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OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD

Record of Proceedings

Norcross City Council Policy Work Session - February 16, 2026

City Council & Urban Redevelopment Agency — Monday, February 16, 2026

BodyNorcross, Georgia

SessionCity Council & Urban Redevelopment Agency

DateMonday, February 16, 2026

StatusFILED

Video Record

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Transcript — Verbatim

Speaker numbers apply only to this recording.

Speaker 1

1:08

Unassigned speaker

2:04

Speaker 1

2:11

only uh two uh history do not the uh so we should be the uh cities are for the um is

Unassigned speaker

2:30

Speaker 1

2:33

these three from uh to each three uh the uh is a hundred batteries as I see spinning on quite a few times.

2:57

No the um fee uh basically continues in your two years.

3:08

Um to remove the sound to the cost of the system that you want to use um but uh consideration would be to remove the uh commercial because we should uh uh we will also uh use um pieces of things uh to uh just to be uh just like a town uh it's not easy and so we've got the surfacing as a instance because it's decent on the only three there's the last thing surface.

4:13

Um exist and for the long time.

Unassigned speaker

4:20

I'm just gonna make the alpha enough around the room which uh runs down into uh that uh two speakers uh focus on uh this out of uh stream is uh three um near all three seven and uh

Speaker 1

5:13

Uh so it's the seven and uh the we know exactly what that is uh anyone else is pretty well

Unassigned speaker

5:49

yes

Speaker 1

5:50

you have to not feel short on what's guaranteed the biological city side took a note of so there's always two more that's the call plus that you guys are considering that people overwhelm you decide that they don't want my decision, your survey agreement, you're more you could say though that the survey is one of the points that you look at actually it's not what the other data points are guiding you guys to go so by continuing to put it on the agenda.

Unassigned speaker

6:28

Speaker 1

6:29

that's just a wearing the one here all of the comments are using once you pronounce you the blue, do you set a lot of people to see for something cool on the add along?

6:41

So the challenge to you is do you have six hundred and fifty-four people telling you that?

6:46

Because I think six hundred and fifty-three saying they don't want that.

7:03

Uh speaker often depends on how it's being built.

7:06

It's because the calendar is pretty called single family residence.

7:10

Um there too, and usually the high-intensity multi-family which you guys are to be specific amendments.

Unassigned speaker

7:22

This

Speaker 1

7:22

console is consistently and constantly saying multi-pools uses lots of housing options.

7:29

I've seen it in your emails, I've seen it in your hall of presentations, and that's true.

7:38

You guys can search for work density multi-housing, digital changes.

7:49

If you find the example is a George and it's not a problem.

7:54

So what is all the policy changes just by different things?

8:01

Um, this is all about your question as a species that we go on open,

Unassigned speaker

8:17

or six

Speaker 1

8:21

windows video, it's possible.

8:27

It's impossible to see how it is, which I'm gonna know that.

8:32

So you for your courage and thank you for um your honesty and asking that I was improved later online that was free.

8:46

Um stay through.

8:51

I think uh the 650 very concern people uh still very concerned.

8:56

Um clear example of representative democracy that we see for the people in a situation like this, and you guys are one of the things it does.

9:06

And I would love for you guys to start doing that too.

Unassigned speaker

9:34

Speaker 1

9:35

I think that's probably from the train um developing the um that's a line for four weeks together, getting it to 60% of this two and lose funding.

Unassigned speaker

9:49

So you go line more in space to be the file, so now we'll see the government uh ready to go with uh from the code so it's hard to need to think about this one tool, the the pre-adding, we've got to make sure that we're building the roof in the three roots.

Speaker 1

10:10

Um the uh three out there would just be lower um uh C area create a visual business opposite on a hill on a regular basis.

10:21

Um I like the idea that if we need a little bit more power in the uh the line is going to enter the overall um uh look at the park.

10:32

Um the uh sort of uh together with the changes you made uh couple weeks ago to the U.

10:39

Uh I think we're ready to go, you know, we hear about people on the ground without the system without this as well.

10:52

It's great in the North people who are looking for the diversity of the outing type in the world in play and uh it's time to move forward.

