OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Marietta City Council Committee Meetings and Special Called Meeting - April 29, 2025

City Council Archive View — Tuesday, April 29, 2025
BodyMarietta, Georgia
SessionCity Council Archive View
DateTuesday, April 29, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 1:29:52

Transcript — Verbatim
0:01

I'd like to call the city council special call meeting to order, please.

0:06

First item of business, Mr.

0:08

Bootin, if y'all will present.

0:10

Yes, sir.

0:11

I've got uh actually Patina here with me.

0:13

Um we've got uh an interesting situation where uh the new law that was passed with H B 92 um requires a little bit different process that we've done before as far as setting the millage uh for the city and the county uh and and everybody else in the state.

0:31

And uh we just had a very quick call between GMA and HCCG where they put out so told everybody that we need to do it a little different than what everybody thought, and here's what you need to do.

0:42

And so that necessitated this special call and special calls all over the state that people are having to do, which we thought initially we could just supply to the county our normal uh millage rate and say use that when you're putting out that notice of assessment that they do that everybody gets, and it's usually off a little bit, not because of what they do, but because of just how you figure the exemptions and everything in with the homestead freeze.

1:08

Um and so they do everything right, but it just always gets people worried when they look at it.

1:13

Well, the notice is going to be different this time, and that it's not gonna actually compute your estimated tax.

1:21

It's instead that's if you set if you go ahead and set an estimated millage, and we do that tonight, we can supply it to them in time, and then what'll show up is what will show up all across the state, which will be your assessed values plus you know the 40% the valuation that you look at, and then it'll show exemptions, and then it's gonna show an estimated millage that the government is saying.

1:46

It is not gonna compute that and say this is what we think your tax will be, which they used to do.

1:52

Um so it'll just show that instead.

1:54

So each one of the, and then obviously we'll go through the regular budget process, and then the council will set the millage, and we'll still have to go through those three public hearings uh like we've had to do uh before, and we will have to run those ads in the paper that say you know your taxes being increased because the the millage was not decreased, uh, but we'll you know have our ads that'll say the opposite, which is that um you know the taxes have not been increased for 23 years and they're still not being increased because you have a homestead freeze if you own the property and you're uh living in it uh on that.

2:30

Um so basically we have to in front of you we see a general fund estimated millage, um, which we would um ask the council set that as an estimated millage, and then in a strange uh situation, um we also have to uh go in and set the school uh one.

2:50

The uh you know that normally every year we have to approve the school millage uh going forward uh because of the relationship between the city and school system.

3:00

Uh and so the school has given us an email uh that they sent to Bettina, and uh that says that they would like theirs to be set at 17.970 mills.

3:13

And so our current is uh, and that's their current correct yeah.

3:18

And so our current is 2.788.

3:21

Um so if this is what happens with the bill itself when the bill is actually printed, um, if the actual millage that the government imposes with the bill is equal to or less than what we give the county now, and the school district gives the county now, then there's no notice on the bill.

3:42

It just goes out as here's your tax.

3:45

Um if the government goes back and actually imposes a millage, which is more than what we gave the county originally to put out to the public, then there has to be a notice on the bill that says that basically this is above what was estimated, and it's gonna it's a tax increase because a millage increase.

4:06

Um there will have to be some language, um, which I'll let Tina explain as far as with the school system uh because of the way that it works with them.

4:16

So that's gonna have to actually go on the bill.

4:18

Correct.

4:19

So with the school board, um, since they opted out of the HB 581, and they did not they do not currently have a homestead exemption that matches the state or exceeds the state.

4:34

There will be verbiage on the bill that will indicate that they chose not to opt out and provide a telephone number for um taxpayers to contact the school board if they have questions in regards to why they chose not to opt out or chose not to provide a um exemption as it pertains to the school board millage.

5:00

The City of Marietta, because we do their billing, of course, it'll include it on our bills, but it will specify they have asked for the verbiage to read Board of Education of the City of Marietta.

5:16

And then it will go on to include the state required verbiage, says that they chose to opt out and provide a um telephone number for that.

5:26

And so that is what we will have to provide in bold on the tax bills for this particular tax year.

5:35

Well, you said not to opt out.

5:40

They chose to opt out of it.

5:42

They opted out.

5:43

Yes.

5:44

We we opted out, of course, as well, but because we opted out with a um exemption already in place, we do not have to include the verbiage.

5:56

Okay.

5:56

Right.

5:57

As we've said, ours is better than the state uh option that they put out to everyone.

6:02

So our citizens are still going to get a better deal than anybody else in the state.

6:05

Correct.

6:06

Uh by using the existing one we've had in place since the early 2000s.

