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Record of Proceedings

Marietta City Council Committee Meetings: September 4, 2025

City Council Archive View — Thursday, September 4, 2025
BodyMarietta, Georgia
SessionCity Council Archive View
DateThursday, September 4, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 1:46:10

Transcript — Verbatim
0:00

Order the finance committee meeting.

0:04

First item on the agenda our approval of the minutes for June 20.

0:10

Make a motion to approve.

0:11

Second.

0:12

All those in favor, raise your hand.

0:16

Three oh so move.

0:18

Next item we'll take and I guess the next three items, the hotel motel tax, auto rental tax, and finance update.

0:29

Good afternoon, council.

0:32

Good evening.

0:33

So the first item I have is the hotel motel tax for the month of June.

0:40

There was a collections of 336,259.

0:46

This ended our fiscal year with a um total annual collections of 3.762 million dollars for our hotel motel.

1:00

Um although our budget for the city collections for the general fund um was 1.282 million.

1:17

Our actuals ended up at 1.074.

1:20

So we were just shy of that of about 208,000.

1:23

Um as we indicated before, there's been change in some of the hotels at the time that affected the um actuals for the year.

1:33

So we do anticipate, especially with some of the events that we um have coming on within the next fiscal year throughout the city to have an uptick in that um for FY26.

1:48

Moving on to the auto three percent auto for the year.

1:55

We came just uh for the month, I'm sorry.

1:59

We came out at um one point uh I'm sorry, for the the um amounts that I mentioned before, the one point oh seven four was actually for the um auto, three percent auto.

2:14

Um so we were just shy of um the total for that.

2:18

The total for hotel motel was just under at 77,000.

2:25

We had 3.839 budgeted and ended up with 3.762 for the annual, which is a just short of uh 77,000.

2:39

Okay.

2:41

So um we anticipate that we will be able to bounce back next fiscal year as we're entering in the current uh we're all ready um planning for an increase.

2:56

We do have um the uh partial reserves for year end we did for overall um for what we anticipated um to be distributed, we did come in um slightly higher because although we were budgeted for that amount, we um did not distribute the full um amount that we could.

3:22

So we have a hundred and fourteen thousand that will for the auto that'll go into reserves and another twenty-five thousand for hotel motel that'll go into reserves.

3:32

Okay.

3:36

Um overall financially for the general fund for this fiscal year.

3:44

Um we are in the middle of closing um for our ACFA.

3:50

That process um can take up to six months.

3:54

Um we are progressing quickly in that.

3:58

Our pre-limin preliminary numbers has a um positive of 2.8 million that we would be able to utilize for to pay out any last um invoices, unpaid um accounts, or to go towards our capital for year end.

4:20

So um we had budgeted um right at 2.8 million dollars for our um year-in capital, and so uh we were able to come in pretty much on target for that.

4:36

Um we like I said, we may have a few um additional expenses as they come through for um the month of June that will reduce that slightly.

4:46

These aren't are not final numbers, but we should be pretty close.

4:50

Okay.

4:53

And so those three I ask that um the council will receive motion to receive and second, second.

5:01

Motion to receive and fire.

5:03

Second.

5:04

So move.

5:05

All those in favor.

5:09

All right.

5:11

This is 3 0.

5:13

The next item on the Finance Committee agenda is to revised MOU and SRO for Marietta City Schools.

5:25

Okay.

5:26

So this is a memorandum of understanding between the Board of Education and City of Marietta.

5:37

This is a five-year contract that we renew periodically.

5:42

So it is up for renewal.

5:45

It ended as of June 2025.

5:50

So at the end of last month.

5:52

This will start a new contract that will go through 2030.

6:00

On your handouts, you should see the red line version of the edits that we have made for that.

6:09

There are some questions that I received today from the school board.

6:16

Verbally, I've requested those items via email.

6:22

Any questions that they may have in regards to the con any final questions or concerns they may have regarding the contract that they were provide to me via email this week, so we should be able to address those.

6:37

I think there was questions primarily related to the increase in equipment cost.

