OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Marietta City Council Meeting: Utilities, SPLOST, Zoning, and Judicial Update - February 9, 2026

City Council Archive ViewMonday, February 9, 2026
BodyMarietta, Georgia
SessionCity Council Archive View
DateMonday, February 9, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 2:12:13

Transcript — Verbatim
0:25

I think that's for the city council and it's not for the data work session.

0:29

I'll make there any changes to the data work sessions right now.

0:32

So would you like a motion, sir?

0:35

Make a motion to approve second.

0:43

Okay, but you can't report yes.

0:58

To kind of summarize what we talked about outages, considering how they handle uh software, I guess it's been implemented called FDIR which rolled out uh stated that we had about 50 uh start receiving grant for two funds in July to start approximately one smart switch per week to this program completion operation of targeted by 2028 uh to track uh installations and report progress these these are uh funded by a grant uh City Six Talk in the two strong labor cut the hybrids of customer experiences one point four or five outages per year and customers were plus or minus one outside this two point four uh the targeted service availability is many point one percent uh pretty close to the unit based and focused on security cloud downs AI palette's call since sediment grid uh S upgrades out it's SMS capability and six days and monitor also by the IT uh uh department uh it's I guess budget is two point nine percent of the operating expense, which is uh I guess uh we took four one percent.

3:32

Doing the the storm uh there were several uh I guess the people from the groups from as far as Florida getting pay help basically the uh it's necessary as protect protected when we have people from uh tallahas also from uh scale.

4:11

Uh these crowds uh would be a four emergency emergency preparedness price was falling the crew's inspected all equipment and drugs to ensure that they went out to work the condition in order to assess the conditions after the start the crew conducted assessments to evaluate the condition of one and through a line's check in the new blockages all the floors and stores that responded to the markets responding to customer reports and collaboration, and also rescue issues right now.

6:54

So if you use two centers or replacement markets and placement of thirty-seven room feeding sewer money alone, all goodly well street and one uh checkboard the charity street using plate percent in concrete some sections would even see replaced in some areas with some around confined by your lines would also put it to pay for when these money was often good.

7:36

The pipeline was actually worth it to the house toward the other way in case ten thousand dollars.

9:13

Very good uh the uh data centers water usage and electrical usage and they also had a representative from the RC so it was it was very good meeting.

9:28

Uh report ending in December 31st this year.

9:36

Um after this because this is just taken at that day.

9:45

So water sales for the month averages sixty-nine million gallons a day compared with the budget of seventy million gallons a day.

9:54

Water sales would be a total big five seven point eight million.

10:03

Operating income for the month uh totaled 1.7 million and fell short of the budget expectation by six hundred and thirty six thousand.

10:16

Um I'm just gonna highlight the thing.

10:21

Uh year-to-day uh spending on capital projects totaled 79.6 million due to um uh as of the date of the financial report, which many more coming in.

10:34

So uh with the remaining CIP budget commitment of twelve point five million cash reserve for CIP spending totaled fifty-nine point eight million dollars at the end of December.

10:50

Um recorded at the water authority totaled forty-one point five inches at the end of November.

10:59

And compared with an average of fifty-two for the same period last year, which is about twenty percent decrease year over year.

11:11

That costs you to have a lot more water sales, which is some reason we're not getting these water still.

11:20

Um we had um three linear projects, the uh Marshall project widening from 241 to Palmy County, and the project on the national park over by the National Park Service, which is an imposter there.

11:47

The contractor on that was unity construction, which is pretty well, they're they're a well-known entity.

11:55

But they subbed out the paving to another company to a PC for paving or something.

12:02

And it looks like they're it's gonna be a fight because water only started only took up payment on one lane, and the DOT is requiring them to repave both lanes and to do the curbing on both sides.

12:21

So this this should be a very interesting deal here coming on.

12:26

So they're supposed to start on that uh this Friday.

12:30

So we'll see what happens.

12:36

We had also three facilities and two design projects, and they're all on schedule.

12:43

Any other questions?

13:09

So I start off.

