I'd like to call the city council agenda review session order, please.

For the August the thirteenth regular meeting minutes, is there a motion or additions or deletions?

Make a motion to approve.

Second.

All those in favor, please raise right in.

Public power and clean water work week, Chair.

Would you like to do that?

I'd love to mayor.

Anniversary Rachel Smith's strand theater.

Sure.

No, the president we're just gonna read the presentation.

Just uh let everybody know that there was um a proclamation done uh and can uh go ahead and say that it's being presented tonight, uh or we have that video, whichever you would prefer.

Oh, let's show the thing.

Show how good we all work together, love each other.

Let's show that especially what that part would I I still was amazed when the proclamation missor is quiet.

She helps me a lot.

Uh Mr.

Barthes is going to be on schedule appearances.

The August the thirteenth regular meeting minutes are on consent.

Objection.

Yeah, you're walking down for ninety-two Whitlock.

Uh yes, sir, for both ninety-two and ninety-six Whitlock, we don't have any new information.

That's not a public hearing, that's just a take.

All right.

Any objections?

No objection.

And the next two because of his annexation, same thing.

No objection.

Yes.

Oh, okay.

It does.

It does.

Item tabled until October eighth, two oh two five.

Under the bottom.

Right below the bottom.

Thank you.

No objection.

No objection.

The next two items on consent with the ethics scope being a table.

No objection.

Objection.

Page seven, all four of those items are on consent.

Any objections?

No objection.

Hey, Jair G Street's own consent.

Is that right?

No objection.

No objection.

Thank you.

Thirty-one Rock Street.

Thank you again, Mayor.

No new information on this item at this time.

We do have the six specific variances laid out within the motion on the agenda at the as well.

So happy to answer any questions.

Just specifically, it has nothing to do with IQ.

No, which is which outside the fence.

Well, it'll have to do with no, it has to do with with both what's happening on the outside and inside of the fence.

So but it has to deal with the property, and so what uses are allowed.

So one of them specifically deals with what's on the outside of the fence, and that is variance number three, uh, which is variants to allow outdoor storage outside of a solid wall or fence no less than six feet in height.

Uh, but the rest of them just deal with the amount of outdoor automobile storage on the property as a percentage of the property, the location of it, and then the underlying zoning.

I think I've caught back on something.

Like IQ, it's off of Rosal Street, additional clients because that's their main lot.

This is a lot where the business is not owned.

Even though it's adjacent.

That's where they store all those cars.

Correct.

Yes, sir.

That's what I was missing the other night.

Thank you.

1288 and 50 power sphering.

And we have no new information on this item as well.

Yep.

No objection.

No objection.

No objection.

Objection.

I have to actually say something on this one.

It didn't show me abstaining.

If you like to disclose that this is on consent, you want to surprise Ms.

McCaulay.

I say we just leave her here until like 7:30-ish.

She's smiling, so she must have a hint.

Mr.

Mayor.

It doesn't show that I'm abstaining on it, though, so that will need to be noted.

Just a grant for 31500 is on consent.

Yes.

Yes, sir.

With me abstaining.

Mr.

Mayor, I have some minor changes to that wording.

If you want to put it on consent, that's fine or leave it for discussion.

If I may if I may give the wording to Ms.

Guy right now, the second line would delete the word related.

After the word two, insert the word enforced, so it would say take appropriate action to enforce the contract between Mary and Myers.

But otherwise, if you want to have it on consent or leave it off consent, that's fine either way.

No object.

No objection to consent.

No objection.

On consent.

Consent.

Thank you.

Yes.

The next four items are on consent.

Any changes?

The next 52 minutes are yours.

Oh, okay.

Um if we can fill it all, but we'll fill a little bit of it at least.

Everything's on consent.

Yes, sir.

Uh one thing wanted to let everybody know that uh the Department of Community Affairs has uh accepted the service delivery strategy uh for um Cobb County and all the cities.

Um that was supposed to be done before really before the September time frame, uh and they did that.

So uh they sent us a letter uh letting us know that that's been accepted and all the languages okay.

Um as you know, uh the next step will be for Mapleton and Cobb County, and they already are working together to try to resolve some of their service delivery issues.

They're supposed to get that done uh before the summer and get that into DCA, and as long as uh they're able to submit that and show what's gonna happen between the two parties, then uh we'll still stay into compliance and we'll be okay there.

Um there is an interesting uh little twist, and that is that uh DCA had to come out with their uh procedures that they're gonna use because of some changes that took place with state law.

