[I. MEETING CALLED TO ORDER]
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GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME. YES, WELCOME TO THE JANUARY 27TH MEETING OF THE EASTPOINTE CITY COUNCIL. MADAM CITY CLERK, ROLL CALL, PLEASE. COUNCIL MEMBER. TRASH. PRESENT. COUNCIL MEMBER.
FRIEDLI. COUNCIL MEMBER. EXCUSE ME. COUNCIL MEMBER. ATKINS. PRESENT. COUNCIL MEMBER. COUNCIL MEMBER. ZIEGLER. COUNCIL MEMBER. CUMMINGS. COUNCIL MEMBER. MITCHELL. COUNCIL MEMBER. BUTLER WILL NOT BE IN ATTENDANCE AND COUNCIL MEMBER MARTIN ROGERS. PRESENT. MAYOR. HOLIDAY AND WE HAVE A QUORUM. THANK YOU. TONIGHT WE WILL HAVE OUR INVOCATION BY PASTOR WALTER OF FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH HERE IN EASTPOINTE. AND PLEASE STAND AND REMAIN STANDING FOR THE PLEDGE TO THE FLAG.
AMEN. NO, NO, NO, WE GOT WE GOT. IT JUST MEANS IT NEEDS TO BE A LITTLE BIT LONGER. COME ON NOW, LET US PRAY. LORD, WE THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR THE PRIVILEGE OF SERVICE. THANK YOU FOR THE PRIVILEGE OF SERVING YOUR PEOPLE. WE ASK THAT YOU WILL FILL THIS HALL, FILL ALL OF THESE MEMBERS, YOUR LEADERS, WITH INTEGRITY, WITH TRUTH, WITH A HEART OF HONEST CARE. FOR EVERY CONSTITUENT, EVERY MEMBER, EVERY PERSON THAT YOU'VE GIVEN US INFLUENCE OVER. WE GIVE THAT INFLUENCE BACK TO YOU. WE PRAY THAT ALL OF THE NEEDS OF OUR MEMBERS WILL CONTINUE TO BE MET ACCORDING TO YOUR RICHES AND GLORY. WE ASK FOR NOT ONLY CIVILITY, BUT EXCELLENCE IN RELATIONSHIP AMONG ALL OF OUR LEADERS, AND THAT YOU CARE FOR THEIR PHYSICAL BEINGS, THEIR BODIES. WE PRAY HEALTH AND STRENGTH. AND EVEN NOW, LORD, WE GIVE YOU HONOR FOR THE LIVES OF LOVED ONES WHO HAVE TRANSITIONED AND GONE ON TO GRADUATE. THANK YOU LORD. THANK YOU FOR THOSE WHO HAVE GIVEN LIFE, LIVES OF SERVICE, LIVES THAT REFLECT YOUR WILL. WE REMEMBER THE LOVED ONES YOU GAVE AND THE LEADERS WHO HAVE PRECEDED US, AND PRAY THAT WE WILL CONTINUE TO PLEASE YOU AND DO SERVICE THAT HONORS THEIR LEGACY AND MEMORY. WE GIVE YOU GLORY. WE GIVE YOU HONOR. IN JESUS NAME, AMEN. AMEN.
OUR SERGEANT AT ARMS THIS EVENING IS CAPTAIN ROBINSON. WE WILL MOVE INTO PRESENTATIONS AND
[VI.1. Legislative Roundtable]
ANNOUNCEMENTS. AND SO AT OUR RECENT COUNCIL MEETING, WHEN. AT A RECENT COUNCIL MEETING WHEN WE WERE TALKING ABOUT HOUSE BILL 581, WE TALKED ABOUT THE TOPIC OF OUR LEGISLATIVE ROUNDTABLE AT EASTPOINTE DAY AT THE CAPITOL CAME UP. AND SO I REACHED OUT TO REPRESENTATIVE SCHOFIELD TO DISCUSS WHETHER WE SHOULD DO EASTPOINTE DAY AT THE CAPITOL OR HAVE THEM COME HERE TO DO A LEGISLATIVE ROUNDTABLE. I THINK THEY MAY BE OPEN OR AMENABLE TO BOTH, BUT NOW THAT THEY'RE IN SESSION, GOING TO THE CAPITOL MIGHT BE A LITTLE EASIER FOR THEM. AND SO I WANTED TO SHARE THIS WITH COUNCIL SO THAT WE CAN DECIDE ONE, WHETHER WE WANT TO HAVE OUR LEGISLATORS COME HERE TO EASTPOINTE FOR A SPECIAL CALL MEETING THAT, LIKE WE'VE DONE THE LEGISLATIVE ROUNDTABLES IN THE PAST, OR IF WE WANT A EASTPOINTE DAY AT THE CAPITOL, OF COURSE, BASED ON LAST WEEK, SHE INDICATED THAT THE LEGISLATIVE CALENDAR MAY CHANGE BECAUSE OF SO MANY DAYS. THAT WAS CLOSED LAST YEAR. I MEAN, LAST WEEK, BUT. THAT BASED UPON THE CURRENT CALENDAR, FEBRUARY 25TH IS A LEGISLATIVE WORK DAY. SO PERHAPS A LUNCH AT THE CAPITOL FROM 12 TO 130. FEBRUARY 27TH, PERHAPS 2 P.M. TO 330 AT THE CAPITOL. MARCH 4TH. COULD BE HERE AT EASTPOINTE AT 6 P.M.THAT WOULD BE LIKE THE LEGISLATIVE ROUNDTABLE DATE. I ASKED IF SHE HAD ANY. THERE WAS ANYTHING POSSIBLY EARLIER THAN THE 25TH AND FEBRUARY 19TH CAME UP, BUT I'M NOT SURE IF WE WERE THINKING OF DOING IT THERE AT THE CAPITOL OR HERE. SO THE QUESTION FOR COUNCIL IS, DO WE
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WANT TO DO A LEGISLATIVE ROUNDTABLE HERE? CROSSOVER DAY IS MARCH 6TH, SO MARCH 4TH WOULD STILL BE IT'LL BE A COUPLE DAYS BEFORE CROSSOVER. AND THEN SUNNY DIE IS CURRENTLY SCHEDULED FOR APRIL THE 4TH, I BELIEVE. AND SO ONE DO WE WANT A LEGISLATIVE ROUNDTABLE HERE OR EASTPOINTE DAY AT THE CAPITOL? LAST YEAR WE HAD EASTPOINTE DAY AT THE CAPITOL. I THINK THE YEAR BEFORE THAT WE DID A LEGISLATIVE ROUNDTABLE. SO WANT TO HAVE THAT DISCUSSION. AND THEN THOSE ARE THE DATES THAT SHE INITIALLY SHARED. YOU ALL CAN LET ME KNOW IF SOME OF THOSE DATES DON'T WORK. AND THEN AFTER, IF WE DECIDE WHICH WAY WE WANT TO GO, WE COULD DO A MOTION AND HAVE THE CITY CLERK WORK WITH OUR STATE LOBBYIST AND REPRESENTATIVE SCHOFIELD AND THE TEAM TO COORDINATE, LIKE WHEN IT ACTUALLY WOULD HAPPEN. COUNCIL MEMBER SHROPSHIRE, THANK YOU. I THINK TO DO WHAT WE'VE DONE IN THE PAST AND HAVE IT HERE, WHICH GIVE PEOPLE MORE TIME FOR THOSE WHO MIGHT CAN'T GO TO THE CAPITOL DURING THE DAY, BUT THEY CAN COME IF WE DO A SPECIAL CALL MEETING, AS IF WE WERE HAVING OUR MEETINGS LIKE WE'VE DONE IN THE PAST. I THINK THAT MIGHT WORK FOR EVERYBODY. COUNCIL MEMBER CUMMINGS THANK YOU, MADAM MAYOR, CAN YOU GIVE US THOSE DATES AGAIN THAT YOU SAID THAT WE WOULD USE FOR HERE? WELL, I'M NOT SURE. THAT'S NOT I'M NOT SURE OF THE TIME ON THE 19TH, BUT FEBRUARY, 19TH, FEBRUARY THE 25TH, POSSIBLY BETWEEN LIKE A 12 TO 130. SO WE COULD GET THERE MAYBE EVEN A LITTLE EARLIER AND MEET WITH OTHER AGENCY HEADS. SO JUST THAT DAY, DURING THE DAY, LET'S SAY DURING THE DAY ON THE 19TH AND THE 25TH, THAT WOULD BE RIGHT. THE 27TH, DURING THE DAY THAT WOULD BE AT THE CAPITOL, MARCH 4TH AT 6 P.M. THAT COULD BE HERE IN EASTPOINTE, OKAY. AND AGAIN, UNFORTUNATELY, I DON'T I DON'T KNOW IF THE 19TH IS DURING THE DAY OR IN THE EVENING, BUT THAT'S THE EARLIEST DATE. SHE THINKS, BASED UPON THE CURRENT SCHEDULE. SOUNDS GOOD. SO ARE WE SELECTING A DATE TODAY? SO ONE LIKE DO WE WANT TO DO LEGISLATIVE ROUNDTABLE OR GO THERE. BECAUSE THAT KIND OF WOULD ALMOST SELECT THE DATE FOR US? OKAY. IF WE WANTED TO DO IT HERE, WANTED TO DO IT, WANT TO DO IT HERE, FEBRUARY 19TH.POSSIBLY. COULD BE THE EVENING. I'M NOT SURE IF IT'S EVENING OR DAY. AND THEN THE OTHER ONE, SHE SAID, WAS MARCH 4TH. IF WE WANT TO DO IT THERE, IT WOULD BE THE 24TH, I THINK SHE SAID THE 25TH OR THE 27TH OF FEBRUARY OVER HERE. IS. FEBRUARY 25TH AND 27TH DURING THE DAY, MARCH 4TH AT SIX HERE. AND THEN FEBRUARY 19TH, ONE OR THE OTHER. I MADE HIM FURTHER DISCUSSION. ANYTHING ELSE? COUNCIL MEMBER CUMMINGS THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER MITCHELL SO YOU KNOW. I HEAR CONCERNS. YOU KNOW, I KIND OF LIKE GOING TO THE CAPITOL. IT GIVES US KIND OF ACCESS TO EVERYBODY ELSE. IT'S UNDERSTANDABLE IF EVERYBODY CAN'T MAKE IT THERE. SO I'M OPEN TO SUGGESTIONS. YEAH, I THANK YOU. AND IF WE SO WE DO STILL HAVE SOME TIME LIKE NEXT MONDAY SO WE CAN TALK ABOUT IT TONIGHT AND THEN WE CAN CONTINUE TO FLESH IT OUT WITH THE STATE DELEGATION, OUR DELEGATION AND THE LOBBYISTS TO SEE LIKE WHAT THE HARD AND FAST AROUND DAYS, THEIR DAYS HERE AND THEN. SO NOT NECESSARILY MAKE A DECISION. I FORGOT WE HAVE A MEETING ON MONDAY. I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE EVERYBODY HAS THE AVAILABILITY AND THEN, YOU KNOW, GOING TO THE CAPITOL. I THINK THAT'S I THINK THAT'S A GOOD EXPERIENCE IN GENERAL. OKAY. AND THEN WE HAVE ACCESS TO ALL THE OTHER LEGISLATORS OUT THERE. SO BUT YOU KNOW, IT'S UP FOR DISCUSSION. SO I'M HERE FOR THAT OKAY. COUNCIL MEMBER ZIEGLER. THANK YOU. SO I WOULD PREFER TO HAVE IT IN THE EVENING. IT WOULD MAKE IT EASIER FOR ME TO ATTEND, AND I WOULD ASSUME THAT IT WOULD MAKE IT EASIER FOR EVERYBODY ELSE TO ATTEND AS WELL. BUT I'M OPEN TO HEARING SUGGESTIONS AND WHATEVER ELSE HAS TO SAY. COUNCIL MEMBER MARTIN ROGERS. THANK YOU, MADAM MAYOR. AND I
