Marietta City Council Committees Meeting Summary for June 25, 2025
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Marietta City Council Committees Meeting Summary for June 25, 2025
This meeting included four committee meetings (Finance/Investments, Parks/Recreation/Tourism, Judicial/Legislative, Public Works) followed by a Special Called Council Work Session to approve tourism grants and a SPLOST update. Key actions included approval of the FY2026 tax levy ordinance (moved forward without recommendation), approval of 18 tourism grants totaling $943,170, tabling of ethics code amendments for two months, and discussion of several infrastructure projects.
Consent Calendar
- Finance/Investments Committee: Approved the May 27, 2025 meeting minutes; received and filed reports on Hotel Motel Tax (May collections: $279,223, lowest in four years), Auto Rental Tax ($12,863 for May), and Finance Update. Approved moving the FY2026 Ad Valorem Tax Levies ordinance to the July 9 council meeting without recommendation (motion by [member], seconded). Approved moving the Marietta City Schools millage rate of 17.970 mills to the July 9 meeting without recommendation (motion by [member], seconded). Approved the Tree Fund amendment (Ed Voyles Kia Ph. II) for $10,175 to consent agenda (motion by [member], seconded, no objection).
- Parks, Recreation & Tourism Committee: Approved the May 27, 2025 meeting minutes (3-0).
- Judicial/Legislative Committee: Approved the May 27, 2025 meeting minutes (3-0). Approved the motion to remove collection items from the Marietta History Center (3-0, placed on consent).
- Public Works Committee: Approved the May 27, 2025 meeting minutes (unanimous).
Public Comments & Testimony
- Tammy Parker (Buckhead Parking Enforcement): Requested an amendment to the vehicle immobilization ordinance to adjust commercial motor vehicle removal fees for inflation. The request proposed raising the fee for vehicles 10,001 to 20,000 pounds from $300 to $396 (32.24% increase) and for vehicles over 20,000 pounds from $350 to $462 (32.24% increase). The item was tabled for one month.
Discussion Items
- Hotel Motel Tax & Auto Rental Tax (Finance): Director reported that April operations (collected in May) generated $279,223 in hotel/motel tax, the lowest in four years, projecting to end the fiscal year about $100,000 under the $3.839 million budget. Auto rental tax collections are above budget, offsetting the shortfall. Discussion attributed the decline to one hotel not operating and another losing its alcohol license.
- FY2026 Ad Valorem Tax Levies (Finance): Staff noted the millage rate remains unchanged for the 24th consecutive year, but due to increased property values, a tax increase advertisement is required. Proposed assessments include a freeze on residential owner-occupied properties. Hearings scheduled for July 2 and July 9.
- Marietta City Schools Millage Rate (Finance): Proposed millage rate of 17.970 mills, same as prior year. Staff confirmed the school board had met hearing requirements.
- Tree Fund (Ed Voyles Kia Ph. II): A $10,175 payment to the Tree Replacement Fund in lieu of meeting tree requirements at 2145 Cobb Parkway South.
- 2009 Parks Bond Report (Parks): Staff reported an additional $883.45 in interest, leaving an uncommitted balance of $105,548. Westy Park construction is moving forward with a qualified bidder; playground equipment proposals are due soon. Filming activity on the square and Cleburn Avenue was completed without issues.
- FY2026 Tourism Grants (Parks & Special Called Council): The committee and full council approved 18 grants totaling $943,170, plus $450,867 for the Marietta Visitors Bureau, Welcome Center lease, and city staff marketing. Council Member Goldstein disclosed multiple conflicts (board member of Marietta Visitors Bureau, family property interests) and recused from votes on related grants. Council Member Kent disclosed membership in NAACP and Zion Baptist Church (which owns Old Zion Heritage Museum). Council member Grif Chalfant expressed concern that the Georgia Symphony Orchestra's grant ($24,000) was low relative to their $95,000 request and 75th anniversary; after discussion, the amount remained at $24,000. The council also approved a mid-year review in December for special project requests.
- Detailed Plan - Kennesaw Battle Townhomes (Judicial/Legislative): Approved with amendments: four-foot fence with padding around pickleball court (instead of proposed three-foot) and a stipulation of no lighting on the court. Council Member Kent requested an HOA covenant preventing future lighting without council approval.
- Road Races/Walks Code Changes (Judicial/Legislative): Discussed draft amendments to Chapter 9-8. Changes include: codifying an 8 a.m. start time (races must end by 11 a.m.), limiting to one parade per day (city manager may allow more), and adding a requirement that races have a specific nexus to Marietta. Council requested staff bring back a recommendation on fee adjustments (currently $3,500 for 5K or less, $4,500 for 10K or less) and clarify definitions. Moved to work session awaiting changes.
