is coming back on the 27th. or do you want all items to be on the 27th? Please clarify. Question. I mean, I don't know. The staff can speak to if they have others in the queue because it's usually staggered. Do we have a lot of cases on that day already on February 10th? I would need to check. I'm not sure there's a lot of cases on that day just yet. I'll need to check the calendar. Let's just leave it at the 10th. That that way they have time.

Oh, that no exception I mean yours. Okay. Okay. Okay. So, what I understand is that the motion is is that we items A, B, and D will be heard on February the 10th and item C will be held heard on January the 27th. That is the current motion on the floor. Do we second? Second. Okay. Has been moved and properly second. Can I get a show of hands for this item, please? That motion was approved. 70.

All right. All right. Clerk, Mr. Clerk, can you please sound the next item? That brings us to our alcohol license resoning variance and modification cases for presentation and public hearing only. First case, letter A is a public hearing. The application by Kazzy Sarah Juel doing business as Big A Shell Food Mark has applied for an alcohol license for the retail sale of beer and wine located at 7100 Old National Highway, Riverdale, Georgia 30296. This request is for a change of ownership. It's located in Council District 7. Staff.

All right. At this time, do I need to open a public hearing? Yes. All right. At this time, I'm opening a public hearing on this agenda item. There's a total of 10 minutes to give your presentation. You do not have to use all of that time. You may want to reserve some of that time for rebuttal. Also, keep in mind that time includes public comments for any of the citizens who are also in favor of your application. Any time granted for the application, the same amount must be given to the opposition if any. You may proceed with your presentation.

Okay. Good evening, council, mayor, and happy new year. My name is Lieutenant Bllelock with the city of Southton Police Department License and Permits Unit. Um the application submitted by Kazzy Sergio Incorporation is doing business as Big A Shell Food Mart Station located at 7100 Old National Highway, Riverdale, Georgia 30296. The abocate satisfies all legal requirements for insurance of an alcohol license. The establishment is existed is an existing business within the city of South District 7 um and has undergo a change in ownership. The location previously held an approved alcohol license under the former owner. Um the current owner has submitted a public safety plan which has been reviewed and approved. Staff recommend approval for the alcohol license application.

Is the applicant here? Does he wish to speak? Does the applicant wish to speak?

Uh, good afternoon. U, this, uh, the station has been there for over 30 years. Excuse me, sir. Yes, sir. Madame May, I can state your name and address for the record, please. Yes, my name is Azer Uh, the station is located at 7100 Old National Highway and Yes. Uh so majority of our customers are walk-ins. So we've been there for over 30 years and we've been following all the legal rules and everything all the procedures that we need to follow and we're just going through under a different management and ownership. That's it. Okay. Is there Go ahead. Yeah. Madame Mayor, we did not receive any speaker cards in support of opposition to this application.

All right. At this time, I am closing the public hearing and we'll take questions from the council, starting with the district representative, Councilwoman Pritchette, Mayor Pro Tim. Thank you, Madame Mayor. Um, good evening. Um, is this located at Old National and Beda Road? Yes. Across the CVS. Used to be a CVS, then now they closed down. I know. Yeah. So, you're saying that you guys have been there for 30 years? The previous owner has been there for 30 years if I'm not sure. Yeah. And so, you just Yeah, we're just going through a different ownership and management.

So, it was a purchase or you just going through a man a management change or both ownership change? Uh, both ownership change and management change. So, are the previous owners going to be invol involved at all in the management of this store? I believe he does have uh hearing I mean saying in the management of a day-to-day operation. Okay. Yeah. Thank you. Do we have any additional speakers? Okay. Councilwoman Natasha Williams Brown.

Um thank you, Mayor. I don't think I I don't think I quite followed that last bit. Um, you're going through an ownership change. You're going through a management change, but the current management is still going to be involved in the management. Not the current management, the previous owner. The previous owner. Yes. Because that's his property. And I think uh the new ownership, they just leased the business from him. and he does have saying in how the store operates or uh they they want to remodel the store and he has saying in that kind of operation

walk me through how that so if the current owner still has Sorry u u no uh I think they don't have nothing to say in that it's just a simple ownership change not a management change some new owners. Yes, they're completely new owners.

What is your role with this? I'm a manager. You're the manager? Yes. Are you still going to be the manager? Yes. Who's the owner? Right. Who's going to be the owner? He's going to be the owner. No, I'm saying who is the owner now? Oh, right now is him. And who is going to be the owner later? Oh, no. So, current owner is him. The other owner is not here. Who would sold the store to them?

So, okay. Because I be because I I want I'm going to have to vote on this at the next meeting. So, I need to be sure that I'm clear and understanding what I'm hearing cuz I'm hearing a couple of things that one of these kids is doing its own thing. Okay. The gentleman behind you is the current owner who has sold the business to another owner who is not here. No. So, he's the new owner who bought the business. You're the new owner. Yeah. And you've bought the business from the current owner who is not here. That's correct. What role will the current owner be playing going forward? You mean the previous owner?

The previous owner. What role are they going to be playing going forward? They have no role in So when you said that they would that they they're going to be involved in the renovations and the this the all the things. Clarify for me how that works. So since he owns the property, if we wanted to build a new building or add anything additional to the building, he has saying in that because since he owns the property and we're trying if trying to remodel or add in additional property or store space, he has saying in that.

But what what property would he still own if you're buying it? So we So they're leasing the store, but the the the property by itself is still owned by the previous owner. Okay, that that part too is all the c all the cross chatter is not helping me understand. So you're actually leasing it from the current owner who is still going to own the physical land. Own the physical land. own the physical building and will still be able to

oh I'll be able determine whether or not improvements, upgrades, renovations, cleaning up the parking lot. No, no, that will happen. No, so it would be if something is big and major that needs to be approved from him that he would have to then we have to get approved or saying from him, right?

Excuse me. Uh thank you for giving me the opportunity. Um basically like the previous owner he mentioned it. He was like the property uh owner. So uh I just did the glaze with him. So he tried to describe if we change to major things for the store that times we should involve like the um landlord. So uh that's why he think he was try to uh describe you like the any kind of changes or development that times should be involved the property owner and we need to the approval from the first of all the property owner then we can do it because we are the lease holder

right so as a concrete example the floor needs to be redone do you have to go to the owner to get the floor redone no to paint to do the roof No pave the parking lot. Uh basically operating things is like the lease holder should be maintain the government rules and regulations only for the like the constructions and the property things handled by the the property owner or landlord.

Okay. Thank you. Thank you sir. Can you uh state your name and address for the record? Yes. Uh my name is Sean. Last name is Sir. Address is 7100 Old National Highway, Riverdale, Georgia 30296. Okay. Thank you. You're welcome. This item is on our agenda at 7:00. No ma'am, this will be at the 27th. This will item we will uh take a vote on this on the 27th of January. Thank you. Mr. Clerk, can you please sound the next item?

Next item is case U25-013. This is a public hearing application by Early Rocket requesting a special use permit to allow group residents for 6 to9 children in the community unit plan Old National Highway overlay zoning at 120 Canewood Court East. This property is located in city council district 6. This item was deferred at the December 9th, 2025 public hearing until tonight's meeting. Staff recommendation is approval conditional. Planning Commission recommendation is denial. Staff, good uh evening. Um case U25-013. The address is 120 Canewood Court. Um the applicant is is receiving a special use permit to allow for a group residence for children in a CUP. Again, the address is 129 Kwood Road. Staff is recommending approval conditional with three conditions. The first condition is that the special use permit is not transferable. The second condition is that the permit is required to maintain a valid Southton business license in order to operate a special use for a group home. And also a third item we're adding on the floor is that no one over the age of 18 shall be allowed in a group residence. All right. Is the applicant here? All right. At this time, I'm opening up the public hearing for this item on the agenda. Ma'am, uh you have a total of 10 minutes to give your presentation. You do not have to use all of your time. Um but you may want to reserve any time for rebuttal. Also, keep in mind that times include public comments for any citizens who are also in favor of your application. Any time granted for the application, the same amount of time must be given to your opposition if any and you may proceed with your

presentation. Please state your name and your address.

Sorry. My name's Early Rocket. I live at 4705 Regency Trace, Atlanta, Georgia. I've lived at that residence for over 26 years. Good evening, Honorable Mayor Grum. Uh council members, uh I am formally requesting approval for a special use permit for the property located at 120 Cwood Court East uh in South Fulton, Georgia for the provision of safe housing for parenting or maternity youth between the ages of 13 and 18 years. The parcel is currently zoned as residential community unit plan and per the city land use table section 270.06 06. A special use permit is required for group residents of six or greater. I am requesting the special use permit that will allow us to accommodate up to six to nine residents in compliance with all applicable zoning requirements and regulations. There will also be additional uh compliance with the Georgia Office of Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner Certificate of Occupancy and any applicable city laws or ordinances. The proposed use would provide muchneeded housing and support for individuals who require supervision in a safe and structured environment. The residents would be managed in a way as to maintain the character and integrity of the neighborhood with no significant changes to the exterior of the property or its impact on traffic, noise, or other environmental factors. We fully understand and respect the concerns expressed by the commission and members of the community. It's important to us that the group residence remains a positive asset to the neighborhood and

we are committed to being responsive to any concerns about potential impact on the community. To that end, we are prepared to take several steps to mitigate any potential issues and ensure that the expansion is with is in line with the community's needs and expectations. Addressing community concerns impact on traffic and parking. We understand that an increase in residents may also be assoc associated with an increase or concern about traffic or parking. The residents in the group residents home do not own vehicles and there will be two to three vehicles in the driveway at any time to include one transport van. The property can be easily accommodate five to six vehicles in the driveway and the attached twocar garage. Noise and activity level. The nature of the group home will remain consistent with its original purpose, providing a safe, respectful living conditions for all residents within that uh home who require residential housing. We are committing committed to maintaining quiet, respectful living conditions for all residents and minimizing any noise disruption that might affect the neighborhood. Property maintenance and safety. We assure the commission and community that the property will be maintained to the highest standards. We will adhere to all building code safety standards and zoning requirements to ensure the home is secure and properly managed. Occupancy number. The state of Georgia fire and safety insurance will complete and provide a certificate of occupancy once the required fire suppression and alarm uh safety alarm system is installed.

This certificate of occupancy will be adhered to as it relates to the total number of residents that can safely be occupy the home. Storage. The property has a large storage area in the basement that extends the length of the existing house. If additional storage is needed, a storage shed can be placed on the 79 acreage lot in the back according to any applicable codes or requirements. Why this neighborhood? This location was selected for a number of reasons to include the zip code 30349 is one of the top 10 areas where children in defax custody are originate to reduce further trauma to the child. The goal is to keep the child within the area where they have established relationships whether school, family or community. The property is zon residential with an associated community unit plan designation which allows for group residents of less than six six residents. The use of the property can move forward without a special use permit as long as there are less than six residents based on South Fun's codes and ordinances. The existing property conforms to the standards set um by the owner to allow for adequate space for the proposed residence and any potential children up to the occupancy requirements. The lot size, location to school, healthc care, parks, and recreation areas were also taken into consideration as part of selecting this particular location. As the owner, I went above and beyond the required public notification requirements by placing a notification

in the Fulton neighbor prior to purchasing the property. The city of South Fulton special use permit process requires notification of residents using their designated address list after the sub application has been approved. No address list was available prior to the sub application. As part of the sub application, I created and mailed an approved postcard with the date of the public participation meeting, planning commission, mayor and council uh meeting dates, time and location to the addresses that the city of South Fulton planning and zoning staff provided home value. The people nor the purpose of the home determines the value. The top three factors impacting home value include location and accessibility, quality of local schools, neighborhood safety, and overall condition. The maintenance and upkeep of the property will be maintained. We hope the commission will consider this request with understanding and recognize that this expansion is an opportunity to enhance the services provided to individuals in need while also maintaining the well-being of the surrounding community. Thank you for your consideration.

Um, good evening. My name is uh Yenbe. I'm Ellie's husband. Uh I came here this evening to give us support. We have other group home within the family which actually I run in the city of Columbus, Georgia, Muskugi County. This is about the third year now. her coming forward to do the group home for women and their children is on my advice is on my encouragement. Behind every successful man, there's a strong lady. Behind a successful woman, there's a strong man. So her coming forward to render the services to the community is based on my encouragement and this is also based on my experience of the services that I've been able to provide the last three years in Columbus. I have two group homes which have been run successfully permitted by department of human services. So I'll be able to support her and whenever there's any problem based on what I know I'll be able to kind of coach her. Now when the resident had concern and they discussed this with her based on my experience I was willing to come out and address some of those concerns with the resident. Anything that is new usually give anxiety and apprehension. But this is a

services uh this is a service that the community will benefit from. Based on my own experience in Columbus, Georgia. Some of the kids we service not act they are not actually from Columbus. Some of them are from Decator. Some of them as far as from uh Augusta, Georgia. Even this evening there was some solicitation from Atlanta here trying to place some uh some adolescent mail in the group home in Columbus, Georgia. What she's doing what she's doing is mother baby unit being for female. All right, this concludes your time. All right, do we have any opposition?