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TOO PREFER TO HAVE THIS MEETING IN THE EVENING BECAUSE I BELIEVE THE MAJORITY OF US ARE FULL TIME EMPLOYEES. SO IN THE EVENING AFTER 6:00 OR AFTER THAT 5 P.M, MARK WOULD WORK BEST. MY OTHER QUESTION IS, IS THIS A PUBLIC MEETING AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC ONCE WE HAVE THE LEGISLATION? AND THAT WOULD ALSO GIVE RESIDENTS THE OPPORTUNITY TO COME AND HEAR THE DIALOG AND DISCUSSION WITH THE ROUND TABLE VERSUS GOING TO THE STATE CAPITOL, WHERE THEY MAY NOT WANT TO TRAVEL. BUT IF WE HAVE THE LEGISLATIVE ROUNDTABLE RIGHT HERE IN EAST POINT, THAT OPENS IT UP FOR RESIDENTS ACROSS THE WARDS TO ATTEND THE MEETING AND HEAR THE DIALOG AND DISCUSSION.SO I WOULD PREFER TO HAVE THAT MEETING ON SITE AFTER 5 P.M. THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER ATKINS. YES, THANK YOU, MADAM MAYOR. I WILL ECHO THOSE SENTIMENTS AS WELL. NOW THAT I'M HEARING SOME OF MY COLLEAGUES TALK ABOUT IT, BECAUSE 581 IMPACTS PROPERTY OWNERS, RIGHT? AND SO TO THE EXTENT THAT THE PROPERTY OWNERS HAVE THE ABILITY TO COME OUT TO ACTIVELY IN PERSON, HEAR THE ENGAGEMENT AND LEARN MORE ABOUT IT, I KNOW THAT WE'VE HAD A COUPLE OF PRESENTATIONS FROM OUR FINANCE DEPARTMENT. I THINK THAT WE'RE DOING THIS BECAUSE WE STILL HAVE SOME QUESTIONS, BUT TO THE EXTENT THAT THE RESIDENTS ARE ABLE TO COME OUT IN THE EVENING, AND THIS WOULD ALSO GIVE US THE ABILITY TO RECORD IT SO WE COULD USE PORTION OF PORTIONS OF THAT RECORDING IF WE WANTED TO POST THOSE THINGS TO OUR WEBSITE OR TO OUR SOCIAL MEDIA. SO THE CITIZENS CAN'T COME OUT, THEY WOULD HAVE ACCESS TO THOSE AS WELL. COUNCIL MEMBER FREELAND I MEAN, I HEAR THE PROS AND CONS OF BOTH, AND I DON'T HAVE A STRONG OPINION EITHER WAY, AND I THINK I APPRECIATE COUNCIL MEMBER MITCHELL'S POINT ABOUT, YOU KNOW, GOING TO THE CAPITOL IS A IS A GOOD EXPERIENCE. BUT I ALSO APPRECIATE THE POINTS THAT HAVE BEEN RAISED ABOUT HAVING IT OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. THE ONE THING I WOULD SAY, AND THIS IS A MINOR POINT, IS TUESDAY, MARCH THE 4TH, IS MARDI GRAS. I DON'T KNOW IF THAT IMPACTS ANYONE'S STATE OF MIND OR BUT. BUT I'M YOU KNOW, WE CAN HAVE COCKTAILS OR SOMETHING. ANYWAY, THOSE ARE MY THOUGHTS. BUT I DO APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT THE PUBLIC COULD PARTICIPATE IF WE HAVE IT HERE. YEAH. COUNCIL MEMBER SHROPSHIRE, THANK YOU. AND THANK YOU. FOR THE FEEDBACK. AND I THINK THAT IT REALLY WOULD BE GOOD TO HAVE IT HERE, AS WE'VE DONE IN THE PAST. I THINK WHEN WE GO TO THE STATE THAT IS MORE OF EASTPOINTE DAY, WHERE WE ARE BEING RECOGNIZED BECAUSE IT IS EASTPOINTE DAY, AND THAT'S OUR DAY AND OUR TIME TO ACTUALLY GO TO THE STATE AND HAVE OUR STATE REPRESENTATIVE RECOGNIZE US BEING IN THE CAPITOL. BUT BUT ON THIS, THIS IS IN REGARDS TO LAWS THAT WILL AFFECT THE RESIDENTS AND HOW WE MOVE OR HOW WE PROCEED IN DOING THINGS DIFFERENT BASED ON WHAT HAS NOW BEEN PASSED BY OUR STATE REPRESENTATIVES. SO LIKE I SAID BEFORE, I PREFER IT AN EVENING MEETING WOULD BE BETTER, BUT WE ALSO NEED TO COME UP WITH AN AGENDA AS TO THE THINGS AND THE TOPIC THAT WE WANT TO TALK TO WITH OUR LOBBYISTS AS TO WHAT THEY CAN DO, THINGS THAT WE MIGHT WANT TO SEE CHANGED HERE IN HOW WE DO THINGS. SO THAT'S JUST SOME OTHER FEW SUGGESTIONS THAT WE'VE DONE IN THE PAST AS WELL. SO THANK YOU ALL FOR ALL THE FEEDBACK. I THINK, YOU KNOW, THERE MAY BE A POSSIBILITY TO DO A BOTH END. RIGHT? SO LIKE IT SOUNDS LIKE FROM THE ROUND TABLE INTERACTING, HAVING THE CONVERSATION WITH OUR LEGISLATORS, THE MAJORITY WOULD LIKE TO HAVE IT HERE IN THE EVENING. AND THERE AGAIN WAYS THAT WE CAN RECORD IT, WE CAN RESHARE IT. THERE ARE A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT ADVANTAGES TO THAT. BUT ALSO WE COULD ASK OUR STATE LOBBYISTS TO COORDINATE. OPPORTUNITIES FOR PERSONS WHO MAY WANT TO GO DOWN OR, YOU KNOW, KIND OF WORK IN THAT WAY SO THAT WHAT WE WOULD WHAT WE DO WANT TO AVOID, THOUGH, IF WE GO THERE, THAT WE DON'T MAKE IT KIND OF LIKE A ROUND, LIKE THE ROUND TABLE, THAT WE'D HAVE THEM COMING HERE FOR. RIGHT? BUT SO BASED ON THAT FEEDBACK, IT SOUNDS LIKE THE DAYS MAY EITHER BE THE 19TH OR MARCH 4TH. AND DOES ANYONE HAVE A CONFLICT ON THOSE DAYS OTHER THAN THE MARDI GRAS THEME THAT WE'LL HAVE FOR OUR OUR DINNER THAT EVENING? SO I'LL REACH BACK OUT TO
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REPRESENTATIVE SCHOFIELD AND THEN SHE, ALONG WITH OUR CLERK AND THE STATE LIBRARIES, CAN TALK MORE ABOUT IT THIS WEEK, AND THEN WE CAN HAVE AN UPDATE ON MONDAY. AND THEN WE CAN VOTE, BECAUSE WE'LL HAVE TO BE A SPECIAL MEETING SO WE CAN VOTE ON THE ACTUAL DAY AND TIME.THEN. DOES THAT WORK? YES. OKAY. ALRIGHTY. SO, MADAM CITY CLERK, IF YOU COULD PLACE IT ON AS AN AGENDA ITEM SINCE IT'S BEEN DISCUSSED AT THIS MEETING AS LEGISLATIVE ROUNDTABLE, AND THEN WE'LL HAVE THE INFORMATION. COMMITTEE REPORTS, ANY COMMITTEE REPORTS. OOPS. YEP, I YEAH, I SHOULD HAVE SAID ARE THERE ANY MORE PRESENTATIONS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS BECAUSE I ACTUALLY HAVE AN ANNOUNCEMENT. COUNCIL MEMBERS. YES, MADAM MAYOR, I'VE GOT A FEW APPOINTMENTS THAT I'D LIKE TO ANNOUNCE AND HAVE MY COLLEAGUES TO VOTE ON THIS EVENING FOR BOARDS, COMMISSIONS AND AUTHORITIES. OKAY, SO YOU HAVE THE OPTION OF DOING A SINGLE MOTION OR A JOINT MOTION.
IT WHATEVER'S EASY, WHATEVER'S EASIEST. I COULD JUST READ THEM ALL OUT AND WE COULD TAKE THEM ALL AT THE SAME TIME. I MAKE A MOTION TO APPOINT AND THEN READ THEM OUT AND WHICH ONES? AND THEN WE COULD DO IT IN BATCH. YES, I HAVE A LITTLE TO SAY ABOUT EACH OF THOSE. MADAM MAYOR, I MOVE THAT WE APPOINT MARY COVERT TO OUR DOWNTOWN ARCHITECTURAL OVERLAY REVIEW BOARD. MARY HAS A PROFESSIONAL DEGREE IN ARCHITECTURE FROM VIRGINIA TECH, IS A LICENSED ARCHITECT WITH LORD ATKIN SARGEANT HERE IN THE ATLANTA OFFICE. THERE SHE GO. HOLD ON REAL QUICK SO WE CAN DO. LET'S BREAK THEM UP. OKAY. AND THEN WE CAN DO THE MOTION THE SECOND.
AND THEN IN DISCUSSION YOU CAN SHARE THAT OKAY. YEAH. ALL RIGHT. SO YOU MADE THE MOTION.
YES I MOVE THAT WE HER. YES I MOVE THAT WE APPOINT MARY COVERT TO THE DOWNTOWN ARCHITECTURAL OVERLAY REVIEW BOARD. IS THERE A SECOND SECOND. IT'S BEEN MOVED AND PROPERLY SECONDED.