6:15

And a small question, if I think the school board is considering about the unlimited acreage.

6:26

Oh, okay.

6:29

Could they raise their millage and go to unlimited millage with without a problem?

6:37

Well, they still could.

6:39

Um what a tax increase because it needed.

6:44

Yeah, they'd have to but one's very Pacific, but still a tax is a tax.

6:49

Right.

6:49

And so I I hate to say it that way, but it they're gonna already have to put that on the bill saying that it's gonna be a tax increase because they did they did opt out.

6:57

So even if they decided to go more eventually, it still would say it's a tax increase on the bills.

7:04

Correct.

7:04

And so for through 2027, um each year they'll have between now and the um December of 2027, they'll have um to choose whether to continue to um opt out without an exemption or they have the option of opting in.

7:25

They don't have to do it one time.

7:27

Um if they choose to continue to opt out, they will have to go through the three hearings and um make a make it um a public hearing for the uh citizens saying that they continue to opt out and choose not to um utilize the exemption available through the state.

7:52

So but because we have opted out, we do not have to um go through that process again, but we this certification is becoming part of the process, so we will have to do it annually.

8:15

So if um if anybody wanted to make a motion, it could be you know the first one being the general fund estimated millage.

8:23

Um and that number that we currently have is two point seven eight eight.

8:29

You don't have to include bonds?

8:31

Actually, bonds are excluded.

8:33

Yes.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Taxation█████████████13%
Business License███████████11%
Zoning and Land Use██████████10%
Procedural█████████9%
Easement Management█████████9%
Public Safety████████8%
Budget Equity Analysis██████6%
Parks and Recreation██████6%
Fiscal Sustainability████4%
Summary of Proceedings

Marietta City Council Committee Meetings and Special Called Meeting - April 29, 2025

The City of Marietta held a series of committee meetings and a special called council meeting on April 29, 2025, beginning with a Special Called Council Meeting to address estimated millage rates under new state legislation, followed by the Finance/Investments, Parks/Recreation/Tourism, Judicial/Legislative, and Public Works Committees, and concluding with a Work Session and Executive Session. Key actions included setting estimated millage rates, forwarding development proposals, approving utility variances, and discussing an alcohol license expansion for Six Flags Whitewater.

Special Called Council Meeting

  • The council set the estimated rollback millage rate for the General Fund for FY2026 at 2.788 mills (motion passed 7-0). The estimated rollback millage rate for Marietta City Schools was set at 17.970 mills (motion passed 7-0). These rates will be provided to the Cobb County Tax Assessor’s office as required by HB 92.
  • Staff explained that because the City of Marietta opted out of HB 581 with its own homestead exemption (which exceeds the state option), no additional disclaimer is required on tax bills. However, the school board, which opted out without an equivalent exemption, will have a required disclaimer including a contact number.
  • Discussion highlighted that the City has not raised property taxes in 23 years and that the estimated millage rate may be adjusted during the regular budget process, which includes three public hearings.

Finance/Investments Committee

Minutes and Reports

  • Approved minutes from March 27, 2025 (3-0).
  • Hotel/Motel Tax (March 2025): Revenue was $274,401, just below March 2023’s high of $309,584. One payment pending (~$5,500) is expected next month.
  • Auto Rental Tax (March 2025): Monthly collections were below the forecasted distribution for the third month this fiscal year, but reserves from prior months keep the fiscal year-to-date above forecast. Year-to-date revenue ($1.035M) is in line with last year ($1.034M).
  • Quarterly Financial Report (Q3 FY2025): General fund revenues year-to-date: $66.7M (81% of adjusted budget). Expenditures: $60.1M (73% of budget), resulting in a $6M surplus over expenditures. Operating encumbrances: $1.5M (vs. $300K last year). Capital expenditures increased due to rollover vehicle purchases ($2.197M). Golf fund is $80,000 short of break-even, typical for this time of year; a $300K transfer to the general fund is budgeted.

Alcohol License Discussion – Six Flags Whitewater

  • This was a discussion-only item. Six Flags Whitewater (250 Cobb Parkway North) requested to expand beer and wine sales from one existing location (J&B’s Smokehouse) to two additional locations within the park, allowing patrons to carry alcohol throughout the interior (excluding pools, rides, and parking lot). The request does not include liquor.
  • The applicant stated that security measures include wristbands, TIPS-trained servers, on-site security, and at least two Marietta Police officers. Alcohol has been served at the park since 2016 with no reported alcohol-related incidents.
  • Staff noted that because the entire property is one contiguous, fenced premise under single ownership, the state now defines it as one premises, so a single license can cover multiple points of sale. This differs from a 2016 request that sought a zoning ordinance change, which council did not approve. No motion was needed.

