South Fulton City Council Emergency Special Called Meeting: Mexico City LINK Trip Approved (August 18, 2026)

On Tuesday, August 18, 2026, at 11:00 AM, the City of South Fulton, Georgia, City Council held an emergency special called meeting at City Hall. Mayor Carmalitha Gumbs presided, and all seven councilmembers were present, with Councilmember Keosha B. Bell participating via Zoom; a quorum was established. The sole action item was a request for council approval of the city's participation in the Atlanta Regional Commission's 2026 LINK mission to Mexico City. After discussion, the council withdrew an initial motion and approved the mayor's attendance and a waiver of the 30-day notice requirement by a 6-1 vote. The meeting adjourned at 11:18 AM.

Discussion Items

• ARC 2026 LINK Mission Request: Mayor Carmalitha Gumbs requested council approval for the city's participation in the Atlanta Regional Commission's 2026 LINK mission to Mexico City, explaining that the LINK trip is an international trip triggering the city's international travel policy. She described it as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for South Fulton to be at the table, noted the city had never been invited to a LINK trip, and said the city was waitlisted and approved in July.
• Funding and cost: Mayor Gumbs stated the trip would be funded from her discretionary travel budget, with a total estimated cost of $5,800, including airfare and the LINK registration/program fee.
• Councilmember Pritchett's compliance concerns: Councilmember Linda B. Pritchett objected that the international travel policy adopted by resolution on April 8, 2025, required a written request, detailed itinerary, estimated cost, and council approval by majority vote at least 30 days before departure. She said she had not received a detailed itinerary or estimated cost, that the mayor's memo was dated Friday but she first learned of the trip by email on Sunday, and that the trip was scheduled to begin the day after the meeting. She also noted she had not agreed with the policy when it was passed but that it was in effect.
• Councilmember Sebastian's position: Councilmember Jaceey Sebastian said international participation is important and the city's policies are a work in progress, but he asked about the source of funding and the timing of the request.
• Councilmember Bell's questions: Councilmember Keosha B. Bell asked for overall cost information and whether the mayor would be traveling with anyone. Mayor Gumbs provided cost details but did not specify travel companions.
• City attorney and city manager advice: The city attorney advised that the council could waive the 30-day notice requirement given the exigency that the trip started the next day, if all other requirements were met, and could then approve or deny the request. The city manager confirmed there was sufficient funding in the mayor's budget.
• Timing dispute: Councilmember Pritchett said the mayor had known about the opportunity for about a month before requesting the emergency meeting, and criticized the timing as done at the mayor's pleasure. Mayor Gumbs said she made the decision to attend after the opportunity was offered and after speaking with many people, and that it was her role to represent the city.
• Councilmember Rowell's motion: Councilmember Catherine F. Rowell said representation at these tables is important and moved to approve the trip and waive the 30-day provision.
• Procedural handling: Councilmember Jaceey Sebastian made an initial motion to approve, seconded by Councilmember Natasha Williams-Brown. After discussion, that motion was withdrawn. A motion to withdraw passed 7-0. Councilmember Sebastian then made a new motion, seconded by Councilmember Williams-Brown, to approve the mayor's attendance at the ARC 2026 LINK mission and waive the 30-day notice requirement.

Key Outcomes

• The council voted 7-0 to withdraw the initial motion to approve the LINK trip; Mayor Gumbs did not vote.
• The council voted 6-1 to approve Mayor Carmalitha Gumbs' attendance at the ARC 2026 LINK mission to Mexico City and to waive the 30-day notice requirement. Voting yes: Councilmembers Rowell, Johnson, Wright, Sebastian, Bell, and Williams-Brown. Voting no: Councilmember Pritchett. Mayor Gumbs did not vote.
• Mayor Gumbs adjourned the meeting at 11:18 AM by unanimous consent without objection.