DISCUSSION. COUNCIL MEMBER ATKINS. YES, I'M APPOINTING MARY TO THIS BOARD. SHE HAS A PROFESSIONAL DEGREE IN ARCHITECTURE FROM VIRGINIA TECH. SHE IS A LICENSED ARCHITECT WITH LORD AND SARGEANT HERE IN THEIR ATLANTA OFFICE, WHERE SHE IS ALSO FOCUSING ON MIXED USE DEVELOPMENT. MARY LIVES IN THE FROG HOLLOW COMMUNITY OF WARD A, AND SHE'S EXCITED TO SERVE IN THIS CAPACITY. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AYE. ALL THOSE OPPOSED. MOTION CARRIES. OKAY, MADAM MAYOR, MY NEXT APPOINTMENT IS LISA HENDERSON TO SERVE ON THE CIVIL SERVICE BOARD OF APPEALS. MADAM MAYOR, I MOVE THAT WE APPOINT LISA HENDERSON TO SERVE ON THE CIVIL SERVICE BOARD OF APPEALS. SO MOVED. IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND? IT'S BEEN MOVED AND IT'S BEEN MOVED AND PROPERLY SECONDED. ANY DISCUSSION? COUNCIL MEMBER? YES, MADAM MAYOR LISA HENDERSON HAS AN UNDERGRADUATE DEGREE IN ENGLISH FROM UNC CHAPEL HILL, A LAW DEGREE FROM HARVARD UNIVERSITY, AND A MASTER'S IN AMERICAN HISTORY FROM COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY. SHE HAS RECENTLY RETIRED FROM THE NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD, WHERE SHE WAS THE REGIONAL DIRECTOR, OVERSEEING THE CENTRAL OFFICE IN ATLANTA AND OFFICES IN BIRMINGHAM, NASHVILLE AND WINSTON-SALEM. LISA LIVES IN THE CONLEY HILLS NEIGHBORHOOD OF WARD A. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AYE. ALL THOSE OPPOSED. MOTION CARRIES COUNCIL MEMBER ATKINS. YES, MADAM MAYOR, I MOVE THAT WE APPOINT FRANKLIN SMITH TO OUR PARKS AND RECREATION ADVISORY COMMISSION. SECOND, IT'S BEEN MOVED AND PROPERLY SECONDED.
DISCUSSION. COUNCILMEMBER ATKINS. YES, MADAM MAYOR, MR. SMITH IS RETIRED AFTER 35 YEARS WITH THE FULTON COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND RECREATION, WHERE HE SERVED IN MANY LEADERSHIP POSITIONS AT VARIOUS RECREATION CENTERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY ACROSS THE COUNTY, ULTIMATELY RETIRING AS THE DIRECTOR OF PROGRAMS AT THE SOUTH FULTON COMMUNITY CENTER AT WELCOME PARK. MR. SMITH HAS A DEGREE IN RECREATION ADMINISTRATION FROM NORTHWESTERN STATE UNIVERSITY, AND HE LIVES IN THE CARRIAGE COLONY COMMUNITY OF WARD C. AND ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? HOLD ON. DID YOU HAVE. I'M SORRY. DID YOU SAY THE NAME IS FRANKLIN SMITH? FRANKLIN SMITH? YES. OKAY. I THINK I APPOINTED HIM. I NEED OKAY, OKAY. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? NO. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AYE. THOSE OPPOSED. MOTION CARRIES. MADAM MAYOR, MY LAST MOTION IS TO APPOINT WAYNE WATSON TO THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION.
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SECOND. IT'S BEEN MOVED AND PROPERLY SECONDED. ANY DISCUSSION? COUNCIL MEMBER? YES.MR. WATSON HAS A DEGREE IN FINANCE FROM MOREHOUSE COLLEGE. A MASTER'S IN REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT WITH A CONCENTRATION IN BUILDING CONSTRUCTION AND CITY PLANNING. HE IS A DEVELOPER AND INVESTMENT MANAGER. HE HAS WORKED ON PROJECTS ALL ALONG THE EAST COAST, INCLUDING AREAS IN OPPORTUNITY ZONES, AND MR. WATSON LIVES IN THE JEFFERSON PARK COMMUNITY OF WARD B. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AYE. ALL THOSE OPPOSED. MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. ANY OTHER PRESENTATIONS OR ANNOUNCEMENTS? OUR APPOINTMENTS. I HAVE A COUPLE ANNOUNCEMENTS. SO TOMORROW WE'RE EXCITED THAT THE EAST POINT LIBRARY WILL REOPEN. TOMORROW AT 10 A.M. WILL BE THE REOPENING CEREMONY OF OUR BELOVED BRANCH. THE ADDRESS IS 2757 MAIN STREET, EAST POINT, GEORGIA. AGAIN, THAT'S TOMORROW, TUESDAY, JANUARY 28TH AT 10 A.M. AND THERE'S ALSO INFORMATION ON THERE. THE LIBRARY'S WEBSITE ABOUT UPCOMING EVENTS THAT ARE ALREADY PLANNED ON THIS SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 1ST, I JOIN YOU. I INVITE YOU TO JOIN US FOR A FUN TIME OF GOAL SETTING, VISIONING, AND DELICIOUS BRUNCH WITH COMMUNITY BUILDING AT THE THIRD ANNUAL VISION BOARD SOCIAL. IT WILL BE HELD AT THE NETWORK ATL 1556 NAVAL AVENUE IN EAST POINT, GEORGIA FROM 11 A.M. TO 2 P.M. AND IF YOU'VE BEEN TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT TO DO WITH YOUR OLD MAGAZINES, FEEL FREE TO BRING THEM TO THE SOCIAL OR DROP THEM OFF AT CITY HALL HERE, 2757 EAST POINT STREET, OR CALL (400) 427-0709 ONE, AND WE WILL GLADLY PICK THEM UP AND SHARE THEM WITH EVERYONE AT THE VISION BOARD SOCIAL. SO AGAIN, THAT'S THIS. SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 1ST FROM 11 A.M. TO 2 P.M. AT THE NETWORK ATL 1556 NAVAL AVENUE HERE IN EAST POINT, AND DUE TO THE INCLEMENT WEATHER, THERE IS STILL TIME TO DROP OFF ITEMS AND HELP US START OFF OUR NEW YEAR WITH SUPPORTING OUR YOUTH AT THE BACK TO SCHOOL 2.0 REFRESH DRIVE. THE ASSEMBLY WILL BE HELD ON THIS FRIDAY, JANUARY 31ST FROM 5 P.M. TO 9 P.M. AT EAST POINT FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH AT 2651 CHURCH STREET. AND YOU. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO DROP OFF ITEMS, YOU CAN DROP THEM OFF ANY DAY THIS WEEK FROM 10 A.M. TO 2 P.M. AT THE CHURCH. AND THE TYPES OF ITEMS THAT WE ARE COLLECTING WOULD BE BACKPACKS, COMPOSITION NOTEBOOKS, WIDE RULED NOTEBOOK PAPER, SPIRAL NOTEBOOKS, BOXES OF FACIAL TISSUES, HAND SOAP, PRE SHARPENED NUMBER TWO PENCILS, PACKS OF INK PENS, BLUE INK, PACKS OF HIGHLIGHTERS. AT LEAST EIGHT PER PACK. DRY ERASE MARKERS, EXPO DRY ERASE MARKERS AS WELL AS THREE RING BINDERS. SO AGAIN, THE DROP OFF DATES THIS WEEK ARE EVERY DAY THIS WEEK, MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY FROM 10 A.M. TO 2 P.M. AT EAST POINT FIRST MALIBU UNITED METHODIST CHURCH, 2651 CHURCH STREET. WE ARE TRULY BLESSED TO BE A BLESSING. SO LET'S START OFF 2025 BY SUPPORTING OUR YOUTH COUNCIL MEMBER, SHROPSHIRE.
THANK YOU. I KNEW AND I JUST HAD THE CITY CLERK TO GO BACK AND CHECK THE MINUTES. I KNEW I HAD APPOINTED FRANKIE SMITH TO A BOARD. I CAN'T REMEMBER WHICH BOARD IT IS, BUT I JUST HAD HER TO GO BACK AND CHECK THE MINUTES. I KNEW THE NAMES. SOUND FAMILIAR? AND SO I THINK AT THIS POINT, IF HE HAS BEEN APPOINTED TO A BOARD THAT'S DIFFERENT THAN THE ONE HE'S BEEN APPOINTED TO, I THINK IT WOULD BE UP TO MR. SMITH TO DECIDE LIKE WHICH BOARD HE WANTS TO SERVE ON, AND IF THE BOARD IS DIFFERENT THAN PARKS AND REC AND HE WANTS TO SERVE ON PARKS AND REC, HE COULD RESIGN.
I THINK IT'S CULTURAL ENRICHMENT. SO IF IT'S DIFFERENT THEN PARKS AND REC, HE HAS THE OPTION TO RESIGN FROM THAT BOARD SO THAT HE COULD BE APPOINTED TO THE NEW BOARD. AND. I DON'T KNOW, MAYBE WE CAN TALK WITH LEGAL AND ABUNDANCE OF CAUTION AND WHETHER OR NOT WE WOULD NEED TO DO A MOTION TO RECONSIDER. WE WITHDRAW THAT. AND BUT LET'S GIVE THE CLERK TIME ENOUGH TO CHECK THE MINUTES TO SEE CONFIRM WHICH BOARD AND ALL OF THAT. AND THEN WE CAN TRY TO SEE IF WE CAN DEAL WITH THAT DURING THIS MEETING, OR WE DO IT AT A LATER MEETING. OKAY. HOW DOES THAT
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WORK? OKAY. SEE ANYTHING? IT'S NOT. WE ARE AT COMMITTEE REPORTS. ANY REPORTS FROM[VII. COMMITTEE REPORTS]
COMMITTEES. HAVE SOME COMMITTEE MEETINGS HAPPENING THIS MONTH. ANYTHING FROM ANY OF THE COMMITTEE FOR BUDGET AND FINANCE OR HUMAN RESOURCES. ALL RIGHT. WE WILL NOW MOVE ON TO ADOPTION[VIII. ADOPTION OF THE COUNCIL AGENDA]
OF THE COUNCIL AGENDA. IS THERE A MOTION, MADAM MAYOR? YES, COUNCILWOMAN. SHROPSHIRE, I MAKE A MOTION THAT WE APPROVE THE COUNCIL AGENDA. I'M SORRY THAT WE ADOPT THE COUNCIL AGENDA.SECOND, IT'S BEEN MOVED AND PROPERLY SECONDED. ANY DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR?
