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Record of Proceedings

City Council Agenda Review Session, May 14, 2025

City Council Archive View — Wednesday, May 14, 2025
BodyMarietta, Georgia
SessionCity Council Archive View
DateWednesday, May 14, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 41:17

Original source
Transcript — VerbatimClick a timed line to jump · ⧉ to share it
0:02

I'm about to call the City Council agenda review session to order, please.

0:06

First item is approval of the April tonight, 2025 regular meeting minutes.

0:12

Make a motion to approve.

0:13

Second.

0:17

Is anybody on the Harlow?

0:22

Councilman can't.

0:24

He's on the phone.

0:31

All that is join our colleague, please raise your right hand.

0:36

Motion carries 5-0.

0:38

And uh even though the three empty chairs, we we do have a quorum.

0:44

A quorum for us is four councilmen and a mayor.

0:47

Or plus the mayor.

0:48

Yep.

0:49

Uh it.

0:51

And then no call outs in it, it wouldn't count because you can't count toward quorum.

0:56

He could vote, but it can't count quarter quorum.

0:58

But you have one now, so that's good.

1:00

Correct.

1:02

If each one of us five agrees to stay in our seats, we can continue to have a meeting.

1:09

City Council agenda review.

1:13

You'll need to unlock your iPhone first.

1:20

Artificial intelligence is smarter than I.

1:31

Rabbi Adler is going to give the indication.

1:34

Yes, sir.

1:36

And then the presentation, Mr.

1:40

Same format you're going to do it and yes, sir.

1:43

We'll start that off, and then you and I can give them their graduation certificates.

1:47

And I think we've got five of them this time that would like to say a few comments.

1:51

They enjoyed it so much.

1:54

Nice.

2:01

It's a shame they had to come to see the council work after the happy with the way the city operates.

2:09

Ben and Safety Month, Andy, you you gonna give that proclamation?

2:15

Is it down there?

2:18

I'll be glad to.

2:21

Definitely is a proclamation.

2:22

Stephanie, there's a proclamation.

2:24

Yes, it is.

2:26

Okay.

2:34

I don't know who's coming from the mayor of the house coup.

2:37

They they got saluted last night at the Board of Education, but because we do it, I think they they do it quicker now.

2:44

Oh yeah.

2:48

Mr.

2:48

Mason is a state championship, and that's we we've got one of the mothers here, so she can accept it if you know nobody else.

2:55

Oh, they're coming.

2:56

Okay.

2:58

They were very excited to um get over uh recognition on the city.

3:02

Wonderful.

3:04

Good.

3:05

They will run and not be weary as uh Isaiah says.

3:18

Houston.

3:21

Okay.

3:27

No scheduled appearances.

3:29

No, sir.

3:31

Like to leave the regular meeting, April 9th and April April 9th, regular meeting on the consent.

3:37

No objection.

3:38

Special officer will remain on consent.

3:41

No objection.

3:42

No objection.

3:43

No objection.

3:47

Um Christopher Round, leave him on consent.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Procedural██████████████████████████████████34%
Public Safety██████████████14%
Technology and Innovation█████████████13%
Zoning and Land Use███████████11%
Parks and Recreation████████8%
Engineering And Infrastructure█████5%
Arts And Culture█████5%
Community Engagement█████5%
Personnel Matters███3%
Summary of Proceedings

Marietta City Council Agenda Review Session - May 14, 2025

The Marietta City Council held its Agenda Review Session on Wednesday, May 14, 2025, at 6:00 PM in the Council Chamber. The session was called to order by Mayor R. Steve Tumlin. Council members present included Cheryl Richardson (Ward 1), Grif Chalfant (Ward 2), Johnny Walker (Ward 3), Andy Morris (Ward 4), M. Carlyle Kent (Ward 5), Andre L. Sims (Ward 6), and Joseph R. Goldstein (Ward 7). Three council members were absent but a quorum was maintained with five members and the mayor. The session covered approval of prior minutes, review of the upcoming regular meeting agenda, and departmental updates, concluding with an executive session on legal matters.

Consent Calendar

  • Approved the minutes of the April 9, 2025, regular meeting by a vote of 5-0.
  • Approved consent items for the May 14 regular meeting, including: scheduling of the regular meeting minutes approval on consent, retaining Special Officer Christopher Round on consent, appointments, and various items listed on the agenda without objection. Specific items included:
    • 1016 Wetlock Avenue public hearing left on consent.
    • Items on pages 4, 5, and 7 grouped on consent with no objections.
    • Easements and BOW actions placed on consent without objection.
  • For 1810 Williams Drive, the council agreed to table the item and place it on consent to table.
  • For 1912 Royal Ross, the applicant requested a table to a future meeting; the council amended the motion to table and placed it on consent to table (no objection).