Yes, madame mayor. We did receive eight speaker cards in opposition. Um, of course you the a lotment is 10 minutes. So um we'll call the names and view it approach the center microphone and render your comment with the understanding that others behind you wish to uh provide comment as well to come in this order please. Marcia Clemenor, Michael Venal, Janet Perry, Nicola Nicholas Perry, Renee Rogers, Tendo Rogers, John Lee Asbury, and Joel Johnson. All right, just to remind you all, you have a total of 10 minutes together. Okay.

Okay. State your name and where your and your address. Correct. State your name and your address. Marcia Clemenor at 235 Adena Lane West College. Anyway, good evening. Good evening. Okay. I'm I'm the president, Marcia Clemenor, president of the Pine Tree Meadows HOA. I'm here representing the residents who stand firmly against the special use permit requested for a defax group home in our subdivision. And I want you to know, would you please stand? Let them see who we are.

Okay. Petition with almost 100 signatures for those who are not here.

Okay. So, I just want you to know that we are we think it's a great idea. is just the location. The proposal places five to six pregnant miners, infants, and rotating 24-hour staff into a single family home. That is not residential use. It is an institutional operation. Our zoning code is clear. Special use should only be granted when it does not disrupt the character, safety, or stability of the neighborhood. This project fails every one of those um tests. It would create constant traffic. It's in a small little culdeac. You have shift changes. You have defac visits. You have transport emergency responses. Remember, all these women are pregnant and they're all going to go to the hospital sooner or later. And the activity is far beyond what our streets were designed for. A four to five bedroom. Right now it's four bedrooms. and she wants to put the fifth one in the basement. So, a four to five bedroomedroom home is not built for this level of occupancy, staffing, and medical oversight. It raises safety, parking, and code compliance issues that simply cannot be ignored. The zoning board already denied this request because it conflicts with the intent of single family zoning and sets a dangerous precedent for additional facilities in established neighborhoods. For these reasons, on behalf of the Pineree Meadows and its taxpaying residents, I respectfully request that the mayor and council uphold the denial and vote no on the special use permit. And let me also add at the zoning hearing that asked the petitioner this particular project that she feels so fervently about, she feels great

about it. Would she put that group home next to her house in Cascade? And she would not. So why does she think we want it in our neighborhood? Thank you. Okay. Good evening. My name is Janet Perry and I am not a resident or homeowner of um the the Path Speakers community. However, I am in the vicinity of where this um group home would be. I am on point with most of what uh Miss Clemenor said. Our issue is that we have several properties that were owned uh and that are owned by uh homeowners uh that one is a Airbnb. And when we approached the gentleman, he had been there several years. I've been in my community 37 years, so he's been there as long as I have. And when we approached him about the Airbnb, he said he had a permit. Now, when I went on to the Fulton County Assessor's Office, I didn't see anything about an Airbnb, and I'm wondering if the municipalities are crossing over each other and presenting permits to these homeowners so that they can go ahead and do whatever they want. We had no knowledge that he was going to bring this Airbnb into the community. He is on a main street, okay? He does have multiple traffic. I haven't seen any uh uh evidence of him expanding his property. As far as I know, he's probably about 13 to,400 square feet. Uh he has multiple cars on his lot. Uh especially during the height of the season, summers, uh Memorial Day or whatever. Uh he'll have a f not families, but he will have couples

coming in. I don't know if he actually has families there. We also have a care home in the community. Now, when I pulled up on the assessor's list that uh I'm I'm done. I'm I'm running out of time. You are. Uh can you stop her? So, okay. Let me speak about this particular location. Okay. So, this you can only speak about this particular project. Okay. I am concerned about how um agreeing with this proposal will affect the rest of the communities in the neighborhood. That's my concern.

And can you state your address just for the record? Yeah, it's 7165 Hania Drive.

Okay. Okay. Thank you. Hello, my name is Renee Rogers and I'm in the same subdivision as Miss Perry. Uh we just share the similar concerns. We've already experienced like she said the ar um the uh one home or two homes are already there that we had no knowledge of. they disappeared and we are concerned that once this start it's not going to be able to be stopped. There are no controls. There's no consideration for what the community wants and um people are walking around that we've never seen before. Okay. Some people are older and some are younger. One woman lost her keys. We don't even know if she got any aid. No one in public service telling us what's going on. It just shows up and we're quite upset about it because it's once, as Janet Perry said, they went to another county to get permitted. So, if this is going on, I think you all need to be aware of that. And it is a true concern because I know if it was your community, you would not want it.

Thank you. Thank you. And did you state your address for the record? I'm sorry. Your address. Did you state your address for the record? Where you live? Where you live? Where's your 7170 Heria Drive, Fair, Georgia? Thank you. All right. Thank you. All right.

Please state your name and address. Michael Venerable 5720 Mont Circle. You know, we've always had a big concern when we talked about zip codes. 30349 has one of the biggest areas where corporately owned homes are there. We just got back before last year, years before talking about split pads. There are several on my street. We're having a big fit about this because it disrupts the neighborhood. I understand what these people are saying. Get rid of the emotion. This is a business. They're operating a business in a residential neighborhood. There is no way that I can compete with that. No one can. That you're talking about money from a business and a private individual. If and when that property increases or taxes increases, you're out of league. This has got to stop. This is endeavored our community terribly. And this is a bad move. This should not be a business within a a single family subdivision. It's not even at the edge of the of the subdivision. It's dead in the middle. Thank you.

Good afternoon, Janella Asbury, 120 140 Canewood Court East. I am inside that culde-sac. I have been inside that home. Although it has been renovated, it will be tight and congested for the young ladies and I actually feel sorry for them because I have been in the home and I can absolutely see this is a business for profit and not actually for what is in the best interest of those girls. knowing the layout of that home. Moreover, the um driveway and what she's saying about the driveway and what will be accommodated, not with the transport van. She doesn't have as many much driveway space or yard as I do. I am also she initially told us it was going to be four to five girls. Now, due to the code, it's going to be six to nine. And we have also addressed the safety issues for mothers with young children. As we have brought to your attention before, the speeding and dono donutting constantly in that culde-sac weekly poses a hazard to young children in the area. Moreover, we have illegal rooming houses which we brought to the attention of our uh council uh Miss Natasha Williams Brown at the last meeting um regarding the illegal ones that are operating which I have found out in getting the petition and talking to those in the community that there have been police presents having to call the police, excess trash, excess cars which I saw for myself parked up and down the road. We are asking you as your voting base, as your constituents, and as the residents of city of South Fton, not city of Atlanta, for you to stand with us as your residents and your constituents. And I voted for the current mayor based on what I have in this hand, saying that we will preserve our neighborhoods and our character, and that is what we expect of you all as representatives for the city of South Fton. Thank you so much.

All right. Do we have any more speakers? Nicholas Perry, Tinder Rogers, or Yeah. Q. Okay. Okay. Okay.

All right. If there is no more um comments and I do not believe you have any time to uh rebuttal, you used all your time. So at this time I am going to close the public hearing and we will take questions from the council starting with district the district representative which is district five. No I'm sorry district six councilwoman Natasha Williams Brown. Thank you mayor. Um, if I could get early to come back up, please. Um, and I'm sure you know you you have heard

um what the residents have had to say. So, the special use permit is to have six to nine. Correct. that that is what the ordinance um asked for is 6 to9 for in order for a special use permit. I can have less than that which is my plan but to get the special use permit it starts six to nine.

So if you did not get the special use permit because you can have less than six and zoning and code already allows for that. you would still be able to have this home to provide shelter for these victims without having to come before the council. That's that's correct.

That Okay. Um, is there any and and I'm I'm assuming not, but I've heard I heard several residents mention Airbnbs. Um, and if you could just walk, if you could just speak to how how providing shelter for these victims differs from operating an Airbnb.

Absolutely. First of all, a uh second chance home is also called a parenting support home. And that means that that the youth who are there can be women who are there with their child. Usually u they come into that program it'll be less than one one year of age. And we would have those youth there working with them to learn how to be independent. Independent learning how to f uh maintain finances uh completing education doing vocational training. uh looking at opportunities around uh housing once they age out or or uh choose to leave uh the the care of of the the state. This particular home would not necessarily have five to six pregnant women there. There may be pregnant women intermixed in the group but there is some control that that I would have. I would not want to to manage five to six pregnant women at at one time. So the home is a parenting support home also called a second chance home or maternity home and and there would be um between generally from for what I want is at least four to five youth that would be there potentially with with their child. Not all of those women would be pregnant or youth would be pregnant at the same time. There there could be absolutely none that are pregnant. Pregnancy is also not an illness. It is a normal state of a woman's life and and women who go through it know as long as they're getting care, they're they're following through with the care that they need. And that's a part of our responsibility that uh emergency vehicles uh increase

in traffic those types of things would not necessarily be a part of it. However, there there are times when emergencies happen and that happens with any one in any community. And so we we are not saying it would never happen, but certainly the intent is not to to have uh excessive emergency vehicles there to manage a normal condition of a woman's life. Okay. And I believe I heard your husband say that they that you'll that there's also a a second chance home in Columbus.

Not a second chance home. We have a group residents in in Columbus that houses between five to to six residents as well. And those are youth that are in defax custody. Uh it is located with within a neighborhood. We have neighbors to the left, to the right, to our back. Uh, and and we we operate there. If if if I had chosen to stay less than than five, I could have potentially operated and no one would ever have known what was going on because it's in my house. It's in my home. It's not an Airbnb. It is it is in my property. And what happens inside everyone's property again doesn't impact what what happens as it relates to this particular use. It is providing housings and residents for those youth who are are talents and have been put into difficult situations. Um

if I may add a comment, the population that I cater to in Columbus, these are adolescent male 13 to 18. She will be catering for women uh parenting mothers. And actually we chose this because of her background. She's a nurse practitioner. She did OB. This is what she did most of her life. This is service. I understand the emotion of the resident. But based on my experience, I had the same hesitation the first month. But the neighborhood came later when they saw the services being rendered. I had some of the residents saying, "Why not in Cascade?" We've lived in Cascade for the last 26 years. Before she bought this property, we looked around to see where we can find suitable uh suitable property that will serve the needs we want to do. And if any of the resident want to talk with me, I'll be able to share my experience with them. I do understand where they are coming from but based on my own experience this is not the case.

Okay. Thank you sir. And I think I have um I have a CD question if I may. Um Miss Suban if I could ask a CD question because I just I just want to confirm that This application is for for the special use permit is if they stay below six that's already in the code they can already start operating if they stay below six.

So our code is silent on anything under six. I know that if they apply for a business license, they wouldn't be able to get one. But as far as operating under six uh children, our code is silo on that and we wouldn't make any um recommendation on it. Okay. Thank you. Um Madame Mayor, I yield. Okay. When uh when do we vote on this? This next meeting or 27th? Yes. All right. We will hear have a public vote on January the 27th. I'm sorry. Oh, I'm sorry. I apologize. Um, recognizing Dr. Katherine Ra, Councilwoman,

this is a question. I I heard one of the residents say that uh she had been in a home and modifications had been made to the home. Were those changed? Um, can somebody in CDR answer if the house had been permitted for modifications? It was a previous investor. Oh, okay. So, it's not the It's not It was already done previously to expand. Please allow the So, I would need this is my first time hearing about that. So, I would need to check the address and check our system, see if any permits were pulled for the renovations.

Yeah, I would I would want to know uh whatever modifications that were made to them. Thank you. All right, we're recognizing Councilwoman Helen Willis and then Councilman Sebastian. So, um I would like for the um historically when I have dealt with um homes similar to this that had been constructed out, we went and pulled the um certificate of occupancy um and what has been in conflict with construction. construction or rebuild out or redevelopment or remodel of homes is the certificate of occasy versus what has been um actually done. And that's how we have had um a lot of um non-compliance of the uh group homes. the um split pads. That's how we've had them addressed in my district. And so I would ask that you reach out to the department that handles the certificate of occupancy, which is a third party company, um and ask them to send you the original plan, building plan of the house. I will ask that you ask them for the certificate of occupancy um the permit and um and review all of that. And I would say that the push back that you all are seeing from the

community is um I know that this is a need, but these type of homes typically don't do well in traditional residential communities. Um and that's a push back and that's an honest I'm just being transparent. That's just the push back that you see here. And that's why we place in our zoning code that when group homes are placed in residential communities that it has to come before the council for a special use permit. Um so that we could get feedback from community. Also we can make sure that the construction is alignment is in alignment with what was approved on a on a certificate of occupancy. Now what I have found not saying this is the case but I found that a lot of times that there has been remodel done to homes. Several rooms have been built out in homes and that is not what have been approved by the inspector. And we had a severe situation happened in our city where there was a fire and a whole family um it resulted in a fatality because they didn't have proper accommodations for the extra rooms that were put in this home. They didn't have any they didn't have any exit uh doors. They didn't have any windows and they couldn't get out. And so I'm asking that you go back and look at all of that.

Absolutely. Thank you, Councilwoman Willis. Councilman Sebastian, I have I have just one question. How is the home being used right now? because I think I've heard a couple of different things in in the comments. The home is currently vacant right now. It's currently vacant. It's currently vacant. When I purchased the home, the home was uh sold as six be six bedrooms, two and a half baths, 23 uh 2,300 square ft. And that's that's how it's currently Okay. Thanks.

set up. And we will I I would like to add we do have to get a a certificate of occupancy. We do have to put in fire alarm, fire suppression systems. We have to put in egress windows because it is a two twotory. So we have to put in special windows. Matter of fact, they're already in, but have to put in special windows for egress from from the house as well as all the different signs and everything that's needed. And that's what we're going through with the fire safety commission. and they will determine that, come out and inspect and and inspect on ongoing to make sure that we're in compliance with those requirements.