[IX. APPROVAL OF CITY COUNCIL MINUTES]
AYE. ALL THOSE OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. NEXT UP IS APPROVAL OF CITY COUNCIL. MINUTES FROM THE JANUARY 6TH, 2025 REGULAR MEETING. IS THERE A MOTION, MADAM MAYOR? YES, COUNCILMEMBER.SHROPSHIRE, I MAKE A MOTION THAT WE ADOPT THE THAT WE APPROVE THE COUNCIL MEETING FROM THE REGULAR MEETING FROM JANUARY THE 6TH. SECOND. IT'S BEEN MOVED AND PROPERLY SECONDED THAT WE APPROVE THE COUNCIL MINUTES FROM THE JANUARY 6TH MEETING. ANY DISCUSSION ON THAT MOTION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AYE. ALL THOSE OPPOSED. MOTION CARRIES TONIGHT BECAUSE THIS MEETING WAS RESCHEDULED DUE TO INCLEMENT WEATHER. THE ITEMS THAT WERE ON THE WORK SESSION AGENDA FOR PUBLIC HEARING WILL HAVE TO BE RE-ADVERTISED AND WILL COME BACK AT A FUTURE MEETING. SO WE DON'T HAVE ANY PUBLIC HEARINGS TONIGHT FOR THAT REASON. SO IF YOU WERE LOOKING AT AN ITEM AND WE'RE HERE THIS WEEK BECAUSE WE DIDN'T HAVE THE MEETING LAST WEEK BECAUSE WE HAD TO CHANGE THE
[XI. PUBLIC COMMENTS]
DATE, WE HAVE TO RE-ADVERTISE THOSE PUBLIC COMMENTS. MADAM CITY CLERK, DO WE HAVE ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS THIS EVENING? WE HAVE FOUR PUBLIC COMMENTS THIS EVENING. THANK YOU. CHAPTER TWO.SECTION 2-2002B RULE 28. THE PUBLIC MAY SPEAK DURING THE PUBLIC COMMENT SECTION OF THE AGENDA. SPEAKERS MUST COMPLETE A COMMENT FORM PRIOR TO THE START OF THE MEETING. SUBJECT MAY INCLUDE ANY SUBJECT OF CHOICE. THERE WILL BE A THREE MINUTE TIME LIMIT FOR EACH SPEAKER.
SPEAKERS THAT HAVE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK MAY GIVE ALL OR PART OF THEIR TIME, UP TO THREE MINUTES TO ANOTHER SPEAKER, FOR A TOTAL OF SIX MINUTES OF SPEAKING TIME. SPEAKERS MAY ADDRESS THE COUNCIL ONLY ONCE DURING THIS TIME OF THE AGENDA. SPEAKERS MUST IDENTIFY THEMSELVES AND THEIR ADDRESS PRIOR TO SPEAKING. QUESTIONS FROM THE SPEAKERS MAY NOT BE ADDRESSED DURING THE PUBLIC SPEAKING SECTION OF THE AGENDA. EAST POINT RESIDENTS WILL HAVE PRIORITY OVER OTHER SPEAKERS. THERE WILL BE A TOTAL OF NOT MORE THAN 60 MINUTES FOR THE PUBLIC SPEAKING SECTION OF THE AGENDA. SPEAKERS MAY ONLY ADDRESS THE PRESIDING OFFICER. SPEAKER SHALL OBSERVE ALL RULES OF DECORUM. NO DEBATE, DISRESPECT OR OBSCENITY SHALL BE TOLERATED. THE PRESIDING OFFICER SHALL RULE ANY SUCH INDIVIDUAL OUT OF ORDER THAT FAILS TO COMPLY WITH THE FOREGOING. MADAM CITY CLERK, YOU CAN CALL THE FIRST SPEAKER. OH, FIRST WE HAVE MR. GREG FAN.
GOOD AFTERNOON. MADAM MAYOR. MEMBERS OF THE EAST POINT CITY COUNCIL. WELL, THERE'S NO POINT LIKE EAST POINT TONIGHT. I COME AS A RESIDENT LIVING AT 1884 CONNOLLY DRIVE IN EAST POINT, GEORGIA. I COME AS A RESIDENT, BUT I COME ALSO AS A LABOR LEADER, A PERSON WHO BELIEVE IN TAKING CARE OF THE WORKERS, LOOKING OUT FOR THE LEAST, THE LESS THE LOST AND THE LEFT OUT.
I KNOW THAT YOU GUYS HAVE BEEN WORKING ON A PAY CLASS STUDY, AND YOU'VE BEEN WORKING ON IT FOR A WHILE, THAT YOU'VE GIVEN AN INCREASE IN TERMS OF YOUR BASIC SALARY, INCOME, SALARY FOR PEOPLE TO COME IN. BUT IT HAS CREATED A PROBLEM IN TERMS OF PEOPLE WHO ARE MAKING THE SAME SALARY OR MORE THAN PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN HERE. YOU HAVE SOME DISGRUNTLED EMPLOYEES AND THEY'RE THEY'RE COMPLAINING AND THEY'RE SAYING, WHEN WILL WE RECEIVE THE MONEY FOR THE STUDY? THEY'RE NOT WAITING, WEREN'T WAITING TILL JULY. THEY WANT TO GET THEIR MONEY. NOW, IF YOU GUYS ARE APPROVE IT, GIVE IT TO THEM NOW. THE OTHER THING THAT I WANT TO SAY IS, IS RELATE TO THE WORKERS. YOU GUYS ARE THE POLICY MAKERS. YOU SET THE POLICIES. YOU THAT'S YOUR JOB AS POLICY MAKERS. BUT THE PEOPLE WHO IMPLEMENT THOSE POLICIES ARE THE PEOPLE WHO WORK FOR YOU. THEY SERVE THE CITIZENS OF EAST POINT. SO I'M ASKING YOU, EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU COUNCIL PEOPLE, TO THINK ABOUT YOUR POCKETBOOK AND THINK ABOUT HOW YOU WANT TO BE PAID RIGHT, AND TAKE CARE OF THE EMPLOYEES. DON'T LET THEM WAIT. DON'T LET THEM WAIT. DON'T KEEP PLAYING.
WITH THIS STUDY, I'VE GONE THROUGH MANY PAY CLASS STUDIES IN FULTON COUNTY. I HAVE LED PAY
[00:30:02]
CLASS STUDIES. I KNOW THE DIFFICULTY AND THE CHALLENGES IT MAY HAVE IN TERMS OF SALARY COMPRESSION. YOU GUYS HAVE A PROBLEM WITH SALARY COMPRESSION, AND YOU HAVE EMPLOYEES THAT ARE DISGRUNTLED. MAKE HASTE. TAKE CARE OF THE EMPLOYEES OF THE CITY OF EAST POINT, BECAUSE I STILL WANT MY POLICE OFFICERS, MY FIREFIGHTERS, MY SANITATION WORKERS, MY PUBLIC WORK WORKERS.WITH THE OUT THERE WORKING IN THE COLD AND THE SNOW. I WANT THEM TO BE TREATED FAIRLY BECAUSE WHEN I CALL ON THEM, ARE YOU CALLING THEM? I WANT THEM TO ANSWER. THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH FOR LISTENING TO ME. I HOPE THAT YOU HEAR ME AND UNDERSTAND ME AND UNDERSTAND THAT I AM HERE LOOKING OUT FOR THE EMPLOYEES OF THIS GREAT CITY, THAT THERE IS NO POINT LIKE EAST POINT. GOD BLESS YOU AND GOD BLESS YOUR FAMILIES. THANK YOU. UP NEXT WE HAVE MISS MARIE TERRY AND SHE HAD TIME GIVEN TO HER BY MR. ERIC B, SO SHE'LL HAVE SIX MINUTES. GOOD EVENING, EAST POINT CITY COUNCIL. MAYOR, MAYOR. GREAT TO SEE YOU GUYS AND ALL THAT SNOW. AND I HAVE TO AGREE WITH BISHOP GREG THAN THOSE WORKERS DO NEED THEIR MONEY. ALWAYS KNOW WHAT IS OUT THERE WORKING AND JUMPING OFF THE TRUCK, SHOVELING ICE OR DIRT IN THE STREETS. WE DO NEED TO GIVE THEM SOMETHING TO DRIVE AND JUST THROW IT LIKE CLAYTON COUNTY WAS DOING. OUR EMPLOYEES WORK HARD. YES. DON'T LET THEM WAIT TILL JULY. GIVE THEM THEIR MONEY NOW. AND NOW I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT. I SEE SOME SIGNS AROUND OUR NEIGHBORHOOD. I'M SORRY. MARIE. TERRY, 28, 55 SYLVAN ROAD. I SEE SOME SIGNS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD. $600,000 IMAGE OF OUR CITY. AND I HOPE ALL THAT MONEY THAT YOU GUYS HAVE WITH THAT PROGRAM THAT YOU GUYS DO NOT FORGET, REBEL PARK, REBEL PARK AND ALL THE BUSINESSES. OUR PARK. I HOPE YOU ALL DON'T FORGET THAT. AND I HOPE THAT MONEY THAT YOU HAVE THAT YOU GUYS ACTUALLY DIVIDE THAT MONEY UP EQUALLY, NOT ONLY TO THE BUSINESSES BUT HOLISTICALLY, THE WHOLE CITY. THAT'S WHAT WE NEED TO DO WITH THAT MONEY. AND IT'S NOT NO ONE CITY, NO ONE WARD, IT'S THE WHOLE CITY. LET'S NOT MAKE ONE WARD YOUR FAVORITE WARD, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE I GO TO A LOT OF MEETINGS AND I HEAR THAT AND I'M GOING TO SPEAK MY PIECE TONIGHT. I WENT TO ONE MEETING AND LET ME LET YOU KNOW THAT JEFFERSON PARK IS NOT THE ONLY WARD THAT'S HERE IN THIS CITY. THEY'RE NOT THE ONLY WARD. WE HAVE A WAR THAT HAS TRULY BEEN NEGLECTED, AND THAT'S RIVER PARK, THE ROADS, THE STREETS. AND I'VE BEEN PROMISED THE SIDEWALKS, WHICH I HAVE NOT RECEIVED. I HAVE NOT RECEIVED MY SIDEWALKS. AND I WAS TOLD, YOU KNOW, ABOUT BY A COUNCIL MEMBER THAT, YOU KNOW, WE GET EVERYTHING. IN JULY, JULY OF 2025. I MEAN, WHY IS THAT? WE'VE BEEN LOOKING FOR SIDEWALKS, THE HANDICAPPED PEOPLE GOING DOWN THE STREET AND YOU SCHOOL CLOSING. PARK LANE IS CLOSING, AND I HAPPEN TO BE THERE FOR 15 YEARS. I'M TRYING TO THINK IT'S BEEN NEGLECTED. PEOPLE ARE MOVING OUT OF MY RIVER PARK.
IT'S BECAUSE OF THE NEGLECT OF RIVER PARK. AND I HAVE TO FIGURE. AND MAYBE THAT'S WHY PARK LANE IS CLOSING. WE USED TO HAVE 25 KIDS CATCHING THE BUS. THEY ARE MOVED OUT. THE DRUGS, THE BAD AREA, AND WE HAVE CITY COUNCIL THAT WE HAVE PUT IN THESE SEATS. Y'ALL PROMISED US SOMETHING. Y'ALL STOOD ON SOMETHING. BUT THAT THAT MONEY THAT I'M HEARING ABOUT PARKS.
ANOTHER THING WE'RE NOT GOING TO SPEND NO. $300,000 ON ONE PARK. I WENT TO A NEIGHBORHOOD MEETING. WE'RE NOT GOING TO SPEND THAT. WE'LL SAY WE'RE GOING TO SPEND $300,000 ON ONE PARK. THAT WAS BROOKDALE PARK AND 23,000 ON BRYANT PARK. IF YOU'RE SPENDING THAT MUCH ON A PARK, THAT'S A HOUSE. I THINK IF YOU'RE GOING TO ALLOCATE THAT TYPE OF MONEY TO ONE PARK, WE HAVE A WHOLE LOT OF PARKS HERE IN THIS CITY. WE HAVE MORE. THERE'S NO RECORD, THERE'S NOTHING THERE. MY MAIN FOCUS, THOUGH, IS ON RIVER PARK. THE WATER IS CONTAMINATED. VERY CONTAMINATED. IN 2018. YOU GUYS REMOVE REMOVED OUR CHAIRS, OUR BENCHES. WE HAVE NOWHERE TO SIT.