- Ethics Code Amendments (Judicial/Legislative): Tabled for not more than two months. Council Member Richardson expressed concerns about removal of definitions (e.g., "substantial interest"), inclusion of "constructive knowledge" standard, use of bribery statute instead of gift acceptance statute, removal of harassment provisions, and removal of consent agenda voting rules. She submitted four pages of comments. Council member Grif Chalfant questioned whether penalties (reprimand) are sufficient. The ethics committee will review feedback and meet.
- Ethics Committee Rules and Procedures (Judicial/Legislative): Tabled in tandem with code amendments.
- Ethics Committee Complaint Form (Judicial/Legislative): Tabled in tandem with code amendments.
- 2016 SPLOST TIP Summary (Public Works): Staff reported the Rottenwood Creek project bids extended to mid-July.
- 2022 SPLOST TIP Summary (Public Works): Staff updated on Whitlock Drive intersection (bidding July), Roswell Street sidewalk (ahead of schedule for July 4 parade), White Avenue sidewalk (bidding soon), Mountain View Ridge widening (utility issues ongoing), Kennesaw State signal improvements (completed), and Merritt Road Landfill (complete).
- June 2025 Public Works Departmental Performance Report: Noted reductions in street sweeping (1.1 miles) and pothole repairs due to rain. Drew attention to the Fairground Street Gate project ribbon cutting on Friday at 10 a.m. at Fairground/Haley intersection.
- SPLOST Update (Special Called Work Session): Mayor reported county's plan for a 2028 six-year SPLOST, estimated at $950 million (up from $750 million). Population-based distribution will use July 1, 2025 estimates. City's list of projects totals ~$165 million; projected city share is ~$70-75 million. Staff will present to council once county provides final number, likely in August/September.
- Executive Session (Special Called Work Session): Motion to go into executive session for legal advice and property acquisition (seconded).
Key Outcomes
- Finance/Investments Committee: Moved FY2026 Ad Valorem Tax Levies and Marietta City Schools millage rate to full council (without recommendation). Item 20250511 and 20250512 received and filed. Tree Fund amendment approved for consent.
- Parks, Recreation & Tourism Committee: Approved total tourism grants of $943,170 (3-0) and individual amounts as listed (3-0). Approved Welcome Center contract (3-0).
- Special Called Council: Approved tourism grants lump sum ($943,170) (5-1, 1 abstaining). Approved individual grant amounts (5-1, 1 abstaining). Approved $450,867 for Visitors Bureau, Welcome Center lease, and staff marketing (6-0, 1 abstaining). Approved Welcome Center contract (5-1, 1 abstaining). Approved December relook for special projects (5-1, 1 abstaining).
- Judicial/Legislative Committee: Approved Kennesaw Battle Townhomes detailed plan (3-0) with four-foot fence and no lighting. Tabled vehicle immobilization ordinance for one month. Tabled ethics code, rules, and complaint form for not more than two months. Moved road races/walks code changes to work session with staff revisions.
- Public Works Committee: Received and filed all reports. Added SPLOST update to agenda by motion.
- Special Called Work Session: Voted to enter executive session.