And we all know that uh the next event that we had to um look out for was going to be the comp plan revision uh by the county, uh which is gonna be in the fall of 2027.

Um we didn't know whether we were gonna have to be looking at possible changes uh or um uh a reapproval of the strategy uh before the fall of 27 or at that time.

Uh DCA now has come out with rules that say that you have to wait until your submission of your comp plan and then you do it after that.

So uh they're talking about like six months after uh the comp plan is submitted uh that we would actually uh be submitting for approval of anything new that had to be changed at that point.

We could just submit the same plan and say that that's our service delivery strategy.

But um that actually gives a little bit more time for everyone on that.

Yes.

Mr.

Mayor.

Um when you say the the six months, we don't have to we can start negotiating beforehand, but you can't um but you can't submit anything prior to the six months after their comp plan.

Yeah, the due date has been changed.

So you can you can start whenever you like.

Um but we thought the due date might be uh at that time in October when their plan is due, that it would have to be due then too, but it's not.

They actually have extended everybody across the state uh so that you do it after you can do it afterwards.

But we could start whenever anybody wanted to.

Thank you.

Thank you, sir.

Think in the county.

Right.

I mean do we have extra funds?

Like in the current SPLOST?

Yes.

Yes, sir.

Yeah, we sure do.

Um we're not but they're just doing that early, more anticipation.

I think so.

Um we you know we've had a couple of amendments that we've done that are smaller uh because of projects and what they've come in at, uh, but there is some additional funding that you will have to allocate uh with this current SPLOS.

Yes, sir.

Yeah.

And uh Mark, I don't know if he has the numbers with him now, which probably does not, but um he can probably give a roundabout uh on where we sit at this point very smart first.

We're currently about 24 million uh above expenditures right now for extra excess money, as we say right now.

Uh however, we have not started any of our major construction projects either.

So I mean we we started when I say not started, we've not gone to construction with anything.

So we we've started design work on everything, but so we've not incurred most of our net's gonna be if projections stay at their current levels, which is almost double what Cobb County had budgeted for us.

Uh I feel pretty confident we'll we will we will maintain that 30 to 40 million dollar buffer easily above above our budget.

Yeah.

You know, we're about halfway through right now, and that's that's kind of where we're sitting.

So where you can spend some of that.

Until we get it until we get through all those, right?

That's correct.

Yeah.

So we have to get through all the tier ones, and then we can look at going to tier two, which is what Cobb County was doing.

They were already anticipating being able to move to tier two projects.

Um but they have a large, larger pot of money than what we do to deal with.

So do we have a full list?

I know that you cover kind of what the tier ones are.

But do we have a list?

We do.

Sure.

I'll I'll send that out tomorrow to everybody.

All the tier two.

The approved tier two projects, yes.

If there's nothing else, I'll let you bring them up to date on anything else that uh you might have.

We don't have to bring you back down.

I didn't bring my list down, so let me try to do this all off off off let me do this off memory.

Um just a few couple little items uh that I will mention.

Um couple updates.

Burn Hickory and Polk and Polk and Wynn.

Those two intersection improvements that we've been working on for quite a while now.

Um both of those will be having some major utility improvements to start next summer to get in line with our construction projects that we will be doing.

Uh right now we're trying to work with the school system, especially on the one on when we don't want to do those during when school is going on, obviously.

So we're I met with uh Mr.

Dr.

Rivera yesterday concerning that project and and the other one, but specifically poke and win.

And trying to get the schedule laid out for one of the things we talked about along with a couple others.

But so we're looking at construction for that one summer of 27, again, not to impact school right now.

So but we right now we've got to have Marietta Power come in and get the utility work done.

There's major utility work that has to be done there at Polk and Wynn.

The overhead lines have all got to go underground and get moved out of the way for our project that's coming through there.

So once I get a little closer, I'll be able to share with you the final design for that particular one, but I'm kind of waiting on Marietta Power to get out of the way to make sure they don't have any other hiccups that we have to adjust for uh on our final design for that one.

But both of those next summer will be under construction with utility work.

It will be a traffic congestion problem uh during that time.

Uh won't be as major as it being under construction, obviously, but there'll be some traffic concerns uh during that time.

Yes, sir.

The one on Polk and Wynn, I know that the original plans have changed.

What are we kind of doing there?

Kind of straightening that intersection out now.

We we can't straighten it out because of the cemetery there, but we are looking at doing uh an adjusted roundabout there.

Um and we can get that in and still get what the school wants, which is a uh uh a better turn lane from Polk onto win for the buses.