WE CANNOT SIT ON THAT ROUND CONCRETE THAT'S SITTING IN THAT PARK. IT WOULD MESS WITH YOUR BACK. WE DON'T NEED THAT. SO Y'ALL DONE BEEN ELECTED. SO I NEED Y'ALL TO MAKE THIS ONE BIG CITY. AND LIKE I SAID, JEFFERSON PARK IS NOT THE ONLY OFF CENTER PARK. CENTER PARK. THE LIGHTING IS TERRIBLE. THE LIGHTING IS VERY TERRIBLE AND NEED A FIX AROUND CIVIL PARK, CENTER PARK, WE HAVE EAST WASHINGTON. TALK ABOUT ALL THIS MONEY YOU GUYS WANT TO SPEND. WE HAVE EAST
[00:35:04]
WASHINGTON. WE PUT THAT BIG OLD MILLION DOLLAR MACHINE AND IT'S KIND OF TORE UP. HOPEFULLY YOU GUYS HAVE FIXED IT, BUT YOU SHOULD HAVE PUT A FENCE AROUND IT. THAT WAS TOO MUCH OF A MACHINE TO PUT IN THAT AREA. WE NEED THOSE PARKS DONE. WE NEED IT FOR OUR CHILDREN, ALL THE CHILDREN WE HAVE LEFT. AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO NOW. WITH PARK LANE CLOSING IF IT'LL CLOSE. BUT I'M TELLING YOU GUYS, WHATEVER MONEY GRANT YOU GUYS GET, YOU GUYS HAVE GOT TO COME TOGETHER AS A AT LARGE ON A LOCAL CITY COUNCIL AND STOP PUTTING IN ONE AREA, STOP DOING THAT. AND I LIKE THIS FOR CADE PROGRAM. AS TO WHERE THE BUSINESSES, ESPECIALLY IN RIVER PARK, DOWN IN THE CORNER OF CLEVELAND AVENUE, THAT BODY PIERCING SHOP. NOW WE GOT A BEAUTY SHOP. WE GOT OTHER SHOPS. WHERE'S THE RESTAURANTS? WHERE'S THE STORES? WHO WHO IS WHO IS SAYING, LET'S DO THIS? YOU GOT EGAN PARK, THE WILHELM CORRIDOR. YOU KNOW HOW LONG THAT'S BEEN, YOU GUYS. COME ON, COME ON. HEY, BILL. AND COLLEGE PARK AND THE OWENS PLANT. I WAS TOLD AT THE MEETING. RIVER PARK MEETING THAT THE OWENS PLANT IS IN EAST POINT. NO IT'S NOT. WE NEED TO FOCUS ON OUR COMMONS. WE WAS TOLD NOT TO. WE NEED TO FOCUS ON WHAT'S HERE IN THIS CITY, WHAT WE NEED TO DO FOR THIS CITY, THE MONEY THAT WE'RE GETTING IN THIS CITY. HEY, BEING IN COLLEGE PARK, HEY, THEY DOWN WITH IT. SO IF THEY PASS THE BILL, THEY GOT TO COME THROUGH. THROUGH OUR WAY. ALL THIS INDUSTRY IS NOT A PART OF EAST POINT. IT'S IN EAST POINT ON THE BOUNDARY LINE. BUT WHY SHOULD WE FOCUS ON THAT? WE OUGHT TO BE FOCUSED ON WILLINGHAM CORRIDOR. WE'RE GOING TO BE FOCUSED ON THE COMMONS. IF YOU'RE GOING TO FIX DOWNTOWN, FIX THE NEIGHBORHOOD AREAS ALSO.AND I HAVEN'T HEARD ANYTHING ABOUT A NEW CITY MANAGER. I HAVEN'T HEARD ANYTHING ABOUT THAT. I HEARD YOU GUYS PROBABLY HAVE CHOSEN ONE, BUT I'VE YET TO SEE IT. I THINK HE NEEDS TO BE INTRODUCED TO THE RESIDENTS OF THIS CITY, THE STAKEHOLDERS, AND I WOULD LIKE FOR YOU GUYS TO DO THAT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. HAVE A GREAT DAY. ALL RIGHT. LASTLY, WE HAVE DOCTOR JOSHUA HAMMOCK.
GOOD EVENING. I AM JEFFREY HEMMING OF 2197 PRIMROSE DRIVE. AND I FIRST WANT TO START BY SAYING HAPPY NEW YEAR. I KNOW YOU ALL HAVE BEEN DOING WORK IN THIS CALENDAR YEAR, BUT THIS IS MY FIRST TIME BEFORE YOU. SO HAPPY NEW YEAR! I JUST HAVE A FEW THINGS TONIGHT. IT'S ALREADY BEEN MENTIONED, BUT I WANT TO PUBLICLY THANK THE PUBLIC WORKS AND THE POWER DEPARTMENTS FOR THEIR RESPONSE TO THE WINTER WEATHER LAST WEEK AND ON JANUARY 10TH. THERE WERE PLENTY OF THINGS THAT CAUSED MY LIGHTS TO FLICKER, BUT MY LIGHTS STAYED ON AND I'M REALLY, REALLY GRATEFUL FOR THAT. SOME OF US FROM THE CITY HAVE BEEN TRYING TO GET TOGETHER AND SHOW OUR APPRECIATION FOR THEIR WORK. THE NEXT THING THAT I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT AND HAPPY TO REPORT ON, IS THAT THERE HAS BEEN SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS ON THE CONNOLLY DRIVE SIDEWALKS. SO THANK YOU TO WARD A, AND ALSO THANK YOU TO THE FORMER CITY MANAGER, INTERIM CITY MANAGER, HOWARD BROWN. HE PUT ME IN CONTACT WITH I THINK HIS NAME IS MR. CORDELL HALL AND PUBLIC WORKS. AND SO THAT PROJECT IS GOING ALONG REALLY WELL. IT'S CONNECTED FROM MAIN ALL THE WAY TO SIMS, AND SO I HOPE IT CONTINUES FROM SIMS TO HEADLAND. SO THANK YOU FOR THAT. AND THEN LASTLY, I JUST WANTED TO BRING UP THAT I'VE BEEN COMING BEFORE YOU SINCE ABOUT MAY OF 2024, ASKING YOU ABOUT CITY LEADERSHIP VACANCIES. AND AS FAR AS I CAN TELL, MOST OF OUR LEADERSHIP POSITIONS ARE VACANT. WE ONLY HAVE ONE PERMANENT CITY LEADER. AS I UNDERSTAND IT, FROM WHAT I CAN READ, AND WE DON'T HAVE A PERMANENT CITY MANAGER. THAT CONCERNS ME FOR OBVIOUS REASONS.
THE TYPES OF PROJECTS THAT ARE NOT HAPPENING BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE A CITY MANAGER, THE TYPES OF BUDGET DECISIONS AS WE PREPARE FOR THE NEXT BUDGET YEAR IS REALLY IMPORTANT. SO I JUST URGE AND ASK YOU ALL TO CONSIDER MAKING A DECISION ON THAT. I ALSO WANT TO THANK DOCTOR MARTIN ROGERS. I WENT BACK THROUGH MY NOTES IN AUGUST OF 2024. YOU ACTUALLY PUT ON THE AGENDA FOR US TO RECEIVE FOR YOU THE CITY COUNCIL, TO RECEIVE REPORTS ABOUT THE VACANCIES. AND I THINK YOU ALL TOOK THAT TO A WORK SESSION SEPTEMBER 9TH. AND OUT OF THAT WORK SESSION, WE WERE SUPPOSED TO GET A REPORT. I HAVEN'T THE CITY RESIDENTS HAVEN'T SEEN THIS REPORT. AND SO WE'RE STILL LOOKING FOR THE THINGS THAT ARE APPROPRIATE TO SHARE WITH US ABOUT THOSE VACANCIES. SO I WOULD SPECIFICALLY ASK YOU ALL TO RECONSIDER WHAT DOCTOR MARTIN ROGERS ASKED FOR, WHICH WAS FOR MONTHLY UPDATES ON THE VACANCIES, AND TO REALLY KEEP US ABREAST ON THOSE ISSUES. SO THOSE ARE THE THINGS I WANTED TO SHARE WITH YOU TONIGHT. HAPPY
[00:40:02]
2025. THERE'S GOING TO BE A GREAT CALENDAR YEAR FOR OUR CITY AND I'M GRATEFUL FOR YOUR SERVICE. HAVE A GOOD ONE. THOSE ARE ALL THE PUBLIC COMMENTS WE HAVE THIS EVENING. THANK YOU SO MUCH. AT THIS TIME. WE WILL NOW MOVE TO OUR CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS. I GET A MOTION TO APPROVE[XII. CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS]
CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS TWO THROUGH. 25. MADAM MAYOR. YES. COUNCIL MEMBER. COUNCIL MEMBER.MITCHELL SAID SO MOVED. CAN YOU SECOND. YES, SECOND. IT'S BEEN MOVED AND PROPERLY SECONDED. ANY DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? SORRY. WHAT NUMBERS DID YOU SAY? HE. COUNCIL MEMBER MITCHELL SAID SO. MOVED. COUNCIL MEMBER SHROPSHIRE SAID SECOND AND IS TWO THROUGH 20. OH I'M SORRY 22.
YEAH THAT'S RIGHT. YEAH. MY GLASSES STOPPED WORKING. THANK YOU FOR THIS MOVE. CAN YOU.
POINT OF ORDER. MAYBE I CALL FOR THE QUESTION. WELL, YOU'VE GOT A POINT OF ORDER NOW, RIGHT? AND SO I THE MOTION I SAID 25. I WAS LOOKING AT 22. CAN THERE BE A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT. YEAH THAT'S FINE. AND YOU, YOU CALLED FOR THE MOTION. BUT THE MOTION WAS IT JUST A SO MOVED. YEAH.
REPEATING WHAT YOU SAID. SO YES. AN AMENDMENT A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT TO 22 FROM COUNCIL MEMBER. SECOND, THE MOTION. IS STILL ON THE FLOOR ACCEPTED. THE FRIENDLY AMENDMENT IS ACCEPTED.