Okay. Thank you. And again, we'll take a public vote on January the 27th. See a second time. Councilwoman Willis has one additional question for CDR.

Yes. So, so my question is she said that she those are requirements for her to have. So, how is she before us asking for us to approve this? Huh? But but I'm I understand that's a state requirement. But what I'm saying is how is it that we are asking to approve something that has and they have all these state requirements that haven't been even complied with. That's what that's it's something wrong with our code because how how are we going to approve for a group home and we haven't even assured that the proper um compliance around you know the state requirements have been met. She's saying that she's going to have to do this, she's going to have to do that. She's going to have to do all of these things and but yet this is before us for us to approve.

Right. So typically um people come in and get the special use permit before they invest into the property. So that would come after they actually get the use they would actually get the use permit approved. Say for example they did the work and the permit wasn't approved then it kind of be they wasted their money. So how the process starts is they'll get the the the permission or the use first and then they go in and make those investments. Okay. All right. Again, thank you. And we'll have a public vote on the 27th. Clerk, may you please sound the next and last item, please?

Yes. The last item on tonight's public hearing agenda is case M25-00003, application by Sean Slaughter, Care of Robinson Happy Homes, requesting a modification to zoning condition 3B of zoning case 2001Z 0121 to reduce the required 50-foot principal building setback from peripheral property lines adjoining property to a 20ft principal building setback for lot 226 in the Community Union Plan Clifton Overlay District. The property is located at 969 Brook. It's located in city council district 3. Staff recommendation is approval.

All right. So, case M25-00003. Again, the address is 969 Brook. The applicant is requesting to modify a condition from a 2001 zoning case. That case again is 2001Z-1 0121. Um, and they want to reduce the required 50 foot uh principal building setback from 50 ft to 20 ft. So if you're looking at the lot, it'll be the western portion of the lot. They want to reduce that set back from 50 ft to 20 ft. And in order to accommodate the house that they want to build, uh staff is recommending approval. And again, because this is a modification, it does not go before the planning commission. So that's why there's no recommendation from the planning commission. These modifications come straight to city council for consideration.

All right. Is the applicant here? At this at this time, I am opening the public hearing for this item or that's on the agenda. Sir, you have a total of 10 minutes to give your presentation. You do not have to use all of that time. You may want to reserve time for rebuttal. Also keep in mind that time includes public comments from any of the citizens who are also in favor of your application. Any time granted for the application, the same amount of time must be given to the opposition. If any, you may proceed with your presentation. Turn your mic on.

Got it. Thank you. Good evening, um, council members and the mayor. I'm Sean Slaughter, 375 Rockbridge Road, Liilburn, Georgia. I am actually the owner of a home building company um Highland Park Homes and I'm representing uh Miss Tracy Robinson with Robinson Happy Homes. She purchased a piece of property in South Fulton in Stonewall Tale Manor. Um the property was vacant. There was nothing there at all. And once we went into the permitting services um and paid for the permit, then we found out, hey, there's a 50-foot buffer going through the lot. Um this buffer was not shown on the site plan at all. So during the due diligence of purchasing the property, there would have been no way to know this. Um so we've give maybe some renderings. So we have some renderings of actually what the home will look like. We have HOA approval. If we do um if we do have to do the 50-ft buffer, it will make the house only 20 ft wide. So, we will adhere to the buffer, but if we could just change it from 50 to 20 ft. It's okay. Yeah,

we we're pausing your time or giving you back time.

And so what you have in front of you is the approved home from the HOA from the Stonewall Manor um HOA. Okay. Does that conclude your presentation at this point? Yes, it does. Okay. All right, Mr. Clark.

Yeah, we did receive one speaker card in opposition. Uh, Mr. Paul Bergenthal. Okay. Paul Bergenthal. Good evening. I'm Paul Bergenthal. I've lived at uh 4580 Stonewall Tail for 41 years. We uh were the adjacent property owner of uh 969 Brook. A brief history. Uh way back in ' 01 when the developer of Stonewall Tel Manor made a presentation to the Clifton Dale community, we were concerned because our north property line butts up to the development. Originally, it was a culde-sac. So, oh, this will be nice. There's just like six homes on a culde-sac. Well, they made a a uh they re decided there had to be a interconnect or interparial connection for future development. Unfortunately, the Fulton County traffic engineer put that uh interconnect at the at our corner stake of our property at the center line of Brook Mir Court which because of that we lost a 25 foot undisturbed buffer over the years. The only thing uh they tried to develop that lot three times. Two times before city of South Fulton. The last time they uh actually we were assured that they could would would put a no build uh item on that lot and we were hopeful

they'll put it like a little green space for the manor Stone Manor. Well, over the years they had this parcel connected with other multiarcel sales and uh unsuspecting buyers bought it and in 2017 America Homes for Rent was the owner. They tried to develop it. It was stopped and out of spite they did a major excavation. Now it looks like an Olympic swimming pool and actually created a possible flood plane problem. There is a massive at our property line. They came up to our property line. It's up to a 15 foot almost a vertical drop and I have pictures here showing that development. But uh to be a realist, yes, I understand, you know, the only reason we're opposed this is because we feel like to protect our property rights and upholding the agreement that was made by the community back in amended in 2002 that uh well this 50-ft buffer that was our only relief that we lost that 25- foot uh undisturbed buffer. But uh you know we were sure that they would put a no bill item on it. And to be a realist, okay, the Robinsons unsuspectingly bought this not knowing I guess it was never actually when city of South Fulton became a city. It was lost somehow in a transition from Fulton County to the city. And uh to be realistic, okay, understand, you know, you want an extra tax base, a little more HOA funding, but what are we going to do about the

erosion, the steep steepness of the hill? I think that needs to be looked at. If they do develop it, there's going to be some has to be some sort of masonary wall to prevent further erosion. And uh you know it could be I think just a lot of problems in that development what they presented for the uh rendering that's not realistic because it is that's showing like a level lot like it once was and it is no longer a level lot. I can pass these around. You can see what I'm talking about. You know, other than that, I can't say, you know, I feel sorry for the Robinsons. I feel like they were duped in buying this property when there should have been a no build no build uh amendment on their property and we've made numerous contacts. I know city of South Balden is I I'm impressed with uh what it's becoming. They went through some growing pains. I think all the city planners we originally spoke with are no longer with the city and uh you know we were told as far as with the erosion we had people look at it we'll do something about it nothing was ever done perhaps that's our fault for not getting more aggressive trying to get it corrected when they first did the excavation and that was uh America Homes for Rent at that time where they out of I out of

spite because they couldn't develop the property. They took all the truckload after truckload after truckload of dirt from the site and how it you know if they do build a home there, they're going to have to correct the drainage, the possible further erosion. We were told they would put slope the hill and put junipers on there. I don't think that's going to, you know, solve the problem. All right, we'll stop the clock. You'll have four minutes left. If the Robinsons want to rebuttal, you have eight minutes remaining. Um he is correct that um there will have to be something done for the erosion. Um I don't think that he's a landscaping engineer, but we will have to do something for that future homeowner that does does purchase there because it is an erosion problem currently. But when you build on any kind of site, you do have to take care of those problems. Okay. Anything else? Anyone would like to rebuttal? We're good. All right. I will um move forward with uh closing the public hearing at this time and we'll take any questions um from the council starting with district representative three Helen Willis.

Hello. Hello. Um I guess my question is for staff right now if you don't mind. Um you all are approved the condition. Have you all taken into consideration or uh looked into any of the concerns that was brought to this council today regarding erosion and the the lot not being as stable?

So today is the first time we're hearing of those concerns. We can certainly work with our engineering department to send some site development inspectors out to do an inspection, but at this time no we haven't um looked at that uh from a planning standpoint. But again, since we are under CDR, we can work with our engineering and land development team. I can't hear you. So what? We can work out we can work with our engineering and land development team as they have site development inspectors to go out and see actually what's the conditions are on the ground. Let's see how to say this. How does it get approved without somebody going out looking at the lot?

Thank you. Thank you. And addressing these concerns cuz he's saying this is the first time he's hearing of this. Then the developer admittedly said yes, something is going to have to be done about the erosion concerns. I see no conditions that will address that issue. So, how how did staff approve this? Did they go look at the lot? Did they go do a site visit? Like, how did this get approved without these concerns being addressed? I I'm I'm confu I'm seriously confused.

So, if I could answer, our planning staff are not engineers. Again, we do uh our review from a planning standpoint, not an engineering standpoint. We do have engineers on staff that can go and look at this site today that they raised those concerns. But again, when we look at it, we don't uh take into consideration necessarily engineering aspect as that's done after the planning is approved. So I'm ignorant now demoralizing myself. I'm just saying I don't know. We do have engineers on staff, correct? So at what point

are we like your planners, correct? But at what point are we is there a process where engineers are are looking at this stuff, going out to the site visit, like going out to the site to to look at this stuff and and and put conditions and recommendations cuz this is scary. Like the the builder immediately said, "Yes, we're going to have to do something about erosion." And then we get pictures from the property owner adjacent from this land who break up all of these concerns. But there is not one condition to address this. And we do have engineers on staff. So I'm just confused on how this got approved without having without addressing this or having any conditions to address the erosion issues. And I I understand your points and they're well taken. As uh Matthew mentioned, we do have engineers, but also keep in mind there's the initial zoning planning process in general cases. And following the approval, once a person apply for their permits and go through the land development uh permit process, that's when the engineers inspect land and put conditions and requirements as they review the the construction process. But I don't see any conditions. I don't I don't see any conditions. I see a modification. I don't see any conditions. And the and the property owner said we are going to have to do something about the erosion.

Right. Those conditions are part of the land development permit process. There's an evaluation of the property and then the conditions and comments are brought from all aspects of the development process from the engineers to the arborists um the the land erosion process and all the requirements will be put into place at that time for the builder to put uh to construct and make the property buildable and not have an impact on the um neighbors as well as the the property. the owner. But you said that process was already done.

No, no, no. I'm saying that process takes place at once the uh if this zoning of this modification is approved, then it will go through the LDP process, the land development process, and the engineers will do the evaluation about the infrastructure on the property and put those requirements in place for the uh landowner to build. So, can we have those conditions? So because they don't know that those conditions exist are going to exist. He's saying that

well it sounds like that the property owner may have done a survey on the property. I'm sure some evaluation as they are aware there are some erosion issues and so I'm sure when if and when they go through a LDTP process they won't be surprised that when the engineers evaluate it that they will have to put some some uh measures in place to mitigate the erosion issues or any other issues brought up by the engineers.

Okay. But I'm I have a modification in front of me and I don't have any I I get that that may be addressed through an LBD LDP process, land disturbance permitting process. Um but is there any conditions we can put in place to give a shorty to that?

Do you have any thoughts, Matthew? Because typically when something like this occurs there's some type of written condition saying okay this is the case but this is how we're going to mitigate this issue and both of them are saying there are erosion issues but I see what you're saying is going to be addressed during the LDP process but I'm asking to grant a modification so as part of the modification you can add a condition that says um all land development or all erosion controls issue um issues will be met prior to the issuance of a co or a and or the prior to the issuance of a land service permit at that time. So, you can add that condition, but again, that's typically don't do during reasoning. Uh, but you can add that during a modification as well. So, can um Miss Davis, can your staff take an engineer out to the slot

to look at the lot and put necessary conditions or recommend that necessary conditions to mitigate the concerns that the property owner has brought to our attention on the record? Um, ma'am, Reginald McClendon did go out to the site. So, someone did go look at it from South Fton. So, it's not that no one's actually unaware at all. And that's my that was my question. Did anybody go? And so, yes. So, then my next question is, can we have the conditions written out to address the concerns that the property owner adjacent to this land has? Yes, absolutely. Okay. Thank you.

All right. Uh, Councilman Sebastian.

Thank you, Madame Mayor. I am having problems getting into the queue. I did have similar questions uh and concerns over what council member Willis um raised because the minute I'm hearing these size buffers, the next thing that come to my mind is why? Why? Why does that buffer exist? And the thing that we have a responsibility to do as a as a council, I believe, is that when we make these decisions, it's for it's for the best interest of the public and for the future safety of the public as well. I think the last thing we we want to do is to approve something and something gets built there and um it has problems in the future whether it's with flooding or the earth moving or whatever because what's going to be said is that the city of South Fton approved this. So I I agree with um council member Willis. I I would like to hear from our staff exactly what was observed and what their recommendations are especially since this is not something that's going to go through the planning commission because well why we we want to use to use the property I believe because you bought it but also I think we have a responsibility to look after the the safety of whatever is going to go there and that's That's what I have to say. Thank you.

I can't answer why the buffer is there. Um, it's not because of water erosion or flooding or nothing like that at all. I think it was just when the first developer back in 2001, it must have been some type of agreement with the homeowners prior, but they never put it in writing. They would put it in writing. Um, not only Miss Robinson wouldn't have bought the property, but other people would never bought the property either. But since it's not in writing, you're kind of misled um in this aspect.