11:01

It's interesting with you with this all topic at the same way, but generally now there's 653 people with 0.023, so zero to eight percent

Unassigned speaker

11:10

Speaker 1

11:11

population.

11:12

So I I don't think the zero three percent is quite uh apprehensive, but we need to do two generations uh what we're playing.

11:20

This is the 2045, not the 2026 one.

11:24

So we could be um the uh data targeting um I agree and and then hopefully we can have the uh the recommendations like that.

11:35

Um I think it makes sense to um uh you know the uh transition space uh so long as the payment that they make is uh um it's uh based on telecom numbers out of the year and saying it's gonna be 12 hours or $13.

11:52

Um the um sorry last slide.

11:57

The um uh the measures that you may for the UDO, I think you have to look a bit careful because what's happening is um probably uh free translation boards up there to review board and the historical preservation commission.

12:11

Um if you if a citizen or residue is denied uh by any one of those boards, the only recourse is to do the port.

12:20

If uh I could buy the roof and they want blue route, I go to court.

12:24

If I want white siding and they want blue siding, I go to court.

12:29

There's no intermediate step now, so um you actually allow it spends a lot of time to find the others uh if they uh have a an issue with the uh one of the power is where uh we're changing it from um a some type of appeal to somebody else for uh another board because it again it goes straight to uh uh straight to the port.

12:54

Thank you for your time and thank you for the service to all the class.

12:57

There you go.

13:07

Excuse me.

13:12

Well, it's a few to the class of the last one.

13:23

And the power of the tunnel needle that you guys are too simple.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting

Zoning████████████████16%

Public Engagement██████████10%

Ethics And Conduct█████████9%

Taxation Policy████████8%

Engineering And Infrastructure███████7%

Budget Equity Analysis██████6%

Economic Development██████6%

Ethics And Compliance██████6%

Miscellaneous█████5%

Summary of Proceedings

Norcross City Council Policy Work Session - February 16, 2026

The Norcross Mayor and City Council held a Policy Work Session on Monday, February 16, 2026, at 6:40 PM in the 2nd Floor Conference Room. The meeting covered a wide range of topics including downtown parking planning, Thrasher Park lighting, pay increases for judge and solicitor, the 2045 Comprehensive Plan, a rezoning application, UDO amendments, parking policies, public safety building funding, property deeds, Norcross 101 re-establishment, ethics ordinance revision, city manager recruitment, and stream mitigation credits for a greenway project.

Public Comments & Testimony

Sean O'Neill spoke about bicycle barrier installations on Autry Street, requested removal of a crosswalk sign between Thrasher and West Peachtree Streets that narrows the roadway, and raised concerns about uneven road surfaces on Autry Street, Nesbitt, and Brundridge from utility trenching, requesting resurfacing.
Jeff Allen spoke in opposition of apartments, referencing a petition with 653 signatures opposing high-density multifamily development, and urged Council to listen to the will of the people.
Jim Eyre commented on several items: commending the 60% completion of downtown parking plans, supporting the Comprehensive Plan as a 2045 vision for housing diversity, expressing concern about the proposed Thrasher Park string lighting, and cautioning that proposed UDO amendments eliminating intermediate appeal steps for certain boards would leave citizens with no recourse other than court.
Chris Casey thanked Council for including a special-use permit requirement for high-density multifamily housing in the previous UDO revision, referenced Doraville's comments on the plan, noted that the separation of Character Area 7 into 7A and 7B appeared overly complicated and potentially a carve-out for future development, and requested that the area remain designated as historic.
Tonya Willis spoke about DDA-owned properties at 80 Wingo and 94, which back up to City Hall, expressing concern that the homes appear to be deteriorating with debris accumulating on roofs and no visible maintenance for 14-15 months, and asked about the plan for the properties.

