Marietta City Council Agenda Review Session

On Wednesday, September 10, 2025, the Marietta City Council convened at 6:00 PM in the Council Chamber for an agenda review session. The session covered approval of prior meeting minutes, agenda consent items, and a series of departmental updates including HR, parks, public works, police, fire, IT, and a Georgia Tech partnership. Key project updates and future planning were also discussed.

Consent Calendar

• The August 13, 2025 regular meeting minutes were reviewed and approved by a motion and second with no objections.
• Agenda items for 92 and 96 Whitlock were tabled until October 8, 2025, with no new information. A council member noted the items do not require a public hearing.
• Annexation items related to the above were also tabled with no objection.
• The ethics scope item was placed on consent with no objection.
• Four items on page 7 were placed on consent with no objection.
• Jair G Street was placed on consent with no objection.
• 31 Rock Street was placed on consent with no new information; specific variances include allowance for outdoor storage outside a solid wall or fence no less than 6 feet in height, and restrictions on outdoor automobile storage percentage, location, and underlying zoning. A council member clarified this lot is separate from the business’s main lot on Rosal Street.
• 1288 and 50 Power Sphering was placed on consent with no objection.
• A grant of $31,500 was placed on consent, with a council member requesting to note an abstention on the record.
• A minor wording change was proposed for one consent item: strike “related” after “two,” insert “enforced,” so the phrase reads “take appropriate action to enforce the contract between Mary and Myers.” No objection was raised, and it remained on consent.
• The next four items were placed on consent with no changes.

Departmental Updates & Reports

Service Delivery Strategy (SDS) & Compliance

• The Department of Community Affairs (DCA) has accepted the service delivery strategy for Cobb County and all cities, meeting the September deadline. Next steps involve Marietta and Cobb County working to resolve service delivery issues before summer. A state law change now requires cities to wait until six months after submitting their Comprehensive Plan (due fall 2027) before resubmitting the SDS. The city can begin negotiations earlier if desired.

SPLOST Financial Status

• The current SPLOST is approximately $24 million above expenditures after design work on major projects, but construction has not yet begun. The city expects to maintain a $30–40 million buffer above budget, almost double what Cobb County had initially projected for Marietta. Once Tier 1 projects are complete, the council can consider Tier 2 projects. The council will receive a list of approved Tier 2 projects.

Public Works Updates

• Burn Hickory and Polk & Wynn Intersections: Major utility improvements will begin next summer. Construction at Polk & Wynn is expected in summer 2027 to avoid school impacts. The planned design is an adjusted roundabout (not a straightening due to a cemetery) that improves a bus turn lane and sight distance, and prevents traffic backups onto the North Marietta Loop.
• Whitlock Drive & Woodlock Drive Improvements: Final plans are being delivered; the project will be bid within 30–45 days.
• Whitlock Avenue: A resolution will be discussed at the September committee meeting with G-DOT.
• Wilkie at New Hope: The city is waiting on the church to respond on acquisition terms; their previous offer was not acceptable.
• Fast Circle: Stormwater improvements (curbing, guttering) have begun and may cause resident inquiries.
• Retirement: Street supervisor Kenny Thomason, with 33.5 years of service, will retire on October 31, 2025. A retirement celebration will be planned.
• Dumpster Plan: An agenda item is prepared for the September committee meeting.

Human Resources (Kisha Register)

• Mobile Mammogram Event (Sept 25): At least 10 more female participants (over age 40) are needed to avoid cancellation; partners from other organizations may also register if their insurance is accepted.
• Open Enrollment: October 13–31, kicked off by WellStar on October 14 with flu and “super flu” shots.
• National Retirement Week (week of Oct 14): The city will host “Road to Retirement” travel-themed seminars, the Social Security lady on Oct 23, and Mission Square and Nationwide presentations on Oct 24.
• GMA Change: The city’s switch to GMA has already resulted in safety initiatives with public safety liaisons.