So we can accomplish that as well as improve the site distance issue as you come up win onto Polk and still keep traffic moving in all directions without impacting traffic backing up onto the North Marietta loop and that type of thing.

So that was our best solution right there.

So we'll be able to do that and accomplish everything I think that we needed to accomplish as well as what the schools is looking to accomplish right there.

So that was uh and I'll get more information on that as we get a little closer, but then just put that.

I want to go ahead and put that on your radar uh for that one.

Um another project we've got going.

We're just getting now getting started on in case you get any phone calls on fast circle.

We're doing some stormwater improvements over there, uh getting some curbing and guttering and things in place kind of help some of the stormwater issues we've had on that street for the last several years.

So in case anybody starts getting phone calls, I've already had a couple uh utility got marked, and what are we doing?

So that's just let everybody know that's what we're doing over there to start getting some things in place there to kind of help that stormwater issue along that street over there.

So and final thing I've got is um our street supervisor, uh Kenny Thomason, who's been with us for 33 and a half years, will be retiring on October 31st.

Uh so we will have a retirement celebration for him.

All of you will be invited to that, but I want to go ahead and put it on your radar as well.

So uh he's been with us a long time, a lot of institutional knowledge, and so uh he's gonna be missed, but it's well deserved as well.

So that's all I have.

Anybody got any questions?

Um didn't you tell me you were gonna submit the uh the dumpster plan maybe for our next committees?

That's what you're all thoughts on it for it is uh I've already got the agenda item prepped, and so it it should be on the September committee meeting for discussion.

Great, thank you.

Yes, sir.

Thanks.

Quick question.

Um Wiley at New Hope.

Yes, ma'am.

Where are we getting that?

Uh right now we're we're still waiting on the church.

They are our last major acquisition right now, and we've we're waiting on them to give some feedback as to our last.

They'd submitted something to me, and it was nowhere near acceptable, and I sent them back some feedback they needed to take out some of their stipulations and do some adjustments before I'd even bring it to you.

And I have not had that feedback brought back yet.

So thank you.

Yes.

Improvements down Whitlock Drive and Woodlock Drive.

Uh we've had some issues with our consultant, but that those plans now are actually being finalized, which I they were supposed to have been finalized a long time ago.

Uh so that project should be bid here in the next 45, 30, 45 days, and we'll get that one under construction.

And then Whitlock Avenue itself where we have been discussing since late last year with G DOT.

You'll see that item also on the committee meeting coming up in September for discussion for their resolution for that as well.

Okay.

Thank you.

Thank you.

I guess can we have Kisha Register come down and uh update us on everything HR?

Good evening, everybody.

Um I'll talk really slow.

So uh our next event is gonna be September 25th, and it's our mobile mammogram.

And I do need some help with getting some more participants.

If we don't have at least 10 more ladies come and help us, they will cancel our event.

So please encourage anyone that you know that is a female over the age of 40 on our coverage.

Um, and even partners that work for other organizations, they can still register if their insurance is accepted by Quantum.

So let me know.

Uh we're excited to start open enrollment October 13th through the 31st.

Uh Well Star is gonna help us kick that off.

We're gonna do flu shots.

So if you are in the area um on October 14th, Mandy and her crew will be here with flu and something called super flu shots.

So first come, first serve on those.

Um, and we'll have goodies and giveaways and all that stuff.

Uh the week after that, we're gonna celebrate National Retirement Week.

Uh, this year, myself, the finance director, and the pension chair.

We are going to do our first roll out of uh the road to retirement.

It will be a travel themed seminar to teach people about our pension plan.

So that will be very fun.

Uh, we did beg and we are getting the Social Security lady to come back out this year.

She'll be here October 23rd to talk about the changes and answer any questions that you want to have.

So a lot of people ask questions about social security, and it's a very big hit.

So please come to that.

Um we'll have Danny from Mission Square to talk to our employees about our 401A pension, and then nationwide will be here on the 24th.

So it'll be a fun week, and we'll we'll make it fun for everybody.

The other thing I'll say, thank you for approving the change to GMA.

Uh, they have already been on site with uh public safety liaisons meeting our people and uh working with us on different safety initiatives.

So I'm very happy about that, and I appreciate it.

Any questions?

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Next, if we got Rich Bus come down with any uh parks and rec updates.

Now that we don't hear drilling in the building.

That's right.

Say now that we don't hear any more drilling in the building right now.

Yes.

Thank you.

Good evening.

Uh let's see.

Things coming up.

Um this week, the 12th this Friday.

