South Fulton City Council Regular Meeting - October 27, 2026

The South Fulton City Council met in regular session on Tuesday, October 27, 2026, at City Hall from 7:02 p.m. to 8:54 p.m. Mayor Carmalitha Gumbs presided. Six of seven council members were present; District 6 Councilmember Natasha Williams-Brown was absent. The council adopted the amended agenda and minutes, approved land-use decisions, set the 2026 millage rate at 12.399 mills, approved multiple contracts and intergovernmental agreements, and received extensive public comment, mostly against a proposed confidentiality ordinance that Councilmember Jaceey Sebastian pulled from the agenda for further public education.

Consent Calendar

• The agenda was adopted as amended: Councilmember Sebastian removed the Safeguarding Confidential Information ordinance (Item XII.A.1), and the city attorney added a settlement approval item.
• Minutes of the October 13 regular meeting, work session, and alcohol/zoning public hearing were approved by unanimous consent. Councilmember Linda B. Pritchett objected, saying unanimous consent is not the same as a voice vote; the city attorney cited Charter Section 3.15 and case law to explain that the city's recorded votes are more transparent than a voice vote.
• The consent agenda was approved by unanimous consent, including: proclamations for Dr. Mary A. Mudd, James Edward Betts, Kingdom of God International Ministry, Westlake High School Mighty Marching Lions, Nobie Wiggles Sears, and Commissioner Marvin S. Arrington; a $93,274.40 HEAT grant with a $23,318.60 match; a $405,000 COPS Technology and Equipment grant; an additional $1,500 from the National Recreation and Park Association (increasing the Leaders in Training grant to $11,500); an MOU with the NAACP ACT-SO Committee; the District 1 special events list; the appointment of Dr. Arnita Johnson to the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board; and a $500 donation from Elizabeth Baptist Church Cares.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Most speakers addressed the now-pulled Safeguarding Confidential Information ordinance. They broadly opposed it, saying it would criminalize the dissemination of confidential information, chill whistleblowers, violate First Amendment and open-records rights, and reduce government transparency.
• Grace McKenna McLean, founder of Americans Against Judicial Corruption, said whistleblowers expose misconduct and that the council 'called yourselves out' by proposing the ordinance.
• Mandel Robinson criticized the council's transparency and leadership, saying residents are watching and would vote officials out if changes are not made.
• Brenda Aiken (District 3) said officials are 'hiding too much' and questioned unexplained cost escalation on the Old Fairburn Road roundabout, which she said grew from about $1 million or $1.4 million to $5 million under TSPLOST.
• Mike Johnson (District 4) welcomed new Police Chief Chrissy Lattimore but criticized Mayor Gumbs and City Manager Sharon Subadan over past police department leadership and told Councilmember Sebastian that work-camp threats would not intimidate residents.
• Demeter Chapman said the ordinance was disrespectful and resembled 'something we talk about Trump doing,' and said council members should get full-time jobs if they have time for such proposals.
• Wanda Mosley (District 3) expressed serious concerns about data-center noise, saying the Union City Data Center on Stonewall Tell Road is deafening and that the current data-center ordinance does not protect residents.
• Pamela Harris asked for a written legal assessment of the confidentiality ordinance and formally requested that her October 27, 2026 public comment letter be included in the minutes.
• Richard Schnellings said the ordinance should be 'dead, not off the agenda,' and complained about three-month delays in open-records requests and the use of city resources for campaigns.
• Another speaker, whose call was listed as Mel Keaton, accused council members of deferring a case for a friend, taking money from developers, and 'weaponizing' city council.
• Lynn King (District 4) said she was not in favor of the ordinance, welcomed its removal, and urged the council to build trust and transparency.
• Charles Rambo (District 2), a former national vice president of the International Brotherhood of Police Officers, argued the ordinance would violate constitutional protections, including Pickering rights, open records, and the 13th Amendment, and said 'stop sending folk to jail.'
• Connie Robinson (District 2, via Zoom), speaking for HLA Collaboration and Community Advocacy, requested that the council revisit establishing a homeowners association advisory board. She cited roughly 2.3 million Georgians in 11,400 community associations and said South Fulton has about 63 community organizations representing more than 5,000 homeowners. Her time expired before she completed her remarks.

Zoning and Land Use Decisions

• Z26-024/CDP26-008 - TDS Capital Two, LLC: Request to rezone 59 acres at 4380 Old Fairburn Road from CUP (Community Unit Plan District) to TR (Townhouse Residential) and amend the Comprehensive Development Plan to build 52 attached dwellings. Staff and the Planning Commission both recommended denial. The council voted to deny; the transcript's tally is garbled, but it appears to be a 5-1 vote.
• Z26-019/U26-009 - Alibhai Energy Holding LLC: Request to rezone 1.97 acres at 3985 Roosevelt Highway from C-1 to C-2 and obtain a use permit for a gas station with a quick-service restaurant. Staff recommended approval; the Planning Commission recommended denial. The council approved the request on staff recommendation by a 6-0 roll-call vote.

