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Record of Proceedings

Kennesaw City Council Regular Meeting – December 1, 2025

City Council — Monday, December 1, 2025
BodyKennesaw, Georgia
SessionCity Council
DateMonday, December 1, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
Meeting Thumbnail
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Speaker 1

3:13

Good evening, ladies and gentlemen.

3:15

Welcome to this our regularly scheduled council meeting for Monday.

3:19

Can't believe it's December first in the year twenty twenty-five already.

3:23

Um, if you would please rise for the invocation and remain standing for the Pledge of Allegiance.

3:36

Pray that you watch over the council and bless the many plea people that are here to watch over.

3:41

In Jesus' name we pray, Amen.

3:51

And to the Republic for which it stands, one nation, under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all.

3:59

All right.

3:59

Tell us about yourself a little bit.

4:01

Just uh you got thirty seconds.

4:03

How long you've been here, who you are?

Unassigned speaker

4:10

Uh program several months ago.

Unassigned speaker

4:12

So I've been working with uh BG.

Unassigned speaker

4:18

I appreciate uh you know your work in this all.

Speaker 1

4:21

Thank you.

4:22

All right.

4:26

If you have anything to share on your heart, please rise and uh be sworn in by our city attorney.

Unassigned speaker

4:32

Thank

Speaker 2

4:32

you, Mr.

4:33

Mayor.

4:33

If you'll be making any kind of comment or presentation before the council tonight, would you please raise your right hand?

4:39

Do you swear or affirm that the comment or presentation that you'll be making before this council this evening will be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.

4:46

If so, say I do.

4:47

Thank you.

4:48

You may be seated.

Speaker 1

4:49

All right, it's a very special night.

4:51

Allison, thank you for being

Unassigned speaker

4:53

here.

Speaker 1

4:57

I love this.

Unassigned speaker

5:00

And thank you all.

Unassigned speaker

5:03

Good evening.

Unassigned speaker

5:04

My name is Alison

Speaker 3

5:04

Gittens,

Unassigned speaker

5:05

and I'm here

Speaker 3

5:05

on behalf

Unassigned speaker

5:06

of the way to

Speaker 3

5:06

act.

5:12

Why good people in law enforcement matters so

Unassigned speaker

5:15

much?

Speaker 3

5:15

Last year, one of our company checks was stolen out of the mail.

5:20

So before you lecture me on mailing checks, it was washed, and it was used to take nearly 30,000.

5:27

Everyone I talked to, my bank, my insurance company, even other business owners told me the same thing.

5:32

That money's gone.

5:33

Kiss it goodbye.

5:34

Forget about

Unassigned speaker

5:35

it.

Speaker 3

5:36

So Detective Phillips, he was detective at the time now, Sergeant.

5:39

Detective Phillips proved every single one of them wrong.

Speaker 1

5:42

Hit the mic so that it's red.

5:44

There you go.

5:45

Oh,

Speaker 4

5:45

sorry.

Speaker 1

5:46

No, there you go.

5:47

I figured I

Speaker 3

5:47

was loud enough.

5:48

You

Speaker 1

5:49

were.

5:49

You were, but that's fine.

Unassigned speaker

5:51

Well,

Speaker 3

5:51

let me say it again then.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Procedural█████████████████████████████████████████████54%
Community Engagement█████████████15%
Personnel Matters██████████12%
Public Safety███████8%
Parks and Recreation███4%
Historic Preservation███3%
Arts And Culture███3%
Animal Welfare█1%
Summary of Proceedings

Kennesaw City Council Regular Meeting – December 1, 2025

The City Council of Kennesaw held its regular meeting on Monday, December 1, 2025, at 6:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers at 2529 J.O. Stephenson Avenue. The meeting included a recognition, public hearing, consent agenda approvals, crime statistics presentation, public comments, ratification of a personnel appointment, and an executive session. All votes were unanimous (5–0) unless noted.

Presentations

  • Recognition of Appreciation for Sergeant Shawn Phillips: Allison Giddens, Co-President of Win-Tech, recognized Sergeant Phillips for his investigation into a stolen and altered company check, tracking the perpetrator to Florida and recovering nearly $30,000. On behalf of Win-Tech, she thanked him for his dedication and tenacity.

Public Hearing

  • Ordinance Chapter 10 Amendments (Animals): City Manager Jeff Drobney presented Ordinance 2025-08 to align the City’s animal control code with Cobb County’s, a prerequisite for an intergovernmental agreement for animal control services. The public hearing was opened and closed with no comments. Motion by Councilmember Viars, seconded by Councilmember Orochena. Vote: unanimous 5–0 approval.