And that's why I that's why I think having um more detailed opinion from our experts because it was also said that this is not the first attempt to develop that property. So the question really is why what is going on and I think we have a responsibility to hear from our experts before this council would make a a decision about this. Okay. Thank you. Okay. So, we would like to defer this item to the January 27th meeting to give time for our land development department to go out there and make an assessment and come back with some conditions as uh Councilwoman Willis has indicated.

All right. Does the council woman want to entertain a motion for that? I don't. Okay. All right. So, thank you. Um, this now concludes and we will see y'all on January 27th. January 27th. Thank you. Clerk, can you please sound the next item, please? Next item was executive session if necessary. Okay. Um, just really quick, I know we are delayed with starting our public meeting, but we do have a very important executive session item. Um, please council tell me what your pleasure may be.

C, can we do it at the end of the next one since we're 30 minutes behind? Remember, we have outside counsel that will be here as well. So, please listen. Just one proclamation. Please entertain. I move that we uh recess to executive session for uh litigation personnel, real estate and cyber security. Second. It has been moved and properly second. Can I see a show of hands, please? Yeah, we got it. To approve unanimously. We are recessed at 7:33 p.m.

Just to the public, we will be in executive session for a few minutes. So, this 7:00 hearing meeting will be delayed. Okay, y'all can hang out for a little bit, get to know each other.

We are back in session. I will entertain a motion to re reconvene. I move that we reconvene from the executive session. Second. It has been moved and properly second. Can I Yeah, it's the form. Can I get a show of hands, please? That motion to approve 40. We reconvene the 8:37 field. All right, Mr. Clerk, uh can you please advise if there was any action that was taken in executive session? Yes, ma'am. Madame Mayor, there is an action uh that I believe council member Ral will put before the the body for consideration. Councilwoman,

um the council has decided in executive session to enter into a retirement agreement with Chief Keith Meadows. So I move that we accept that uh separation agreement. Second. It has been moved and properly second. We are taking a public vote. Can you please let's do this vote? You want it? Well, no. We don't have time to do it in the queue. Um can I see a show of hands? Do we need to restate? I showed um one, two, three, four, five. One, two, three, four, five. Five votes in favor. Okay. And record we have two. No.

No. Denial. No. No. Okay. Five to two. Five to two. That is approved. All right. Was there any other action that was taken?

No, ma'am. No other further action. If there are no additional um business that can be held from our executive session as well as our um alcohol and license zoning meeting, uh we will go ahead and adjourn that meeting. Council, can you please begin to switch over to our next meeting, which is our official city council regular meeting. give you just a moment and we will attempt to use the queue as well and we will go ahead and uh start the video. Please

thank you for joining us live for the city of South Portland City Council meeting. We are proud to introduce the leadership entrusted with guiding our city forward. Mayor Carmelita Gums, District 1 Councilwoman Dr. Katherine Ralph, District 2 Councilman Aaron B. Johnson, District 3, Councilwoman Helen Zenobia Willis, District 4, Councilwoman JC Sebastian, District 5 Councilwoman Kosha B. Bell, District 6, Councilwoman Natasha Williams Brown, District 7 Councilwoman Linda Becker Kitchen. Supporting the work of this body in the operations of our city are city clerk Corey Adams, city manager Sharon D. Subad, and interim city attorney Sarah Kelly. Thank you for being the best part of the city of South Walton, a city on the rise.

Oh, thank you and good evening. I love that video. Gives the drama and the flare, right? It's nice. So, thank you, public affairs. I love it. Um, I am officially calling the city council regular meeting for January 13, 2026 at 700 p.m. Even though we are a little bit behind to order. Mr. Clerk, can you please sound a role? Yes, ma'am. Madame Mayor, this is the roll call for tonight's regular called regular meeting. The Honorable Katherine Fry, District 1. Present. The Honorable Aaron V. Johnson, District 2, present. The Honorable Helen Zenobia Willis, District 3.

Present. The Honorable JC Sebastian, District 4. Here. The Honorable Kosha Bale, District 5, present. The Honorable Natasha Williams Brown, District 6, present. The Honorable Linda B. Pre, District 7, here. And the Honorable Mayor Carmelita Gums here. Thank you. Uh, Mr. Clerk, can you please sound the next item?

Next item is invocation by our city chaplain. Let us pray. Father God, in the mighty name of Jesus, first Lord, we want to thank you. We thank you for this day. Father God, we thank you for bringing us to through 2025 and we are expecting great things to happen in 2026. Father God, we ask that you keep a hedge of protection around each and every council member, all the police officers, all the workers, and all the residents of the city of the South Fulton. Father God, we ask that your presence be here, Lord. That let your will be not our will, but your will be done. Amen. Let us stand turn for the pledge of allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Y'all may be seated. Mr. Clerk, please sound the next item.

Yes. Uh, Madame Mayor, there is one proclamation presentation this evening. It's a proclamation recognizing Yousef Muhammad, and this is sponsored by Council Member Sebastian. Right. Good evening everyone. Uh so this is a proclamation honoring Yousef A. Muhammad Jr. Whereas the city of Sal Fulton recognizes transformative leaders who have dedicated their lives to advancing education, equity, and excellence. And whereas Yousef A Muhammad Jr., principal of Phoenix Academy, has devoted over 20 years of empowering students and championing academic achievement regardless of their background or circumstances. And whereas Mr. Muhammad's education journey began in 2003 as a social studies teacher at Benjamin Banaker Academy in Brooklyn, New York. And his commitment to leadership was further demonstrated through his participation in the New York leaders aspiring principles program and subsequent principal ships at Benjamin Banaker Academy and City Polytenic High School. And whereas upon moving to Atlanta in 2016 and to the new city of South Fulton in April of 2017, Mr. Ma Mr. Muhammad served with distinction as principal of George Washington Carver High School

where he established the Steam Academy at Carver and founded Georgia's first PEK early college school leading to record increases in graduation rates and academic achievements within Atlanta's public schools. And whereas principal of Phoenix Academy, Mr. and Muhammad continue to uplift Atlanta's most risk student at risk students creating a nurturing environment that fosters hope opportunity and success and whereas Mr. Muhammad's thought leadership is evidenced by his 2019 TEDex talk on the transformative power of love and community in urban education and his academic pursuits include degrees from Sunni Courtland and Cornell University as well as current doctoral studies at Clark Atlanta University. Whereas Mr. Muhammad's unwavering dedication is inspired by the memory of his late wife Tana Muhammad and the love he shares with their four daughters. And whereas in recognition of his outstanding service, Mr. Muhammad has been named Atlantis public school principal of the year for 2025 26. Now therefore, be it proclaimed that the mayor and city council of the city of South Fulton do hereby and honor and congratulate Yousef A. Muhammad Jr. for his exceptional leadership, tireless service, and lasted impact on students, families, and do hereby proclaim Tuesday, January 13, 2026 as Yousef A. Muhammad Jr. Day in the city of South Fulton. You have anything to say?

Sure. You're a teacher, right? Thank you so much. This is an incredible honor. I not in my wildest dreams that I think um moving to Atlanta, I would but have so much impact on students. But it's really my staff um people who are committed to students regardless of them circumstances. Our children are beautiful. Our children deserve the very best life has to offer. and I'm just honored to be in the space to help facilitate this work. So, um, thank you. I appreciate this honor for my family, my community, and, uh, faculty and staff at Phoenix Academy. Thank you so much.

Got three of my girls here. And my mama and my Come on. All right, we're going to squeeze in just a little bit right here. Perfect. Okay, everyone's looking right here. One, two, three. And one more time.

One, two, three. Congratulations. We got one more madame mayor and council. We got one more a special presentation. So, if you would please uh join us here. Thank you. I'm going to ask all directors and deputy directors to come on up here with us.

Come on. Move quickly. We late. Hurry up. Hurry up. Hurry up. That's for me. for our new mayor, Mayor Carmelita Gums, as you lead the city of South Fulton forward.

Ma, as you lead the city of South Folson forward, may wisdom and fairness and guide your every decision with respect and partnership. the city manager and the leadership team. January 2026. Let's do it.

That should be good. Well, actually a little bit more. That's perfect. Thank you.

Almost there.

Attorney. Can you see attorney Kelly? She's in the bed. I'm solid. All right, everybody. We're looking right here. One, two, three. Another one. One, two, three. Last one. One, two, three. Beautiful.

I told you. Come on up. Sure.

Maybe a little bit more. All right. Appreciate you help. Yeah, no problem. Should be good. All right, Mr. Clerk, please sound the next item.

Madame Mayor and members of council, that brings us to Roman numeral six, which is the adoption of the council agenda. I have received some uh revisions and additions for this evening. Um, first regarding the consent agenda, the board appointments for council member Williams Brown, there are two board appointments that uh we need to um add an effective date to and that is uh for Natalie Jerome uh appointment to the cultural and historic landmark commission would be effective February 4th. The appointment of Pette Devon to the board of zoning appeals will be effective February 4th. Also, Mayor Gums is adding a city event for approval. One heartbeat senior sweetheart day celebration hosted by Mayor Carmela Gums at Enan Ranch on February 13, 2026 from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Also, I have sent to you a resolution uh Council Member Willis is seeking uh to reappoint Miss Kimberly Maize to the South Fulton Development Authority. And with that, those are all of the all of the revisions and additions that I'm aware of.

Which one? Which one?

Yeah, we are. sponsored by Council Member Willis Johnson, Sebastian Natasha Brown.

Yes, Mr. Clerk, I'd like to make proposed amendment. Um item B go before item A under al under alcohol resonings variances and modifications.

Correct. Are there are there any additional amendments to the agenda?

Mr. Clark, I I have well I have a question. Um number let's see under administration. I'm so conf No, I'm sorry. under alcohol licenses, reszoning variances, blah blah blah. Um item number E, uh I believe that it was indicated that this item is going to be well that the developer was going to with the applicant is withdrawing. So, is this item or does it have to go on the agenda or

Yes, thank you for that, Madam Mayor. Pro Tim, um the developer for item E, which is uh consideration of the override of the mayor's veto, which was for 7210 National Highway. If you check your emails, um we just received a letter from the developer advising that they wish to withdraw um their application all together. Okay. Because of the veto and uh it's in your emails and my understanding they just submitted it. So what is your pleasure

u to remove this item? I think this is very unfortunate that we lose a development and the benefits um of that the infrastructure improvements that went along with that but um yes to remove the item because it's a moot point attorney um Kelly just for um procedural purposes I know the charter says that we have to hear it but being that they have deferred I mean requested withdrawal Is it okay to have this item removed?

Um, you still have to vote um to accept their withdrawal. So, I would leave it on. It would be best practice to leave it on and someone make a motion in consistent with their request to withdraw.

All right, Councilwoman Willis. So procedurally what the charter what the charter says is that if a something was vetoed you have to vote to override the veto at the next regular council meeting. And so I get that the um developer wants to withdraw, but would it still be proper for us to vote to override the veto? So, if I may respond, Madame Mayor,

so since they've already requested for it to be withdrawn before you all have voted to overturn the veto, the most approp appropriate measure would be to vote on their withdrawal request and then that would make the portion of overriding the veto moot at that point.

One more time. sorry release. So it it would be a you would have to amend the agenda to make a motion regarding the um item given their withdrawal request. And since they've made that request to withdraw before you all have overwritten the veto, what the proper procedure should be to do a motion acknowledging and whether or not you're going to accept the withdrawal, which would make overwriting the veto moot. Councilwoman will um excuse me, Williams Brown.

And so I guess my question is procedurally, if it's been vetoed, if it's already been vetoed, which means that it wouldn't happen anyway, why wouldn't we just strike it from the agenda and leave the veto in place? you could do that, but because they've specifically made the request to withdraw their application, we want to make sure that the record is very clear on when they can reapply or if they decide to reapply. And so that's why we would want to on the record accept their withdrawal and also making the veto or the need to override a veto moot. So because the withdrawal or things of that nature trigger time frames on when they can reapply or appeal or whatever, we want to make sure that we have that clear on the record that we accepted their withdrawal making the need to veto or address the veto moot.

All right, sounds good. Any other amendments to the agenda? Council agenda. All right, I'll entertain a motion for the amended agenda. I move to approve January 13, 2026 um regular meeting a coun a regular council agenda to be approved as amended. All right, it's been moved and properly second. Please uh can I get a show of hands? Court, that motion approved unanimously 70 as amended.

Mr. Clerk, can you sound the next item, please? Next item is approval of city council meeting minutes. Requests council approval of city council regular meeting minutes December 9th, 2025. Work session minutes December 9th, 2025. Alcohol zoning public hearing minutes December 9th, 2025. And special call meeting minutes January 5th, 2026. I'd like to entertain a motion. Madame may move to accept these minutes assembled. Second. It has been moved and properly second. Can I get this by a show of hands? Call that motion approved unanimously. 70. We'll use the um Q very soon. All right. Cler, Mr. Clerk, can you sound the next item, please?

Brings us to Roman numeral 8, which is the consent agenda. We have items A, B, C, D, E, F, and uh that's as amended with those dates for council member Williams Brown's appointments. All right, let's entertain a motion. I move to approve the cons consent agenda as sounded. Second. has been moved and properly seconded. Can I get this by a show of hands? Court, that motion approved unanimously. 70. All right, Mr. Clerk, can you please sound the next item?

