South Fulton City Council Regular Meeting - March 24, 2026

The South Fulton City Council held its regular meeting on March 24, 2026, at 7:00 PM at City Hall, presided by Mayor Carmalitha Gumbs. The meeting included roll call, invocation, pledge, adoption of the amended agenda, approval of minutes, consent calendar, public comments, council comments, administrative items, zoning approvals, and a walk-on resolution. All votes were unanimous.

Consent Calendar

• Proclamations: Recognized Dr. S. Carver Davenport and Dr. Torin T. Dailey to be spread on the minutes.
• Park Donation: Accepted a donation from the Atlanta Hawks Foundation for completed enhancements at Creel Park and Welcome All Park basketball courts.
• Vigil: Approved a candlelight vigil honoring the memory of Captain Helio A. Garcia III on Thursday, April 16, 2026, at 6:30 PM at Southwest Arts Center.
• Housing Grant: Authorized acceptance of a $10,000 grant from United Way of Greater Atlanta, with $10,000 local match, for housing relocation assistance for six residents in a blighted property.
• Fleet Vehicles: Approved cooperative purchasing for fleet vehicles (up to $2,000,000) through Sourcewell with National Auto Fleet Group.
• Fleet Tires: Approved cooperative purchasing for fleet tires and supplies (up to $150,000) through Sourcewell with Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Rashard Snellings (District 1) criticized a 16% increase in sanitation costs and alleged P-card misuse for political campaign activities by former council members.
• Toni Griffin (District 6) presented a survey where 95% of respondents support adult athletic programs, noting a lack of options for ages 18–55, and advocated for programs to reduce crime and improve health.
• Jill Lindsay (District 7) opposed the solid waste fee increase, called for alternatives and a town hall, and reported three pedestrian deaths on Old National Highway, including "Kevin."
• Mike Johnson (District 4) questioned multiple professional service agreements with Rick Blaylock/SNAG Enterprises (over $22,000 each) for Districts 2 and 4, alleging they were signed without council vote or bidding and used for campaign promotion.

Council Comments & Announcements

Councilmembers reported district events and initiatives:

• District 1: Cleanup, running celebration, volleyball clinic, bulk trash schedule, spring break camp, SAT boot camp.
• District 2: Town hall meeting at Westlake High School on Thursday, 6:30–8:30 PM.
• District 4: Women’s history month events, homestead exemption deadline (April 1), fire safety event (April 11).
• District 5: Easter extravaganza (April 4), home buying seminar with down payment assistance (April 18), workforce academy expansion (roofing, 3D printing, electrician programs), summer camp registration (March 30).
• District 6: St. Patrick’s Bingo recap, food distribution (March 28), ribbon cutting for sidewalks on Old National Highway (April 3).
• District 7: Candlelight vigil for Captain Garcia, Mother’s Ministry Tea Party, health initiative, Plant Play and Prosper event (April 25), pedestrian safety warning against panhandling at Old National Highway and Jonesboro Road.
• Mayor Gumbs: Reported lobbying trip to Washington D.C. and meetings with MARTA, announced campaign to locate youth, and noted economic development tour (March 31).

Administrative Approvals

All items approved unanimously:

1. Women’s History Month – Resolution proclaiming March as Women’s History Month in South Fulton.
2. Election Day Holiday – Resolution to limit election day holiday recognition to city races only.
3. Solid Waste Fee Adjustment – Resolution authorizing adjustment of solid waste fees.
4. Public Safety Director Extension – Extended the professional services agreement with Dr. Cedric Alexander as Interim Director of Public Safety for six months, with an option to renew for 90 days.

Zoning Approvals

All three zoning cases approved unanimously without discussion:

• U26-001: Special use permit for a telecommunication support structure at 0 Cochran Road (Conditional Approval).
• U26-002: Special use permit for an outdoor animal kennel at 7600 & 0 Hall Road (Conditional Approval; Planning Commission vote 5-1).
• Z26-008: Second-read rezoning of 191.20 acres at 555 & 0 Spence Road from AG-1 to M-1 for a 1.54-million-square-foot light industrial warehouse. Payment terms corrected: $200,000 due at issuance of land development permits for Building 100 and Building 200.

Walk-On Resolution: HB 1116 and SB 382

The council approved a resolution opposing state legislation (HB 1116 and SB 382) that would impact local government finances, credit ratings, and tax equity, urging amendment or opposition. City Manager Sharon Subadan explained concerns about homestead tax changes and sales tax formula adjustments.

Key Outcomes

• All votes were unanimous with no objections.
• A quorum was present (6 members; two not voting: Assistant City Attorney and City Manager).
• The meeting adjourned at 7:49 PM via motion by Councilmember Williams-Brown, second by Councilmember Bell (vote 6-0).

Note: The raw transcript includes an unscheduled proclamation at the start of the meeting honoring the Camp Creek Middle School girls’ basketball team for an undefeated season and declaring March 24, 2026 as “Camp Creek Middle School Girls Basketball Team Day.” This does not appear in the official agenda or minutes.