THERE'S A MOTION STILL SECOND STILL STANDS. THE FRIENDLY AMENDMENT WAS MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER FRIENDLY. OKAY, 2 TO 22 I SHOULD KNOW 22. RIGHT. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AYE. ALL THOSE OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. WE ARE NOW AT THE. WE GET A MOTION TO OPEN THE
[XIII.23. Council Discussion and Possible Action for Grant Acceptance - CDBG 2024 - Water & Sewer - Phase I - $120,000]
FLOOR FOR DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION ON THE CDBG 2024 WATER AND SEWER PHASE ONE. SO MOVED THERE A SECOND SECOND. IT'S BEEN MOVED AND PROPERLY SECONDED. ANY DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR. ALL THOSE OPPOSED. MOTION CARRIES. THE FLOOR IS NOW OPEN, MISS JESSIE.MADAM MAYOR, MEMBERS OF COUNCIL. GOOD EVENING, MELISSA ECHEVARRIA, DIRECTOR OF WATER AND SEWER, IS GOING TO COME UP AND PRESENT THIS ITEM. GOOD EVENING, MADAM MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS, ITEM NUMBER 23. COUNCIL DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION FOR THE FULTON COUNTY COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK PROGRAM FOR FISCAL YEAR 2024, IN THE AMOUNT OF $120,000 ISSUED TO THE WATER RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT FOR THE WATER LINE REPLACEMENT AND UPGRADE OF WEST CLEVELAND AVENUE. IN. QUESTIONS FROM ANYONE YOU WANT TO ADD ANYTHING ADDITIONAL? YES. SO WE APPLY FOR THE COMMUNITY BLACK BLOCK PROGRAM FOR 24, 25 AND 26. FOR PHASE ONE, IT'S GOING TO BE WEST CLEVELAND. THE OTHER ONE WAS GOING TO BE JONES AND WASHINGTON ROAD AND EAST HAMILTON. FOR THE OTHER PHASES. IN TOTAL, WE REQUESTED THE AMOUNT OF $880,000. BUT WE ARE JUST NOW VOTING ON FISCAL YEAR 2024, IN THE AMOUNT OF $120,000. OKAY. COUNCIL MARTIN ROGERS. YES, I'D LIKE TO MAKE THE MOTION. GO AHEAD. I'D LIKE TO MAKE THE MOTION FOR APPROVAL FOR THE GRANT ACCEPTANCE. CDBG 2024 WATER AND SEWER PHASE ONE $120,000. SO MOVED. IS THERE A SECOND SECOND FOR DISCUSSION IS SECONDED. ANY DISCUSSION? COUNCIL MEMBER ACT? YES. THANK YOU, MISS RIVERA. AND THANK YOU FOR ALL OF YOUR WORK ON ALL OF THE ISSUES THAT WE HAD OVER THE PAST FEW WEEKS. GREATLY APPRECIATE THAT. AND THE WATER RESOURCES TEAM, YOU JUST MENTIONED THAT THE TOTAL, I GUESS, OVER ALL OF THE PHASES IS $880,000. OUR REQUEST. YES, I WILL SAY I, I'M GOING TO ALWAYS REACH FOR THE STARS BECAUSE OF OUR NEEDS. SO RIGHT NOW THE TOTAL REQUEST IS 880,000. THE WAY THE GRANT WAS SUBMITTED, THEY'RE ONLY WILLING TO DEAL WITH THE 120. SO I HOPE NEXT YEAR, FISCAL YEAR, I WOULD PROBABLY COME WITH A COUPLE HUNDRED THOUSAND IN THE FOLLOWING AS WELL. BUT JUST FOR THIS YEAR WE WERE ONLY AWARDED.
[00:45:03]
SO FOR WEST CLEVELAND, THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF THE PROJECT IS GOING TO BE $430,000. AND SO 120 OF THAT WILL COME FROM FULTON COUNTY CDBG FUNDS. OKAY. WHICH IS REALLY THE QUESTION. SO I DIDN'T KNOW WHEN YOU TOTAL REQUEST WAS 880. I DIDN'T KNOW HOW MUCH THE FIRST PHASE BECAUSE YOU WERE DOING THIS IN PHASES, CORRECT? YES. AND SO I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT THOSE AND SO I DIDN'T KNOW IF THE 120 WAS ALL THAT WE WANTED FOR THE FIRST PHASE, OR JUST A PORTION OF THAT. JUST A PORTION. JUST A PORTION. YES. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? ALL THOSE OPPOSED. MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU SO MUCH. NEXT UP IS SELECTION OF MAYOR PRO TEM[XIII.24. Council Election of Mayor Pro Tem for 2025]
FOR 2025. AND I'LL OPEN THE FLOOR FOR DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION. OR THERE CAN BE MOTIONS. COUNCIL MEMBER MARTIN RYDER. YES I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE I GUESS WE CAN HAVE A DISCUSSION. YEAH. I'M GOING TO OPEN UP THE FLOOR FOR DISCUSSION ON COUNCIL ELECTION OF MAYOR PRO TEM FOR 2025. THERE'S A MOTION. SECOND. SECOND. IT'S BEEN MOVED AND PROPERLY SECONDED. ANY DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AYE. ALL THOSE OPPOSED. MOTION CARRIES. THE FLOOR IS OPEN. COUNCIL MEMBER. MARTIN ROGERS AND COUNCIL MEMBER FRIEDSON.YES. I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE THE MOTION. TO MAKE YOU JUST OPEN THE FLOOR FOR DISCUSSION. OH, OKAY. COUNCIL MEMBER FREELY. I WAS IN FAVOR TO MAKE A MOTION AS WELL. I WAS NOT IN FOR DISCUSSION. SO ANOTHER MOTION CAN BE MADE. IF THERE'S NO DISCUSSION ON THE MOTION FOR DISCUSSION. SO COUNCIL MEMBER MARTIN ROGERS AND THEN COUNCIL MEMBER FREELY. THANK YOU. I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION FOR THE ELECTION OF MAYOR PRO TEM FOR 2025. I'D LIKE TO MOTION FOR COUNCIL MEMBER SHARON SHROPSHIRE TO HAVE THE POSITION FOR MAYOR PRO TEM FOR 2025. IS THERE A SECOND? ALL RIGHT, MADAM MAYOR. YES? COUNCIL MEMBER. SHROPSHIRE. I AM GOING TO BECAUSE I'VE ALREADY SERVED. I'M GOING TO ASK THAT MY NAME BE WITHDRAWN. YEAH. ALL RIGHT. SO THERE WAS THE MOTION WITH NO SECOND, AND COUNCILMEMBER SHROPSHIRE INDICATED SHE WOULD LIKE HER NAME WITHDRAWN. SO IS THERE ANY FURTHER ACTION ON MAYOR PRO TEM? COUNCIL MEMBER FREELY? YES, MADAM MAYOR, I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO NOMINATE COUNCIL MEMBER MITCHELL FOR THE POSITION OF MAYOR PRO TEM FOR 2025. IS THERE A SECOND? I'LL SECOND. IT'S BEEN MOVED AND PROPERLY SECONDED. DISCUSSION. COUNCILMEMBER MARTIN ROGERS. YES. UNFORTUNATELY, I'M NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO SUPPORT THIS MOTION. AND THE REASONS ARE AS FOLLOWS. IF SOMEONE IS STEPPING INTO REPRESENT THE CITY, THEY SHOULD HAVE A STRONG UNDERSTANDING OF THE CITY CHARTER, FOLLOW MEETING PROTOCOLS, AND DEMONSTRATE PROFESSIONALISM AND RESPECT.
THAT'S CRUCIAL FOR SERVING IN SUCH A IMPORTANT POSITION. IT'S NOTHING WRONG WITH THE INDIVIDUAL SERVING. HOWEVER, I THINK THAT I KNOW THAT I PREFER A MORE SEASONED MEMBER OF COUNCIL TO SERVE IN THIS POSITION THAT HAS JUST A BASIC UNDERSTANDING OF OUR CITY CHARTER. SO I PERSONALLY WILL NOT BE SUPPORTING THIS MOTION. THANK YOU. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AYE. ALL THOSE OPPOSED? NO. ROLL CALL, PLEASE. COUNCIL MEMBER, SHROPSHIRE COUNCIL MEMBER. FRALEY. COUNCIL MEMBER. ATKINS. COUNCIL MEMBER. ZIEGLER. COUNCIL MEMBER. CUMMINGS. COUNCIL MEMBE. MITCHELL. COUNCIL MEMBER MARTIN. ROGERS. 345. THE MOTION PASSES.
[XIII.25. Council Election of Provisional Mayor Pro Tem for 2025]
ALL RIGHT. NEXT UP IS COUNCIL ELECTION OF PROVISIONAL MAYOR PRO TEM FOR 2025. COUNCIL MEMBER MITCHELL I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO APPOINT COUNCILWOMAN CUMMINGS FOR PROVISIONAL MAYOR.SECOND. IT'S BEEN MOVED AND PROPERLY SECONDED. ANY DISCUSSION? I HAVE A QUESTION.
