City Council Agenda Review - August 13, 2025
City Council Agenda Review – August 13, 2025
The Marietta City Council convened on Wednesday, August 13, 2025, at 6:00 PM for an agenda review session prior to the regular meeting. The council approved the July 9, 2025 meeting minutes, discussed several agenda items including a proposed ethics code amendment, heard departmental updates, and held an executive session for legal matters. No public comments were made.
Consent Calendar
- Minutes: A motion was made and approved to adopt the minutes from the Regular Meeting on July 9, 2025.
Discussion Items
- Ethics Code Amendment (First Reading): Council debated a proposed amendment to the City’s ethics code that would prohibit the filing of ethics complaints against candidates from August 18 through November 4 of an election year. Proponents argued it protects candidates from last-minute, potentially frivolous complaints that could tarnish a reputation without time to respond. Opponents raised concerns about due process, whistleblower protections, and the perception that the council would be protecting itself. No vote was taken; the item was on first reading and may return for a second reading.
- 213 Fraser Street: This item was pulled from the consent calendar for council questions. The applicant, Mr. Gardner, was not present; discussion was deferred.
- 105 Ayers Avenue: No new information was available. The council took no action.
Departmental Updates
- Fire Department: Two new KME fire engines, funded by the 2022 SPLOST, were showcased via a video of the push-in ceremony. The new engines will allow two older engines to move to reserve status; one aging engine will become a training prop.
- Police Department: Chief announced over 5,000 hours of training for uniform patrol year-to-date. The Citizens Police Academy, a 10-week program, begins September 4; applications are being accepted.
- Parks and Recreation: July 31 saw delivery of the restroom building at Wildwood Park (opening delayed due to A/C installation). Construction at West Pixie Park began with demolition of the pavilion. Upcoming events: youth basketball registration, movie night (High School Musical), Friday night concert series, and coffee campfire storytelling event on September 12 (award-winning program).
- Human Resources: Open enrollment and financial wellness events planned in September/October; donations of gently used professional clothing sought for Sherry’s Closet.
- Innovation Webpage: Rachel presented the new City innovation webpage (mariettaga.gov/innovation), featuring categories: Awards & Recognitions, AI-Driven Initiatives, Exploring Smart Solutions (smart grid project), and an upcoming video series "Innovators at Work." The page will be promoted publicly.
- Capital Projects & Transportation: Rottenwood Creek Trail contract sent to GDOT for final approval; groundbreaking expected within weeks. Franklin Gateway Bridge design is ahead of schedule, with construction to begin after the 2026 World Cup. A public input meeting on the potential removal of a stop sign at Sycamore and East Dixie Avenue is scheduled for next Thursday at 6 PM.
- Awards: The Public Works department received two state awards at the Georgia Public Works Conference: Supervisor of the Year and Project of the Year for the Burnt Hickory section of the Kennesaw Mountain Trail. Formal recognition will occur at a future meeting.
Key Outcomes
- Minutes of July 9, 2025 were approved.
- 105 Ayers Avenue: No action taken; item remains on hold due to lack of new information.
- Executive Session: Council voted unanimously (motion carried) to enter executive session for pending legal matters. The meeting was recalled to order afterward.
- Ethics Code Amendment: First reading only; no vote. Council may schedule a second reading at a future meeting.
- Consent Items: All remaining items on the consent calendar were approved as presented, except for 213 Fraser Street (deferred).
Meeting Transcript
No, it's just the admitted just the minutes in the review. Welcome to the party. Um would you like a motion, Mr. Mayor on the minutes? Let me call it order first. First item is the minutes from July 9th. If you fill in the blank from the mid- Um make a motion to approve the minutes from July 9th, the favorite please write in motion so approved. Um agenda. I'd ask the football team to come to be introduced tonight, and they're coming at seven, but I've always feed back to me too. But I didn't follow up, so if we can have you now consent to add that under presentation, If not, I'll let one of you you know tell them because I would be hiding upstairs. No uh no issue with doing that at seven o'clock. Any objection? No, thank you very much. Is that why you and Andy are in matching outfits? I said, is that why you and Andy are in matching outfits tonight? He's the daddy and I'm the son. Okay. The Mr. Stevenson's just one person on scheduled appearance. The special minutes are on clear those of consent. Yep, injection. Boy, rights and water. I've I've called a couple persons, but I have nobody suggests for tonight. And we look for the next two weeks and yeah, and have a special call meeting committee meetings. Yep. Yeah, that probably be. I think that's the way you do it. I agree. Do we table this or just not have it? Just take no action. Or you can table it do whatever you would like. No action family. No action. Just a reminder that one oh five Ayers Avenue. Thank you, Mayor. We have no new information on this item. Is that the one we were gonna get feedback from the community? No. I do have a question if I could. And I'm sure it's probably in my book. It says increase in density. What did that go to? Is it it's within the residential info overlay, and so it goes from eight units per acre to eight point three units per acre. Okay, all right. Thank you. One other question, Mr. Mayor. Yes, sir. The uh proposed the proposed change still means it still means it has to meet the requirements of the info overlay. Correct.
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