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OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD

Record of Proceedings

Kennesaw City Council Meeting - April 6, 2026

City Council — Monday, April 6, 2026

BodyKennesaw, Georgia

SessionCity Council

DateMonday, April 6, 2026

StatusFILED

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Speaker 1

2:28

Good evening, ladies and gentlemen.

2:30

Welcome to this our regularly scheduled council meeting for Monday, April the sixth, twenty twenty-six.

2:37

I'm delighted that you're here.

2:38

If you would please stand for invocation.

2:41

Miss Carlin, would you?

2:43

And then uh Andrew, ask you

Unassigned speaker

2:45

Speaker 2

2:46

lead us in the pledge.

Unassigned speaker

2:49

I think you find a wonderful thing.

Speaker 1

3:20

Sergeants, you lead us in the pledge,

Unassigned speaker

3:23

please.

Speaker 1

3:38

And with that, the meeting's officially called to order.

3:41

If you uh are going to speak tonight for any reason, please stand and be sworn in by our city attorney,

Speaker 2

3:50

Mr.

3:50

Sam Hensley.

3:51

Thank you, Mr.

3:52

Mayor.

3:52

Yes, any member of the public that plans to make a comment or presentation this evening, would you please stand and raise your right hand?

3:59

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

4:07

If so, say I do.

4:09

Thank you.

4:09

You may be seated.

Speaker 1

4:14

Chief, we want to recognize

Unassigned speaker

4:24

that.

Speaker 3

4:34

This is Josh Day.

4:36

But uh have Josh Ainge to my left here and to his left officer.

4:40

Well, Sergeant Josh Hill now.

4:43

So uh just want to recognize them.

4:45

They're our newest promoted sergeants.

4:47

Both of them were promoted on the twenty-eighth.

4:50

We had our ceremony this afternoon.

4:52

Uh both of them come with a vast uh number of years of experience, seven and seventeen.

Unassigned speaker

4:58

Uh they have both trained new officers coming in the door.

Speaker 3

5:01

They have been a uh trainer in other ways, too, not just the formal, but the informal when people had issues or had concerns, they would bring them to them.

5:11

Both of them worked in specialized areas, both of them worked on the criminal interdiction unit, and uh Sergeant Hale has worked on a motor squad as well.

5:19

So just uh join me in welcoming them to their new positions and their new roles as we continue doing the best we can for the community and uh having them to support their staff that's out

Unassigned speaker

5:32

there.

Speaker 3

5:46

And I'll give each one of you an opportunity just to say something real quick.

Speaker 4

5:50

Well, thank you for having us today.

5:51

Um we I love policing in Kennesaw.

5:54

I've been here for about seven years, like they said, and I've enjoyed every minute of the seven years, and that's thanks to the community.

6:00

Um I enjoy it's only my second meeting, but every time I'm here, y'all show me great support uh in everything I do.

6:06

So I just want to say thank you for everything y'all do and support us in the community.

Speaker 5

6:12

I appreciate the community of Kennesaw.

6:14

Uh I grew up here, I graduated from Kennesaw Mountain High School.

6:17

I've been around Kennesaw my entire life.

6:19

So been around here my entire life.

6:22

I love the community.

6:23

I I couldn't imagine policing anywhere else.

6:25

Uh as a matter of fact, Chief knows uh

Unassigned speaker

6:28

you

Speaker 5

6:28

know, if you look at the city, they tell you I worked here 10 years, but uh I've actually been here 17 years.

6:33

I tried to go somewhere else for about three months, hated it, not to another police job, but I had to come back to Kennesaw and come back home, and this is where I'll retire.

6:40

Like I I love this community, our citizens are great.

6:43

Um, and I just enjoy policing where I grew up and where I live.

6:47

So thank y'all very much.

Unassigned speaker

6:54

Are you all free to come?

Speaker 1

6:57

That's excellent.

6:58

Thank you, fellas.