Parks & Recreation (Rich Buss)

• Upcoming Events:
  • Sept 12: Coffee, Cryptids & Campfire at Atherton Square (won a “New Event of the Year” award in 2024).
  • Sept 19: Last day for youth basketball registration; Movies on the Square (partnering with the Elf on the Shelf authors).
  • Sept 26: Final concert of the year (Davis and the Love Variety Pop Hits); deadline for Scarecrows on the Square.
  • Oct 18: Harvest on the Square (scarecrow judging announced).
• Legacy Park (Custer Park) Update: Crews working on stream piping encountered a buried French drain that was holding groundwater; additional French drain work is planned. The park was built in the 1960s; underdrain was installed in 1961.
• East Dixie Trail: A pre-construction meeting has been held; start date to be announced soon. A neighborhood block party is scheduled for Oct 18.

Georgia Tech Partnership

• Project Overview: The city is partnering with Georgia Tech’s industrial engineering program for process improvement across multiple departments.
• Public Works & IT: Developing a digital twin of Marietta’s transportation network to model traffic impacts of changes (signal timings, lane closures, etc.). About nine students will present results at semester end.
• Finance Projects: Two projects: (1) Streamlining occupational license applications toward a fully online process (with a kiosk already installed), and (2) implementing a better forecasting model using a new budget platform.
• Parks & Rec Projects: Two projects: (1) Predictive analysis of park usage and user data (from Placer AI) to guide maintenance and future development, and (2) assessing community engagement methods (social media, website) and recommending low-cost additions (e.g., TikTok, pending IT considerations).
• Police Department Project: Georgia Tech students will model natural evacuation routes from Marietta Square during emergencies (e.g., tornado during a festival) to aid planning.

Fire Department (Chief Milligan)

• No update provided; chief stated “everything’s wonderful.”

Police Department (Chief Beam)

• Zone 1 Town Hall: Sept 11, 6:30–8:00 PM at Marietta Yale’s office (779 Franklin Gateway).
• New Training Center: Earthwork has begun; a large pile of dirt will need to be removed. The facility will include a training tower and building funded by ARPA funds, plus a burn building and other features built with city funds and departmental sweat equity. Future SPLOST funding may add an asphalt driving area for police and hose-lay area for fire. The center will allow in-city training, enabling units to remain on call and serve as a recruiting tool.

IT & Communications (Maggie Moss et al.)

• Employee Health Clinic Video: A new video showcasing the award-winning clinic (no out-of-pocket costs, same-day appointments, up to $400 annual health assessment incentive) will be shown to new employees.
• Grid Logic Project: The city is a real-world test bed for a GRID LOGIC project with Georgia Tech that uses AI and advanced monitoring to protect the power grid from cyber threats. This builds on the earlier GRID TRUST research.
• Marietta Parks Video Series: A set of promotional videos was shown: an overall intro (“Discover Marietta Parks”), and spotlights on Victory Park (4.8 acres, playground, pavilion, workout equipment), Laurel Park (25 acres, 13 lighted tennis courts, pro shop, walking path, playground, ponds, shuffleboard, basketball, sand volleyball), and Elizabeth Porter Park (historic site, playground, splash pad, walking paths, mural).
• Drone Updates: Aerial footage was shown of:
  • Land United expansion (new building nearly complete with clubhouse, media facilities, and additional team housing).
  • Greenhouse subdivision (Bells Ferry area; phases 1 and 2 with landscaping and trails; home sales beginning; phase 3 permits applied for; total 29 homes across three phases; developer said it was largest in metro at announcement). The development includes senior ranch-style homes (master on main) and detached/attached ownership units.
  • Police training center – earth moved, building to be located across from existing facilities.

Parks Bond Updates

• The city’s $26 million parks bond was leveraged with grants and interest earnings to yield over $30 million in total spending. Rich Buss, hired as a landscape architect, saved approximately 11% in planning/design costs compared to using private consultants. The bond is nearly depleted, but the city gained $4 million above the original bond amount. Future SPLOST may consider additional facility upgrades.

Key Outcomes

• The August 13, 2025 regular meeting minutes were approved.
• 92 and 96 Whitlock and related annexation items were tabled until October 8, 2025.
• All consent agenda items were approved without objection, except one council member’s abstention on a $31,500 grant was noted.
• A minor wording correction was accepted for one consent item.
• The Georgia Tech partnership is underway across multiple departments with reporting expected at semester end.
• The police training center construction has begun; future SPLOST may fund additional training features.
• The city remains in compliance with DCA service delivery requirements, with the next deadline tied to the county’s 2027 comp plan submission.