City Council Meeting Summary: December 10, 2025
City Council Meeting Summary: December 10, 2025
The City Council of Marietta convened for the final regular meeting of the current council term, marked by departures of three retiring members and the swearing-in of a new council. The session featured an invocation by Councilor Goldstein, recognition of youth artists and a retired Olympic gold medalist, and extensive public comments on community development projects. The council concluded with votes on rezoning requests and a transition to an executive session.
Consent Calendar
- Approved unanimously (7-0): The consent agenda included the final plat for High View Phase One (with revised sidewalk plans), city council meeting dates, and Bill, Light, and Water (BLW) minutes.
- Note: Mr. Haney requested changes to move the High View Phase One plat, council meeting dates, and BLW minutes to the consent calendar for approval.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Dr. Mel Pender: Expressed deep gratitude for the proclamation recognizing "Dr. Mel Pender Day," citing his love for Cobb County and his foundation's mission to help children through education and mentorship.
- Donald Barr: Expressed appreciation for the council's service over the years, specifically thanking Mayor Tumlin and the council members for their leadership.
- Kathy Schloss: Stated full support for the city staff and previous council members, expressing pride in calling Marietta home and acknowledging the work of first responders and local officials.
- Councilman Johnny Walker:
- Expressed immense gratitude for the city staff, specifically naming Chief Beam, Chief Milligan, Mark Rice, and others as "amazing" and credited for the city's success.
- Stated that the future of the community is in great hands with the incoming council.
- Expressed support for the incoming council, advising them to "listen before you speak and be kind to the staff."
- Paid tribute to late colleague Joanne Ellers and thanked the 6,754 true Marietta lovers.
- Lily Reed (230 Scott Drive SE):
- Expressed strong opposition to the Trayton rezoning (Z-2025-17), arguing that the proposed 76 units violate the city code's requirement that developments over 51 units connect to arterial streets, not local streets.
- Stated concern that the traffic study fails to address pedestrian safety and potential fire code violations.
- Expressed concern that the site conditions are not sufficiently difficult to require variances for driveway lengths and stream buffers.
- Proposed capping the development at 51 units as a condition to ensure compliance with city ordinances and fire safety.
- Mr. Barnes: Expressed support for the Trayton project but stated specific concern that the four billboards on the property could become a "sore thumb" and negatively impact sales for the development.
- Larry Wills (60 Oakmont Drive):
- Expressed opposition to the project's proximity to I-75, citing noise ordinances and air pollution concerns as reasons he would not buy a home there.
- Expressed concern regarding stream flooding and the potential cost of repairing a bridge or covert for the homeowners association.
- Councilman Joseph Goldstein: Expressed a preference for wider (20-foot) alley driveways over the proposed 16-foot alleys to avoid sanitation truck access issues, noting that while he understands the current constraints, he wants a future council not to face these complications.
- Laura Keefe (Exec. Director of Y.E.L.E.):
- Expressed excitement regarding the city's purchase of the former IKEA property on Franklin Gateway.
- Urged the council to engage the community in the decision-making process for the 33-acre parcel.
- Damon (Y.E.L.E. Teen):
- Expressed a desire for the Franklin Gateway property to become a community asset such as a garden, rec center, or amphitheater.
- Stressed that the local community, especially youth, must be part of the conversation at every step.
- Amy Lunsford:
- Expressed strong opposition to the potential use of the Franklin Gateway property as private soccer fields.
- Stated that residents of Franklin Gateway are being demeaned and that private fields would not benefit the diverse, low-income families living there.
- Jerome Boitang: Expressed concern about parking shortages at the Marietta Square and advocated for expanding bus lanes through Whitlock Avenue and Polk Street to improve accessibility for residents who cannot drive.
- Karen LeBrock: Expressed gratitude to all elected officials for their service and encouraged them to continue visiting all neighborhoods, not just those they know personally.
- Franklin Gateway Mother: Expressed support for the Franklin Gateway parcel becoming a community space rather than just a garden or private fields, specifically requesting basketball courts for her 14-year-old sons.
- Sam Foster: Stated that the people who live in Franklin Gateway should be the first to decide the future of the 33-acre parcel and expressed concern about giving the land to a singular entity without community input.
Discussion Items
- Marietta Police Department Holiday Card Contest: Recognized four PAL students (Jocelyn Mendoza, Anna Alevier, Sean McQuery, and Sarah) for their holiday artwork. Ms. Mendoza and Ms. Alevier were placed in a tie for third place, Mr. McQuery received second place, and Ms. Sarah received first place.
- Proclamation for Dr. Mel Pender: Council declared December 10 as "Dr. Mel Pender Day." Discussion highlighted Dr. Pender's 1968 Olympic gold medal, his Vietnam veteran status, and his foundation's work with children.
- Community Announcements:
- A recognition ceremony for the retiring council members was announced for December 18 at the fire museum.
- A menorah lighting was mentioned for December 18 and December 20 on the square.
- Mayor Tumlin announced a future town hall meeting on January 27.
- A national event (likely the "Walk for Freedom" or similar) was noted for the upcoming Saturday.
- Rezoning Case Z-2025-17 (Trayton LLC):
- Proposal: Rezoning 19.451 acres from R2, R4, and RRC zones to PRDSF for 76 detached single-family homes.