13:10

Um this evening I'll be doing the supplementals as well as the financials.

13:16

Um I'll try to um identify the pages as I go along.

13:21

So some of the um trucks found in the presentation may not necessarily be um in the um books, but then we'll um take it to the same information.

13:38

So look at page one, uh looking at the Miag monthly uh versus year to date, separate 2025.

13:48

I think costs were five percent over MIAG's projected budget, and the supplementals were fifty percent under budget, and full year the costs were under budget by one million dollars despite the supplemental by almost 17%.

14:07

On phase two, looking at our internal budget, the total cost for December exceeded projections by 9.37%.

14:16

Fiscal year to date, the total power costs are over budget by four million dollars.

14:21

1.1 million of that is supplemental shortfall.

14:25

And even though the cost um, even with the cost increase overall financials are still favorable, I'll talk to that um later on when we get into our finances.

14:44

So if you take a look at page two, I'm sorry, if you look at page three, the December pricing, looking at the gas price comparison for 2025 and 2026.

15:00

The actuals for 2025 ended with um close to uh right at $4 per MMBTU.

15:06

And they're starting off is um the updated projection costs are at $4.75 per MMBTU, which is almost five percent higher than it was budgeted, which we're anticipating that the gas prices um, especially for the month of January, which I'll get into momentarily um to be higher, and that's primarily due to the weather.

15:30

So we got saw an increase there, and that's not necessarily gonna um spread throughout the rest of the year because you see it fall and kind of level out, and then um as the winter comes back in for the month of December start to kind of hike back up at the end of the year, we'll get monthly updates on that uh um as we go throughout the year for PA.

15:54

So then moving on to the spot market comparison.

15:57

These prices average about a dollar um for M BTU higher, 426 and um 427 uh per on each month, and so taking a look at where we are this morning, it was approximately um three dollars and twenty cents per mm BTU.

16:18

Um this morning for today's project projected costs.

16:25

And looking at page five, um as you know, uh most of Georgia and um country experienced um two consecutive weekends of um stream implement weather, and this chart just gives a um a um hourly projection of what the hourly um forecast of what those costs would have been um at each hour.

16:52

The red dots indicate the night hour, so it shows a range from about 30 low 30s to um upwards of 780 dollars.

17:06

Um per um megawatt hour for the sale price um over the course of this nine-day period.

17:18

So it just gives you the wide range of where we are, um, put them off of January.

17:23

We wouldn't see those um revenues from any sales of those come in until the next month.

17:30

Um how the February billing and it'll be for the March payment as well as the March board meeting.

17:42

And this particular um slide just kind of gives you an idea of um one of the days that we were looking at the plat activity on the 27th at 741 a.m.

17:55

And markets are at the mid-500 range, and all of the available plants are running.

18:03

One thing to note is that Pine View, which is our solar plant, is now in operations, and we're looking at a snapshot for the morning time frame, and we have three megawatts of investment or capacity in uh Pine View, and currently at that time it was at 0.046, which is the minimum amount to run to start up the plant.

18:30

The reason for that is because it's in the morning time, we don't have as much sun.

18:35

The next slide shows um Pine View or our solar at almost three megawatts, and that is at a time frame of 11.42 in the morning, so we're almost at midday where the sun is up, so we'll get the most use out of that particular plant.

18:56

So just to kind of give you a little bit of background on how those um particular plants operate from a solar standpoint um versus how um some of the others operate a little bit differently based on the type of plant that they uh um resource that we're utilizing to generation for those two particular days.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Energy Management██████████████14%
Zoning and Land Use█████████████13%
Engineering And Infrastructure███████████11%
Judicial Process████████8%
Procedural███████7%
Historic Preservation███████7%
Parks and Recreation██████6%
Contract Management█████5%
Permitting█████5%
Summary of Proceedings

Marietta City Council Meeting – February 9, 2026

This meeting covered a range of topics including utility operations and financials, the SPLOST project list, several zoning and variance cases, a historic demolition issue, a judicial update, and personnel matters. Council members heard reports from staff and discussed options for balancing the SPLOST budget, while also addressing a proposed digital billboard conversion and a controversial demolition that occurred without proper approval.