COUNCIL MEMBER MARTIN ROGERS. YES. AND MY QUESTION IS, DOES IS SHE ARE YOU WILLING TO SERVE IN THIS POSITION? ANY FURTHER? YEAH. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AYE. ALL THOSE OPPOSED? ROLL CALL
[00:50:06]
PLEASE. COUNCILMEMBER. SHIRE. NO. COUNCIL MEMBER. LEE. COUNCIL MEMBER. ATKINS. AYE. COUNCIL MEMBER. ZIEGLER. AYE. COUNCIL MEMBER. COMBS. COUNCIL MEMBER. MITCHELL. COUNCIL MEMBER MARTIN.ROGERS. ABSTAIN. OKAY. THE MOTION PASSES. ALL RIGHT. NEXT UP IS APPOINTMENT OF THE 2025
[XIII.26. Appointment of 2025 Budget/Finance Committee Members]
BUDGET AND FINANCE COMMITTEE MEMBERS. I NOMINATE OR MAKE THE WOULD LIKE A MOTION MADE TO CONFIRM THE NOMINATION OF COUNCIL MEMBERS. WHERE'S MY. OH. SHROPSHIRE COUNCIL MEMBER MITCHELL AND COUNCIL MEMBER ZIEGLER TO THE BUDGET AND FINANCE COMMITTEE. MADAM MAYOR, I MOVE THAT WE ACCEPT YOUR NOMINATIONS OF COUNCIL MEMBER, SHROPSHIRE COUNCIL MEMBER MITCHELL AND COUNCIL MEMBER ZIEGLER. I THINK TO SERVE ON THE BUDGET FINANCE COMMITTEE. IT'S BEEN MOVED AND PROPERLY SECONDED. ANY DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? ALL THOSE[XIII.27. Appointment of 2025 Human Resources Committee Members]
OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. NEXT UP, I NOMINATE THE APPOINTMENT OF OR MOVE FOR THE APPOINTMENT OF WOULD LIKE A MOTION FOR THE APPOINTMENT. I CAN'T EVEN SPEAK TONIGHT. WHAT IS IT? IT'S BECAUSE WE DIDN'T. WE HAD SNOW LAST WEEK. I DON'T KNOW, ALL RIGHT. LIKE I HAVE A MOTION CONFIRMING THE APPOINTMENT OF COUNCIL MEMBER FREELY. COUNCIL MEMBER CUMMINGS AND COUNCIL MEMBER MARTIN ROGERS TO HUMAN RESOURCES COMMITTEE. MADAM MAYOR, I MOVE THAT WE ACCEPT YOUR NOMINATION OF COUNCIL MEMBERS FREELY. COUNCIL MEMBERS MARTIN ROGERS AND COUNCIL MEMBER CUMMINGS TO SERVE ON THE HUMAN RESOURCES COMMITTEE. IS THIS BEEN MOVED AND PROPERLY SECONDED? ANY DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AYE. ALL THOSE OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES ASKING[XIII.28. Appointment of 2025 Mayor’s Task Force on Blighted Property and Community Improvement]
FOR A MOTION TO CONFIRM THE APPOINTMENT OF COUNCIL MEMBER. ATKINS. COUNCIL MEMBER BUTLER AND COUNCIL MEMBER MARTIN ROGERS TO THE BLIGHTED PROPERTY AND COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENT MAYOR'S TASK FORCE ON BLIGHTED PROPERTY AND COMMUNITY PROVEN. I'M SORRY, IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND? IT'S BEEN MOVED AND PROPERLY SECONDED. ANY DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? ALL THOSE[XIV. COMMENTS FROM COUNCIL]
OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. WE ARE NOW AT COMMENTS FROM COUNCIL. ANY COMMENTS? MISTER CHAIR? THANK YOU. I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO ALL WHO CAME OUT FOR THE SEVENTH ANNUAL MLK DAY OF SERVICE. IT WAS A REALLY GREAT EVENT. THANK YOU TO COUNCIL MEMBER MARTIN, COUNCIL MEMBER ATKINS AND COUNCIL MEMBER BUTLER. THANK YOU TO ALL OF THE STAFF, THE CITY CLERK, PARKS AND RECREATION. THANK YOU TO ALL OF THE PARTICIPANTS WHO CAME OUT. GRADY. JANE CARE. GIVE ME A SECOND. ALL OF THE GREEK OR ALL OF THE DIVINE NINE ORGANIZATIONS WHO WAS THERE? THE EASTERN STARS, THE ZETA'S FROM THE ATLANTA CHAPTER, THE AKAS. OUR PHARMACY COLOR GUARD. SANDERS, HEALTH, SIMS FUNERAL HOME, SOUTHWEST ATLANTA NEUROLOGIST. AND MANY, MANY MORE. AND IF I MISSED ANYBODY OH, THE SICKLE CELL FOUNDATION. IT WAS A REALLY GREAT EVENT. THE TOPIC OF DISCUSSION WAS GOOD. THE PANEL WITH THE DOCTORS TALKING ABOUT YOUR HEALTH. AND THEN THERE WERE SKIP MASON AND HANK STEWART TALKING ABOUT RACE RELATIONS, WHICH WAS A GOOD CONVERSATION.IT WAS IT WAS IT WAS WELL ATTENDED. PEOPLE WERE PASSING THROUGHOUT THE DAY, BUT IT WAS A GREAT EVENT AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO NEXT YEAR MAKING IT EVEN ADDING MORE THINGS TO IT. SO I THANK EVERYONE WHO TOOK PART IN HELPING WHO THE RESIDENTS WHO CAME OUT, WHO ENJOYED IT, WHO GOT THEIR COLON CANCER SCREENING, THEIR PROSTATE CANCER SCREENING, SICKLE CELL SCREENING. YOGA TRAINING, CPR TRAINING. OH, IT WAS A LOT. IT WAS REALLY, REALLY GOOD. WELL ATTENDED EVENT. AND I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE
[00:55:10]
COUNCILMEMBER. YES. THANK YOU SO MUCH TO EVERYBODY WHO CAME OUT TONIGHT. I WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS SOME OF THE PUBLIC COMMENTS THAT WERE MADE TONIGHT. SO ON TONIGHT'S AGENDA, WE DID APPROVE ON THE CONSENT AGENDA FUNDING FOR THESE SIDEWALKS DOWN SYLVAN ROAD THAT DO GO ALONG RIVER PARK NEIGHBORHOOD. AND THEN THE REASON WHY THERE'S $300,000 GOING TOWARDS BROOKDALE IS BECAUSE 12 YEARS AGO, THOSE BATHROOMS WERE DESIGNATED TO, TO BE TO BE DEMOLISHED AT THAT POINT IN TIME. AND 12 YEARS LATER, THEY'RE STILL THERE. AND ACTUALLY, I HAD AN ACCIDENT THERE. I FELL IN A SINKHOLE AND I TWISTED MY ANKLE. SO THERE'S A LOT OF SAFETY ISSUES GOING GOING ON AT BROOKDALE PARK IN REGARDS TO MAINTENANCE AND QUALITY OF LIFE THERE. AND THERE'S A SINKHOLE THAT'S BEING CREATED BECAUSE OF THE WATER AND SEWER LINES THAT ARE THAT HAVE COLLAPSED UNDERNEATH THE GROUND. SO THAT'S WHY THERE'S MONEY GOING TOWARDS THERE. AND THEN WE ALSO HAD ON THE CONSENT AGENDA IN WARD A, SYKES PARK, $109,000 IN WARD C, GRANT PARK GOT $161,000. AND WE ARE CURRENTLY WORKING ON A MULTI-GENERATIONAL REC COMPLEX IN WARD D, SO JUST WANTED TO ADDRESS SOME OF THOSE COMMENTS FROM TONIGHT. BUT THANK YOU SO MUCH TO EVERYBODY WHO CAME OUT. WE APPRECIATE EVERYBODY COMING OUT AND VOICING THEIR CONCERNS. COUNCILMEMBER MARTIN ROGERS YES, A COUPLE OF THINGS I WANTED TO PUBLICLY THANK PUBLICLY THANK THE WATER DEPARTMENT DIRECTOR, MISS MELISSA ECHEVERIA ECHEVERIA. I'M STILL WORKING ON THAT. I'LL GET IT. FOR MEETING WITH ME IN RESIDENCE IN THE SUN VALLEY COMMUNITY A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO, SHE CAME OUT. WE HAD A LIVELY DISCUSSION ON SOME ISSUES THAT MEMBERS OF THAT COMMUNITY ARE FACING, AND THE UPCOMING WARD D COMMUNITY GATHERING WILL BE HELD IN MARCH. SO PLEASE LOOK FOR INFORMATION REGARDING THAT MEETING SOON IN YOUR MAILBOXES. THANK YOU. I HAVE ONE MORE ANNOUNCEMENT, BUT IT ESCAPES ME RIGHT NOW. BUT THANK YOU. THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO CAME AND SPOKE DURING PUBLIC COMMENTS THIS EVENING. MISS JESSIE, AS IT RELATES TO THE COMPENSATION STUDY. AND I FEEL LIKE WE VOTED ON A HYBRID APPROACH TO ADDRESS THE COMPRESSION. I CAN'T RECALL IMPLEMENTATION TIME, BUT DO YOU HAVE ANY UPDATES OR CAN YOU CONFIRM WHAT I'M THINKING? OR HOPEFULLY I'M NOT OFF? YEAH. MADAM MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF COUNCIL, YOU ALL REQUESTED AN UPDATE AT THE FEBRUARY WORK SESSION, SO WE WILL HAVE THE CONSULTANTS TO COME IN AT THAT TIME AND PROVIDE AN UPDATE. BUT THEY ARE ACTIVELY WORKING ON PHASE TWO. AS YOU ALL KNOW, WE WENT THROUGH THE SAME PROCESS. WE HAD EMPLOYEE MEETINGS, THE INDIVIDUALS POSITIONS THAT ARE PART OF PHASE TWO. THE INDIVIDUALS HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO PUT DOWN THEIR JOB.ASSESSMENT, MEANING THAT THEY WERE ABLE TO SAY WHAT THEIR DUTIES ARE ON A DAILY BASIS. ALL OF THAT INFORMATION WAS GATHERED AND HAS BEEN ANALYZED, AND WE MAY HAVE SOME PRELIMINARY INFORMATION FOR YOU ON AT THE WORK SESSION. SO THE FIRST PHASE WAS A HYBRID ARRANGEMENT WHERE WE GAVE PEOPLE CREDIT FOR THEIR YEARS OF SERVICE IN THEIR POSITION AS WELL AS THEIR TENURE WITH THE CITY. SO PLUS, OF COURSE, THEIR JOB DUTIES. WE ARE LOOKING AT IF THAT'S GOING TO BE THE ARRANGEMENT FOR PHASE TWO. WE'RE STILL WORKING THROUGH THAT, BUT CERTAINLY THERE WERE SOME COMPRESSION ISSUES THAT WERE IDENTIFIED BECAUSE WE DID THIS IN PHASES. WE WILL RECTIFY THOSE AS BEST WE CAN. AND THE KEY TO COMPRESSION IS TO REVIEW YOUR PAY AND CLASSIFICATION
[01:00:02]
PLANS ON A REGULAR BASIS. WE HAVEN'T DONE THAT IN THE CITY, BUT HOPEFULLY THAT'LL BE A PART OF YOUR PAY PHILOSOPHY GOING FORWARD. AND WHEN WAS PHASE ONE IMPLEMENTED? PHASE ONE WAS IMPLEMENTED JULY 1ST OF THIS FISCAL YEAR, JULY 1ST, 2024. MONTHS AGO. AND THEN NOW WE'RE IN PHASE TWO OF THAT. YES, MA'AM. OKAY. AND THEN YOU MENTIONED ADOPTING A COMPENSATION PHILOSOPHY. HOW OFTEN SHOULD COME PAY AND COMPENSATION BE REVIEWED FOR COMPRESSION. THERE. ARE WE GAVE YOU ALL A DRAFT COMPENSATION PHILOSOPHY AS A PART OF PHASE ONE. BUT GENERALLY YOU WANT TO TRY AND TAKE A LOOK AT YOUR PAY AT LEAST EVERY 2 TO 3 YEARS, ASSUMING THAT THERE ARE NO DRASTIC THINGS LIKE THE PANDEMIC WHEN WE HAD THE PANDEMIC THAT THREW ALL OF THE PAY OFF, BECAUSE WHEN PEOPLE CAME BACK TO WORK, THEY DEMANDED HIGHER SALARIES. WE COULDN'T FIND NOT JUST US, BUT MOST PEOPLE HAD A HARD TIME FINDING EMPLOYEES, PARTICULARLY IN YOUR SKILLED TRADES. SO ALL OF THAT PLAYS INTO HOW OFTEN YOU WANT TO TAKE A LOOK AT THAT AND TO BE REALISTIC ABOUT IT, YOUR BUDGETARY CONSTRAINTS AS WELL.SO WE ARE REVIEWING IT WITHIN SIX MONTHS, REALLY, IF WE'RE ALREADY REVIEWING WHAT WE PUT IN IN JULY. YES, MA'AM. OKAY. AND YOU SAID THAT'S THE PHASE TWO IS COMING TO US. NEXT MONTH. WELL, FEBRUARY WORK SESSION. YES, MA'AM. IT'S GOING TO BE HERE BEFORE WE KNOW IT. YES, MA'AM.
