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Record of Proceedings

City of Norcross Regular Council Meeting - September 8, 2026

City Council & Urban Redevelopment Agency — Tuesday, September 8, 2026
BodyNorcross, Georgia
SessionCity Council & Urban Redevelopment Agency
DateTuesday, September 8, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 27:38

Original source
Transcript — VerbatimClick a timed line to jump · ⧉ to share it

Speaker numbers apply only to this recording.

Speaker 1

0:00

We're gonna talk about them all or individually?

Speaker 2

0:02

Individually.

Speaker 1

0:03

Okay.

0:04

Um, my feelings about a lot of uh cash giving has evolved over time.

0:09

Um I feel these companies and these organizations do great

Unassigned speaker

0:14

work

Speaker 1

0:14

in our city, and um I just feel that uh it's hard for me as a city council member as a steward of the the funds to give a cash investment.

0:25

Um

Unassigned speaker

0:26

it's

Speaker 1

0:26

harder and harder for me to do that.

0:27

I know it's for consulting assistance, and it does great work for the Latino community

Unassigned speaker

0:31

here

Speaker 1

0:32

in our um in our city,

Unassigned speaker

0:34

and

Speaker 1

0:34

I'm excited about that.

0:35

There's direct jobs benefits, um, and

Unassigned speaker

0:38

we

Speaker 1

0:38

anticipate that continuing.

Unassigned speaker

0:40

Uh

Speaker 1

0:40

it's just hard to give a cash cash bonus for not a bonus of cash investment for

Unassigned speaker

0:46

me.

Speaker 2

0:49

Okay, any other discussion relative to prosperous.

Unassigned speaker

0:55

Okay,

Speaker 2

0:56

at this time we'll need to entertain a motion.

Unassigned speaker

1:00

Like

Speaker 1

1:00

I make a motion to deny uh a $15,000 investment with Prospera for FY 2027.

Speaker 2

1:08

We have a motion on the floor.

1:10

Do we have a second?

Speaker 1

1:11

Second.

Unassigned speaker

1:12

We

Speaker 2

1:13

have a motion and second to deny.

1:15

Any objections to moving the questions or further discussion?

1:20

Seeing none.

1:22

I just wanted a clarification point.

Speaker 3

1:24

Um this is a question for legal or for staff.

1:28

Um if we if this is uh denied based on the motions, um would that in some fashions we have uh individuals who are denied and there's a waiting period.

1:38

Does that apply for this?

1:40

I'm not sure if this is specific to that or

Unassigned speaker

1:42

not

Speaker 3

1:43

before

Speaker 4

1:45

I would defer to legal, and I know there are sort of holdouts for denials with respect to zoning, but this is totally different thing.

1:54

So I would defer to the city's attorney to answer that question.

Speaker 5

1:59

Not sure if there's a

Unassigned speaker

2:01

uh

Speaker 5

2:03

reading period.

2:04

I will say that the only thing as you're evaluating each of the um exchanges is if there's any concern about the rotator calls or anything like that, you're just evaluating you know any kind of benefit to the city, but in terms of a weight of the application

Unassigned speaker

2:18

of it.

Unassigned speaker

2:19

I don't see that.

Speaker 3

2:20

Okay.

Unassigned speaker

2:21

But

Speaker 1

2:21

just until FY 2020.

Speaker 3

2:23

Yeah, I I would say the only thing I would say is if possible, um, in case there's any new circumstances or value we we come up with for specific to prospera that we put a uh time frame that no submission submittals be submitted to us um

Unassigned speaker

2:41

about

Speaker 1

2:41

January

Speaker 3

2:42

until January until January um 2027.

2:47

Um if we need to reevaluate that if the motioner um would approve

Unassigned speaker

2:51

that.

Speaker 3

2:52

Yeah, it's fine.

Speaker 1

2:53

I understand.