6:59

I appreciate

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting

Procedural███████████████████████████████████████39%

Alcohol Licensing█████████████████████21%

Public Safety█████████████████17%

Transportation Safety███████7%

Budget Equity Analysis██████6%

Public Engagement██████6%

Parks and Recreation████4%

Summary of Proceedings

Kennesaw City Council Meeting - April 6, 2026

The Kennesaw City Council held its regular meeting on Monday, April 6, 2026, at 6:30 PM in the Council Chambers (2529 J.O. Stephenson Avenue). The meeting was called to order by Mayor Derek Easterling and adjourned at 6:47 PM. Key actions included the approval of the 2028 Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST) project list on a 3-2 vote, the approval of three alcohol licenses, and the recognition of two newly promoted police sergeants.

Presentations & Recognitions

Mayor Easterling and Police Chief Bill Westenberger recognized newly promoted Police Sergeants Josh Day and Josh Hale. Sergeant Day has 7 years of service in Kennesaw, and Sergeant Hale has 17 years of service, totaling a combined 24 years of policing experience. Both expressed gratitude for the Kennesaw community; Sergeant Hale noted he is a Kennesaw Mountain High School graduate and stated, "This is where I'll retire."

Public Comments & Testimony

John Little (City Resident): Addressed the Sardis Street Capital Project proposed for 2028 SPLOST funding. He expressed concern that expanding roadways, as seen in other communities, ultimately worsens traffic congestion. He argued that traffic on Main Street is not as severe as in cities like Brookhaven or Dunwoody, and predicted the proposed intersection at Moon Station Road, Main Street, and Sardis Street could become a bottleneck, potentially hindering pedestrian access from Cherokee Street to Main Street.
Andrew Bramlett (City Resident): Delivered a presentation on Kennesaw's historical "odd laws," citing ordinances from the 1930s and 1940s regarding speed limits ($25 fines/25 days jail) and a 1945 ban on roller skating on downtown sidewalks.
Erik Bredfeldt (Leader, Atlanta Office of Inspire Placemaking Collective, Inc.): Thanked the Council for selecting his firm's proposal for the city's Comprehensive Plan Update.

Consent Calendar

The Council unanimously approved (5-0) the Consent Agenda en bloc, which included:
- Approval of minutes from the March 9, 2026 Work Session and Executive Session, and March 16, 2026 Regular Meeting and Executive Session.
- Certification of the Estimated Rollback Rate for 2026 Notice of Assessment (in compliance with HB 581 and HB 92).
- Authorization to sell surplus Zebra RW420 Printers and surplus Public Works vehicles and equipment.
- Resolution approving a guardrail installation proposal from Gracie Gray Contractors, Inc. along Baker Road.
- Resolution authorizing reallocation of surplus impact fees from the Adams Park baseball field lighting project to the Kennesaw Station Park Expansion project.
- Resolution accepting Inspire Placemaking Collective, Inc.'s proposal for the 2027 Comprehensive Plan update.

Discussion Items

SPLOST 2028 Projects List: Assistant City Manager Marty Hughes presented the project list developed by the appointed SPLOST committee of council members and staff. The total project list is valued at $46,771,381 and reflects the city's priority needs for the next six years. The referendum is scheduled for the November 2026 general election in Cobb County. Key projects include the design and construction of a new community center ($14,000,000), a new city hall ($16,000,000), the Sardis Street extension and overpass ($10,500,000), and various road, park, and facility improvements.
- Vote: The motion to approve the project list was made by Councilmember Tracey Viars and seconded by Councilmember Madelyn Orochena. The motion passed 3-2. Councilmember Jonathon Bothers and Mayor Pro Tem Antonio Jones voted nay.
Alcohol Licenses (General and Administrative): The Council considered and approved three separate alcohol license applications, each by a 5-0 vote.
- Smash Hit Burgers: Retail pouring license for beer, wine, and Sunday sales at 2921 Cherokee Street NW. Located within 300 feet of a private residence and 600 feet of a public building; the Council voted to waive the distance requirements, noting the location previously held a license (The Nest). Motion by Viars, second by Gutierrez-Leon.
- Las Tejitas 2 LLC: Retail pouring license for beer, wine, and Sunday sales at 2090 Baker Road Suite 504. A distance survey confirmed the business met all applicable distance requirements. Motion by Orochena, second by Bothers.
- Fuego Azul Tequila LLC: Wholesale alcohol license at 3635 Kennesaw N Industrial Pkwy Suite A. Wholesalers are exempt from the standard distance requirements. Motion by Viars, second by Gutierrez-Leon.

