OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Marietta City Council Meeting - February 24, 2026

City Council Archive View — Tuesday, February 24, 2026
BodyMarietta, Georgia
SessionCity Council Archive View
DateTuesday, February 24, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 4:54:49

Transcript — Verbatim
0:02

I call five to one of first time on a while because one of the goods.

0:31

I'll make them out of it.

0:34

Probably sucking on the right.

0:41

So hotel tax or rural tax financing.

0:54

So we'll take a look at our um January full-time melt.

1:00

And full-time maltel for this month includes 40,000 of out-of-period payments.

1:07

So if we normalize the receipts, we'll be approximately at 219,000.

1:13

And this is the lowest January collection that we've seen since COVID.

1:19

And that was in fiscal year 2021.

1:23

So $200,000 of additional revenue received throughout this fiscal year for the short-term rental marketplace audits have allowed us for fiscal year-to-year debate to remain in line with our prior year collections.

1:40

However, we have seen, and as I've expressed before, is continued to decline in some of the hotel collections.

1:50

So moving forward to our 3% auto rental.

1:53

And the auto rental is 105,000 239 dollars for this month, and this is on par for um with January 2024 collections.

2:10

So it is lower than prior year 125, but is required for 424.

2:17

And then lastly, we take a look at our quarterly financial report.

2:21

In all areas of our general funds revenue has remained stable, which is um good news, so we don't see any um major areas of concern um other than some of the um trends that we've talked about in the past.

2:39

Um nothing that we have forecasted um has um nothing has come to fruition outside of our normal forecast that we are online budget.

2:50

Our revenue collections fiscal year to date are at 3.1 million higher than last year.

2:56

Um this increase is generated uh primarily in three major areas, and that's um property tax licensing and intergovernmental revenue.

3:06

Um and those collections um are up the tax collections are up by six hundred and fifty thousand, licensing and permits are above point six million, and intergovernmental revenue is up thirty-six three hundred and sixty thousand.

3:22

Um our franchise taxes are steady, however, can um telephone as we've mentioned before continues to decline.

3:30

Uh business license our funds and forfeitures as well as sanitation and parts um will be our primary revenue as we enter into the last um month of our current fiscal year.

3:44

And looking at our operating expenditures, these are um less than expected, so that is helping our overall um have multiple areas that are optimizing savings opportunities.

3:58

These typically um they are typically enhanced.

4:02

Um we'll see in this activity for our purchases toward the end of the fiscal year, and everybody tries to make sure that they have um all of their expenditures um at least in um encumbered by year end so that they would be able to optimize on that kind of budget.

4:20

So you'll see those expenditure line items kind of um increase incrementally as we go along to the remainder of the fiscal year.

4:29

From a personnel um standpoint, we are operating at 4%, so um about 15% of the improvement positions are currently on field um and management continues to monitor um the operating and all uh salary savings funds are capital.

4:51

So we are on a completely um played hiring schedule, so it's not um I think it's uh two months delay the uh hiring school of the month.

5:05

Okay.

5:06

So um so just a small delay because we have um in meeting our um operating expectations as well as our revenue and that company is not right for which so I attended uh the tourism meeting today, that county and overall the county has seen a five percent decrease in a hotel book to uh AR show and of all the places around Metro Atlanta, we had the lowest at five percent.

5:50

There were a couple places that were in 26%.

5:54

Um so this is what everyone is seeing with the January.

6:00

Um now one hotel here did say that he saw an increase in February, and it's expect the March to be even better.

6:09

Um currently, this is kind of the state that we're in right now year to year over year.

6:16

Um those collections have done some of the um testing that has to do with the weather.

6:26

They are anticipating that uh there's as we go into the Mars was no more C increase.

6:33

Um also with um the um soccer with soccer.

6:39

I mean um some are in anticipated um which are uh profit margin that they've seen in the past we expect probably from um May to the July time frame just um motion to see the file second.

7:13

Second second round parts of budget.

7:32

So the parks bond um amendment is um a request to use um the reserve funds in the parks bond budget, uh parts about the cap reserve account in order to um pay for some additional expenses uh for the expenses for the remainder of the test of the year companies wanting to act as you are just really authorized.

8:28

So the funds are asked for have been appropriated, so these are everything that we've uh spent uh or will spend for appropriate uh funds for towards parks.