Millage Rate Public Hearing and 2026 Millage Rate

• City Manager Sharon D. Subadan and CFO Althea Philord-Bradley presented the 2026 millage rate, proposing no change for the fourth consecutive year. The proposed rate of 12.399 mills is below the 12.457 rollback rate, with the $342,000 difference covered by new properties added to the tax digest.
• The city's assessed value is $8.5 billion; exemptions reduce the taxable digest to $5.8 billion. Residential property makes up about 49.7% of the taxable digest, commercial 23.5%, and industrial 22.6%. The city gives back $33.3 million in exemptions. New homestead exemptions for residents 65 and older and 70 and older require application by April 2027.
• The public hearing was opened and closed with no speakers. The council then approved the ordinance setting the 2026 millage rate at 12.399 mills by a 6-0 roll-call vote.

Council Comments and Reports

• District 7: Halloween trunk-or-treat at Orchard Springs apartments; October 30 street dedication for fallen officer Captain Elio A. Garcia on Flat Shoals Road; welcomed new Police Chief Chrissy Lattimore.
• District 4: promoted the November 7 veterans motorcade; defended the work-camp language removal; noted that the work-camp penalty language already exists in city code but is not used; city attorney confirmed the confidentiality ordinance would not affect open records, free speech, or whistleblower protections.
• District 2: encouraged early voting through November 3, honored National First Responders Day on October 28, and asked for prayers for Westlake High School after the deaths of two teachers and one student in one month.
• District 3: highlighted community cleanups, a street dedication for Pastor Emeritus Walter Kimbrough, a data-center listening session with Creekside residents, and fall events.
• District 5: thanked the city manager for a TSPLOST presentation, announced the Urban Food Movement giveaway, the opening of Southside Touche Restaurant, the senior holiday luncheon, and Workforce Academy programs.
• District 1: promoted arts programming at the Southwest Arts Center and thanked Councilmember Sebastian for listening to residents and pulling the ordinance.
• Mayor Gumbs: touted a PNC bank ribbon-cutting on Old National Highway, defended the city's progress, urged residents to get facts from council members, and thanked Dr. Alexander for his service as interim police chief.

Discussion Items and Votes

• Confidentiality ordinance: Councilmember Sebastian removed Item XII.A.1 from the agenda at the start of the meeting, saying there was misunderstanding and misinformation and that he would provide more public education. Later, he read existing city code and charter provisions on confidential information, and the city attorney read language in the proposal preserving Open Records Act and Whistleblower Act protections.
• Proclamation co-sponsorship policy: The council approved a resolution automatically designating the mayor and all councilmembers as co-sponsors for life-celebration and birthday proclamations, with amendments to include church anniversaries, sports championships, and department head recognitions, and to allow a councilmember to opt out and sponsor solo. Approved by unanimous consent.
• Orkin, LLC pest control contract: Approved 6-0. The contract is through Sourcewell Cooperative Contract No. 012825-ORK, not to exceed $150,000 for 12 months, with a one-year renewal option.
• Musco Sports Lighting piggyback contract: Approved by unanimous consent. The contract covers sports lighting solutions up to $1,000,000 through June 16, 2027, with up to three one-year extensions.
• IGA with City of Atlanta Watershed Management: Approved 6-0. The IGA covers relocation of water facilities for the TSPLOST I, OSI 618 Welcome All Road at Scarbrough-Jailette Road intersection project; City of Atlanta will contribute up to $20,448.
• IGA with MARTA (Safe Routes to Transit): Approved 6-0. MARTA will construct pedestrian improvements at 15 listed bus stop locations and bear all costs. Councilmembers raised concerns about unsafe stops at Jonesboro Road and Peters Road and along Highway 92/South Fulton Parkway.
• First-read ordinances: Introduced but not voted on - an ordinance establishing a Cultural Affairs Advisory Board (sponsored by Councilmember Rowell), an ordinance amending voluntary inclusionary zoning (sponsored by Mayor Gumbs), and an ordinance removing references to work camps from the charter and code (sponsored by Councilmember Sebastian).
• Walk-on settlement: The council approved a $10,000 settlement in Miller v. City of South Fulton, contingent on execution of a general release, with final terms delegated to the city manager and interim city attorney. Approved by unanimous consent.

Key Outcomes

• The proposed Safeguarding Confidential Information ordinance was pulled from the agenda; Councilmember Sebastian committed to additional public education and discussion.
• The 2026 millage rate was set at 12.399 mills by a 6-0 vote, marking the fourth consecutive year without a rate increase.
• Z26-024 was denied and Z26-019 was approved, both on roll-call votes.
• The proclamation co-sponsorship policy was approved as amended.
• The Orkin contract, Musco Sports Lighting contract, two public works IGAs, and the $10,000 settlement were approved.
• Three first-read ordinances were introduced for future consideration.
• The meeting adjourned at 8:54 p.m.