Key Outcomes

Approved (3-2): The 2028 SPLOST project list, sending the proposed projects to Cobb County for the November 2026 referendum.
Approved (5-0): Consent Agenda items (meeting minutes, surplus, resolutions).
Approved (5-0): Alcohol license for Smash Hit Burgers (with distance requirement waivers).
Approved (5-0): Alcohol license for Las Tejitas 2 LLC.
Approved (5-0): Alcohol license for Fuego Azul Tequila LLC.
Next Meeting: The next work session is scheduled for Monday, April 13, 2026, at 6:30 PM in the Council Chambers.

Meeting Transcript

Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. Welcome to this our regularly scheduled council meeting for Monday, April the sixth, twenty twenty-six. I'm delighted that you're here. If you would please stand for invocation. Miss Carlin, would you? And then uh Andrew, ask you to lead us in the pledge. I think you find a wonderful thing. Sergeants, you lead us in the pledge, please. And with that, the meeting's officially called to order. If you uh are going to speak tonight for any reason, please stand and be sworn in by our city attorney, Mr. Sam Hensley. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Yes, any member of the public that plans to make a comment or presentation this evening, would you please stand and raise your right hand? Do you swear or affirm that the presentation or comment 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. Chief, we want to recognize that. This is Josh Day. But uh have Josh Ainge to my left here and to his left officer. Well, Sergeant Josh Hill now. So uh just want to recognize them. They're our newest promoted sergeants. Both of them were promoted on the twenty-eighth. We had our ceremony this afternoon. Uh both of them come with a vast uh number of years of experience, seven and seventeen. Uh they have both trained new officers coming in the door. They have been a uh trainer in other ways, too, not just the formal, but the informal when people had issues or had concerns, they would bring them to them. Both of them worked in specialized areas, both of them worked on the criminal interdiction unit, and uh Sergeant Hale has worked on a motor squad as well. So just uh join me in welcoming them to their new positions and their new roles as we continue doing the best we can for the community and uh having them to support their staff that's out there. And I'll give each one of you an opportunity just to say something real quick. Well, thank you for having us today. Um we I love policing in Kennesaw. I've been here for about seven years, like they said, and I've enjoyed every minute of the seven years, and that's thanks to the community. Um I enjoy it's only my second meeting, but every time I'm here, y'all show me great support uh in everything I do. So I just want to say thank you for everything y'all do and support us in the community. I appreciate the community of Kennesaw. Uh I grew up here, I graduated from Kennesaw Mountain High School. I've been around Kennesaw my entire life. So been around here my entire life. I love the community. I I couldn't imagine policing anywhere else. Uh as a matter of fact, Chief knows uh

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Kennesaw City Council Meeting - April 6, 2026

Presentations & Recognitions

Mayor Easterling and Police Chief Bill Westenberger recognized newly promoted Police Sergeants Josh Day and Josh Hale. Sergeant Day has 7 years of service in Kennesaw, and Sergeant Hale has 17 years of service, totaling a combined 24 years of policing experience. Both expressed gratitude for the Kennesaw community; Sergeant Hale noted he is a Kennesaw Mountain High School graduate and stated, "This is where I'll retire."

