Marietta City Council Work Session - February 11, 2026
Marietta City Council Work Session - February 11, 2026\n\nThis work session covered multiple city operations, including a parcel split request, a prosecutor contract, a public hearing for speed tables, business spotlights, a budget process overview, and departmental updates. Key outcomes included approval of the prosecutor contract with language modifications, setting a public hearing for speed tables on April 1, and recognizing significant public safety statistics such as 29,000 hours of POST training for officers and 14% cardiac arrest survival rate.\n\n### Public Comments & Testimony\n- Katie Fister and a co-owner (names not fully captured) from Session St. Brasserie and Micah Angelo's Pizza presented their businesses. They described the coffee and pastry offerings, sourdough pizza, and community support. They expressed appreciation for the neighborhood atmosphere.\n\n### Discussion Items\n- Parcel Split and Infill Overlay Ordinance: Staff responded to Councilman Richardson's prior question about whether the proposed parcel split aligns with the infill overlay ordinance. The ordinance allows parcels as small as 5,000 square feet, while the proposed parcels are over 11,000 square feet each. There is principal alignment but not on an individual lot basis. The request does not ask for side setback adjustments.\n- Prosecutor Contract: Discussion centered on a contract for an assistant prosecutor. Staff noted discrepancies between the contract language and the Georgia Prosecuting Attorneys Council rules, which only govern the chief prosecutor. Issues included leave-granting authority for assistants. Council decided to file approval with the language modified to align with state law for the chief prosecutor only. Further monitoring was noted.\n- Speed Tables Public Hearing: Staff announced a public hearing for the possible installation of three speed tables in the Franklin Gateway area. The hearing is set for April 1, 2026, from 5:00 to 7:00 PM in council chambers. Public feedback will be gathered and reported back.\n- Development Update (Franklin Gateway): Staff provided follow-up on Councilman Cass's question about non-compliant uses and setbacks. The narrow drive behind other buildings and a building on the north property line were discussed. Neighbors have submitted support letters. The drive will not be affected.\n- Business License Cybersecurity Issue: A cybersecurity attack on the credit card merchant is preventing online payments for business license renewals and new applications. The merchant has not provided a timeline for correction. IT is working on alternative options. The issue also impacts some building permit after-hours forms. The FBI and Secret Service are involved. Communications will post a notice.\n- Budget Process Overview: Staff walked through the annual budget timeline. The process starts in December, operating budgets are due in February, capital budgets for BLW earlier. General fund capital is reviewed in August and approved in November from prior year excess funds. BLW budget must be submitted to their board in April. City budget hearings will be held in May and June, with final approval by June 30 for July 1 effective date.\n- 250th Anniversary Celebration: The city is planning events around the nation's 250th anniversary, including a concert lineup, traveling displays, and a special Fourth of July focus. A committee with over 50 organizational representatives has been formed. A new logo will be released. Residents can contact Rachel to get involved.\n- World Cup Viewing Party: The city has applied to FIFA for permission to host a viewing party on the square with multiple screens. The U.S. games are on weekends. The request is pending response.\n- Greenhouse Development: Mentioned as the largest current development in the city, with nearly 600 houses.\n\n### Key Outcomes\n- Parcel Split: No vote; discussion only.\n- Prosecutor Contract: Approved for filing with modified language to ensure compliance with Georgia law (specific to chief prosecutor).\n- Speed Tables Public Hearing: Set for April 1, 2026, 5-7 PM in council chambers.\n- Business License Issue: Noted; communications will post a public notice.\n- Training Statistics: Marietta Police officers completed 29,000 hours of POST training in 2025. Two to three new officers may be presented at next council meeting. Four openings expected to be filled in three weeks, including a former officer returning.\n- Fire Department: New 48-hour schedule implemented; positive feedback from firefighters. In 2025, the department responded to 60 cardiac arrests; 11 patients (14%) walked out of the hospital, above the national average. Annual awards ceremony to be announced.\n- Water Line Replacement: 10,000 feet of water main being replaced in St. Anne's/St. Mary's neighborhood at a cost of $2.2 million; project expected through late June.\n- Downtown Solid Waste Collection: City took over collections and recycling in-house. New driver noted for superior service (cleaning enclosures).\n- Facilities: Restaurant building being delivered; tree planting event Saturday, February 14 (Valentine's Day) from 9-11 AM.\n- Special Events: March 7 – City event; March 14 – Keep Marietta Beautiful paper shredding day; March 21 – Bunny Brunch; March 28 – Board Game Day.\n- Training Center: On track for completion in March.\n- Citizens Government Academy: Registration open; 25th year. Classes start March 18.\n- Land Use Disputes: County has set up meetings with cities to discuss dispute resolution process regarding state law conflicts. Powder Springs annexation/land use dispute meetings are ongoing.
Meeting Transcript
And um special call me to go to the city council and a review session place. First item is right there basically manage a day where the board gates and I should go to the fiber blank value right here. Short time with the prayer and also standpoint to three setting things. I think uh here it's yeah, don't have to be reading something they read something with uh uh I think there's a problem which needs it. Okay, I don't know. We can go either way. Okay. I'll do whatever. Then you don't want to have trouble. Um to a bad extra head. I think Mr. Mary says no new information to share. Um I did want to uh react to a question that Councilman Richardson asked at the Monday meeting. Um essentially what the question was was would this uh splitting of the parcels match what our infull overlay ordinance is and looking at that ordinance that ordinance actually required or allows much smaller parcels than what you're doing. Yeah, for example, these two both being over eleven thousand square feet, and that ordinance allows to be five thousand square feet. So there's some principal alignment, but not individually. That's correct, and this uh request is not asking for side set back in facts. It's just the long width and the one size. Yeah, and also this is not saying anything about the street and I don't strip over fairness, it's just the streets on it. That would be a different entire that'd be a particular process time. Yes, sir, it's clear. Fourth item is not all consumed. Well, I shouldn't. So we do it. You want to talk about the agreement and don't talk about the contract. You want to come down? Speak to her and she didn't accept the position. Maybe I can put the open shit which is already final language. Right now it says uh driven boards fix the compensation in contract. It's part of our back on the same orders. Back from the committees of the stack contract and you have the solution to the chief prosecutor officer in the name was the second one. I don't have a contract section. The country has some kind of material issues and then some non-material. Like things where it says it is where it should say. So it's got some of that, but it also specifically took language from the chief prosecutor. And just added assistant. The problem that that creates is only the chief prosecutors I'm reading right now is governed by the prosecuting attorney's council of the state of Georgia. Not any assistant. So we've got some language where she's allowed to grant leave to lower assistant prosecutors just the language in there that is should just be preserved for not extended. So can we do this without the contract at this moment? If you desire, you can say to file approval Mr. Bruton is registered on with the language modified to make consistently joined the law. First thing you prosecute. Because that would be those were the two things I'd identify. So those needs language structures. Whatever my exact body however we want to do the language again. Just understanding that as I'm reading the CJ 15181. It is limited to the chief prosecutor. So there's some things that we're just going to need to monitor. And if I'm currently labels in the Cistrian Prosecutor's attorney and counsel Georgia, which doesn't operate the function change the fact that the front of it will need to break it.
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