WE NEVER STOPPED WORKING ON THE PAY PLAN. WE JUST STOPPED ONE PHASE, COMPLETED PHASE ONE, AND WENT RIGHT INTO PHASE TWO. OKAY. THANK YOU FOR THAT. AND I WAS LOOKING AT OUR PERMANENT DIRECTORS FOR OUR VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS, OUR PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT DIRECTORS, PERMANENT, OUR SANITATION DEPARTMENT DIRECTORS, PERMANENT ICE POINT POWER DIRECTOR IS ON MILITARY LEAVE BUT PERMANENT AND SHOULD BE BACK I THINK SOON. OUR POLICE CHIEF IS PERMANENT. OUR FIRE CHIEF IS PERMANENT. OUR CITY ATTORNEY IS PERMANENT. OUR CITY CLERK IS PERMANENT. OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR IS PERMANENT? YES, OUR PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR IS PERMANENT. THE CITY JUDGE IS PERMANENT. WATER AND SEWER? YES, THE DIRECTOR IS PERMANENT. OUR PLANNING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR IS PERMANENT. AND SO, AS IT RELATES TO OUR DEPARTMENTS, I BELIEVE THE VACANCIES WELL, AND HUMAN RESOURCES IS PERMANENT WITH JUST JESSE IS PLAYING DUAL ROLES RIGHT NOW. YES, MA'AM. BUT I BELIEVE, IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN. AND MISS JESSE, YOU COULD CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG. THE CURRENT OPENING DIRECTOR POSITIONS THE CITY MANAGER IS STILL NOT PERMANENT YET. FINANCE, INFORMATION AND TECHNOLOGY, OFFICE OF COMMUNICATIONS. WE HAVE AN ACTING. CONTRACTS AND PROCUREMENT. CONTRACTS AND PROCUREMENT. SO THAT'S FOR. YES, MA'AM. OKAY. THE OTHER THING I WANT TO SAY IS THANK YOU. AND I'M NOT SURE LIKE HOW OR MAYBE, MAYBE WE CAN MAKE THAT INFORMATION MORE CLEAR ONLINE.
I'M NOT SURE WHAT INFORMATION PEOPLE ARE SEEING THAT MAY LEAD THEM TO BELIEVE THAT IT'S DIFFERENT. SO IF THERE'S SOMETHING OUT THERE THAT'S NOT PROVIDING. I CAN'T READ IT.
SOMETHING OUT THERE THAT'S CONFUSING PEOPLE. IF WE CAN CORRECT THAT SO THAT WE CAN ELIMINATE THE CONFUSION. I ALSO WANT TO THANK EVERYONE WHO SERVED ON MLK DAY. I KNOW WE HAD A LOT OF SUPPORT FROM OUR LOCAL HEALTH PROVIDERS. GRADY WAS THERE, SOUTHSIDE MEDICAL CENTER WAS THERE, MOREHOUSE SCHOOL OF MEDICINE WAS THERE, AND UNFORTUNATELY, I WASN'T ABLE TO MAKE IT BECAUSE SHORTLY AFTER 10 A.M. ON JANUARY 20TH, OUR OLDEST AND SMALLEST FURBABY HAPPY
[01:05:01]
INGRAM PASSED AWAY. AND SO I WAS HOME WITH MY FAMILY AND MY DAUGHTER. SHE'S HAD HAPPY SINCE SHE WAS SIX YEARS OLD AND SHE'S NOW 15. SO WE'VE HAD HAPPY NINE YEARS. SHE'S ABOUT TEN YEARS OLD. SO THAT WAS A CHALLENGING TIME. AND THANKFULLY WE HAD THE BENEFIT OF THE SNOW AND THE WEATHER THAT WE COULD CONTINUE TO BE TOGETHER AS A FAMILY. SO THANK YOU TO COUNCIL MEMBER SHROPSHIRE AND STAFF AND EVERYONE WHO ANNUALLY MAKE THAT EVENT A SUCCESS, AND MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE A DAY ON AND NOT A DAY OFF AGAIN. I WANT TO REMIND YOU THAT TOMORROW, JANUARY 28TH AT 10 A.M, THE EAST POINT LIBRARY WILL BE REOPENING AND THERE WILL BE A REOPENING CEREMONY AT 10 A.M. THE LIBRARY HAS BEEN CLOSED SINCE NOVEMBER 2023, SO THAT'S ABOUT 14 MONTHS.AND AFTER 14 MONTHS, WE WILL HAVE THAT VALUABLE ASSET BACK IN OUR COMMUNITY OPERATING AND UPCOMING ACTIVITIES AND EVENTS ARE ALREADY ONLINE ON. YOU CAN CONTINUE TO DONATE ITEMS FOR THE BACK TO SCHOOL REFRESH DRIVE TO HELP SUPPORT OUR YOUTH STARTING 2025. OFF IN THAT WAY, DROP OFF 10 A.M. TO 2 P.M. AT EAST POINT FIRST MALIBU CHURCH, 2651 CHURCH STREET, TUESDAY THROUGH FRIDAY OF THIS WEEK AND ON SATURDAY. JOIN US FOR A GOOD AGAIN, A FUN TIME OF GOAL SETTING, COMMUNITY BUILDING, AND DELICIOUS BRUNCH FOR OUR THIRD ANNUAL VISION BOARD SOCIAL, WHICH WILL BE AT THE NETWORK ATL AT 1556 NASSAU AVENUE. COUNCIL MEMBER CUMMINGS. THIS QUESTION WAS FOR MISS JESSE WITH REGARDS TO THE PAY STUDY. AND I KNOW WE WE'RE KIND OF WE'RE IN THAT PHASE ONE AND WE'LL BE MOVING TO PHASE TWO. CORRECT. AND I DIDN'T KNOW WAS IT BUILT OUT LIKE IN A TIER SYSTEM THAT WE BECAUSE I KNOW I HAD SORT OF LIKE MENTIONED THAT BEFORE AND I DIDN'T KNOW BECAUSE I KNOW THE THING THAT REVEREND FAIN WAS TALKING ABOUT. WELL, WE'LL COME INTO THAT COMPRESSION. SO DID WE HAVE IT SET OUT ON A TIER SYSTEM? AND WHEN I'M SAYING THAT IT'S BASED ON LIKE YEARS OF SERVICE. SO YOU MAY HAVE EVERYBODY THAT'S IN SANITATION IF THEY START OUT AT THAT, LET'S JUST SAY THE BASE PAY IS 20 BUCKS. AND THEN FROM THERE IT'S LIKE FROM 0 TO 3 YEARS. THERE'S A PARTICULAR DOLLAR AMOUNT THREE, TWO, THREE TO MAYBE 7 OR 8 YEARS AND THEN EIGHT YEARS OR ABOVE. AND THAT WAY YOU REALLY DON'T. THEY'RE ALL IN THAT TIER. BUT BUT THEY'LL NEVER KIND OF LIKE COMPRESS AS OPPOSED TO SOMEBODY THAT'S BEEN THERE 15, 20 YEARS.
AND THEN NOW YOU HAVE A NEW PERSON THAT'S COME ON THREE MONTHS AND THEY'RE ALL MAKING THE SAME AMOUNT OF MONEY. SO WE DID BREAK IT OFF INTO A TIER SYSTEM. THE OTHER THING THAT HAPPENED DURING THE PAY STUDY IS THAT YOU ALL VOTED TO HAVE THE STARTING WAGE AT $20 AN HOUR. I BELIEVE THAT IS WHAT CAUSED A LOT OF THE COMPRESSION. SO YOU HAD PEOPLE COMING IN THE DOOR MAKING $20 AN HOUR, AND NOT EVERYBODY WAS A PART OF PHASE ONE. SO SOME OF THOSE PEOPLE WHO HAD BEEN HERE FOR A WHILE MAY NOT BE MAKING THAT MUCH MORE THAN $20 AN HOUR. SO THOSE ARE THE KINDS OF THINGS THAT WE'RE SORTING OUT IN PHASE TWO TO TRY TO ADDRESS THAT COMPRESSION THERE. THE POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS REQUESTED THAT WE LOOK AT THEY'D LIKE TO HAVE, I GUESS IT WOULD BE AKIN TO YOUR TIERS SECTION, BUT THEY WOULD LIKE TO HAVE A STEP PROGRAM. SO WE'RE TAKING A LOOK AT THAT TO SEE IF THAT IS FEASIBLE AND IF THAT'LL WORK FOR EAST POINT. YES. AND THAT'S IN I'M SORRY. SO THE STEPS THAT ARE EQUIVALENT, THE STEPS WOULD BE EQUIVALENT TO THAT TIER SYSTEM.
SO IT WOULD JUST BE LET'S JUST SAY SANITATION. AND THERE'S A RANGE. AND WE'LL JUST SAY 40,000 TO 55,000. AND THEN YOU'LL BREAK THAT TIER SYSTEM. OR THE STEP INTO THAT. SO THE BASELINE WOULD BE LIKE I SAID FOR THOSE YEARS OF SERVICE. AND I THINK THAT'S KIND OF THE BEST WAY THAT WE CAN SORT OF SPOT IT. SO YOU WOULDN'T HAVE AN ISSUE WHERE SOMEONE'S BEEN ON FOR 20 YEARS AND SOMEONE COMES IN, THEY'VE BEEN THERE FOR THREE MONTHS AND THEY MAKE THE SAME THING. IF YOU FALL WITHIN STILL ALL WITHIN THAT BRACKET. BUT IF BUT THEN FROM THERE YOU TAKE IT AND YOU LAYER IT INTO THEIR YEARS OF SERVICE. AND THEN THAT WAY YOU WON'T EVER HAVE THAT COMPRESSION PROBLEM. YES, MA'AM. THEY'RE THEY'RE TAKING A LOOK AT THAT OKAY. MISS JESSIE, ALSO WHEN THEY PRESENT TO US NEXT AT THE WORK SESSION NEXT MONTH, IF WE COULD HAVE INFORMATION ON STARTING IMMEDIATELY, AS WELL AS WHAT IT WOULD COST TO START AT THE FISCAL YEAR, LIKE WE COULD HAVE THE DIFFERENT FUNDING OPTIONS, THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL TO ME. YES, MA'AM. OKAY. ANY ANY, ANY
[XV. EXECUTIVE SESSION]
[01:10:10]
SESSION FROM LEGAL. MADAM MAYOR, MEMBERS OF COUNCIL, WE WILL HAVE FOR LITIGATION. ONE REAL ESTATE AND ONE PERSONNEL. MISS JESSIE. NO, MA'AM. COUNCIL. COUNCIL MEMBER. SHROPSHIRE. MADAM MAYOR, I MAKE A MOTION THAT WE. I HAVE A COUPLE. ANYBODY HAVE ANY ONE? REAL ESTATE. FOR LITIGATION? I'M TALLYING THEM UP. OKAY. I HAVE A REAL ESTATE. AND THEN. A PERSONNEL AND A POTENTIAL LEGAL.SO THAT'S THREE REAL ESTATE. ANYONE ELSE? THREE REAL ESTATE, THREE PERSONNEL AND FIVE LEGAL.
SO MOVED. SECOND, IT'S BEEN MOVED AND PROPERLY SECOND, THAT WE RECESS INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION FOR THREE REAL ESTATE THREE PERSONNEL AND FIVE LEGAL. ANY DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR?
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.