- Applicant Position (Kevin Moore): Stated the project reduces home count from 79 to 76 to address driveway length issues (increasing alley driveways to 18 feet), ensures minimal traffic impact, and provides significant open space. He argued the project adds to home ownership options and supports the Franklin Gateway CID.
- Staff Position: Public Works confirmed that a 107,000 dollar contribution is required for road improvements on Scott and Crestridge drives.
- Council Deliberation: Council members discussed stream buffers, billboard access, noise concerns, and driveway widths. Councilman Goldstein tabled the motion to allow further review of alley sanitation and Matthews Circle alignment issues.
- Outcome: The motion to approve (substitute motion) failed 4-3. A subsequent motion to table the item for one month carried 5-2.
- Rezoning Case Z-2025-24 (615 Cobb Parkway South):
- Proposal: Rezoning from CRC to CRC with outside storage to re-establish a nonconforming use.
- Applicant Position: Argued the use is an interim solution supporting surrounding businesses and requested approval with conditions for opaque fencing and landscaping.
- Outcome: Council approved the rezoning 6-1 with stipulations requiring an opaque fence, landscaping, and removal of gravel outside the fence.
- Stop Sign Request (Briar Pond Way & Rosewood Creek Drive):
- Proposal: Installation of a three-way stop and pedestrian crosswalks.
- Outcome: Council approved the request 7-0 following public support.
Key Outcomes
- Consent Agenda: Approved unanimously (7-0).
- Rezoning Z-2025-17 (Trayton LLC): Tabled for one month. The motion to approve failed 4-3; the motion to table succeeded 5-2.
- Rezoning Z-2025-24 (615 Cobb Parkway): Approved 6-1 with stipulations for fencing and landscaping.
- Stop Sign Installation: Approved 7-0.
- Executive Session: Motion to enter executive session for legal matters carried; the council members in attendance (Mayor, Council Pro Tem, and retiring members) participated.
- Council Transition: Acknowledged the retirement of three council members and the upcoming term for the new council.
Meeting Transcript
December the 10th, mid of city councilor order, please. First item on the agenda is Mr. Ghostie will lead us in the invocation and the Pledge of Allegiance. I've actually got uh my normal prayer and also an additional prayer. Um uh given the fact that this is the last regular council meeting for this council. We have three members retiring, and we have a new council starting on up. There's a prayer in my religion called the Traveler's Prayer that I'd like to read, and then I'll get into the normal prayer after that. May it be your will, Lord our God and God of our ancestors that you lead us towards peace, guide our four footsteps towards peace, and make us reach our desired destination for life, gladness, and peace. May you rescue us from the hands of every foe, ambush along the way, and from all manner of punishment that assemble to come to earth. May you send blessing in our handiwork and grant us grace, kindness, and mercy in your eyes, and in the eyes of all who see us. May you hear the sound of our humble request, because you're our God who hears prayer, prayer requests. Bless you uh Lord who hears prayer. Our God and God of our ancestors, we ask your blessings for our country, city, and state, for its government, for its leaders and advisors, and for all who exercise just and rightful authority. Teach them insights from your laws, that they may administer all affairs of state fairly, that peace and security, happiness and prosperity, justice and freedom may forever abide in our midst. Creator of all flesh, bless all the inhabitants of our country with your spirit. May citizens of all races and creeds forge a common bond and true harmony, to banish hatred and bigotry, and to safeguard the ideals and free institutions that are the pride and glory of our country. May this land under your providence be an influence for good throughout the world, uniting all people in peace and freedom, helping them to fulfill the vision of your prophet for the time that nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they experience war anymore. And let us say amen. And to the Republic, for which it says, one nation, under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all. Yeah. And Dunay, I think. Come on up here with me today. Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. It's my pleasure and the pleasure of uh our PAL executive director today, Bodio McRae, to my left here, to make some presentations tonight. We'll give you a little background on this. The uh Marietta Police Department in the past has sent out uh Christmas cards, holiday cards every year for as long as I can remember to various community members, community organizations, other law enforcement agencies, etc. And um when it came time to do that this coming year, I got together with uh with the name. We talked about it a little bit and decided that we were going to spice it up a little bit, and instead of just buying some stock cards, we decided to have a contest with our POL students and let them draw draw is really the wrong word. This is some fast fantastic artwork, which you see behind me on the on the uh screen. And we we're gonna have a contest and have four of the winners have cards designed, which we will send out, and we have already sent out. So, with all that said, we're gonna recognize the winners tonight, and I'm gonna turn that over to Danae and she's going to call the names up and we're gonna recognize them. Thank you, Chief. Good evening, everyone. So if my amazing pal kids can please come forward as your names are called. First up is eight-year-old Miss Jocelyn Mendoza. Please come forward. Nine-year-old Miss Anna Alevier. Miss Anna, please come up. Last but not least, recommending representing the gentleman, Mr. Sean McQuear McQuery. 15 years old. Please come forward. And so I want to say that they did this beautiful artwork, just kind of for the fun of it. They didn't know that this artwork was going to turn into holiday cards that would go out all over the area. And so now, for the big announcement, who got third place, second place, first place. So we had a tie for third place. And those winners are Miss Jocelyn and Miss Anna. Miss Anna. Second place goes to Mr. Sean.
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