6:43

As you know, since 2019, when it was last um updated, there have been a number of changes in equipment costs, including our vehicles.

6:55

So we'll have those discussions.

6:57

And then if there are any changes, we'll bring it back to council in advance of our um agenda work session.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Zoning and Land Use█████████████████17%
Procedural████████████12%
Parks and Recreation███████████11%
Public Works██████████10%
Insurance Management█████████9%
Legal Services████████8%
Contract Management██████6%
Parking Management█████5%
Taxation████4%
Summary of Proceedings

Marietta City Council Committee Meetings – September 4, 2025

The Marietta City Council convened multiple committee meetings on September 4, 2025, covering Finance, Parks and Recreation, Judicial and Legislative, and Public Works. Key actions included approval of various reports, discussion of a new SRO MOU with Marietta City Schools, appointment considerations for the Board of Lights and Water, insurance renewal decisions, and numerous traffic calming and pedestrian safety studies.

Consent Calendar

  • Finance Committee: Minutes of June 20 approved unanimously (3-0). Hotel/motel tax and auto rental tax reports for June received and filed. Workers' compensation third-party administrator (TPA) contract renewal moved forward to consent.
  • Parks, Recreation & Tourism: Minutes of June 25 approved. Light post banners for Art in the Park approved. Cherokee Heights Arts Festival city sanctioning approved (alcohol sales on public street).
  • Public Works: Acceptance of right-of-way donation at 1048 Franklin Gateway (Richie Rich Property LLC, 209 sq ft). No-parking signage on Canoe Ridge approved. Speed studies on North Hillcrest Drive, Hardy Farm Drive, and Crossfire Ridge approved. Pedestrian safety study on West Dixie Avenue at Raymond Street approved.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • No public comments were recorded during the meeting.

Discussion Items

  • Revised MOU with Marietta City Schools (SRO): The five-year contract (2025-2030) was presented. Questions from the school board regarding equipment cost increases were noted; the item was moved to the agenda work session for further review.
  • Board of Lights and Water Appointment: A vacancy requires a business customer from the service area. Council deferred action to the next meeting to allow review of a list of eligible customers.
  • Property & Casualty Insurance: Staff proposed switching to GMA’s Gurma program, offering $1.4 million vs. a projected $2.1 million renewal. Additional benefits (cyber liability, legal helpline, safety grants) were highlighted. Moved to the agenda work session for final numbers and cyber coverage discussion.
  • Parks Bond Report: Update on Wildwood Park restroom installation (delivery scheduled for August 7). West Dixie Park renovation held up by stream buffer permitting; discussion of adding a basketball court vs. tree removal and design delays. Councilmember Richardson will meet with staff to explore options.
  • Recreation Facility Quarterly Report: Custer Park Sports & Fitness Center revenue increased to $609,465 (FY ending). Elizabeth Porter Park Spray Ground attendance down due to rain (26,437 for FY). Franklin Gateway Sports Complex revenue dipped due to payment model change, but tracking closer to FY23/22 levels.
  • Final Plat – 213 Fraser Street: Request to subdivide into two lots (198 and 202 Summit Avenue). Approved 2-1 (Councilmember Griffin opposed). Not placed on consent.
  • Buckhead Parking Enforcement – Fee Increase: Request to increase immobilization fees for vehicles over 10,000 lbs. Approved with amendment: vehicles 10,001–20,000 lbs capped at $390 (state maximum) and vehicles over 20,000 lbs at $462 (below state cap). Motion passed 3-0, placed on consent.
  • Ethics Code – New Section (Prohibition on Complaints Near Election): Approved with effective date of January 1, 2026, to avoid self-dealing concerns. Passed 3-0, held off consent for mayor’s input.
  • Ethics Code Rewrite: Two versions (December and May) presented. Council agreed to hold a special called JL meeting to finalize the ordinance. Motion passed 3-0.
  • Public Works Projects: Roswell Street four-lane gap landscaping nearly complete; Maxwell and Hazel drainage completed; Waverly and Atlanta intersection improvement to bid in September; East Dixie Trail awaiting water utility work.
  • Traffic Calming – Austin Avenue: After public meeting and petition (36 of 56 signatures in favor), two speed tables proposed. Public hearing scheduled for August council meeting. Moved forward without recommendation.