We're uh we're having the uh coffee cryptids and campfire event over in Atherton Square.

It's uh you know, kind of based on telling stories about Loch Ness monsters and abominable snowmans and things like that kind of curious things.

And we have arts and crafts over there.

We have some more and we have some storytellers who come in and tell stories, so that should be a popular event, and we actually won an award, I think I mentioned um previously for that event last year for the um a new event of the year.

And then on the 19th will be the last day of our registration for youth basketball.

So that's coming up.

And then also we'll be having on that date the movies on the square.

We partnered up with the Lumistello organization or the people that did the elf on the shelf.

So the people that wrote the book on the company, and they kind of wanted to do something, and we thought, well, gosh, we can show that movie and kind of spice that event up a little bit.

So they'll be there and they're gonna be bringing their mascot, they're gonna be doing some readings and some other things, so that'll be at 7 o'clock, and then we'll be showing the movie at 8.

Um September 26th will be our final concert of the year.

It's uh Davis and the Love Variety Pop Hits.

That is does not involve Davis Love the Golfer, but Davis and the Love is the name of the van.

And so they do some original music and then they do a bunch of variety uh hits themselves as well.

Um of course we have the brown bag concerts going on here in September, so there'll be one tomorrow at noon, and then we have two more Thursday afternoons that we'll be having those in the month of September.

And then we have two more Thursday afternoons that we'll be having those in the month of September.

September 26th will be the deadline for Scarecrows on the Square that we do in the park as part of the Harvest Fest.

And they'll be setting those up beginning uh the 29th to October 3rd in that week.

Uh judging will be another week or so after that, and then of course those will all be announced at the Harvest on the Square event, which will be October 18th.

So those are all things that are uh taking place now, and just uh just beyond our next council meeting with the Harvest Square on the 18th.

Um we are, if you want an update on what Stixy, I can tell you a little bit about that.

There have been working out there, surprises after surprises out there.

They were uh digging a hole to connect the uh underground pipe that carries the stream through the grassy area of the park, dug down about four feet, never hit any groundwater.

Well, we were hitting it at 18 inches elsewhere.

Uh today the water department was out there to connect the sewer line.

They dug down a few feet and uh eventually ended up hitting a French drain that had been installed at some point.

I'm sure when the park was built.

Um, and water was coming flowing out of that, so it was backed up, and I think that was holding water in some areas that may have lent to us discovering groundwater.

So we have uh like I said, plan to do additional uh French train work in there.

So hopefully we found a little bit of the problem and we have a good remedy uh to take care of that as we move forward.

Uh so they buttoned that up uh today.

And that's pretty much I all I had to say about that, I guess.

Maybe rename that to Cluster Park.

Cluster.

Yeah, it seems to be.

I we got done today, and I told Deckman, I said, you know, Gene Camp is still alive.

I probably should have called him before we got involved over there.

But uh I think he was still in the recreation side, not the uh property management side when that park was built.

But we hit that uh pipe.

I say, you know, what year did uh Corrugated Pipe come out?

You know, and we looked it up on the internet, it was 1961, so it did predate the uh construction of the park, but I was trying to figure out how did that get there and where did it come from?

So uh quite a mystery.

Any update on starting the trail on East Dixie?

Um that would be uh question for Mark.

That is Mark, yeah.

Sorry.

That's all right.

Parks, trails, they just go together.

I did notice that neighborhood, if you aren't aware, uh, is having a party on the 18th of October they put in for a block party permit.

So um I don't know if they're there trying to generate if that's still within the time limit they have for petition signatures or not.

But uh so maybe that's why.

But we have had a pre-con meeting with the contractor, and we're just waiting for him to tell us the official start date to start working on the trail.

So it's any day now.

Yep.

I guess Ronnie Barrett, um, would you want to come down and give an update on the Georgia Tech uh program that y'all were talking about this weekend, or I don't know if Tina would be best, um, whichever one of you.

Rich and Tina Mark A was to talk about it.

So we were engaged by Georgia Tech, which is different than the GTRI group that we're working with.

So this is with the actual university.

Uh we were contacted um through the industrial engineering program, and they focus on process improvement.

And so we came up with quite a few projects for them to help us look at.

Uh so they were doing two in finance, um, one in parks and rec and then one in public works and IT.

So uh the I can talk about the one in public works and IT, and then Rich Buss and Patina could come down and talk about the projects that they're working on if you would like.

Uh we're looking at uh Mark and I have been talking about what a digital twin of the transportation network in Marietta could or may look like.