8:37

So really what probably should happen all is funds were appropriating, should we move from one account to the other so we can make it we can spend that money?

8:45

So that did not happen.

8:46

Uh so this is really more of a catch-up to that.

8:48

So we're moving funds throughout the cover funds we've already spent because that comes from the negative.

8:53

And this will also move us funds uh towards anything that's already appropriated towards larger score or nothing for what if it's already been purchased.

9:02

This will be a lot of and uh allows us to those funds well.

9:11

Um this is everything we have left, so so everything the uh everything in the parchment has been appropriated towards towards a project uh other than the uh additional interest that we're reporting spontaneous.

9:26

That is not that's not just to go to the two books.

10:02

Yes, I'll make a motion and so for instance.

10:13

Back in part of the second model.

10:24

Yeah.

10:28

So judge it to get some differences.

10:45

We haven't assisted cities program for a very long time.

10:49

We've got two sister cities or out there Germany and uh South America.

10:55

Um the uh group itself uh is not currently planning a trips or bringing anybody over and they're really proud of interactive in the staff.

11:05

They did a lot a lot.

11:07

Um ended up with a balance with $1,604.51 cents, and they wanted to give that over to the city for some other use.

11:16

Um it was suggested that uh maybe the people can talk about the mayor that um maybe they had to go to the World Cup customities when it may have going on because that would be definitely something involved in other countries and uh relationships and all.

11:30

So that's a question to this body of whether you want to accept a deposit uh and allocate it over to World Cup developments.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Procedural████████████████████20%
Parks and Recreation██████████10%
Transportation Safety██████████10%
Permitting███████7%
Zoning and Land Use██████6%
Office Management██████6%
Budget Equity Analysis█████5%
Fiscal Sustainability█████5%
Contract Management████4%
Summary of Proceedings

Marietta City Council Meeting - February 24, 2026

The meeting convened at 10:15 AM with reports from the Personnel Committee, Parks Rec Tourism Committee, and a regular council session. Key financial reports showed mixed trends in hotel tax revenues, while the pension fund audit highlighted a funding ratio of 65.92% and strong investment returns. Several appointments were made, and a framework for allocating motor vehicle tax funds to parks and the Flags Project was approved. Discussion on rules of procedure, legislative updates, and various land use and right-of-way items were addressed, with many items moved to future work sessions.

Consent Calendar

  • Approval of minutes from previous meetings (Personnel, Parks Rec Tourism, and regular council meeting of January 27, 2026) were approved unanimously.
  • Ratification of unexpired contracts (with exceptions for contracts 4577, 5086, 5069, and a WellStar contract pulled for further review) passed 3-0.
  • Adoption of the 2026 rules and procedures of council was discussed extensively and moved to the agenda work session for further refinement.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • No public comments were recorded during the meeting.