Consent Calendar

  • Approved minutes and routine actions without objection, including the approval of the BLW (Board of Lights and Water) actions from the current meeting, which were added to the agenda via motion.
  • Approved several contract amendments and funding agreements, including a motion to approve an amendment to add current CL tag (specific contract details not read).
  • Approved a motion to move the agenda review session to a special called meeting at 5:00 PM to discuss the Whitlock Avenue addition and the parks bond options.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • No public comments were reported during the meeting. However, several items were noted as public hearings scheduled for the upcoming regular meeting on February 14, 2026, including the Lamar advertising digital billboard request, the Powder Springs Road variance case, and the historic demolition case.

Discussion Items

  • Utilities and Operations Report:
    • Staff reported on the implementation of FDIR (Fault Detection, Isolation, and Restoration) software to reduce outage durations. About 50 smart switches have been installed with a grant, targeting completion by 2028. The system can reroute power to minimize outages, though it may not detect partial feeder outages.
    • Storm response: Crews from as far as Florida assisted after the ice storm. Inspections and assessments were conducted on equipment and lines.
    • Water sales for December averaged 69 million gallons per day (budget 70 million). Operating income was $1.7 million, $636,000 below budget. Year-to-date capital spending was $79.6 million, with $59.8 million in cash reserves at the end of December.
    • Rainfall at the water authority was 41.5 inches through November, a 20% decrease from the 52-inch average for the same period last year, which influenced water sales.
    • Three linear projects were discussed, including the Marshall project widening from 241 to Palmy County, and a project near the National Park Service. A paving subcontractor issue was noted: the contractor (Unity Construction) subbed out paving to another company, and the DOT is requiring repaving of both lanes and curbing on both sides.
  • Power and Gas Costs:
    • December gas prices were near $4 per MMBTU; updated projections are $4.75 (almost 5% above budget due to weather). Spot market prices averaged about $1 higher per MMBTU.
    • The solar plant (Pine View) is now operational, producing 3 megawatts at midday. During the winter storm (January 27-28), plant activity showed high price volatility (ranging from $30 to $780 per megawatt hour). The city has a cost-plus structure for data center loads, ensuring expenses are covered.
    • Non-coincident peak (NCP) was the second highest in five years, driven by weather. Energy requirements are gradually increasing.
  • Financial Reports:
    • December financials: Revenue exceeded projections due to $4.5 million in developer contributions for a substation. Income from operations was $5.7 million (vs. $1.5 million last year). Without that one-time revenue, the city is on track with last year. Year-to-date margins are around 46%.
    • The budget includes a $3 million reserve that has not been tapped, allowing for additional capital projects.
  • SPLOST Project List (Streets, Parks, and Sidewalks):
    • Staff presented two options: (1) Remove parks projects (except maintenance) and add the Whitlock Avenue project and Orange Street streetscape, balancing the budget. (2) Keep all parks projects and other projects, using potential grant funding (estimated conservatively) to balance. Joint projects with Cobb County were removed because the county indicated they are not doing joint projects this time.
    • Council discussed Lawrence Street improvements: widening lanes from 20 feet to allow safe passage, adding a 5-foot sidewalk on one side, and minimizing retaining walls. The project is still conceptual; no trees will be removed. The street has a 25 mph speed limit with speed tables.
    • Timeline: Public input meeting with Cobb County on March 5 at the Civic Center; additional meetings in late March and mid-April; final vote on the SPLOST list in June after a public hearing.
    • Council expressed preference for the grant-based option (keeping parks) to have more flexibility. A motion to move forward with the Whitlock addition and park bond discussion was deferred to a special called meeting at 5:00 PM.
  • Zoning and Variance Cases:
    • Lamar Advertising Digital Billboard: Request to convert two static billboard panels to digital. City code requires four existing panels removed for each digital panel added. Lamar proposed six panels that had already been removed. Staff determined that two of those six were removed due to a variance action in 2016, which does not qualify. Thus, only four panels are available, allowing one digital face (not both). The public hearing is set for February 14.
    • Powder Springs Road Variance (745-755 Powder Springs Road): Property owner seeks to operate a commercial landscaping business on a ~1-acre site with two dilapidated buildings. Six variances are requested: (1) allow commercial landscaping within 200 feet of residential, (2) waive all overlay district requirements, (3) reduce setbacks, (4) eliminate 45-foot buffer, (5) permit outdoor storage within 50 feet of residential, and (6) allow gravel parking surface (69% of site). The site is adjacent to undeveloped PRD and existing multifamily. Public hearing on February 14.
    • Historic Demolition (Whitlock Avenue or similar): A property with historic designation was demolished without full approval. The HPC initially approved a limited demolition and partial new construction in November, but the permit issued for selective demolition allowed more demolition than intended. A stop work order is in place. The item before council is only the demolition approval (retroactive). The HPC referred the matter to council. Questions about the foundation and reuse of brick were raised. The council will decide on February 14 whether to approve the demolition retroactively.
  • Judicial Update:
    • Chief Judge reported a 47% increase in citations from 2024 to 2025. The state patrol is now directing citations to the municipality where the violation occurred, which will substantially increase the court's caseload. Currently, the court handles about 110 cases per 3.5-hour session, with citizens waiting up to 4.5 hours. Cases are scheduled five months out. The addition of a prosecutor (approved earlier) is expected to help. The judge also noted an increase in school bus citation cases due to $1,000 fines. He discussed policies for community service alternatives and verification.
  • Personnel and Contracts:
    • Council discussed compensation and contracts for judges, assistant judges, and the prosecuting attorney. The motion included retroactive compensation for the chief judge from January 1. Contracts were noted for all except the general manager. The package also includes ordinances for the prosecuting attorney. The item was moved to consent for the next meeting.