That brings us to alcohol license resonance variance modification cases for motion and vote. First case is second read and request council approval of an ordinance by the city of council of the city of southen Georgia to provide an exemption of the provisions of section 302.15 of the city of south and code ordinances for the purposes of waving distance requirements for a gas station to be located at 0 Jonesboro 0 Kimwood road to add section a section 302.15.1 to codify gas station exemption sponsored by mayor pro Tim Linda Pritchette Is everyone in the queue?

All right, I'll entertain a motion. I move to approve as sounded. Second. All right, let's take this uh in the queue. This vote in the queue. Okay.

Yes, that is that is true. We'll um we send this vote and and cancel it and and do it over cuz we changed the order. Okay, that should be the correct motion. I mean item there and the vote is open. That motion was approved 5 to two.

All right, Mr. Clerk, please sign the next item. takes us back up to letter A, which is second read and request council approval of a zoning ordinance case Z25-029 and U25-010 an application by Quick Trip Corporation Care of Battle Law requesting reszoning from C2 in the Old National Overlay District to the C2 with a special use permit to allow for and operate a convenience store with gasoline pumps with accessory car wash at zero Jonesboro Road and Kinwood Road. It's located in council district 7. Staff recommendation uh was approval of Z25029 and denial of U25-010. Planning Commission recommendation recommended denial of both cases.

I'd like to entertain a motion. I move to approve as sounded. Second. It has been moved and properly second. Let's take this vote in the queue. Vote is open.

That motion was approved. Five yays, two nays. All right, Mr. Clerk, please sound the next item.

That brings us to item C. Second read and request council approval of a resoning ordinance KZ25-031 and CV25-004 application by Leavarian 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 Camelon Road. The applicant also requests a concurrent variance from section 405.01B and two to eliminate the 100t buffer. It's located in council district 1. Staff recommendation and planning commission recommendation is approval. All right. Uh, entertain a motion. I move to approve.

Second. It's been moved and probably second. Can we please take this in the queue? This phone in the queue. That motion was approved unanimously. 70. All right, Mr. Clerk, please sound the next item.

That brings us to item D. Second read and request council approval resoning ordinance KZ25-033, U25-014, CDP25-012. An application by HRE Washington care of MK Energy requesting a reszoning 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 camel fair road. Nearest cross street is Jones Road and Hall Road located in council district 4. staff recommendation and planning commission recommendation was denial.

All right. Well, I'd like to entertain a motion. Mayor, I move for denial. All right. Can I get any second?

All right. It's been moved and properly second. Can we take this vote in the queue? That motion was approved. Well, was denied uh six to one. All right. Okay. Okay, we are down to my beautiful parting gifts.

I state for the record that there was one abstension. So 611 abstension. All right. Do they have to express their extens abstension? Personal and the attorney's already upon personal. It can be a conflict of interest. So I am asking to recuse myself. Okay, that would be sufficient for the record. Mayor, thank you. All right, so we are down to item E. Uh, Mr. Clerk, please sound that item.

Yes, we're at item E is a council consideration of an override of the mayor's veto of the zoning ordinance KZ25-011 CDP25-006. The applicant is requesting resone from C1 in the over national overlay district to TR. Overlay over O overlay district at 7210 Old National Highway and is requesting a comprehensive development plan amendment from regional live work to suburban neighborhood 2 for the purpose of constructing 100 107 town homes on 13.4 acres of land. This property is located in council district 7 staff recommendation and planning commission recommendation was denial. And I just want to remind the mayor and council that we did receive a letter that they wish to withdraw. All right. I will uh entertain a motion on the letter of withdrawal. I move to approve to withdraw to accept the withdrawal for um zoning ordinance case Z25-011 CDP-25-00006. Second.

It has been moved and probably second. Can we take this in the queue? Madame Mayor, I just want to make sure that the prompt um on the motion is correct. The motion is accept withdrawal. So, I just want to make sure that that's correct. I have a question. Uh my question is, do I also address the M point in this veto? Okay. I'd like to amend my motion. Okay. Uh to I made my motion to include that the override of the veto is a moot point. Can I get a second? Second.

Thank you. All right. It has been the motion has been amended and seconded. All right. And we have a vote in progress. Okay. We're voting on the amendment of her adding that it's a mute point. Can I get that by a show of hands, please? That motion approve 70 unanimous.

And now we are voting on the um the letter the withdrawal accepting the withdrawal. Yeah. Has everybody voted? All right. It's approved. 70.

Okay. Mr. Clerk, please sound the next item.

That brings us to letter F. Council consideration of override of the mayor's veto of a zoning ordinance case Z25- Z001 and U25- Z002 application by Randy Pilmsler requesting reszoning from MIX to C2 zoning with a special use permit to allow for a self- storage multifacility and retail on the site at zero Riverside Drive. This property is located in the Fulton industrial business overlay district in council district 1. Staff recommendation is approval condition of both cases. Planning commission recommendation was approval condition on both cases. And would like to note for the records that uh uh we should have before you a petition that was distributed um uh before the meeting.

All right. I would like to entertain a motion and then we can go into discussion. Or do you want to have questions? Questions to who? I don't think we can. Oh, the attorney. The city attorney. Yes, you can. Okay. I would like to move that we sustain um that we do not how do we I don't want to accept the veto. This the motion to override the ve the veto.

Okay. So I would like to move that we override the veto and then the motion is on the floor. I move that we override the veto. Second. It has been moved and properly second. Discussion. Yes. Um for the clerk, um the petition it came from who?

Okay. And we also received Did you Did you or did you not receive a petition from the developer? Yeah, I think they submitted one when the public hear. I didn't receive anything uh today or leading up to the meeting.

So, I have received an approximately about 20 emails in support of this project and the petition that he submitted last time uh had about 32. Um I have a question. Here's my concern about this development. Um, my concern about this development is that the CD department accepted was in agreement and that's why I want to ask is it proper for me to call the uh attorney up for the developer? I have questions. Um, attorney Kelly,

that part may be a bit tricky because the public hearing on this is closed. You all can have discussion amongst yourselves, but to call up the attorney for the development may be inappropriate. But you can call up CDR if they have a question. If you have a question to our staff.

Okay. I do have a question for the CD. My concern is I'm concerned about the liability that we will have and exposure we will have voting this down because CDRA gave the developer um said they were in agreement with the condition to make this project feasible. And um then they said on record they went ahead and um changed their position based off of the request of a council member. And then I got in possession a text message where a council member um sent text messages to individuals on this council asking them to talk to um individuals um about opposition to this project. and why they had problems uh with the project. Now, if we were to face any type of litigation, all would happen would be these phones and these text messages could be subpoenaed and depositioned. And so I'm always I was told that you know as council members and policy makers that we are not supposed to make a concerted effort to kill people development and there was a concerted effort to do that and there are text messages that some of us have in our phones

saying that you should go talk to this person about this development so they can tell you why they don't want this development. Then we get a barrage of emails from residents who live near this development saying they wholeheartedly support this development. So, at the end of the day, I have to vote my conscience. And I am tired of the city being labeled as not b business friendly. And I'm tired of the city constantly being in lawsuits. And all this attorney has to do is subpoena these text messages. I arrest my case. Do we have it, Dr. Ralph?

Yes. Um, I just want to make plain on the record that this petition that you have from you is full of names for people who live on Wake Crest Drive and there are pages and pages and it includes people beyond that area, but these people did live directly adjacent to this property. So, while one petition had names from one community, um please be clear, I don't know what taxes Texas you're referring to, but I I have spoken to people to consider the voice of constituents who are here who are concerned about this development. This is a special use permit, no different than the one we previously dealt with with group homes and other things. They are not entitled by right. There has been no effort to kill anybody's deal other than share the opinion of constituents. So, I don't know what text that you might be referencing, but these are residents. And again, you've had um feedback through the public comment process in September, October. Nobody has come and stood before you in support of this position uh this storage facility, but you did have people during a public hearing who spoke against it.

All right. So, I ask you to respect the community and my constituents and vote no on overturning the mayor's veto.

Okay. Are you in again? And I understand that this is a touchy subject. So, Councilwoman Willis for your second time. One of the text messages read, "Halent. Hey, let's touch base tomorrow. I spoke to Wanita Murberry and I think will be beneficial for you to have a conversation about the special use permit with Reginald McClennon and is in the city's council's perview to vote them to vote them up or down. Approval is not just based on land use designation. And so what I am saying is I think it was a little overreach for us to get involved. We did hear from constituents who live in the community. Um I have heard the pros people who don't support this and I have heard from people who do support who do support this. We have also a petition of residents who support this. We also have a barrage of emails that all of us got sent um of residents who do support this. So you got some who do, some who don't. And at the end of the day, I'm very uncomfortable of how um overtly and I did not call any names. Um policy makers have gotten involved in this to try to kill this development. I do think that there's going to be liability behind this. Uh I know will be liability behind this. And so I am going to do the right thing and override this um veto.

We have another um speaker in the queue. All right. Um is that from last time? All right. Council Councilwoman Pritchette. Mayor Pro.

Thank you. So, thank you for acknowledging me, Madame Mayor. Um, I just want to chime in on the fact that this mayor's veto, um, here's my position on the mayor's veto on this matter. For the last two council meetings that we were here, the mayor was not present. These are meetings that I chaired. The mayor, in my professional opinion, doesn't even have any familiar familiarity with this situation. And the mayor's vetos to me seem to be a weapon that he has used that the former mayor used um to express whatever he wanted to express. And I don't think that it this body voted on this matter. the mayor vote enters a veto and it really neutralizes or disregards the will of the council. I do not agree with disregarding the will of the council and the previous vote because a mayor who was not involved, engaged, or even present decided to enter a veto. I yield.

Thank you, Councilwoman Bridgetette. Um, Councilman Sebastian, thank you. Um, Mr. Clerk, for the record, what was the vote? What was the previous vote? The previous vote on this case was uh six yays, one nay.

Okay. So, for some time now, I have been because of the actions of the previous mayor. For some time now, I have tried to put legislation in place that says you have a 67 to zero vote. We we were having a lot of games being played with this veto tool. As we heard councilwoman Pritchette just said, it is very unfortunate because it's it was used as a weapon to weaponize council against council and and citizens against council. The bottom line is we are asked to make certain decisions based on recommendation of staff, based on recommendation of some citizens from the planning commission and based on our own research. Both planning commission and staff recommended this thing to be approved. We heard from a lot of citizens on either side of this thing. We we looked at the location and six members of this council decided suit and I am not based on the decisions and the evidence that I have seen before I I am not sure if my mind can be changed with this because yes I've been getting all the emails in support and yeah I got few in opposition but I didn't get all those emails in opposition when we were voting. this the first time.

So I'm not sure what is the movement that have happened now. But if it's one thing that I have learned in my short time here on council, the majority of the people out there in the public who support things, they're not going to come here. So again, I'm making the best decision based on information that I have, recommendations, strong recommendations from staff and from the planning commission. Thank you,

Dr. Ralph for your second time. Um, one thing I would like to say is that while there may be concerns about litigation, I think the amount of lobbying that this developer did to council that excluded the council member as well as um continued um efforts to keep me out of the process. Um, that should be also noted. And I also would like to say is while we talk about that you had received numerous over the months that this case was going through through the public comment process people who were opposed to this the same town association and these names you look at it there's original submitted these people live on the street these people aren't far it includes additional names and I think you all saw the email with the mayor they copied all of us on them asking him to veto this so it's not left on deaf ears. He also lives in district one, the mayor. So whether he was president or not, he is also a stakeholder. And so again, I implore you to listen to the votes of the residents. And again, I don't know what support because not one person stood up in support of it at the public hearing and that's recorded in the in the public hearing.

All right. Thank you, Dr. Ralph. Uh there are no additional speakers and there is a vote that is on the floor. So at this time we will entertain the vote. So the motion to override the mayor's veto with a motion by council member Will and seconded by council member Sebastian.

And we'll take this vote in the queue. Please It's a lot of people that All right. Yes.

All right. So that motion to override the mayor's veto um fails. Four yays, three nays. Five votes are required to override the veto. All right, Mr. Clerk, please sound the next item.

Madame Mayor and members of council, that brings us to public comment. Speakers will be granted up to 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 address prior to speaking. Speakers may only address the presiding officer and should observe all rules of the quorum. No debate, disrespect or obscinity 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 into the record, we do have a number of speaker cards. As I call your name, please approach the center microphone and state your name, address, and your district. Uh Juel Johnson, Kimberly King, Glenda Collins, Jill Lindsay, Stephanie Hudson, Demetrius Nelson, Debbie Davis, Good afternoon, Mayor and Council. Um, as we move forward with excitement and dedication and joy, grounded in focus and unwavering commitment, just like we held the former leadership accountable from 2021 to 2025, we are fully dedicated to holding this leadership to the same high standards, if not higher. Our energy, clarity, and resolve remain strong as we continue to lead with purpose, integrity for all districts, all seven districts. Also, we sincerely appreciate change regarding the opportunity to speak on items not on the agenda publicly. Sometimes citizens have concerns not on the agenda when we travel near and far. It's a waste of

time if not heard. We also would like to thank you. We also like to um say if you would reconsider opening the online chat for the city of South Fulton YouTube page, it has been disabled since COVID 19 2020. We would like to communicate, connect, and thrive with all districts on public chats, especially with our seniors who can't make it out publicly. And also want to go on record is saying that we are excited about the upgrades in all of the parks in district five and six, Old National Park, Krill Park, and Berdette Park. And also, we're excited about the public um the um what is that? the gas station on 138 and um Old National. They also are a safe haven and they are environmentally clean. So that would bring change to our corridor which that is two state highways which is Highway 138 and Highway 279 which is Old National. And that's it for now. Thank you. Good evening, Mayor and Council.