Key Outcomes

  • Finance Committee: Minutes approved. Hotel/motel tax and auto rental tax reports received. Workers’ comp TPA renewal moved to consent.
  • SRO MOU: Moved to agenda work session for final adjustments.
  • BLW Appointment: Deferred to next meeting; staff to provide customer list.
  • Insurance: Gurma proposal moved to agenda work session; cyber coverage to be discussed in executive session.
  • Parks Bond: West Dixie Park basketball court to be evaluated further; restroom installation anticipated by August 8.
  • Recreation Report: Received and noted.
  • Final Plat (213 Fraser): Approved 2-1; not on consent.
  • Buckhead Parking Fees: Increased to $390 (10,001–20,000 lbs) and $462 (over 20,000 lbs).
  • Ethics Code: New section approved effective Jan 1, 2026. Rewrite referred to special JL meeting.
  • Public Works: Numerous speed studies and traffic calming measures approved. Austin Avenue traffic calming to public hearing. Donation of right-of-way accepted.

Meeting Transcript

Order the finance committee meeting. First item on the agenda our approval of the minutes for June 20. Make a motion to approve. Second. All those in favor, raise your hand. Three oh so move. Next item we'll take and I guess the next three items, the hotel motel tax, auto rental tax, and finance update. Good afternoon, council. Good evening. So the first item I have is the hotel motel tax for the month of June. There was a collections of 336,259. This ended our fiscal year with a um total annual collections of 3.762 million dollars for our hotel motel. Um although our budget for the city collections for the general fund um was 1.282 million. Our actuals ended up at 1.074. So we were just shy of that of about 208,000. Um as we indicated before, there's been change in some of the hotels at the time that affected the um actuals for the year. So we do anticipate, especially with some of the events that we um have coming on within the next fiscal year throughout the city to have an uptick in that um for FY26. Moving on to the auto three percent auto for the year. We came just uh for the month, I'm sorry. We came out at um one point uh I'm sorry, for the the um amounts that I mentioned before, the one point oh seven four was actually for the um auto, three percent auto. Um so we were just shy of um the total for that. The total for hotel motel was just under at 77,000. We had 3.839 budgeted and ended up with 3.762 for the annual, which is a just short of uh 77,000. Okay. So um we anticipate that we will be able to bounce back next fiscal year as we're entering in the current uh we're all ready um planning for an increase. We do have um the uh partial reserves for year end we did for overall um for what we anticipated um to be distributed, we did come in um slightly higher because although we were budgeted for that amount, we um did not distribute the full um amount that we could. So we have a hundred and fourteen thousand that will for the auto that'll go into reserves and another twenty-five thousand for hotel motel that'll go into reserves. Okay. Um overall financially for the general fund for this fiscal year. Um we are in the middle of closing um for our ACFA. That process um can take up to six months. Um we are progressing quickly in that. Our pre-limin preliminary numbers has a um positive of 2.8 million that we would be able to utilize for to pay out any last um invoices, unpaid um accounts, or to go towards our capital for year end. So um we had budgeted um right at 2.8 million dollars for our um year-in capital, and so uh we were able to come in pretty much on target for that. Um we like I said, we may have a few um additional expenses as they come through for um the month of June that will reduce that slightly. These aren't are not final numbers, but we should be pretty close. Okay. And so those three I ask that um the council will receive motion to receive and second, second. Motion to receive and fire. Second. So move. All those in favor. All right. This is 3 0. The next item on the Finance Committee agenda is to revised MOU and SRO for Marietta City Schools. Okay. So this is a memorandum of understanding between the Board of Education and City of Marietta. This is a five-year contract that we renew periodically. So it is up for renewal. It ended as of June 2025.

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