Public Comments & Testimony

John Little (City Resident): Addressed the Sardis Street Capital Project proposed for 2028 SPLOST funding. He expressed concern that expanding roadways, as seen in other communities, ultimately worsens traffic congestion. He argued that traffic on Main Street is not as severe as in cities like Brookhaven or Dunwoody, and predicted the proposed intersection at Moon Station Road, Main Street, and Sardis Street could become a bottleneck, potentially hindering pedestrian access from Cherokee Street to Main Street.

Andrew Bramlett (City Resident): Delivered a presentation on Kennesaw's historical "odd laws," citing ordinances from the 1930s and 1940s regarding speed limits ($25 fines/25 days jail) and a 1945 ban on roller skating on downtown sidewalks.

Erik Bredfeldt (Leader, Atlanta Office of Inspire Placemaking Collective, Inc.): Thanked the Council for selecting his firm's proposal for the city's Comprehensive Plan Update.

Consent Calendar

The Council unanimously approved (5-0) the Consent Agenda en bloc, which included:

Approval of minutes from the March 9, 2026 Work Session and Executive Session, and March 16, 2026 Regular Meeting and Executive Session.
Certification of the Estimated Rollback Rate for 2026 Notice of Assessment (in compliance with HB 581 and HB 92).
Authorization to sell surplus Zebra RW420 Printers and surplus Public Works vehicles and equipment.
Resolution approving a guardrail installation proposal from Gracie Gray Contractors, Inc. along Baker Road.
Resolution authorizing reallocation of surplus impact fees from the Adams Park baseball field lighting project to the Kennesaw Station Park Expansion project.
Resolution accepting Inspire Placemaking Collective, Inc.'s proposal for the 2027 Comprehensive Plan update.

Discussion Items

SPLOST 2028 Projects List: Assistant City Manager Marty Hughes presented the project list developed by the appointed SPLOST committee of council members and staff. The total project list is valued at $46,771,381 and reflects the city's priority needs for the next six years. The referendum is scheduled for the November 2026 general election in Cobb County. Key projects include the design and construction of a new community center ($14,000,000), a new city hall ($16,000,000), the Sardis Street extension and overpass ($10,500,000), and various road, park, and facility improvements.

Vote: The motion to approve the project list was made by Councilmember Tracey Viars and seconded by Councilmember Madelyn Orochena. The motion passed 3-2. Councilmember Jonathon Bothers and Mayor Pro Tem Antonio Jones voted nay.

Alcohol Licenses (General and Administrative): The Council considered and approved three separate alcohol license applications, each by a 5-0 vote.

Smash Hit Burgers: Retail pouring license for beer, wine, and Sunday sales at 2921 Cherokee Street NW. Located within 300 feet of a private residence and 600 feet of a public building; the Council voted to waive the distance requirements, noting the location previously held a license (The Nest). Motion by Viars, second by Gutierrez-Leon.
Las Tejitas 2 LLC: Retail pouring license for beer, wine, and Sunday sales at 2090 Baker Road Suite 504. A distance survey confirmed the business met all applicable distance requirements. Motion by Orochena, second by Bothers.
Fuego Azul Tequila LLC: Wholesale alcohol license at 3635 Kennesaw N Industrial Pkwy Suite A. Wholesalers are exempt from the standard distance requirements. Motion by Viars, second by Gutierrez-Leon.

Key Outcomes

Approved (3-2): The 2028 SPLOST project list, sending the proposed projects to Cobb County for the November 2026 referendum.

Approved (5-0): Consent Agenda items (meeting minutes, surplus, resolutions).

Approved (5-0): Alcohol license for Smash Hit Burgers (with distance requirement waivers).

Approved (5-0): Alcohol license for Las Tejitas 2 LLC.

Approved (5-0): Alcohol license for Fuego Azul Tequila LLC.

Next Meeting: The next work session is scheduled for Monday, April 13, 2026, at 6:30 PM in the Council Chambers.

Meeting Transcript