Meeting Transcript
I'd like to call the finance committee uh meeting to order. The first order on the agenda is approval of the meeting minutes for May 27, 2025. Make a motion to approve. Second. Motion is made and uh second. All those in favor are to prove the next items we'll take in uh I guess in JavaScript motel tax, auto rental tax, and something good evening, Chairman Council. Um the first item that I have is the hotel motel tax. Um the collections for the month of May for April um operations was 279,223 cents. This is the lowest that we've seen in the last four years. We have seen a downward trend in our hotel motel collections. Um month of um April uh for payment in May is one of the higher months that we typically see. Um we're hoping that um next month we'll kind of rebound and um that will um potentially get us um just shy of our projections for the fiscal year. Um we had a budget of 3.8 um 39 million, and um at this point, as you can see we're at 3.4 uh with the uh collections for potential collections for next month that should get us approximately 100,000 shy of the overall budget. Taking a look at the um three percent auto. Uh although we were short in hotel motel for auto rental, we have um over collected uh to budget for auto rental for the fiscal year, so that has um offset our shortage overall for the um local tourism, and so we have been able to um have ample amount to pay out for the projected um local tourism and for our overall um collections for the fiscal year. So we ended up for the month at I'm sorry, it was 120 um 12863 for the for the um for the month, which is a little bit um shy of last month but on par the last item um I have is the finance update, and I'm happy to say that um we have leveled out. Um we have made um corrections throughout the year, some adjustments in order to ensure that um we uh have a positive turnout for the end of the fiscal year. Um and of course, we we have talked about um some of the adjustments that we made um over the last few months, so nothing major has changed um for the last period. Uh we did have uptick um with our um collections and business license due to the um March 31st deadline and then our ability to collect on delinquencies. So we have um been in the field in there. Uh the collections for um the sanitation and for the building permits were already on the upswing from a commercial standpoint, so we're looking good for the end of the year. And that is my report for those three items. The uh back on the hotel motel, the lower number, do we know the re outside of just being slow? Is there any other reason for that? Was there a miscollection or something? There wasn't a missed collection from what I um can tell. There is um hotel one that still is not being um that's not up and running, um, is in transition, and then there was another one that um went down. Um it was uh still operating, but the alcohol was not um the alcohol license was not renewed, and so that seemed to have slowed down some of their um uh reservations for that based on what they have let us know. Other than that, um we haven't been able to see anything major or significant in the um collections uh on any any individual hotel. Okay, thank you. Not um the alcohol license was not renewed and so that seemed to have slowed down some of their um uh reservations for that based on what they have let us know other than that um we haven't been able to see anything major significant in the um collections uh on any any individual hotel okay thank you to like a motion yeah make a motion to receive and file second uh motion is made and second follow those in favor passes the next item is the ordinance for file adoption of the FY2 2026 ad millerium tax levies so yes this is um the 2026 millage 2025 millage rate um for our tax collections um they are the same as they have been for the last 24 years um we did um we will have to um advertise a increase so you'll see that advertisement come out um per the state because we will have more revenue come in but the actual millage rate itself is the same as it has been so there is no increase there um a few questions just make sure the for our general fund millage rate that's still uh um is equal to what we provided as the estimated rollback rate earlier this year so we don't have to provide any other any additional thing on the tax that's correct we don't have to have that additional language on there which is a good point and uh and we do have a superior uh freeze on residential property that's owner occupied than uh what the stated put forward so uh our individuals get you know that total amount frozen until they sell their property so that stays good and uh the hearings go along with the um we have those scheduled on out and will be done before july 9th yes sir so um well it will be done as of July 9th we have um advertisement that ran uh yesterday for next week's um hearing which will be july 2nd we'll have two hearings on that date um at 9 a.m here in council chambers as well as 6 p.m. we will also have a the second um advertisement that will run for the following week um we have a hearing schedule for july 9th and that will take place at 9 a.m in preparation to have met all of the requirements um prior to the um council meeting the evening of july 9th do the hearings probably better just move this forward to the council meeting then without the recommendation so the hearings can happen yes sir I make a motion to move this forward to the Wednesday July 9th council meeting without recommendation second motion is made and second all those in favor raise your okay motion passes the next item is a Marietta school millage rate yes sir so um as part of our charter um we will have to vote on the uh millage rate for the school board their school board um will have met um voted on the recommendations for the um millage rate they have uh previously submitted um recommendations to the county um they will also um have met the hearing requirements that we are subject to as well so they will have their three hearings in advance of the July 9th council meeting in which we will ask the council to vote on and um review the millage rate of 17.97 and that is the same millage rate as prior year okay uh motion um the same motion as the previous one uh make a motion to move this forward to the Wednesday july ninth meeting without recommendation second motion is made and second all those in favor and the last item is the uh refunds to phase two yes sir so the last one is um the tree fund um and this is a contribution to the tree fund on behalf of um ed bullskia they are um this will be in lieu of uh planting the meeting the tree requirements there is an attachment um mapping out uh the locations for the tree and it gives um a little bit of background in regards to the landscaping the amount to be contributed is ten thousand one hundred and seventy five dollars and we ask that um council review and appropriate allow for appropriation for the development for the 2145 parkway south questions There is an attachment mapping out the locations for the tree, and it gives um a little bit of background in regards to the landscaping. The amount to be contributed is 10,175. And we asked that it um council review and appropriate allow for appropriation for the development for the 2145 parkway south. Um I'll make a motion to approve and move this forward to the one say agenda. Motion is made in the second, all those in favor. No objection to consent. No objection. No objection. That's all no order business to come before the finance committee. We adjourned. Okay. I call to order the uh parks recreation and tourism committee. Uh first order of business is to um approve the minutes from May 27th. Make a motion to approve. Okay. It's been uh moved and seconded. All in favor? Aye.
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