Parks, Recreation and Tourism Committee

Minutes and Reports

  • Approved minutes from March 27, 2025 (3-0).
  • 2009 Parks Bond Report: Received $1,000 in interest (total allocated balance ~$104,000). Bid documents for the West Dixie restroom at Wildwood Park are being advertised; 6-month construction timeline expected once started.
  • Recreation Facilities Quarterly Report (Q3 FY2025):
    • Custer Park Sports & Fitness Center: 4,444 attendees; gross revenue $178,771 (up from ~$108,000 in Q3 FY2024).
    • Elizabeth Porter Park Spray Ground: Closed for season; opening May 2. All weekday rental periods and Monday private rentals are sold out through August.
    • Franklin Gateway Sports Complex: 47,000 participants in the quarter; soccer rentals accounted for 42,000. Year-to-date gross revenue $337,645, tracking in line with FY2023 ($335,449) and FY2022 ($342,610).
    • Youth basketball: 269 players (up from 242). Summer camp capacity increased to 360 campers (from 240).

Judicial/Legislative Committee

Minutes and Reports

  • Approved minutes from March 27, 2025 (3-0).
  • Code Amendment – Advertising Period for Quasi-Judicial Decisions: Authorized staff to advertise an ordinance amendment to change the advertising period from a minimum of 30 days back to not less than 15 days and no more than 45 days, in response to HB 155 (not yet signed by the governor). Effective date targeted July 1, 2025. Motion passed 3-0.
  • Preliminary Plat – Highvale: Forwarded to the agenda work session for final approval. The request is for 23 single-family detached homes on 11.5 acres (from 17 acres total), with one existing home retained on 5.43 acres, off Colston and Breckinridge Roads (zoned R-2). Staff identified sanitary sewer issues that the developer is resolving with Marietta Water. Motion passed 3-0.
  • Detailed Plan – Kennesaw Battle: Forwarded to the agenda work session for final approval. The request is for a 20-unit townhome development at Tower Road and James Street (rezoned July 2024). Changes from the previous plan include a relocated stormwater facility, two internal streets instead of one, and guest parking facing Tower Road. Issues include road improvements on James Street (county road) and ADA-accessible sidewalks. Motion passed 3-0.

Public Works Committee

Minutes and Reports

  • Approved minutes from March 27, 2025 (3-0).
  • 2016 SPLOST TIP Summary: Waiting on bids for the Rottenwood Creek project.
  • 2022 SPLOST TIP Summary: Roswell Street four-lane gap project out to bid (due next week); Mountain View Ridge road improvement bids received and under evaluation; Mountain to River Trail Gap funding sources still being explored.
  • Public Works Departmental Performance Report (March 2025): Slight uptick in permits, valuations, and inspections. Sanitation and streets steady.
  • Kirkpatrick Drive Utilities Variance: Approved motion allowing Comcast Communications to overlas fiber on existing fiber for 165 feet from 31 Kirkpatrick Drive to pole at 553 Whitlock Avenue (Ward 3A). No new poles. Motion passed without objection.
  • Barrett Parkway Utilities Variance: Approved motion allowing Comcast to overlas fiber for 298 feet from 800 Village Greene to 801 Village Greene (Ward 4C). No new poles. Motion passed without objection.
  • Donation of Right-of-Way – 210 Cobb Parkway South: Approved quitclaim deed from Marietta Center LLC for 1,467 square feet for stormwater improvements at Lake Dodd and Claymore Street (Ward 1A). Motion passed without objection.
  • Donation of Right-of-Way – 50 Powers Ferry Road: Approved quitclaim deed from Accent Marietta Atlanta LP for 795 square feet to correct sidewalk right-of-way location (Ward 7A). Motion passed without objection.
  • Cole Street Speed Study: Approved request by Council Member Kent to conduct a speed study on Cole Street from Lemon Street to North Marietta Parkway (1,264 feet, 25 mph limit, Ward 5A) to determine if traffic calming is needed. Motion passed without objection.

Special Called Council Meeting Work Session

  • Approved minutes from March 27, 2025 (3-0).
  • A motion was made to go into Executive Session to consult with legal counsel regarding a contract issue (citing Title 50). The motion passed with one abstention. No further business was conducted in open session.

Key Outcomes

  • Estimated millage rates set: General Fund 2.788 mills; School Fund 17.970 mills (both 7-0).
  • Advertising authorized for code amendment reducing advertising period to 15-45 days (3-0).
  • Highvale preliminary plat and Kennesaw Battle detailed plan forwarded to agenda work session (both 3-0).
  • Comcast fiber overlashes approved for Kirkpatrick Drive and Barrett Parkway (no objections).
  • Right-of-way donations accepted for 210 Cobb Parkway South and 50 Powers Ferry Road (no objections).
  • Speed study approved for Cole Street (no objections).
  • Executive session authorized (passed with one abstention).