Um it would be the process of building a model of all the infrastructure and then the traffic that we see, the volume through Marietta, to try and help us predict uh how we impact traffic when things are changed, whether it's traffic timings or we have to you know do a short-term lane closure, or you all are are asked to put in some kind of traffic mitigation.

A lot of times you like us are doing our best guess whether that mitigation is gonna properly solve the issue, or maybe it might cause something else, and we were thinking that if we were able to model the network as a whole, we'd be able to give you better insight into the decision you're getting ready to make, how it might impact uh the neighborhood or the next neighborhood over the next street over.

So we have a group of about nine students who are working on that project, and that just kicked off this weekend.

Um, and we'll have something to present to you at the end of the semester.

So I don't know, Rich or Patina, do you guys want to come down and talk about the projects you're working on?

Good evening.

So I actually have two projects that I will be working with the students on.

Extremely excited about this.

Um the first project is related to occupation licenses, and it is a way to increase the workflow efficiency.

One of the um initiatives that we are trying to take this year is to increase or enhance the customer experience or the business experience and their touch points with the occupational license or business license division.

So what we're trying to do is push more towards a complete online process.

So it'll be quicker, um, more efficient.

Um they'll have access to it 24 hours a day.

So we're working with the IT department, it's something that we've already started.

Um a lot of you may have noticed the kiosk that's outside the business license division.

So we have um moved towards um pushing online so all of the new applications are able to be processed online completely.

Uh the council requested um a 30-day um approval process earlier, and um and in order to try to better comply with that.

We have um worked with IT, we've worked with um development services in order to try to streamline our process.

And Georgia Tech will be working with us to help get those to um push those um applications forward for all of the applications, not just the new general applications.

So we are able to currently um process um monthly permits, uh I'm sorry, monthly applications or renewals.

So that'll include the 3% alcohol and some of the other uh hotel motels.

We're able to um process those online currently where they're able to go in, enter their data, make payments, and so what we're doing is having everything to pretty much go online.

So that'll help with the foot traffic, it'll help with the processing times, um, it'll help with the customer experience because we are um it is difficult for them to understand some of the applications that we have, and we and it requires them to come in more often.

So we're trying to cut back on that and um make that area more efficient.

So the second project that we have is actually in our budget division, and so we are in the process of transferring um to a better forecasting model, and um when doing that, we're using a um budget um platform that we um implemented over the last year, and so the um students will help us input all of the data that we need, start creating um forecast modules, and uh calculations that'll help us prepare for long-term forecasting, be it revenue, expenditures, capital.

Um, so that'll help us better um determine what our needs are and our needs assessment and be able to analyze some of the cost centers that we have for revenue and um and their expenditure needs going forward.

So those are the two that I have.

Thank you.

Continually, we're continually the number one digital city.

And we're a city of innovation too, so the uh group of young folks I'll be working with, uh, they have a project they want to do that will be focusing on, they talk about predictive analysis and looking at our parks and you looking at our user data, both from our parks and for our programs, and they'll be uh we'll be sharing data with them, and some of that they'll be able to go online and get themselves through Placer AI.

But they'll look at like attendance at the parks that we have, tenants at the programs that we're offering, and then from that they'll be going on and trying to assess you know where's their uh future development and growth in the city potentially that might impact those particular parks, but also how the frequency of use of the parks that we have may allow them to come up with a analysis that will provide recommendations for future park maintenance based on the amount of use that we get, so that we kind of focus on those areas.

That's one of the things.

And then the second one will be uh looking at community engagement.

And uh, we do a real good job with that already.

You know, we're on Instagram, Facebook, our website.

Maggie and Rachel do a real good job with all of that.

But they're gonna look at that, look at other low cost methods, they'll look at what we're using now.

How is that reaching out to the customer?

How's that working?

They might make recommendations for other things we might use.

Uh, there are young people, they'll probably say TikTok, and I know that uh IT is not too involved, excited about getting involved with TikTok, but there may be others out there that you know these young folks are tuned into that would reach out to people that we're missing in the market.

So they'll be looking at that and making recommendations as to what we might be able to do.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

And next, uh Chief Milligan with the fire department.

Any updates?

You're just doing great, everything's wonderful.

Yeah.

Okay.

Uh, and then Chief Beam.

Um, a couple quick things.

We have a zone one police town hall tomorrow night at uh 6 30 to 8.

Uh Marietta Yale's office, 779 Franklin Gateway.

Uh so we hope to have a good turnout of citizens from that from zone one there at that meeting.