Discussion Items

  • Financial Reports: The January hotel tax collection was the lowest since COVID, with normalized receipts at approximately $219,000. Auto rental tax collections were $105,239, on par with January 2024. General fund revenue is up $3.1 million year-to-date, driven by property tax, licensing, and intergovernmental revenue. Operating expenditures are less than expected, with personnel vacancies at 4%.
  • Pension Board Audit (FY2025): The independent audit reported a net position increase of $7.66 million to $139.5 million. The funding ratio improved to 65.92% (benchmark 70%). Investment returns averaged 8% over ten years, placing the fund in the top 10% of public pensions. The city has 17.5 years remaining on a 25-year amortization schedule to reach 100% funding.
  • Appointments to Boards and Commissions: Reappointments included Bob Kenny (Planning Commission, Ward 6), Judy Renfro (Historic Preservation Commission, Ward 6), Steve Edler (Historic Preservation Commission), Gene Alright (Board of Zoning Appeals, Ward 5), Jim Turtle (Historic Board of Review, Ward 4), and Terry Lee (Board of Lights and Water). Discussion on the Board of Lights and Water vacancies noted that multiple terms are expiring, and three nominees (Mr. Little, Mr. Deeds, Mr. Malone) were presented alongside incumbents Mr. Elliott and Mr. Sutherland. The item was moved to the work session to finalize a slate.
  • Parks Rec Tourism Committee:
    • 2009 Park Bond Report: Interest earnings of $238.27 were credited, with $77,518.27 available. The Wildwood Park disc golf course was ranked #4 most played in Georgia in 2025, with 11,500 rounds played.
    • MIAG Right of Entry Agreement: Approved for channel restoration along Rockwood Creek near the AVA baseball complex and Fairground Street properties.
    • Marietta Arts Council Trail Fest 2026: Approved as consistent with previous years, with updated dates.
    • Motor Vehicle Tax Distribution Framework: Approved to move forward with two buckets: funding for the Flags Project at the Gone With the Wind Museum and allocating remaining funds for permanent park improvements. Potential projects discussed included a bridal suite at Romney Hall ($175,000), front yard sign ($75,000), maintenance ($39,000), bunker renovation at City Club ($1.2 million), Elizabeth Porter Park development (base pavilion $45,200, plus options for pickleball courts ($310,000) or skate spot ($350,000)), pollinator garden at Sweitzer Park, and trailhead amenities for the Rodham Creek Trail ($153,375). The skate park option was suggested to be funded through SPLOST or county joint funds instead of this allocation.
  • Regular Council Agenda:
    • Unexpired Contracts: Three contracts were pulled for further review: contract 4577 (custodial services), 5086 (WellStar), and 5069 (643 DP athletics). The remaining contracts were ratified.
    • Rules of Procedure (2026): Multiple grammatical and substantive amendments were proposed, including clarifying public comment periods, equal time for zoning hearings (15 minutes each for applicant/supporters and opponents), and removal of the mandatory “shall” for pulling consent agenda items. The item was moved to the work session.
    • Legislative Update: Staff highlighted several bills under consideration, including annexation changes, property tax elimination proposals (House Resolution 1216), Senate bills 437 and 447 affecting permit shot clocks, data center moratoriums, and a bill (HB 812) that would preempt local building code strictness. The update was noted for the work session.
    • Computer Communication System Policy: Updated to modernize language, remove outdated terms (Yahoo, AOL), add definitions for essential email and shadow IT, and clarify personal use on breaks. Moved to city council for approval.
    • Sidewalk Code Discussion: Council members raised concerns about the “three or fewer lots” exemption allowing infill development without sidewalk requirements. Staff was directed to bring back recommendations for adjustments to residential zoning.
    • Historic Preservation Commission Guidelines: Discussion centered on demolition permits and the need for clearer processes when partial demolition reveals unexpected structural issues. No formal action; staff to review.
    • Kinsey Holdings Request for String Lights and Awning: The owners of 29 West Park Square requested approval to install string lights across Depot Street (minimum 13.5 ft clearance) and a metal awning extending 5 ft over the sidewalk. Concerns about fire truck access were addressed with a quick-release mechanism. The item was moved to the work session to develop a revocable license agreement.
    • Comcast Fiber Optic Requests: Five requests for overlashing fiber optic cable along various roads were approved without objection.
    • Traffic Stop Requests: Three-way stop signs at Faith Street/Evanary Drive and Faith Street/Hope Street, and a rectangular rapid flashing beacon (RRFB) at Pop Street near Westside Elementary School were approved. Estimated cost for the RRFB is $145,000, shared between wards 3A and 4A.
    • Cobb County Traffic Priority Services Agreement: The county seeks to use the city’s traffic signal preemption system for transit priority (buses running behind schedule) for an annual fee of $112,053.91 with 4% annual increases. Discussion raised liability concerns and the need for force majeure clauses. The item was moved to a future work session.
    • Quiet Zone Railroad Crossing Study: Staff presented the high costs (estimated $1 million per crossing) and lengthy timeline (7-9 years) for establishing a quiet zone for downtown railroad crossings. The city would assume full liability. The study was moved to the work session for further consideration as part of SPLOST planning.

Key Outcomes

  • Pension audit accepted; funding ratio at 65.92%.
  • Appointments approved for multiple boards and commissions.
  • Motor vehicle tax framework approved; flags project and park improvements to move forward.
  • Rules of procedure, Kinsey Holdings request, Cobb County agreement, and quiet zone study all moved to future work sessions for refinement.
  • Comcast fiber requests, traffic stop requests, and MIAG agreement approved.
  • Sidewalk code review directed to staff.