Good evening. First of all, I would like to wish all of you a happy new year. And I would also like to congratulate those that won during the election. And I do have a few questions to ask my council person, Glenda Collins, District 5. Uh but I will hold them until Thursday and you and I can have our discussion. Thank you and y'all have a good evening. Oh, thank you.

Um good evening uh Mayor Gums and city council men and women. My name is Demetrius Nelson. Um also um want to say um happy founders day to all the respective members and your organization. Thank you so much for your service to our communities. Um thank you for this opportunity to speak to the matter at hand that I'm concerned about. I want to say that at least 21 of my fellow neighbors that we live in Sandtown Falls subdivision which is part of district 1 that um we are against the establishment of this self- storage multifacility and retail on Riverside Parkway. Um when hearing about this consideration this my mind immediately went back to Mr. Nelson.

Yes. Being that we've already voted on that item, we can't have further discussion on the story. But do you have anything else you want to talk about? I Yes, I Yes, I have I have other things that I would say to Okay.

just to discuss the principle of the matters in which you all serve. Um I'll say this that um I see in this booklet um of city accomplishments, it states that we are shaping uh tomorrow today. Um I just want to let's ensure that in shaping tomorrow today that we don't make this city um that you all say is on the rise have it looking like yesterday and looking like yester years. I want to encourage you all that as you being representatives of us that we rise above the rhetoric of what looks good on paper but doesn't manifest itself in good practice and policy for the good of our people. If we are saying no, then no means no and you should honor that fully. Thank you.

Thank you. Good evening everyone. I won't take a lot of your time, but I do want to thank you. My name is Debbie Davis and I'm the president of the Sandtown Community Association and I'm also a resident in District 1. And I do want to thank you for not overriding uh the mayor's veto of the storage facility. Uh we've started listening about this facility in April and we do know a lot of Miss Davis, we can't talk about the storage facility because it was on a zoning matter. So we can't talk about the storage facility because it was on a a zoning matter. So is there anything else you want to talk about? Just a thanks.

Oh, well thank you. Thank you for being here. Thank you. Do we have any more speakers?

Kimberly King, Juel Johnson, Ste Stephanie Hudson. Anyone else? and you can come to the mic, but you can't talk about the storage facility. All right. Okay. Good evening. Uh and happy new year. I pray that each one of you will have a a terrific new year 2026. that you and your families will be blessed with good health, wealth, joy, peace, love, and steadfast commitment to making the city of South Fulton the best in Georgia. Now, I know that's a tall order, but the city is predominantly African-American. The council is all African-American. And as an 82 year old woman, 83 in September, I know what we can do. And there have been times when we have not done what we ought to. I hope that everybody that's on this council is on it to make the city a better city and not what you can um get out of it. As as President Kennedy said, ask um what you can do for your country, not what your country can do for you. So ask what you can do for this city. Uh I would so much love to be able to point all the time with pride in this city. But sometimes there are problems. But I hope that you all will learn to work together. You don't need to air your dirty laundry. You really don't. Uh and and that is too

much of that. It's embarrassing to go on the website and see what's happening. You need to realize it's not like it used to be where you're in a room and nobody knows what's going on but the people who are there. Now everybody can check, you know, check the website and see what's going on and it can be embarrassing and we know how to do things. We have we are people who have who know how to to make much out of little. So I ask you all to please please do that. And I'm so happy to congratulate my council person, Erin Johnson, and thank you for your vote tonight. That's all I have to say. Thank you, Miss Densson. And you did it in time. All right, Mr. Clerk, if there are no more speakers, can you please sound the next item?

That brings us to council comments.

All right, let's start with district one, and we're going to keep them nice and sweet. I'll start with district seven. Happy New Year's everyone. Glad to be here. Uh congratulations again, Madame Mayor. Um we're looking forward to great things moving forward this year. And that's all I have so far. District the sensational district 6.

Yes. Greetings and salutations. And as always, welcome back to the sensational six district. On January 24th, we will be having our um monthly food distribution um with the Atlanta Community Food Bank at Creole Park at 10:00 a.m. Um you will recall from last year that people started coming and lining up at 9:00 in the morning. So, please do get there early. We will be there until the food runs out. And normally I would look in the back to make sure that I got everything, but since that was the only thing that I had for this month, um, Madame Mayor, I yield. Oh, no, I don't. These are your what? Church announcements. Please govern yourselves what?

Accordingly.

All right. Govern yourselves accordingly. All right. District five where they keep it live. Yes. Thank you, madame mayor. And again, congratulations to our new council colleague and all our reelected and the mayor. So again, happy 2026 to all of our residents, staff, everyone who makes this city great. Um, just to recap, I know you've heard uh D5 town hall meeting will be on Thursday, this Thursday, January the 15th, where we address complex issues and matters as it relates to our city as well as the district. But as always, I can be reached directly at 470-5251-974. So, I definitely encourage residents to always feel free to call and or email. You don't have to wait until the battle is over. You can shop now. And so you don't have to wait until Thursday for the town hall meeting. Please feel free to give me a call. But this town hall meeting is also open to any and every resident within our city who would like to come hear updates about District 5 um at a glance, but also the great works that we're doing here in our city. So again, it will be on Thursday, January the 15th at Berdet Park from 6:00 to around 7:30, 8:00 p.m. I look forward to seeing you all there. And again, as always, if you're not receiving our community newsletter where we provide community updates, in infrastructure, road improvements, birthdays, greetings, salutations, all the above. We do ask that you send us an email or reach out to our office. We can also be reached at 404-7472336 and that is my constituent services representative, Mr. Philip Watley. And as we all wear our beautiful D9 colors, I want to take a wonderful privilege and the honor to highlight my soror, the lovely ladies of Delta Sigma Theta

Sorority Incorporated. Woo. So, I just wanted to let you all know happy Founders Day and wishing you all a beautiful day. And all of my sore words, all my D9 sisters, I wish you all a upcoming beautiful founders day as well. Miss Vincent got him out here in the middle of the council meeting. Z fight. Goodness. Point of order. Point of order. But one thing about Councilman Bill, she picked the best day to have her town hall meeting. All right, January 15th.

All right, so moving on to the Fantastic Four.

Thank you, Madame May. And again, congratulations and congratulations to um Aaron Johnson, Council Member Aaron Johnson's for being here. Um, I know you would do awesome in the um in the second district. Listen, I I don't have none of that like what Council Member Bell just did. So, don't expect that from me. Okay. Um, for me, I just want to remind folks that we are still going through these extra comprehensive plan meetings. And I think the first one that's coming up is uh next Thursday, January 22nd, right at Elegant Occasions at 7580 Springbox Drive in District 4 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. So come on over, continue to um give your input and hear the latest update on our comprehensive planning process. And basically that's all I got. Thank you all very much and happy new year and I'm looking forward to even greater things here um from us in the city of Southampton this year.

Awesome. Now we're moving over to district three where I heard that's the place to be. Is that still the tagline? Okay.

Thank you, Miss Abby. It's always a joy to to get that motivational speech from you and and voice of wisdom. I appreciate that. I want to congratulate my colleagues on getting reelected um council member Williams Brown, council person um JC Sebastian and newly elected um Aaron Johnson and our new mayor our uh first female mayor Kly Gums. Um you all work hard to serve and residents um voted for all of us to be here. So, I don't think any of us are here uh for our own agenda or benefits because this is hard work and it's a thankless job. And most of us um are spending at least 80 hours a week um serving our residents, whether we're fielding calls or whether we're doing community outreach, whether or not we are attending um training or whether or not we are um just doing uh things to represent our city uh in other facets uh through conferences. And so this is a thankless job. This is hard work. Um, and I think that the residents have made their decisions or who they want to represent them and everybody needs to respect everyone's decision. And I would like to challenge residents to if you have questions, if you have concerns, work with your council person. Uh, don't do open record requests and run with narratives that's not true. um a lot of things that you see on social media are not things that we put out, but they are things that residents put out um without talking to us getting the facts. And so I think that we all should do better and strive to do better in 2026 so that we could have the city

that some of us worked hard for 5 years to advocate to get. Um, I am looking forward to celebrating Martin Luther King um or celebrating the legacy of Martin Luther King. And with that being said, bring your 2025 baggage and paper to uh Welcome Park on Saturday, January 17th. We are having a shred truck there. Um and we are also if you come and participate in your in the shred event, shred paper, um we will um also be partnering with Fulton County Fresh Market um mobile market to make sure that you are distributed with fresh produce and vegetables. And so we want you to come out. That is my MLK give back. Um, I know when I did this event that included recycling prior to the holiday, um, I had over a participation of over 200 residents and they were so grateful that that event was extended to them and they asked that I bring something back after the holidays. So, we don't have the recycling portion um, but we do have the shred portion. I want to thank all the residents who came out today and um engaged uh and we can't do we can't build the city and move the city forward without you. Um and remember that um each of us want to hear from you, get the facts and um let us move forward in the spirit of collaboration. Um we're not going to always disagree. We're not going to always agree. Um and remember although we have many organizations in the city, there are many people who are not a part of these

organizations who don't go to these meetings. And so we have to make decisions based in the spirit of people who are speaking um sometimes in support and sometimes who not in support. I pray that I go to bed with a good conscience making sure that I make the best decision and the right decision. and we need to um work towards having less litigation efforts. Thank you. Thank you, Councilwoman Willis. All right, District 2. Now, I know you don't have a theme yet, or do you?

I like that crown jewel. We We're still working on I got some text messages the other night or something. So, don't worry, District 2. We're going to have a name in the first quarter this year so we can be cool like the other cool kids here. But uh yeah, that got voted down on the first night. We didn't even we didn't even get through a glass of water. They were like this, you know. So we going to go we going to come up with something though. We're going to come up with something. But first of all, let me say how excited I am to be here. Um, just working for this city and working for the people of District 2 and working for the people of the city of South Fulton is truly an honor and I promise you I will do everything I can to do the right thing by the people of the city of South Fulton, especially in District 2. I'm excited to be working with our new mayor, uh, who's also a resident of District 2, by the way. So, she gets to be my mayor. I get to be her council person. So, District 2, we're going to have a lot going on on the council. uh the council. I look forward to working with you as well. Uh madame city manager and the staff. Uh thank you so much for being welcoming to me and helping. Uh they helped me find the bathroom. They got me a phone and I got a computer and I'm going get a cord, but I got a computer. So we that I truly appreciate that. Um I'm working on a calendar. We are currently putting a calendar together so I can have some great announcements when we do this part portion of the meeting as well. But what I can tell you is that we're looking to have a town hall ideally in the first quarter, but we'll get back to you on that. And I have to say, of course, happy Founders Day to the ladies of DST. Happy Founders Day in a couple of days to the ladies of Zeta 5 Beta

and in order for me to keep a happy household and make my mother-in-law continue to like me as well as my wife. Happy Founders Day on Wednesday to the ladies of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated. It's Thursday. See, now I'm going get in trouble just cuz of y'all. Just cuz. We got you. We correct. All right. You got me though. You got me though. So, thank you so much. I appreciate it. All right. District one. We're all a fun. I don't know. But number one is number one. Was understood. Does that need to be explained? Um,

yeah, you got about five hand claps out there.

Join me and Cascade BMA on MLK Day, January 19th and 10:00 a.m. for our community cleanup. This is an annual event. We are uh partnering with Atlanta Black Chambers. Again, we will meet at the Cascade Drive and Rain to clean up the business corridor. All supplies will be provided, pickers, safety vests, the whole nine. We encourage you to come out and make it a a day of service, hands-on, not off. And um we look forward to seeing you at that event. Um the code enforcement department will be hosting the power of compliance workshop. A panel discussion and resource fair is taking place at the Southwest Arts Center on January 21st from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Come hear from representatives from different city departments, ask questions and get answers. Um I know y'all love to call me and text me. Continue to do that. Um I'll continue to be your voice, but this is a chance for you to touch um base directly with these departments. Uh the district 1 recycling shred date for this year has for the first one for this year is January 24th from 9 to 12 at Sant Park. Bring your aluminum broken down boxes, old mail and newspapers and recyclable uh containers. And last but not least, um through January 31st, you can see Living Testament, an art exhibit by African-Americans for the arts. Um and take advantage. It's a really nice exhibit. And last, but certainly not least, again, congratulations to all the individuals who were reelected. To our new mayor, C uh mayor, I got not council, Mayor Gums, and to um our newest council member, um Aaron Johnson. I look forward to serving and having a productive 2026. Thank you.