Key Outcomes

  • The council approved the consent agenda items, including the BLW actions and several contract amendments, with no objections.
  • A motion was made and passed to move the agenda review session to a special called meeting at 5:00 PM to further discuss the Whitlock Avenue addition and the parks bond options.
  • The council will hold public hearings on February 14, 2026, for the Lamar advertising digital billboard, the Powder Springs Road variance, and the historic demolition case.
  • The SPLOST project list discussion will continue at the special called meeting, with a goal to finalize a list by the April committee meeting and adopt the intergovernmental agreement with Cobb County in June.
  • The council acknowledged the need for a prosecutor to address the court backlog and will proceed with the previously approved addition.
  • The historic demolition case will be decided on February 14; the council noted that the demolition has already occurred and that a vote to deny would leave the site in limbo.

Meeting Transcript

I think that's for the city council and it's not for the data work session. I'll make there any changes to the data work sessions right now. So would you like a motion, sir? Make a motion to approve second. Okay, but you can't report yes. To kind of summarize what we talked about outages, considering how they handle uh software, I guess it's been implemented called FDIR which rolled out uh stated that we had about 50 uh start receiving grant for two funds in July to start approximately one smart switch per week to this program completion operation of targeted by 2028 uh to track uh installations and report progress these these are uh funded by a grant uh City Six Talk in the two strong labor cut the hybrids of customer experiences one point four or five outages per year and customers were plus or minus one outside this two point four uh the targeted service availability is many point one percent uh pretty close to the unit based and focused on security cloud downs AI palette's call since sediment grid uh S upgrades out it's SMS capability and six days and monitor also by the IT uh uh department uh it's I guess budget is two point nine percent of the operating expense, which is uh I guess uh we took four one percent. Doing the the storm uh there were several uh I guess the people from the groups from as far as Florida getting pay help basically the uh it's necessary as protect protected when we have people from uh tallahas also from uh scale. Uh these crowds uh would be a four emergency emergency preparedness price was falling the crew's inspected all equipment and drugs to ensure that they went out to work the condition in order to assess the conditions after the start the crew conducted assessments to evaluate the condition of one and through a line's check in the new blockages all the floors and stores that responded to the markets responding to customer reports and collaboration, and also rescue issues right now. So if you use two centers or replacement markets and placement of thirty-seven room feeding sewer money alone, all goodly well street and one uh checkboard the charity street using plate percent in concrete some sections would even see replaced in some areas with some around confined by your lines would also put it to pay for when these money was often good. The pipeline was actually worth it to the house toward the other way in case ten thousand dollars. Very good uh the uh data centers water usage and electrical usage and they also had a representative from the RC so it was it was very good meeting. Uh report ending in December 31st this year. Um after this because this is just taken at that day. So water sales for the month averages sixty-nine million gallons a day compared with the budget of seventy million gallons a day. Water sales would be a total big five seven point eight million. Operating income for the month uh totaled 1.7 million and fell short of the budget expectation by six hundred and thirty six thousand. Um I'm just gonna highlight the thing. Uh year-to-day uh spending