Discussion Items

2026-59: Expanded Downtown Parking Planning and Design – Council discussed the project and directed staff to provide a detailed project management plan with milestones and cost breakdowns. This matter was referred to the March 2, 2026 Regular Council Meeting.
2026-60: Thrasher Park Lighting Enhancements Update – Staff was directed to engage directly with Outdoor Lighting Company to refine the proposal for a future policy work session.
2026-61: Pay Increase for Judge and Solicitor – Discussed and referred to the Regular Council Meeting on March 2, 2026.
2026-65: Amendment to the 2045 Comprehensive Plan – Council discussed the plan, including comments from ARC and DCA, and debated definitions of mixed-use and high-density housing. Some council members expressed concerns about community input and the need for clarity. Referred to the March 2, 2026 Regular Council Meeting.
2026-45: RZ2025-008 – PKST Lively LLC, 705 Lively Avenue – A rezoning application from M1 to R100 (approximately) was discussed. The Planning Commission recommended conditional approval. Referred to the March 2, 2026 Regular Council Meeting.
2026-67: Amendment to the Unified Development Ordinance (Text Amendment) – Discussed the elimination of intermediate appeal steps for decisions by the Architectural Review Board and Historic Preservation Commission, with concerns raised about due process and cost of court appeals. Referred to the March 16, 2026 Policy Work Session for further review.
2026-64: Downtown Parking Policies and Related UDO Amendments – Extensive discussion about eliminating parking minimums in the historic mixed-use district, potential funding mechanisms (special tax districts, impact fees), and impacts on businesses. No consensus reached; referred to the March 16, 2026 Policy Work Session for continued discussion.
2026-34: Appropriate $5 Million for Public Safety Administration Building – Council discussed the funding source and need. Referred to the March 2, 2026 Regular Council Meeting.
2026-72: Phase II Property Corrective Deed and Parking Easement between City and DDA – Authorized the mayor to sign a corrective deed and parking easement. Referred to the March 2, 2026 Regular Council Meeting.
2026-68: Re-establishment of Norcross 101 – Council expressed support for reviving the citizen academy, discussing curriculum, schedule, and tuition. Staff directed to develop curriculum details and schedule at least one class in 2026.
2026-71: Ethics Ordinance Revision – Council reviewed the proposed ordinance based on the GMA model, with concerns about hearing officer vs. board of ethics, evidentiary standards, and provisions for frivolous complaints. Legal staff to compile suggested changes in a memorandum for the March 16 Policy Work Session.
2026-73: Request for Proposals for City Manager Recruitment – Council discussed the recruitment process and directed staff to prepare and issue an RFP for recruitment services.
2026-80: Stream and Wetland Mitigation Credits – Norcross Greenway Project – Added to the agenda due to time sensitivity. The federal government requires the purchase of up to $115,000 in conservation credits (minutes state $100,000; agenda report states $115,000) to mitigate wetland impacts for the Beaver Ruin Creek Greenway Project. Referred to the March 2, 2026 Regular Council Meeting.

Key Outcomes

Multiple items were referred to the March 2, 2026 Regular Council Meeting: downtown parking planning, pay increases, comprehensive plan amendment, rezoning, public safety building funding, property deed/easement, and mitigation credits.
The UDO amendment (2026-67), downtown parking policies (2026-64), and ethics ordinance revision (2026-71) were referred to the March 16, 2026 Policy Work Session for further discussion.
Staff was directed to: provide a detailed project management plan for downtown parking; engage with Outdoor Lighting Company on Thrasher Park lighting; develop curriculum and schedule for Norcross 101 with at least one class in 2026; and prepare an RFP for city manager recruitment services.
The meeting also included a city manager's report on financial updates, including analysis of revenues and property tax processes, though no formal action was taken.