Consent Agenda

The council unanimously approved the following items en bloc (motion by Councilmember Gutierrez-Leon, seconded by Councilmember Viars; vote 5–0):

  • Minutes: November 17, 2025 Regular Meeting minutes.
  • Election Results Resolution (No. 2025-74): Ratification of November4, 2025 General Municipal Election results for Council Posts 3,4, and 5.
  • Intergovernmental Agreement for Fire Dispatch Services (No. 2025-75).
  • Intergovernmental Agreement for Fire Marshal Services (No. 2025-76).
  • Intergovernmental Agreement for Cooperative Purchasing (No. 2025-77).
  • Cemetery Deed: Authorization to sign a deed for lots purchased by Akanmu and Omotola Adebayo.

Public Safety

  • October 2025 Crime Statistics: Police Chief Bill Westenberger reported a year-over-year reduction of 10 incidents, from 140 to 130. Notable changes: Fraud offenses increased by 22, simple assaults decreased by 17. Other stats: 857 calls for service, 1,492 self-initiated activities, 708 traffic citations, 880 warnings, 79 arrests, 130 accidents (8 with injuries, 12 hit-and-runs, 1 hit-and-run with injury, 1 person hit by auto with injury). Motion by Mayor Pro Tem Ferris, seconded by Councilmember Jones. Vote: unanimous5–0 acceptance.

Public Comments

  • Andrew Bramlett (city resident): Presented a historical discourse on the 1836 charter of the Western & Atlantic Railroad and Colonel Long’s 1837 survey of the area.
  • Jonathon Bothers (city resident and newly elected City Council Post 3): Thanked the community for support, expressed pride in the city’s developments such as the Amphitheater and Depot Park, and thanked public safety and park departments.

City Manager’s Report

  • Appointment of Director of Planning and Zoning: City Manager Drobney announced the retirement of Darryl Simmons after 24 years. Following a search, internal candidate Chanelle Campbell was selected as the best candidate. Council unanimously ratified the appointment (motion by Councilmember Orochena, seconded by Councilmember Jones; vote 5–0). Ms. Campbell expressed gratitude and commitment to the city’s success.
  • Farewell from Darryl Simmons: Mr. Simmons gave a heartfelt thanks, recounting his 24-year journey and the importance of the people of Kennesaw. He expressed confidence in Ms. Campbell.

Council Reports & Discussions

  • Councilmember Gutierrez-Leon thanked Mr. Simmons and congratulated Ms. Campbell.
  • Mayor Pro Tem Ferris recalled hiring Mr. Simmons and announced the Kennesaw State University Conference USA Championship game on Friday, December 5.
  • Councilmember Orochena thanked Mr. Simmons for his service to the Arts and Culture Commission and for citizen engagement.
  • Councilmember Jones thanked Mr. Simmons for his 24 years and welcomed Ms. Campbell.
  • Councilmember Viars thanked Mr. Simmons and reminded that the Christmas tree is at the Amphitheater and the Menorah at Tunnel Plaza.

Executive Session

At 6:56 p.m., the council voted unanimously (5–0) to enter executive session to discuss land matters pursuant to O.C.G.A. § 50–14–3.The session concluded at7:11 p.m., and the council approved an affidavit confirming compliance with the open meetings law.

Adjournment

Mayor Easterling adjourned the meeting at7:11 p.m.The next work session is Monday, December 8,2025, at6:30 p.m.in the Council Chambers.

Meeting Transcript

Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. Welcome to this our regularly scheduled council meeting for Monday. Can't believe it's December first in the year twenty twenty-five already. Um, if you would please rise for the invocation and remain standing for the Pledge of Allegiance. Pray that you watch over the council and bless the many plea people that are here to watch over. In Jesus' name we pray, Amen. And to the Republic for which it stands, one nation, under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all. All right. Tell us about yourself a little bit. Just uh you got thirty seconds. How long you've been here, who you are? Uh program several months ago. So I've been working with uh BG. I appreciate uh you know your work in this all. Thank you. All right. If you have anything to share on your heart, please rise and uh be sworn in by our city attorney. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. If you'll be making any kind of comment or presentation before the council tonight, would you please raise your right hand? Do you swear or affirm that the comment or presentation that you'll be making before this council this evening will be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. If so, say I do. Thank you. You may be seated. All right, it's a very special night. Allison, thank you for being here. I love this. And thank you all. Good evening. My name is Alison Gittens, and I'm here on behalf of the way to act. Why good people in law enforcement matters so much? Last year, one of our company checks was stolen out of the mail. So before you lecture me on mailing checks, it was washed, and it was used to take nearly 30,000. Everyone I talked to, my bank, my insurance company, even other business owners told me the same thing. That money's gone. Kiss it goodbye. Forget about it. So Detective Phillips, he was detective at the time now, Sergeant. Detective Phillips proved every single one of them wrong. Hit the mic so that it's red. There you go.

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