Speaker 2

2:54

Okay.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Budget Equity Analysis██████████████████████████████████████38%
Historic Preservation████████████████████20%
Community Engagement██████████████14%
Personnel Matters████████████12%
Youth Programs█████████9%
Procedural███████7%
Summary of Proceedings

City of Norcross Regular Council Meeting - September 8, 2026

The Norcross City Council met Tuesday, September 8, 2026, at 6:30 p.m. in Council Chambers, with Mayor Craig Newton presiding. Mayor Pro Tem Bruce Gaynor was absent; Councilmembers Andrew Hixson, Josh Bare, and Matt Myers were present. The meeting was called to order at 6:32 p.m. All votes taken during the meeting were 3-0 among the three present members unless otherwise noted. The council approved prior minutes, set the agenda, pulled four consent items for discussion, held two public hearings, approved contracts and several funding/policy actions, and ended by moving into executive session at 7:38 p.m.

Consent Calendar

  • Approved the August 10, 2026 Regular Council Meeting minutes, the August 24, 2026 Special Called Meeting minutes, and the August 24, 2026 Policy Work Session minutes. Motion by Councilmember Hixson, second by Councilmember Myers; 3-0.
  • Approved the agenda as presented and the consent agenda after moving four items to discussion: 2026-302 employee recognition, 2026-213 FY 2027 funding requests, 2026-308 pay scale shift, and 2026-311 historic windows at 94 Wingo Street. Motion by Councilmember Bare, second by Councilmember Myers; 3-0.
  • Approved 2026-116: an agreement with CentralSquare Technologies, LLC for a fully integrated, cloud-based computer-aided dispatch and records management system needed for the new Public Safety Building's Real Time Crime Center.
  • Approved 2026-304: contract awards for the Norcross Beaver Ruin Greenway project, including construction with Astra Group LLC, a Georgia Department of Transportation agreement, construction oversight/engineering/inspection with CPL, and materials testing/special inspections with ECS Southeast, LLC.
  • Approved 2026-303: a Safe Streets for All resolution adopting a goal of zero traffic-related deaths and serious injuries by 2045.
  • Approved 2026-301: a temporary downtown art installation to celebrate and promote Artober.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Anne Hall with Norcross Gallery & Studios said she recently toured the new Public Safety Building and was impressed, noting it was completed on time and under budget. She also announced an upcoming art contest with the theme 'Celebration' and encouraged entries by September 30.
  • Thaddeus Inuit of Inuit Art Gallery said David Versell introduced him to the opportunity to open an art gallery in the historic Cotton Gin. After speaking with other business owners, he said he would be honored to be part of the project and contribute art, food, music, and community events to the space.

Public Hearings

  • 2026-271 / TEXT2026-005: Approved an amendment to Chapter 100, Section 103-7.6 of the Unified Development Ordinance regarding Planning and Zoning Board compensation. The agenda report included a $3,000 allocation from the FY27 Community Planning & Development budget, and the approved motion directed per-meeting compensation based on the Boards, Commissions, and Authorities Manual. Motion by Councilmember Myers, second by Councilmember Bare; 3-0.
  • 2026-272 / TEXT2026-006: Approved an amendment to Chapter 200, Section 201-18 of the Unified Development Ordinance concerning C2 General Business. Motion by Councilmember Myers, second by Councilmember Hixson; 3-0.