Meeting Transcript

So essentially uh things are nice from the time to have to be a five uh two different gender uh this uh uh two I think on one question with the space point in mind we allow you to do this one to talk about the time that's all that's uh only uh two uh history do not the uh so we should be the uh cities are for the um is uh these three from uh to each three uh the uh is a hundred batteries as I see spinning on quite a few times. No the um fee uh basically continues in your two years. Um to remove the sound to the cost of the system that you want to use um but uh consideration would be to remove the uh commercial because we should uh uh we will also uh use um pieces of things uh to uh just to be uh just like a town uh it's not easy and so we've got the surfacing as a instance because it's decent on the only three there's the last thing surface. Um exist and for the long time. I'm just gonna make the alpha enough around the room which uh runs down into uh that uh two speakers uh focus on uh this out of uh stream is uh three um near all three seven and uh Uh so it's the seven and uh the we know exactly what that is uh anyone else is pretty well yes you have to not feel short on what's guaranteed the biological city side took a note of so there's always two more that's the call plus that you guys are considering that people overwhelm you decide that they don't want my decision, your survey agreement, you're more you could say though that the survey is one of the points that you look at actually it's not what the other data points are guiding you guys to go so by continuing to put it on the agenda. So that's just a wearing the one here all of the comments are using once you pronounce you the blue, do you set a lot of people to see for something cool on the add along? So the challenge to you is do you have six hundred and fifty-four people telling you that? Because I think six hundred and fifty-three saying they don't want that. Uh speaker often depends on how it's being built. It's because the calendar is pretty called single family residence. Um there too, and usually the high-intensity multi-family which you guys are to be specific amendments. This console is consistently and constantly saying multi-pools uses lots of housing options. I've seen it in your emails, I've seen it in your hall of presentations, and that's true. You guys can search for work density multi-housing, digital changes. If you find the example is a George and it's not a problem. So what is all the policy changes just by different things? Um, this is all about your question as a species that we go on open, or six windows video, it's possible. It's impossible to see how it is, which I'm gonna know that. So you for your courage and thank you for um your honesty and asking that I was improved later online that was free. Um stay through. I think uh the 650 very concern people uh still very concerned. Um clear example of representative democracy that we see for the people in a situation like this, and you guys are one of the things it does. And I would love for you guys to start doing that too. So I think that's probably from the train um developing the um that's a line for four weeks together, getting it to 60% of this two and lose funding. So you go line more in space to be the file, so now we'll see the government uh ready to go with uh from the code so it's hard to need to think about this one tool, the the pre-adding, we've got to make sure that we're building the roof in the three roots. Um the uh three out there would just be lower um uh C area create a visual business opposite on a hill on a regular basis. Um I like the idea that if we need a little bit more power in the uh the line is going to enter the overall um uh look at the park. Um the uh sort of uh together with the changes you made uh couple weeks ago to the U. Uh I think we're ready to go, you know, we hear about people on the ground without the system without this as well. It's great in the North people who are looking for the diversity of the outing type in the world in play and uh it's time to move forward. It's interesting with you with this all topic at the same way, but generally now there's 653 people with 0.023, so zero to eight percent of population. So I I don't think the zero three percent is quite uh apprehensive, but we need to do two generations uh what we're playing. This is the 2045, not the 2026 one. So we could be um the uh data targeting um I agree and and then hopefully we can have the uh the recommendations like that. Um I think it makes sense to um uh you know the uh transition space uh so long as the payment that they make is uh um it's uh based on telecom numbers out of the year and saying it's gonna be 12 hours or $13. Um the um sorry last slide.

SUMMARIZED BY OPENPUBLICA AI

TRANSCRIPT VIA PUBLIC VIDEO
openpublica.com

Norcross City Council Policy Work Session - February 16, 2026

Public Comments & Testimony

Sean O'Neill spoke about bicycle barrier installations on Autry Street, requested removal of a crosswalk sign between Thrasher and West Peachtree Streets that narrows the roadway, and raised concerns about uneven road surfaces on Autry Street, Nesbitt, and Brundridge from utility trenching, requesting resurfacing.

Jeff Allen spoke in opposition of apartments, referencing a petition with 653 signatures opposing high-density multifamily development, and urged Council to listen to the will of the people.

Jim Eyre commented on several items: commending the 60% completion of downtown parking plans, supporting the Comprehensive Plan as a 2045 vision for housing diversity, expressing concern about the proposed Thrasher Park string lighting, and cautioning that proposed UDO amendments eliminating intermediate appeal steps for certain boards would leave citizens with no recourse other than court.

Chris Casey thanked Council for including a special-use permit requirement for high-density multifamily housing in the previous UDO revision, referenced Doraville's comments on the plan, noted that the separation of Character Area 7 into 7A and 7B appeared overly complicated and potentially a carve-out for future development, and requested that the area remain designated as historic.