All right. Well, I'm gonna keep it really short and sweet. Let's give them a hand. Everybody, this is your council for 2026 and we are excited. Again, I want to just echo the I'm coming off of the high of the weekend. It was amazing. Um really celebrating our city. We got to do some great great things. I do want to take a special moment and thank our our city manager as well as the staff that all had a hand in putting on such a a production. I think we are trending. The city of South Fulton is trending all across the nation. So, um it was wonderful display uh and actually tapping into our community. So, I'm excited about what we're doing and we just got to continue to build off that energy. So, um again, thank you all for the wonderful support. We got some great things that are happening. Um, other than that, I don't think we have much more for me to say other than let's move this city forward. And again, I'm looking forward to all the great things that will be coming. All right. And with that, Mr. Clerk, uh, sound the next item, please.

That brings us to Roman numeral 12 agenda items under administration. First is a resolution appointing district 5 council member Kilsh Belle as mayor prompor and this is sponsored by council members Bridgetette Ral and Williams Brown. Now, before we vote, I do want to make sure that I just put this out here. If you all are willing to group these items together, items one through nine in a gross amount so we can if there's unanimous consent, please do as we will expeditiously move through this agenda.

Five, you have a what? Okay, madame man. Yes. May I request well? May I move to approve the resolution appointing the district 5 council member Kio Shabelle as mayor. Pro Tim. It has been moved and properly second. We will take this vote in the queue.

Oh my goodness. Hey. Has everybody voted? Stop talking to We got to hustle.

That motion was approved unanimously. 70. All right. Congratulations to uh District 5, Council Member Kioshave as your 2026 Mayor Pro Tim. All right, Mr. Clerk, please sound the next item. I think you have a whole not up here from this day.

Next item is number two, request council approval of a new appointment to the public facilities authority. Um this requires a um appointment of one of the council members. And I'll let either Miss Suban or Attorney Kelly expound. So because our previous PFA chair is now our illustrious mayor, um we cannot have her serve as both the on the PFA or as the chair. So the council has to uh appoint another appointee to the PFA um who will also serve as chair. I'd like to entertain a motion.

I would like to nominate Aaron Johnson for the public facilities authority. All right. I do have discussion. It has been moved and probably second. We're moving into discussion. Yes.

Thank you. From what I recall when this body appointed the members of the PFA they selected their offices. So I am surprised that we'll be replacing the chair with another chair since the body selected their offices because I I my understanding was that at the next PFA meeting we would select the office of the new chair. Okay,

that is correct. Um, I was just notating that we have to replace Mayor Gums, who also served as a chair. So, when the PFA convenes, then they will also pick a new chair. So, I apologize if that wasn't clear, but we just need at this point to pick a new appointee for the PFA. And then when the PFA convenes, they'll pick a new chair. Oh, I was about to say, okay, go ahead.

I want to make a substitute motion. I want to make an a substitute motion to appoint Aaron Johnson to the public facilities commission just to make an appointment. I do agree with my colleague um uh council person Sebastian that who they choose as members of the public safety commission should be amongst them not us. Um so if you're rolling off that's a position that's available. I just think we should just simply make the appointment and let them work amongst themselves deciding who they want to how they want to shift officers or who they want officers to be. So my substitute motion would be to um for my what was the motion um I'm talking to the chair chair what was can you ask the clerk who the mo what the motion was please

Mr. Cler, can you please tell us what the motion was? Motion to appoint. Okay. Well, what was the confusion? Cuz you said he was appointed as chair. Oh, you said versus chair. Okay. All right. So, well, I withdraw my substitute if that's all we're doing. Thank you.

All right. All right. So, we do have a motion and it has been moved and properly second. Can we take this vote in the queue, please? Oh,

um, city attorney. So, because she alerted that she had discussion before we went into a vote and nobody called the question, then we should allow her to make her point of discussion. All right. District 6. Councilwoman,

I think my and no slight to um you Councilman Johnson um but this is literally his first meeting and we have a council member who's been sitting here on the council that's been involved in the that's been involved and knows what's been going on with the public facilities authority. who would like to serve.

No, she's not. And so I would just I would just throw that out there is that literally this is his first meeting and we've we've got business already in motion and it's not meant as a personal slight to you at all. Okay. Yeah.

Councilman Johnson. Well, I withdraw. Not because it's my first meeting because I but I've led quite a few meetings, but if there's somebody else that's been working, I don't have a problem with that. I was just asked. I said, "Okay." Uh, so it's no big deal, but not because it's my first meeting. All right, we're back in square one. I'll entertain a motion. I would like to move to um appoint Councilwoman Linda Pritchette to the public facilities authority. Second. It has been moved and probably second. Discussion. Yes. Councilwoman Willis. I will

I would also like to add that this public safety one of the public safety um well the public the police headquarters is actually going to be in her district. Um

and the court is going to be in her district. So, um I want to thank you, um Council Member, um Johnson, because um that was very, um polite of you. You didn't have to do that. And so, I appreciate that. Um I just want this council to take into consideration. There will be other opportunities to make appointments. And I just hope that you would take that in consideration of Council Member um Johnson the next time we have an opportunity uh for an appointment to be made on um an organization that we make sure that he's taken care of cuz he really didn't have to do that. Thank you. Look at us kumbaya.

All right, let's let's keep it moving while we have Has it been voted? you. We still got one discussion item. No, I just right. I just wanted to say thank you, you know, because the comments are well received and thank you. I keep wanting to call you. Thank you, Councilman, for for deferring.

All right, so let's vote. That motion was approved unanimously. 70. Wonderful. And now that we don't have um any snap boos, I would really love for us to do a unanimous group of these items if there is no um

Madame Mayor I'm so sorry I know I know number five there's an addition from staff okay so can we group three and four number three voted on session all All right.

Okay. I move that we approve by unanimous consent item number 467 89 under section A under section B items 1 through five. Second. It has been moved and properly seconded.

Can I entertain a vote by Corey? What do you think is uh you want to do a show of hands or is it easier to do it in? All right, let it Let's do this since we're grouping them. Let's do this in a queue really quick. All right. Appreciate you all. And that's item four, six, seven, eight, nine. And then under section B 1 through five. And three. What are we not doing? Three. Yeah, three. Three was

already. Okay. Those items were approved unanimously. 70.

Wonderful. This tool works. So, let's look at item number five. Mr. Clerk, can you please call that item? Item five, requests council approval resolution of the city of South Fulton, Georgia, authorizing the mayor and members of the city council to have full access to all city- owned buildings and facilities at any time with the sole exception of the city attorney's office suite which shall remain a secure area to maintain the confidentiality and integrity of legal documents and matters to provide for severability to provide for an effective date and for the lawful purposes. sponsored by council member Williams Brown.

I will entertain a motion.

I move to approve as sounded. Second. Is there any discussion? Yes. All right. So, can I see the queue, please? Okay. Well, um, one moment, Linda, you're you're accused. I I said discussion. Okay.

So, I'm discussing. Um, so with regards to it says full access to all cityowned buildings and facilities. There are buildings that we have like the one that we're in that we do not own. I'm being real technical here because there are other buildings that we have such as the economic development office that those of us who represent Old National frequent work out of from time to time. And I want to know how what how we can obtain the access that we need without having to work around anything necessarily within reason. I'm just asking a question. I don't know who can answer that question. Miss Suban.

Sure. So you will um go through the buildings, make sure that your IDs activate. Um we will need to talk about alarm codes. So we'll we'll have to figure that part out. So, so what I'm saying is, and I'm saying this publicly, if we need, it's typically one of the three of us, if we need to gain access to that building, you're saying that our badges will work, but I speak for myself or them, too. We will contact one of the ACMS and coordinate what we're doing and obtain and and deal with that protocol there. Okay, I yield.

All right, there's quite a bit of um movement in the queue. So, um Attorney Kelly, did you want to respond?

Um I I didn't have a response to that. I think that's more procedural and um administr administrative. And I believe that um Wow, I keep want to call you may pro. Councilwoman Pritchette uh will confer with uh the city manager on that point. Um but I do believe that we do need to uh address one minor change and this came up um from staff regarding our GCIC and GBI uh requirements when it comes to securing certain facilities. So the proposed language I think that we should add to this legislation is that all city facilities and locations where criminal justice information CGI is stored, processed, transmitted or accessed, including IT server rooms, network closets, police records units, property and evidence, dispatch centers, and other designated CGIS secure areas shall be physically protected to prevent unauthorized access, damage, theft, or interference in accordance with the FBI CGIS security policy and the rules. rules and regulations of the GCIC. Physical access shall be strictly limited to personnel whose assigned job functions require access who have been authorized, have undergone GCIC require background checks and have completed required CGIS security training. All visitors to CGIS security areas must be logged and escorted at all times by authorized personnel. Appropriate access controls, environmental protections, and monitoring mechanisms shall be implemented and maintained by the city's IT department to ensure the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of protected information. This policy supports compliance with GCIC oversight and audit audit requirements. All right. Can I see the queue? Next, we have Dr. Thank you um for recognizing me. Um I'll say for the record, I don't I've been here eight years. I've never needed full access to any building usually when I'm coming in,

it's during business hours and I can get buzzed in really primarily I'm here if I come in here. But um just from a risk management standpoint um can you tell who is entering the buildings at all times? And I and I'm including us. I'm not suggesting that anybody, you know, might have issues, but we are not exempt above the law. Can we make sure that we know who comes in and out of our business, I mean buildings and in what spaces during the times because Yeah. And and also like she mentioned alarms.

Yeah. So So I'm sure some kind of parameters. I just want us to make sure we thinking it through and we don't set something else off and and I don't know that kind of information but like weekends is you know is that okay? I I don't know. So the alarms without saying too much about our security plan, right? Some of this stuff should be discussed in executive session. Um alarms do activate in every building pretty much that we own. And so if um and your badge is not going to automatically disable the alarm um at all buildings, some buildings it does. So I you know if this is the will of the council, what we will need to do is um work out some kind of protocol on alarm codes um at the different facilities and then we we change alarm codes periodically as well. Um, in terms of do we know once you swipe your badge? Yes, we will know that that you know that that person has has swiped in to come into the building. If that that would answers your question, but we are going to have to figure out something on the alarm coach.

Thank Councilwoman Willis.

So, I've been serving going on nine years. We've been here going on nine years. Council member um Ralph and I I I'm just going to be honest with you. I think we need to bring this back. We need to put some parameters in place. Um for for several reasons, I don't want the liability of going into places or having access to stuff. I don't I only need access to city hall. That's where my office is. Um you know, I don't think we should be locked out of things here in city hall. Um, I do not I do think that we should have access to certain buildings, but I just think it's a reasonable request if we're going to the administrative building on Frederick where mostly all of our back office is that we contact the city manager or somebody on the city manager team and let them know that we're coming down there. I I just think that's where employees, there's a delineation of duties in the charter. And I just, you know, after serving nine years and being accused of stuff that I didn't do and having to go through um frivolous, you know, investigations, you know, I just I I just like to we I think we should all try to stay in our lane. Uh we don't need keys to buildings we don't need keys to. Um, you know, this is our this is our building that we are supposed to handle our official business. Um, I'm sorry it's inconvenient for some people, but I've never had a problem where I had to go to the park and recreation center and make copies. If I have to go to economic development office and make copies, I let the city manager or the assistant city manager know, hey, I'm going by economic development office to make copies. They've never given me any problems. I don't want to really work around staff. Um, I don't want to hear their conversations. I don't want to hear what they got going on. I don't want them to hear my conversations. I

don't want to hear what them to hear what I got going on. I want to keep that separate because that's what charter say we're supposed to do. We're not really supposed to be in operations. And so, I think we should give them their space. We got our own space. We got a whole office. We got a whole conference room. Miss Superan was nice enough to order us ice machine, some coffee, some cappuccino, and all that good stuff and put it in our space. hot cocoa. We got a popcorn machine over there. We got a copier. Like we got marshmallows. We got all that good stuff in our suite. So I really I don't really have no problem to I don't really have no reason to come in that space like that, you know. Um so I just want 2026 to move. I want us to move forward in excellence and without confusion and without the drama. We all have been through stuff. Most of us have been through stuff with exception of Aaron and the best way um I just think we need to put some parameters in place. I get the spirit of this and I get why this is being done. Um but it's not an unreasonable request to let the city manager assistant city managers know if we're going in a building that's mainly to have mainly operation staff in. Um, it's I don't think we should be outside of city hall. We shouldn't be going in any of these buildings after hours. I'm hearing people going in buildings after hours. What if you get sick and fall out? Nobody going to find you there. Like if we got to go in a operation building after hours, we should be letting the city manager know so they can let security know. So they can make sure we all right, everything is all right. Nobody in the building waiting on us to get there to knock us in the head. You know, I'm just saying we just got to be security conscious about stuff. And um I'm going to make the motion that we

put this on hold, council member, if you don't mind, so we can put some reasonable parameters in place. bring it back. And that's my motion to put this on hold to probably the next council meeting so we can put some reasonable parameters in place. There's a motion, a reconsideration motion. I made a motion to put this on hold. Oh, I made a substitute motion. Oh, I got to do a substitute motion. You already did it. Okay. It has been moved and properly second. All right, let's vote on this item.

Discussion. Well, she said you have discussion on my motion cuz I made a substitute motion. I think that's what she said. We have to do it now. She had she is a parliamentarian here. Oh, I'm not I'm not

You have to vote to accept the amendment first and then if that passes, vote on the motion as amended.