Discussion Items

  • 2026-302 - Employee Above and Beyond Recognition: Approved a one-time cash bonus of $5,000 for IT Manager Tarajee White in recognition of her service. Motion by Councilmember Myers, second by Councilmember Bare; 3-0.
  • 2026-213 - FY 2027 Funding Requests: The council considered four requests separately.
    • Denied Prospera's $15,000 FY27 funding request for business seminars, consulting services, and technical assistance to Latino entrepreneurs in the Norcross area. Councilmember Hixson said he found it harder over time to approve cash investments even while praising the organizations' work; no resubmission is permitted before January 2027. Motion to deny by Councilmember Hixson, second by Councilmember Bare; 3-0.
    • Denied a $1,600 request from the Gwinnett County Soil and Water Conservation District for erosion-control education and protection of natural resources. Staff described the request as supporting garden-based education at a middle school with a community garden, with remaining funds for other educational outreach. Motion to deny by Councilmember Bare, second by Councilmember Myers; 3-0.
    • Approved Asami-ATL's in-kind use of city space for scouting activities, valued at an estimated $15,600, including English, exercise, and wellness classes. Council directed staff to work with the organization to schedule available space and to waive rental fees. Motion by Councilmember Myers, second by Councilmember Bare; 3-0.
    • Approved a $5,000 investment in the Norcross High School Football Booster Club for football helmets, with payment made directly to the vendor upon invoice or receipt. Councilmembers described it as a safety resource for local students; one member noted Gwinnett County has a $3.2 billion budget and is obligated to fund schools. Motion by Councilmember Bare, second by Councilmember Myers; 3-0.
    • The Mayor stated that the city needs a more formal process for funding requests to avoid what he called capricious and arbitrary decisions, suggesting a dedicated annual budget and a staff or council committee.
  • 2026-308 - Pay Scale Shift FY27: Approved increasing classification pay ranges by 3%, effective January 1, 2027, to help keep the city competitive in attracting and retaining employees, and authorized department directors and the City Manager to make individual salary or pay adjustments for retention and equity. Staff clarified the action shifts the pay scale rather than directly raising all salaries; there was no immediate budget impact, though a small number of employees at the top of ranges could be constrained by the shift. Motion by Councilmember Myers, second by Councilmember Hixson; 3-0.
  • 2026-311 - City Sponsorship of Restoration of Windows at 94 Wingo Street: Approved a resolution supporting restoration of the historic windows at 94 Wingo Street through an amendment to the Intergovernmental Agreement for Phase 2 of the Lillian Webb Park Development Plan. The city offered to pay additional costs associated with restoring rather than replacing the windows, plus up to three months of lost rental income caused by the longer restoration timeframe. Councilmember Bare sponsored the item. Councilmembers expressed strong support for historic preservation, emphasized that the Downtown Development Authority remains an independent body and the resolution was only an offer, and discussed informal cost estimates of roughly $2,000 per window, eight windows, and a total amount around $30,000. Motion by Councilmember Bare, second by Councilmember Hixson; 3-0.

Board Appointments

  • John Herron was appointed to the Tree Preservation Board for a term ending June 1, 2029. The board had two vacancies; one qualified applicant was considered.

Announcements

  • The council reviewed the September 2026 calendar, including the 9/11 Remembrance Ceremony, Atlanta British Car Fayre, Movie Mondays, Norcross ACE Program, Coffee With Council, Jazz in the Alley, a Policy Work Session, the First Friday Concert, and the Norcross Art Splash Festival.

Key Outcomes

  • All formal votes were 3-0, with Mayor Pro Tem Bruce Gaynor absent.
  • The council approved prior meeting minutes, two UDO amendments, the consent agenda, the employee bonus, the pay-scale shift, the 94 Wingo Street window restoration resolution, and Board appointment.
  • The council denied cash requests from Prospera and the Gwinnett County Soil and Water Conservation District, approved in-kind scouting space, and approved football helmet funding for Norcross High School.
  • The council voted unanimously to adjourn into executive session at 7:38 p.m. to discuss cybersecurity matters.

Meeting Transcript

We're gonna talk about them all or individually? Individually. Okay. Um, my feelings about a lot of uh cash giving has evolved over time. Um I feel these companies and these organizations do great work in our city, and um I just feel that uh it's hard for me as a city council member as a steward of the the funds to give a cash investment. Um it's harder and harder for me to do that. I know it's for consulting assistance, and it does great work for the Latino community here in our um in our city, and I'm excited about that. There's direct jobs benefits, um, and we anticipate that continuing. Uh it's just hard to give a cash cash bonus for not a bonus of cash investment for me. Okay, any other discussion relative to prosperous. Okay, at this time we'll need to entertain a motion. Like I make a motion to deny uh a $15,000 investment with Prospera for FY 2027. We have a motion on the floor. Do we have a second? Second. We have a motion and second to deny. Any objections to moving the questions or further discussion? Seeing none. I just wanted a clarification point. Um this is a question for legal or for staff. Um if we if this is uh denied based on the motions, um would that in some fashions we have uh individuals who are denied and there's a waiting period. Does that apply for this? I'm not sure if this is specific to that or not before I would defer to legal, and I know there are sort of holdouts for denials with respect to zoning, but this is totally different thing. So I would defer to the city's attorney to answer that question. Not sure if there's a uh reading period. I will say that the only thing as you're evaluating each of the um exchanges is if there's any concern about the rotator calls or anything like that, you're just evaluating you know any kind of benefit to the city, but in terms of a weight of the application of it. I don't see that. Okay. But

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