on capital projects totaled 79.6 million due to um uh as of the date of the financial report, which many more coming in. So uh with the remaining CIP budget commitment of twelve point five million cash reserve for CIP spending totaled fifty-nine point eight million dollars at the end of December. Um recorded at the water authority totaled forty-one point five inches at the end of November. And compared with an average of fifty-two for the same period last year, which is about twenty percent decrease year over year. That costs you to have a lot more water sales, which is some reason we're not getting these water still. Um we had um three linear projects, the uh Marshall project widening from 241 to Palmy County, and the project on the national park over by the National Park Service, which is an imposter there. The contractor on that was unity construction, which is pretty well, they're they're a well-known entity. But they subbed out the paving to another company to a PC for paving or something. And it looks like they're it's gonna be a fight because water only started only took up payment on one lane, and the DOT is requiring them to repave both lanes and to do the curbing on both sides. So this this should be a very interesting deal here coming on. So they're supposed to start on that uh this Friday. So we'll see what happens. We had also three facilities and two design projects, and they're all on schedule. Any other questions? So I start off. Um this evening I'll be doing the supplementals as well as the financials. Um I'll try to um identify the pages as I go along. So some of the um trucks found in the presentation may not necessarily be um in the um books, but then we'll um take it to the same information. So look at page one, uh looking at the Miag monthly uh versus year to date, separate 2025. I think costs were five percent over MIAG's projected budget, and the supplementals were fifty percent under budget, and full year the costs were under budget by one million dollars despite the supplemental by almost 17%. On phase two, looking at our internal budget, the total cost for December exceeded projections by 9.37%. Fiscal year to date, the total power costs are over budget by four million dollars. 1.1 million of that is supplemental shortfall. And even though the cost um, even with the cost increase overall financials are still favorable, I'll talk to that um later on when we get into our finances. So if you take a look at page two, I'm sorry, if you look at page three, the December pricing, looking at the gas price comparison for 2025 and 2026. The actuals for 2025 ended with um close to uh right at $4 per MMBTU. And they're starting off is um the updated projection costs are at $4.75 per MMBTU, which is almost five percent higher than it was budgeted, which we're anticipating that the gas prices um, especially for the month of January, which I'll get into momentarily um to be higher, and that's primarily due to the weather. So we got saw an increase there, and that's not necessarily gonna um spread throughout the rest of the year because you see it fall and kind of level out, and then um as the winter comes back in for the month of December start to kind of hike back up at the end of the year, we'll get monthly updates on that uh um as we go throughout the year for PA. So then moving on to the spot market comparison. These prices average about a dollar um for M BTU higher, 426 and um 427 uh per on each month, and so taking a look at where we are this morning, it was approximately um three dollars and twenty cents per mm BTU. Um this morning for today's project projected costs. And looking at page five, um as you know, uh most of Georgia and um country experienced um two consecutive weekends of um stream implement weather, and this chart just gives a um a um hourly projection of what the hourly um forecast of what those costs would have been um at each hour. The red dots indicate the night hour, so it shows a range from about 30 low 30s to um upwards of 780 dollars.

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