Um also we do have a project too with Georgia Tech involving emergency evacuation from the square, natural evacuations if something was to take place, like a tornado during a festival or something like that pops up.

Predictive analysis as to where we believe the crowd will go naturally because we would not be able to control that fully, obviously, if there was something that suddenly occurred.

So they're going to take a look at students and give us an idea of what they believe those evacuation routes naturally would be, so we can maybe uh do some planning in regard to that.

Everything's going well with the police department.

And you're moving dirt.

We're moving dirt, and actually, we got a pile of dirt, and we've got to figure out where to get rid of them.

For the new training center.

Somebody needs some dirt.

Let us know.

They're very happy that yeah, actually, work is commenced, so that's very good.

Uh we do have some videos like to show, uh, and then just can take any other questions you may have.

Um the first one, I guess would be the Married Employee Health Clinic video.

We could and this is uh this is a video that we will be showing to our new employees uh that are coming on board.

Welcome to the Welfare City of Marietta Employee Health Clinic, your personal wellness resource right here at work.

Our award-winning team offers world-class care from confidential same-day appointments for health management to on-site medication dispensing and preventative services with minimal wait times, no out-of-pocket costs, and a friendly expert staff.

Your path to better health has never been easier.

Plus, don't miss your chance.

Turn up to $400 through our annual health care assessment.

Available for you and your spouse.

Schedule your visit today and experience outstanding care that's convenient, trusted, and designed just for you.

The City of Marietta employee health care clinic, where your health comes first.

That was uh obviously the clinic working with IT, well, with our communications division and also with HR pulling that together and getting that out, which we appreciate.

Um then the uh next one's about we're talking about AI and talk as far as uh driven initiatives that we have to as far as the city being uh one of the leaders out there.

Uh so we want to talk about grid logic, and so if we could pull that one up.

It's a project we're doing with the BLW in Georgia Tech.

At the City of Marietta, we're proud to be a research partner with Georgia Tech and the Georgia Tech Research Institute to lead the way in making the Marietta Power Grid smarter, stronger, and more secure.

The city had previously worked for years on a successful research project called Grid Trust.

The next step now is a groundbreaking new project called Grid Logic, where our city is serving as a real world test bed.

Through this work, we're bringing research out of the lab and into our community.

Together, we're helping shape the future of electric power systems across the nation by exploring how artificial intelligence and advanced monitoring can better protect the grid from evolving threats.

While the work is highly technical, the outcome is simple.

A more resilient power grid for our customers.

This partnership ensures our community is on the front lines of innovation, supporting safer, more reliable energy for our residents and our businesses while contributing to solutions that could eventually benefit other cities across the nation.

Marietta isn't just keeping up with change, we're helping lead it.

And then we have uh some other uh ones that we'd like to show that are being done by the parks department along with the IT and uh with our communications department.

But uh Maggie's kind of the spearhead on this, and Maggie Moss.

And the first one, if we could do is Discover Marietta Parks Introduction.

Discover Marietta Park.

Whether you're exploring for the first time or rediscovering a favorite, Marietta Parks are calling.

With 42 parks and over 350 acres of parkland, there's room to play, relax, explore, and connect.

From walking trails and playgrounds to open builds and scenic spots, they're something for everyone.

Yes!

Come along each month as we spotlight one of Marietta's amazing parks.

You might just find one of your new favorites.

Your next adventure starts now at Marietta Parks.com.

Then we could uh go to the So they're they're doing, you know, that's the overall intro, and then they've been doing ones about all of our parks and all of our little interesting locations that we have in the city and places you can go.

Uh so we'll do a few of them if you don't mind.

First one will be Victory Park.

Victory.

Nestled just one and a half miles from downtown Marietta Square, you'll find the charming 4.8 acre Victory Park.

For families, the playground is an exciting and safe spot for kids to play and explore.

The park's pavilion can be reserved for groups of 24 or less, offering a wonderful setting for family and friends to gather.

Looking for some outdoor exercise, Victory Park also features workout equipment, allowing you to stay active while surrounded by nature's beauty.

Whether you're hosting an event or simply soaking in the peaceful atmosphere, Victory Park is the ideal place for all ages to connect and enjoy the outdoors.

Come visit and make lasting memories at Victory Park.

For more information, visit our website at WWW.marietta Parks.com.

And then next we go over to Laurel Park.

Welcome to Laurel Park, a 25-acre outdoor oasis perfect for play, relaxation, and celebration.

Home to 13 lighted tennis courts and a pro shop.

It's a haven for tennis lovers, managed by tennis dynamics.