Tonya Willis spoke about DDA-owned properties at 80 Wingo and 94, which back up to City Hall, expressing concern that the homes appear to be deteriorating with debris accumulating on roofs and no visible maintenance for 14-15 months, and asked about the plan for the properties.

Discussion Items

2026-59: Expanded Downtown Parking Planning and Design – Council discussed the project and directed staff to provide a detailed project management plan with milestones and cost breakdowns. This matter was referred to the March 2, 2026 Regular Council Meeting.

2026-60: Thrasher Park Lighting Enhancements Update – Staff was directed to engage directly with Outdoor Lighting Company to refine the proposal for a future policy work session.

2026-61: Pay Increase for Judge and Solicitor – Discussed and referred to the Regular Council Meeting on March 2, 2026.

2026-65: Amendment to the 2045 Comprehensive Plan – Council discussed the plan, including comments from ARC and DCA, and debated definitions of mixed-use and high-density housing. Some council members expressed concerns about community input and the need for clarity. Referred to the March 2, 2026 Regular Council Meeting.

2026-45: RZ2025-008 – PKST Lively LLC, 705 Lively Avenue – A rezoning application from M1 to R100 (approximately) was discussed. The Planning Commission recommended conditional approval. Referred to the March 2, 2026 Regular Council Meeting.

2026-67: Amendment to the Unified Development Ordinance (Text Amendment) – Discussed the elimination of intermediate appeal steps for decisions by the Architectural Review Board and Historic Preservation Commission, with concerns raised about due process and cost of court appeals. Referred to the March 16, 2026 Policy Work Session for further review.

2026-64: Downtown Parking Policies and Related UDO Amendments – Extensive discussion about eliminating parking minimums in the historic mixed-use district, potential funding mechanisms (special tax districts, impact fees), and impacts on businesses. No consensus reached; referred to the March 16, 2026 Policy Work Session for continued discussion.

2026-34: Appropriate $5 Million for Public Safety Administration Building – Council discussed the funding source and need. Referred to the March 2, 2026 Regular Council Meeting.

2026-72: Phase II Property Corrective Deed and Parking Easement between City and DDA – Authorized the mayor to sign a corrective deed and parking easement. Referred to the March 2, 2026 Regular Council Meeting.

2026-68: Re-establishment of Norcross 101 – Council expressed support for reviving the citizen academy, discussing curriculum, schedule, and tuition. Staff directed to develop curriculum details and schedule at least one class in 2026.

2026-71: Ethics Ordinance Revision – Council reviewed the proposed ordinance based on the GMA model, with concerns about hearing officer vs. board of ethics, evidentiary standards, and provisions for frivolous complaints. Legal staff to compile suggested changes in a memorandum for the March 16 Policy Work Session.

2026-73: Request for Proposals for City Manager Recruitment – Council discussed the recruitment process and directed staff to prepare and issue an RFP for recruitment services.

2026-80: Stream and Wetland Mitigation Credits – Norcross Greenway Project – Added to the agenda due to time sensitivity. The federal government requires the purchase of up to $115,000 in conservation credits (minutes state $100,000; agenda report states $115,000) to mitigate wetland impacts for the Beaver Ruin Creek Greenway Project. Referred to the March 2, 2026 Regular Council Meeting.

Key Outcomes

Multiple items were referred to the March 2, 2026 Regular Council Meeting: downtown parking planning, pay increases, comprehensive plan amendment, rezoning, public safety building funding, property deed/easement, and mitigation credits.

The UDO amendment (2026-67), downtown parking policies (2026-64), and ethics ordinance revision (2026-71) were referred to the March 16, 2026 Policy Work Session for further discussion.

Staff was directed to: provide a detailed project management plan for downtown parking; engage with Outdoor Lighting Company on Thrasher Park lighting; develop curriculum and schedule for Norcross 101 with at least one class in 2026; and prepare an RFP for city manager recruitment services.

The meeting also included a city manager's report on financial updates, including analysis of revenues and property tax processes, though no formal action was taken.

Meeting Transcript