All right. We're voting to we're voting to accept the amendment of the current motion that is to place this on hold by Councilwoman Helen Willis. and it was second by councilwoman um Ralph. This is the vote that we're voting on at this point in time. Please look in your queue. Has everybody voted?

Has everybody voted? Has everybody? Yes, everyone has voted. That motion was approved six to one to accept the amendment. Six to one. All right. So, that item will be placed on hold. Oh, now we have to vote. You you have to vote. My apologies. So, all right. Let's move to It is getting late. Let's move to um entertain the new amendment. Is there a motion for You have to have discussion, mayor.

Oh, I thought we was about to have Okay, discussion, please. Councilwoman uh Will uh Williams Brown, I'm sorry it's late and all I've had was chocolate. Let's go. Right. We're we're we're wandering we're wandering into 11 o'clock, y'all. But we need to hurry up. That being said, um

while I don't while I don't Well, I have no issue with putting it on hold and bringing it back. So, I'm in agreement with that. Um, however, I do want to say that, and again, I I work from home, so it's not like I'm going into going in and out of these buildings anyway, but the idea that if I as a council member who's just who voted in October on a $400 million budget that is funding all of this, that funds everything

that I or anybody else has to beg to get into a building is problematic for me. That there's not parking at at certain buildings for us is problematic to me. That my picture is hanging in buildings I can't get in is problematic to me. So even if I don't personally go into the buildings because I really don't have any reason, I still should be able to access them. Am I going into buildings all hours of the day and night? No. Cuz after about 9:00, I go to bed, y'all. And y'all all know I I am in I'm in bed cuz I'm I'm sleepy right now.

7:45, right? 7:45. I'mma take a nap before I go to bed. But I should not have to jump through hoops to get in buildings my picture is hanging in. If I don't have to do that as an employee at my job, if I have a badge that lets me get into buildings at my job where I am have no rank whatsoever. I'm just an employee collecting a paycheck. Why am I having to ask people to let me in a building where my picture is hanging? All right. Well, well, thank you. Um, do we have any more? I think we've covered everybody. Mr. Johnson, do you want to speak?

So, are we starting all over?

I understand the spirit again of this piece of legislation, but at the same time, I'm thinking about a couple of things. Um, Fulton County, for instance, I had a badge. It depending on it depended on where you worked as to where you could go. And even the chairman of the Fulton County Commission, who also voted on the budget, couldn't go to the sixth floor. Wasn't it sixth floor that was financed? He couldn't go on the sixth floor. Once he got off the elevator, he had to have somebody buzz him in to get through the door. Um, right now with the at the city of Atlanta, I have a badge. I could Now, I did think it was odd that I couldn't get in here. I will admit that. But, uh, I can't go on the floor with the the law department. I can go to the mayor's office, but I can I can't get past the door. Communications. I can't get in there. It's And even the president of the city council can't even go into the policy office where he writes legisla, he sends legislation to be written. Um, so I I think there has to be a delineation to a degree uh is to where people can go and I I can't fault you for feeling like if your picture is on the wall, you should be able to walk in that building. But at the same time, having been staffed and working with these chief operating officer, even in Congress when we worked there, there are just certain doors you can't get into because of who you are. Congresswoman Williams, I'm using your name because that's who she is, but Congresswoman Williams, there are certain floors in Congress that she can't go in and she is a sitting member of Congress. I don't know if you remember uh just last year, I was looking at the AJC a minute ago, there was a state senator that they wouldn't allow to come across the floor to go

into the House floor at the capital. So I and he's a sitting state senator. So while I understand I do think there are certain places that we should be able to have access to uh I do understand the re rationale for not being able to go in any building uh for various reasons as the uh city attorney has mentioned and it happens. It's not just here in the city of South Fulton. every government that I've worked in, the highest leveled elected official can't go everywhere. Just wanted to make that point known.

Thank you for that, Councilman Johnson. Um, do we have any more speakers in the queue?

Councilman Sebastian and then Councilwoman Pritchard. Thank you, mayor. Um, I am uncomfortable with all access to every building. I do think the buildings where most of our staff are, this one and Frederick's building, I should be able to get in the front door without getting buzzed in. However, I'm not I personally am not in the habit of going after hours except I think one Sunday I came through here. Dr. Cooper might have set off the alarm. I don't know. One Sunday I came through here because I had I think my mother-in-law would was with me and we were just coming on the bus. Hey, come and look at city hall. Um but I am uncomfortable with um having access to every single government building. I personally don't need access to every single government building. I need access to where the staff that report to us um is here and um Frederick's but all these other buildings. I don't want to go into one of the police police precincts. After hours, I might get shot, right? So, I'm I'm just saying it's it's all access seems a little a little much for this. So, um, and with, you know, with the security requirements and it it seems a little bit seems a little bit much. Um, so I'm going to say I personally don't need

access to the the attorney suite. I don't need access to not even the clerk suite to be honest. Um, because these are where I think we have very sensitive documents and other areas of of the city. So I would caution us about this whole all city owned or rented all lease buildings um part of it. Although I do understand um some of the feelings cuz you know you all heard me say before I I don't like to be treated as a child you know um I want to be treated as an adult. So, if I um choose to come into this building or if I choose to show up at the um the Frederick's building with, you know, guests or investors or whatever, I don't want to be I don't want to stand at the door to get buzzed in. I just want to walk into the building as a council member, but beyond that, I'm I'm okay with not having any other access to any other buildings.

All right. Thank you for your comments, Councilwoman Pritchette.

Thank you. Um, so I see that this is getting real technical and we probably do have to discuss what this realistically means based on how we work. Um, I do want to be honest in how we got here. I remember last year um when we had the Frederick building and um we had access then we didn't have access then we had access then somebody called and wanted access then I didn't have access my assistant had access but I didn't have access and I think that that sends a wrong message. I think that all the council should have access if we have legitimate business that we're conducting and we need to go to that building and not have to be buzzed in. As Councilman Sebastian said, treat it as a child. You know, we're all adults. I heard from what the city attorney read, it said something about with the prevention of theft, the language that she read and what we're asking for, it's referring to us. It makes me It makes me feel like it's being suggested that you have to read all this stuff just in case one of us going to steal something from some secure area. That doesn't sound right. These notions don't make sense to me. Whatever other council members experience, I'm here to say my experience as a council member is different than other council members. I have different types of activities. I have different types of interactions. I host and hold different types of meeting than everyone else on this council. I don't have facilities in my district. I do use the economic development office to meet with business owners, to meet with residents, to hold town hall

meetings, to do to to actually work out of when we are in a crunch for specific things. The majority of the time staff is there. Some of the time staff can't even come to the door. If staff is just not there, then I'm just I I I can't access the building. And sometimes after hours, which means after 5:00, 6:00, if we're hosting a public participation, well, if a public participation meeting is held or a town hall meeting is held, usually the police is there to be security for us. But it still doesn't mean that we can't walk in and out of the building to set up and do things that staff may not feel like or want to be bothered with. Even on Saturdays, we've had we've had meetings there that have to do with residents and business owners. So, you know, this idea of limiting us for things that I am explaining are reasonable are in the course of the work that we do. It's absurd. If you don't do it, then don't get the access. but don't preclude anyone else from doing what they have to do to fulfill their duties with the people they represent. I'm speaking for myself and some of this is actually insulting because I remember last year when I asked for access I had consensus of four council members I believe that are still on this day and I was still denied access and I believe that when we have consensus we and we direct someone that what we're asking for should be done but this has gone to the point that it's taken a council member to actually put this in legislation other council members don't like this and say that we can't we shouldn't put legislation in for a specific situation. But at this point, how are we going to be respected? How is

this issue going to be? How is there going to be a process that there is no debate and there is no doubt that this is what we're doing and this is how we follow. So yes, I do believe that we need to look at a process. Um we need to look at what full access and it doesn't have to be full access. It can be accessed at the time based on a specific activity. I'm going to contact whatever ACM to make sure that they know that everybody knows that needs to know what I'm going to do. But I like Sebastian said, I'm not going to be treated like a child either and I'm not going to have my duties interfered with because some people ain't uncomfortable and not comfortable. I come to city hall a lot. I I I use facilities as needed based on my duties. If other people don't do that, that's their problem. But this is not going to be a problem that's created for me.

Thank you, Councilwoman Pritchette. There are no more speakers in the queue. I'm also in the queue. Mayor,

I'll be very brief. I promise. That's Kelly. What I read was in no way um meant to imply that you all would steal anything. What I read was verbatim from the FBI CJIS security policy and rules and regulations of the Georgia Crime Information Center. So, I want to make that very clear for the record. I'm not trying to imply that y'all would steal anything. This is just the language and the protocol necessary for us as a city to maintain GCIC access. Thank you. All right. and Councilwoman Willis.

So, I in in no way I am I trying to be dismissive of anyone's feelings or comments, but there have been allegations from employees feeling intimidated by elect officials walking into buildings, roaming around buildings and feeling like, you know, there's an intimidation factor. And I don't want employees feeling that way. And one of the ways to keep employees from feeling that way is to be respectful of their workspace. And you know, at the end of the day, aside of events, our official business is supposed to be done in here in city hall where we have conference rooms, where we have offices. And I would say that, you know, I just think it's a reasonable request if we do have to go to the economic development office to have an event or use some of the workspace that we do work through the city manager to do that because that's what the charter says we're supposed to do. Um, you know, we have access to the gym because that's a public facility, but some of our offices are not public facilities. Frederick, you know, I do agree with my colleague going through the front door. You know, we shouldn't be locked out of that building, but I don't think we should go down there unless we let the city manager or the assistant city manager know we're coming down there for this purpose because that entire building is full of operations and there is a delineation of duties. I don't want, you know, staff feeling it can be some some staff some people it don't bother some elected it don't bother some staff members for elected officials to be around but some some employees have have uh implied and alleged that it's intimidating to just

have elected official pop up and ask questions without going through their supervisor without going through the city manager and the charter says where's supposed to go through the city manager to engage with staff. And so I just say to keep down the drama, to keep down the allegations, to keep down staff feeling intimidated, to keep down the allegations, to be security conscious. I just think that when you're buildings that we commonly don't have access to aside of public facilities, aside of city hall, we really should be working through the city manager. It's not one time I've asked to use the economic development office or go down to Frederick for whatever reason and the city manager or her sisters have not accommodated me. As a matter of fact, sometimes they have gone out of their way to say, "Council Willis, instead of you coming over here, we'll come to you." And so, and I appreciate that cuz you know, that's all I'm saying. And I'm not being dismissive, but I did get some additional information after I was one of the one to give consensus. And once I gave cons consensus and I heard both sides, I kind of understood why it was a request for us, you know, to let them know when we're coming to buildings that we don't have public access to. So that's where I'm saying. So I I just think we should bring this back, put some parameters and reasonable parameters in place and then let it be the reason. Thank you.

All right. Thank you. And I believe there is a motion on the floor. Can we entertain that motion, please? It's a substitute motion to hold and bring back. All right. It's been moved and properly second. Vote is in progress. Council member Sebast, how do you wish to vote? Yes. Okay. That motion was approved unanimously. 70.

All right. Awesome. So for the next few items um items one through one through five is that unanimous is we've already handled that one. B one through five. We handled that with the first unanimous consent. Oh, Madam Mayor, if I may, we the only items we have left are uh we have two add-on items that we need to vote on, and then I just need to read the first read items into the record. Oh, well, hallelujah. Thank you. So, if I may proceed. Yes, you may.

So, there were two items for action today. Uh, one is a city event which is a one heartbeat senior sweetheart day celebration hosted by Mayor Gums on at Enan Ranch on February 13th, 2026 from 11 to 3. And also there is a resolution to reappoint Kimberly Mazize uh to the South Fen Development Authority. Those are the two action items uh that require vote today. Uh that the ordinance first read all right. I'll entertain a motion.

Both items. It has been moved and properly second. Let's take this vote in the queue. Okay. Mr. Johnson. Yes. Okay. And Councilman Williams Brown. Yes. Okay. That motion was approved unanimously. That was approval of the resolution and the event. Wonderful. Uh Mr. Clerk, can you sign the first read, please?

Yes. We have three items for first read. The first under C1 first read an ordinance to amend the city of South Fulton zoning ordinance for the purpose of amending regulations related to homebased businesses. Number two, first read, an ordinance to amend title 3 building regulations, chapter 3, miscellaneous provisions of the South Fulton Code of Ordinances to require new conveyor car washes to recycle water to comply with the requirements of the Metropolitan North Georgia water planning districts 2022 water supply and water conservation management plan to conserve water resources. And then also the add-on item here, an ordinance to repeal the city of South Fulton's ordinance number 2021-033 amending the regulations for convenience stores and gasoline stations and for other lawful purposes. Sponsored by council members Willis, Johnson, Sebastian, Pritchette, and Williams Brown. Those all three first read.

All right. So, Mr. Clerk, while we're here, is there any other further business for this council? All right. Since there is no further business, this meeting is officially adjourned. Unless y'all want to go into executive session. Absolutely not. All right. You don't have to vote on it being a journ. Thank you all and thank you staff for staying here. Hopefully these meetings will get better and we'll get out of here sooner. Have a good evening.