Meeting Transcript

I'd like to call the city council special call meeting to order, please. First item of business, Mr. Bootin, if y'all will present. Yes, sir. I've got uh actually Patina here with me. Um we've got uh an interesting situation where uh the new law that was passed with H B 92 um requires a little bit different process that we've done before as far as setting the millage uh for the city and the county uh and and everybody else in the state. And uh we just had a very quick call between GMA and HCCG where they put out so told everybody that we need to do it a little different than what everybody thought, and here's what you need to do. And so that necessitated this special call and special calls all over the state that people are having to do, which we thought initially we could just supply to the county our normal uh millage rate and say use that when you're putting out that notice of assessment that they do that everybody gets, and it's usually off a little bit, not because of what they do, but because of just how you figure the exemptions and everything in with the homestead freeze. Um and so they do everything right, but it just always gets people worried when they look at it. Well, the notice is going to be different this time, and that it's not gonna actually compute your estimated tax. It's instead that's if you set if you go ahead and set an estimated millage, and we do that tonight, we can supply it to them in time, and then what'll show up is what will show up all across the state, which will be your assessed values plus you know the 40% the valuation that you look at, and then it'll show exemptions, and then it's gonna show an estimated millage that the government is saying. It is not gonna compute that and say this is what we think your tax will be, which they used to do. Um so it'll just show that instead. So each one of the, and then obviously we'll go through the regular budget process, and then the council will set the millage, and we'll still have to go through those three public hearings uh like we've had to do uh before, and we will have to run those ads in the paper that say you know your taxes being increased because the the millage was not decreased, uh, but we'll you know have our ads that'll say the opposite, which is that um you know the taxes have not been increased for 23 years and they're still not being increased because you have a homestead freeze if you own the property and you're uh living in it uh on that. Um so basically we have to in front of you we see a general fund estimated millage, um, which we would um ask the council set that as an estimated millage, and then in a strange uh situation, um we also have to uh go in and set the school uh one. The uh you know that normally every year we have to approve the school millage uh going forward uh because of the relationship between the city and school system. Uh and so the school has given us an email uh that they sent to Bettina, and uh that says that they would like theirs to be set at 17.970 mills. And so our current is uh, and that's their current correct yeah. And so our current is 2.788. Um so if this is what happens with the bill itself when the bill is actually printed, um, if the actual millage that the government imposes with the bill is equal to or less than what we give the county now, and the school district gives the county now, then there's no notice on the bill. It just goes out as here's your tax. Um if the government goes back and actually imposes a millage, which is more than what we gave the county originally to put out to the public, then there has to be a notice on the bill that says that basically this is above what was estimated, and it's gonna it's a tax increase because a millage increase. Um there will have to be some language, um, which I'll let Tina explain as far as with the school system uh because of the way that it works with them. So that's gonna have to actually go on the bill. Correct. So with the school board, um, since they opted out of the HB 581, and they did not they do not currently have a homestead exemption that matches the state or exceeds the state. There will be verbiage on the bill that will indicate that they chose not to opt out and provide a telephone number for um taxpayers to contact the school board if they have questions in regards to why they chose not to opt out or chose not to provide a um exemption as it pertains to the school board millage. The City of Marietta, because we do their billing, of course, it'll include it on our bills, but it will specify they have asked for the verbiage to read Board of Education of the City of Marietta. And then it will go on to include the state required verbiage, says that they chose to opt out and provide a um telephone number for that. And so that is what we will have to provide in bold on the tax bills for this particular tax year. Well, you said not to opt out. They chose to opt out of it. They opted out. Yes. We we opted out, of course, as well, but because we opted out with a um exemption already in place, we do not have to include the verbiage. Okay. Right. As we've said, ours is better than the state uh option that they put out to everyone. So our citizens are still going to get a better deal than anybody else in the state. Correct. Uh by using the existing one we've had in place since the early 2000s. And a small question, if I think the school board is considering about the unlimited acreage. Oh, okay. Could they raise their millage and go to unlimited millage with without a problem? Well, they still could. Um what a tax increase because it needed. Yeah, they'd have to but one's very Pacific, but still a tax is a tax. Right. And so I I hate to say it that way, but it they're gonna already have to put that on the bill saying that it's gonna be a tax increase because they did they did opt out. So even if they decided to go more eventually, it still would say it's a tax increase on the bills.

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