Discussion Items

  • 1016 Wetlock Avenue (Public Hearing): The applicant, represented by Colby Henson, provided new materials including elevations for sides and rear, and a revised landscape plan converting the tennis court into a pickleball court with a 3-foot-high black vinyl coated chain link fence and hedge trees, with no lighting. Staff confirmed the road improvements would be handled by the developer in coordination with public works and the county; the rest of the road is private. Power lines will be buried. Sidewalks were not included. The council discussed the plan and noted staff needed additional time to review the revised landscape plan.
  • 1912 Royal Ross: The representative Parks Huff requested a table to a future meeting. The council amended the motion to table and placed it on consent to table.
  • Departmental Updates:
    • Human Resources: Announced upcoming events: skin cancer screening (May 22), retirement plan session (May 29). Ronnie Barrett reported on legislative status: Governor has until midnight to act on bills; roughly 100 bills signed so far. He noted the bill making Brunswick stew the official state stew was signed.
    • Information Technology: Discussed concerns about Chinese-linked devices in solar panels and other IoT devices that could communicate back to China and potentially compromise the electrical grid. The city has banned Chinese-made drones. A cybersecurity project with Georgia Tech (funded by DOE for 3 years, year 1 underway) aims to authenticate software updates and detect rogue updates. Also discussed a bill to allow digital driver's licenses by 2027, which would require officer education on validation.
    • Police: Reported on training: hosted two advanced POST classes (officer survival and advanced firearms); sent three patrol officers and a sergeant to the National Law Enforcement Memorial in Washington, D.C. to honor fallen officer Harvey Adams. The North Central Georgia Law Enforcement Academy in Austell is closing at the end of June, prompting a search for alternative academy locations for recruits.
    • Fire: Recruit class graduation scheduled for May 15; several promotions including Jason Garner to Assistant Chief/Fire Marshal. Noted social media engagement: a video of rescuing birds from a storm drain went viral.
    • Parks and Recreation: Upcoming events: brownbag lunch concerts on consecutive Thursdays in May; Friday night concert on May 30 (Canyon Lamb Band); Juneteenth celebration June 13-15. Last day for individual parade entry applications is May 30. Also mentioned filming productions: "The Good Daughter" TV series at First Baptist Church; "Santa Maria" (about John Madden) filming at Brandy's with Christian Bale and Nicolas Cage.
    • Public Works: Announced Roswell Street four-lane gap project beginning May 19; Lake Dodd drainage improvement project completed; Merit Road Landfill project ongoing. May is Building Safety Month; next week is Public Works Week, with an employee awards luncheon on May 21.
  • Videos and Announcements:
    • Marietta was named the #1 most generous city in the United States by GoFundMe for the third time (sixth consecutive year in top three). The company will participate in the May 30 concert with giveaways and donation opportunities for nonprofits.
    • Showed three videos: Marietta Trail video (60,000 views in a week); Public Works Week introduction video (series spotlighting each division); and a video honoring Ronnie Barrett for being named one of Government Technology Magazine's Top 25 Doers, Dreamers, and Drivers for 2025.
    • Mayor announced the opening of a private-public park on Church Street adjacent to the railroad tracks, with a ribbon cutting.

Key Outcomes

  • Approved April 9, 2025, meeting minutes (5-0).
  • All consent agenda items approved without objection.
  • Item 1016 Wetlock Avenue left on consent with staff to continue review of revised plans.
  • Items 1810 Williams Drive and 1912 Royal Ross tabled and placed on consent.
  • Council entered executive session to discuss legal, personnel, and real estate matters.

Meeting Transcript

I'm about to call the City Council agenda review session to order, please. First item is approval of the April tonight, 2025 regular meeting minutes. Make a motion to approve. Second. Is anybody on the Harlow? Councilman can't. He's on the phone. All that is join our colleague, please raise your right hand. Motion carries 5-0. And uh even though the three empty chairs, we we do have a quorum. A quorum for us is four councilmen and a mayor. Or plus the mayor. Yep. Uh it. And then no call outs in it, it wouldn't count because you can't count toward quorum. He could vote, but it can't count quarter quorum. But you have one now, so that's good. Correct. If each one of us five agrees to stay in our seats, we can continue to have a meeting. City Council agenda review. You'll need to unlock your iPhone first. Artificial intelligence is smarter than I. Rabbi Adler is going to give the indication. Yes, sir. And then the presentation, Mr. Same format you're going to do it and yes, sir. We'll start that off, and then you and I can give them their graduation certificates. And I think we've got five of them this time that would like to say a few comments. They enjoyed it so much. Nice. It's a shame they had to come to see the council work after the happy with the way the city operates. Ben and Safety Month, Andy, you you gonna give that proclamation? Is it down there? I'll be glad to. Definitely is a proclamation. Stephanie, there's a proclamation. Yes, it is. Okay. I don't know who's coming from the mayor of the house coup. They they got saluted last night at the Board of Education, but because we do it, I think they they do it quicker now. Oh yeah. Mr. Mason is a state championship, and that's we we've got one of the mothers here, so she can accept it if you know nobody else. Oh, they're coming. Okay. They were very excited to um get over uh recognition on the city. Wonderful. Good. They will run and not be weary as uh Isaiah says. Houston.

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