Enjoy the peaceful one-mile walking path, a spacious playground, and two scenic ponds.

Game on with shuffle board, a full basketball court, and sand volleyball.

There really is something for everyone.

Plan your next gathering under one of our reservable pavilions, perfect for parties and family fun.

Spacious, shaded, and equipped with grills, lights, and electricity.

Look online today.com.

And lastly, we'd go over to Elizabeth Porter Park.

Where history meets family fun.

Welcome to Elizabeth Porter Park.

Minutes from the historic Marietta Square.

This vibrant park sits on the grounds of a former African American hospital and recreation center.

Named after Miss Elizabeth Porter, the center's first director, who helped shape the future of countless children in the Baptist Town community.

Today is a joyful place where children of all ages can explore an action-packed playground and cool off in the refreshing spring ground.

Perfect for those warm southern days.

Stroll the peaceful walking paths and relax in the green spaces.

Don't miss the stunning mural.

A tribute to the community's rich history and resilience.

Elizabeth Porter Park, where Marietta's past and present come together to create unforgettable family memories.

To learn more, visit Marietta Parks dot com.

And next our IT department has been uh flying uh their drones to try to get updates on different construction projects uh that we have and uh we'll pull some of those up.

We can start with the uh land united expansion, uh, which they are just about complete.

Uh and so we can get to see kind of the new building that they are constructing that attaches to their current building.

So that's the uh former building or the first building that you see there, and then everything kind of at the top uh is the new.

So this is this is showing the new portion of the building, which is in front of you.

The large glass opening, and then um they also have uh added so as you can see the uh building to the right, which is a little um kind of almost clubhouse building.

Uh they've made a lot of additions to it so that it can uh house teams also that's their main field uh below being its grass cut.

Uh you can see where we used to have the trailer up there, um kind of what we're flying over now.

Um that'll be removed, and uh they've got all the the uh new facilities for youth and facilities for the media uh in that new portion of the building that you see.

So like I said, they're it's under construction, but they'll be finished uh fairly soon.

Um yeah, then you've got which one of the ones do we have?

Oh, the greenhouse, yeah.

So the greenhouse subdivision, which is as we've said before.

This is a bell's fair, though.

Yes, sir, it's a bell's ferry.

Yes, as you can see, they've installed a lot of landscaping and uh some of the trails now.

They started to sell in the homes.

Yes, sir, they're starting the sales process.

So developers.

Developer.

Yeah.

So yeah, everything you're pretty much seeing right there, phases one and two.

They've got the third phase, which I just saw in the last two weeks, they're applied for permits for it as far as the earth work and uh some of the um removal of the rock that they have in the area.

A lot of doors knock on three years.

Build out, I would think so.

Yes.

Yeah.

So for all phases 29.

Here's the phase three.

Um started.

Yes, sir.

It's uh um, at least when they were announcing it, it's the large was largest in the metro at that point.

I don't know if anything's come along since, but that's active.

Yeah, I guess an example is you know Lee's crossing has 400 and some houses.

This is going to be almost 600.

It does have uh it's got some uh senior units or umes that are marketed to individuals that are older, but um the rest are all uh all age groups and uh housing and um detached and attached housing, so all ownership.

So uh when the senior ones are they uh ranch style homes, do you know?

Uh um I would need some clarification on they are.

I'm getting the main for sure.

Okay.

Yeah, yeah.

At least have to have them master on the main.

And then uh we do have uh the police training area we were talking about it a minute ago.

Um that you can see at least some of the earth being moved for the project on one of these.

There you go.

So that's where the police training building will be.

A whole lot of dirt power there.

That's literally right across from that.

The funding for most of these came out of the ARPRA funds for the police training and our time.

Yes, dear.

Yeah, we were able to um do the uh training tower and then the police training building uh with those funds.

Um the first uh amount of money we have for the site came from the SPLOST uh to acquire the site and to uh do the fire station six uh that we have out there, and also then some of the general capital money and some SPLOST money was able to be put into the original training center for the fire department, so the burn buildings and uh other devices that they have out there, the extrication from cars, all those different things, all that stuff was able to be done with that money we had, but with a lot of sweat equity from the department.

Right.

So uh that would have never been done unless the uh members of the department got out there and laid concrete and uh you know welded different parts of the buildings and everything together and a lot of other things that they they learned to do, but so that really kicked it off what we have.

Well, will we be able to I guess bring in or offer to other police departments to do some training there?

Kind of like what the fire department we could it uh we wouldn't be using it all the time.

