City of Marietta Council Agenda Review Session - October 14, 2026

This was an Agenda Review Session of the Marietta City Council, held on Wednesday, October 14, 2026, at 6:00 PM in the Council Chamber. The session included review and approval of prior minutes, department updates, staff presentations, video segments, and discussion of upcoming agenda items. The meeting concluded with a transition to the regular council session at 7:00 PM.

Consent Calendar

• Minutes of the September 9, 2026 regular meeting were approved by a vote of 5-0, with two members absent.
• Two claims items and two items on page six of the agenda were placed on consent without objection.
• The cemetery contract item was left as a single item (still in negotiation).

Public Comments & Testimony

• No public comments were presented during this session. Four speakers had been listed, but the first speaker was absent and the remaining speakers were not called due to time constraints.

Discussion Items

• First Responders Day Event: Staff reported that Marietta will again be the only municipality in Georgia to honor National First Responders Day on October 28, 2026. A proclamation and video were shared, highlighting collaboration among police, fire, public works, and other departments.
• Stipulation Letter (Mr. Moore): Staff presented an updated letter clarifying a request to exempt all sidewalks within a development except the piece on Roseland Front, and to allow removal of a crosswalk if sidewalks on the north side of Jordan Street are not required. The property in question is an unimproved right-of-way.
• Police Department Update (Chief Bean): Two officers were hired; one retirement is upcoming. The chief expressed concern about potential loss of 5-10 officers to the new Mableton police department, which is offering higher starting salaries ($66,000 to $81,000 maximum; detectives $74,000 to $91,000). Marietta's compensation is being compared.
• Fire Department Update (Chief Chica): The department has zero openings, with two lateral hires coming from Clayton County and Columbus, and one former firefighter returning. The chief emphasized competitive benefits (5 weeks of vacation for first-year employees) and noted that Company 55 won the Valor Award at the Cobb Chamber for rescuing children from a second-story fire.
• HR Update (Keisha Register): Open enrollment is underway with a new benefits partner. Financial Wellness Week introduced an AI bot (Mira) for retirement questions.
• Parks and Facilities Update (Eric Black): Upcoming events include Harvest Fest (October 17, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.), Scarecrows on the Square, Christmas Tree Lighting (first Thursday in December), and basketball league games starting November 7. Work on Cole Street and North Marietta Parkway includes landscaping and a sprinkler system; streetscape design is in early stages.
• Historic Marietta Explorer GIS Tool (Ronnie Barrett): A new online mapping application allows users to view historical photos of locations around Marietta, sourced from the Marietta History Center, Library of Congress, and economic development. Citizens can submit their own photos for inclusion.
• State Tax and 911 Issues (Staff): The city is monitoring state legislative study committees on local taxes, franchise fees, and enhanced 911. Staff advocated for home rule and cautioned against taking resources from counties like Cobb that have already funded upgraded 911 systems.

Key Outcomes

• The council approved the September 9, 2026 meeting minutes (5-0).
• Items on consent were placed on the consent calendar for the regular meeting without objection.
• The stipulation letter from Mr. Moore will be presented at the 7:00 PM regular session.
• The council was informed of the First Responders Day proclamation and video.
• Department updates were received as information; no formal votes were taken.
• The Historic Marietta Explorer app is now available to the public online.
• The session concluded at 6:59 PM, with the regular council meeting called to order at 7:00 PM.