Meeting Transcript

I call five to one of first time on a while because one of the goods. I'll make them out of it. Probably sucking on the right. So hotel tax or rural tax financing. So we'll take a look at our um January full-time melt. And full-time maltel for this month includes 40,000 of out-of-period payments. So if we normalize the receipts, we'll be approximately at 219,000. And this is the lowest January collection that we've seen since COVID. And that was in fiscal year 2021. So $200,000 of additional revenue received throughout this fiscal year for the short-term rental marketplace audits have allowed us for fiscal year-to-year debate to remain in line with our prior year collections. However, we have seen, and as I've expressed before, is continued to decline in some of the hotel collections. So moving forward to our 3% auto rental. And the auto rental is 105,000 239 dollars for this month, and this is on par for um with January 2024 collections. So it is lower than prior year 125, but is required for 424. And then lastly, we take a look at our quarterly financial report. In all areas of our general funds revenue has remained stable, which is um good news, so we don't see any um major areas of concern um other than some of the um trends that we've talked about in the past. Um nothing that we have forecasted um has um nothing has come to fruition outside of our normal forecast that we are online budget. Our revenue collections fiscal year to date are at 3.1 million higher than last year. Um this increase is generated uh primarily in three major areas, and that's um property tax licensing and intergovernmental revenue. Um and those collections um are up the tax collections are up by six hundred and fifty thousand, licensing and permits are above point six million, and intergovernmental revenue is up thirty-six three hundred and sixty thousand. Um our franchise taxes are steady, however, can um telephone as we've mentioned before continues to decline. Uh business license our funds and forfeitures as well as sanitation and parts um will be our primary revenue as we enter into the last um month of our current fiscal year. And looking at our operating expenditures, these are um less than expected, so that is helping our overall um have multiple areas that are optimizing savings opportunities. These typically um they are typically enhanced. Um we'll see in this activity for our purchases toward the end of the fiscal year, and everybody tries to make sure that they have um all of their expenditures um at least in um encumbered by year end so that they would be able to optimize on that kind of budget. So you'll see those expenditure line items kind of um increase incrementally as we go along to the remainder of the fiscal year. From a personnel um standpoint, we are operating at 4%, so um about 15% of the improvement positions are currently on field um and management continues to monitor um the operating and all uh salary savings funds are capital. So we are on a completely um played hiring schedule, so it's not um I think it's uh two months delay the uh hiring school of the month. Okay. So um so just a small delay because we have um in meeting our um operating expectations as well as our revenue and that company is not right for which so I attended uh the tourism meeting today, that county and overall the county has seen a five percent decrease in a hotel book to uh AR show and of all the places around Metro Atlanta, we had the lowest at five percent. There were a couple places that were in 26%. Um so this is what everyone is seeing with the January. Um now one hotel here did say that he saw an increase in February, and it's expect the March to be even better. Um currently, this is kind of the state that we're in right now year to year over year. Um those collections have done some of the um testing that has to do with the weather. They are anticipating that uh there's as we go into the Mars was no more C increase. Um also with um the um soccer with soccer. I mean um some are in anticipated um which are uh profit margin that they've seen in the past we expect probably from um May to the July time frame just um motion to see the file second. Second second round parts of budget. So the parks bond um amendment is um a request to use um the reserve funds in the parks bond budget, uh parts about the cap reserve account in order to um pay for some additional expenses uh for the expenses for the remainder of the test of the year companies wanting to act as you are just really authorized. So the funds are asked for have been appropriated, so these are everything that we've uh spent uh or will spend for appropriate uh funds for towards parks. So really what probably should happen all is funds were appropriating, should we move from one account to the other so we can make it we can spend that money? So that did not happen. Uh so this is really more of a catch-up to that. So we're moving funds throughout the cover funds we've already spent because that comes from the negative. And this will also move us funds uh towards anything that's already appropriated towards larger score or nothing for what if it's already been purchased. This will be a lot of and uh allows us to those funds well. Um this is everything we have left, so so everything the uh everything in the parchment has been appropriated towards towards a project uh other than the uh additional interest that we're reporting spontaneous. That is not that's not just to go to the two books. Yes, I'll make a motion and so for instance.

SUMMARIZED BY OPENPUBLICA AI
TRANSCRIPT VIA PUBLIC VIDEO
openpublica.com