Uh more than likely if we allow someone else to use it, it's gonna be under our guidance, but yes.

The fire department's been doing that with some regional training uh that they've had folks up for um, and so that that has worked.

It's it's actually a good recruiting tool also uh with folks that see what we do have.

They see not only the the training center, but they see the equipment, they see the trucks we have and everything else, and let's them know that um we're very well outfitted uh in both departments that we have.

So that was kind of my mindset, you know.

Yeah, and does the the main thing we wanted for both of these is to uh both the fire and police is to let allow us, if you'll remember, to be able to do it here uh in the city, because in both cases we were having to take our units or our individuals or our staff and take them outside uh of Marietta uh to do all this training, and so then we were beholden to the schedules of other people, and uh we're also um we're removing assets from our community and that could be used to respond now with where they are.

It could definitely be used.

So allows me to training.

Yes, we appreciate definitely all of the um funding that we've been able to get from the council through ARPA, but also through the SPLOST and appreciate the voters approving that uh so that we could get to the point that we are now.

It's been something that both departments have wanted for decades.

So very happy to have it.

Yeah, we start with the 2016 swamp.

Yes, sir.

Yes, sir.

We had to start with that to acquire land.

Uh and so uh that's kind of where the process began, and uh then we uh you know had to pay for the new fire station uh to put it there, and so this has been multiple SPLOS uh that we've been able to do.

And uh then we uh you know had to pay for the new fire station uh to put it there, and so this has been multiple SPLOS uh that we've been able to do, and I wouldn't doubt that we would have uh in the next SPLOST that would be put out uh some additional funding for the center that because we do want to go in and put uh a large um kind of asphalt area uh that we would use for both police and fire, they would use it for training on driving with police, uh that they're having to use parking lots in different areas now.

Uh, but we would also use it for hose lays and other things for the fire department uh so that they could get out there and do some of their training they need to do too.

So that would that would be kind of the full complement, and then we probably would need some additional um items for the police department training facility itself to let them do scenarios and other things that they need to do.

So that's one we would be discussing over the next six months for the new SPLOSS.

And we finished with five minutes to go, but that was good.

Okay.

Questions or comments on the council.

I'd like to say um I really like to congratulate uh Rich and the parks for all that they've really done a lot with that one, the um the bond issues.

And it was you know, it wasn't extremely hot large, but they've done a lot with it too.

They have to make good use of it.

Thank you, Rich.

Very good point.

Yeah, not only the creation of new parks, which we have a lot of those that were able to be done, which we're finishing up on one basically now, uh, with that we'll have the grand opening on in Wildwood, or the re-grand opening, uh, but yeah, just a lot of good improvements to the existing facilities uh that we have and with that we were able to get uh the indoor facility that we have at Custer also, so not only the parks outdoors, but our indoor facility too.

Yeah, that'll have the skin.

But we were ready.

I mean we should get 20 26 million.

The bond was 26 million, yes, sir, and then uh some uh land we bought and some we resold, and then um with the grants that we've been able to leverage because of the parks fund, we've been able to get three very large federal grants.

So all of that, along with some interest earnings, we've actually had over a little over 30 million that we've been able to spend.

So we you know we gained four million on top of the 26 that we got in uh with the grants and all the other things I just mentioned.

So we're down there.

We're very near the end now.

It probably cost 40 million if we start today, 400.

Absolutely.

You know, uh one thing I might add too is uh you know Rich Techman has been so integral.

Bringing him on was a great decision.

Yes, and I think we've only spent about nine percent on planning and design on the projects with the salary that he was paid out of the parks fund while we were in the figure, but he hasn't been getting paid out of that for a few years now, but uh because we had limited projects.

But had we gone out just in use of private consultants and stuff, we'd went up in the 20% range.

So you know, that's a good chunk of that money under that 30 million that we were able to put in the parks by using it.

Yeah, one of definitely uh that was a great decision that council endorsed uh to be able to allow us to pull him in as a landscape architect into that inside position, and uh not only saved us a ton of money, which it has that been able to go back into the parks, but also I think has really put us at a much higher level of everything we do associated with parks and buildings because of his expertise within the department.

It's really useful for constituents to be able to uh avail themselves of a landscape architect that you've got on board your city.

Very good point.

Yeah, he does.

He gets involved in a lot of neighborhood associations and a lot of individuals when they have tree issues or landscape, and uh it's a big help also to the Board of Lights and Water, is what they have.

And that's those are our reports, Mr.

Mayor, unless there are other questions and 15 seconds.

Recess for three minutes and take it back up and so.