May 05, 2025 City Council

[I. MEETING CALLED TO ORDER]

[00:00:06]

GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO THE MAY 5TH MEETING OF THE EASTPOINTE CITY COUNCIL.

MADAM DEPUTY CITY CLERK. ROLL CALL, PLEASE. COUNCIL MEMBER, SHROPSHIRE HERE.

COUNCIL MEMBER FRIEDLEY HERE. COUNCILMEMBER. ATKINS.

PRESENT. COUNCIL MEMBER. ZEIGLER. PRESENT. COUNCIL MEMBER.

CUMMINGS. COUNCIL MEMBER. MITCHELL. COUNCIL MEMBER.

BUTLER COUNCIL MEMBER MARTIN ROGERS. MADAM MAYOR, YOU HAVE A QUORUM.

THANK YOU SO MUCH. OUR INVOCATION TONIGHT WILL BE BY PASTOR JAMIE VERNON OF TRI-CITIES CHURCH, FOLLOWED BY THE PLEDGE TO THE FLAG. IF WE CAN ALL STAND AND REMAIN STANDING.

LET'S PRAY. FATHER GOD, YOUR SON TOLD US THAT TO LEAD IS TO SERVE.

AND SO I PRAY FOR THESE LEADERS, THESE SERVANT LEADERS IN FRONT OF ME TODAY IN FRONT OF US.

GOD, I PRAY THAT THEIR HEARTS WILL BE HUMBLE AND THEY WILL BE MINDFUL OF THOSE THAT THEY SERVE IN THIS CITY.

WE THANK YOU FOR THEIR WORK. WE PRAY THAT YOU'LL GUIDE AND LEAD THIS MEETING TONIGHT.

IN JESUS NAME WE PRAY. AMEN. AMEN. PLEDGE. ALLEGIANCE.

THANK YOU SO MUCH, PASTOR VERNON. OUR SERGEANT AT ARMS THIS EVENING IS CAPTAIN ROBINSON.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR SERVICE. WE'LL NOW GO TO PRESENTATIONS AND ANNOUNCEMENT.

[VI.1. East Point Parks & Recreation and Cultural Affairs Update on Public Arts for the City of East Point.]

MR. JONES? YES. I'D LIKE TO HAVE OUR DIRECTOR OF PARKS AND RECREATION, MR. PICKETT, COME UP AND TALK US THROUGH THIS ITEM.

OKAY. GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. VERY EXCITED TO PRESENT MR. SWAYNE AND ALL THE AMAZING WORK HE HAS BEEN DOING IN THE SPACE OF PUBLIC ARTS.

HE'S BEEN VERY BUSY REPRESENTING THE CITY SINCE THIS NEW FISCAL YEAR STARTED.

WE'RE GOING TO PLAY A SHORT MONTAGE VIDEO OF THE BEAUTIFUL MURALS THAT HE PLACED THROUGHOUT THE CITY DURING BLACK HISTORY MONTH.

AND MORE FITTINGLY, WITH IT BEING CINCO DE MAYO, IT WAS A VERY THOUGHTFUL TRIBUTE ON ONE OF THE WALLS OF THE CITY THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE DISPLAYING TONIGHT. AND THEN CHRIS IS GOING TO GIVE YOU ALL AN UPDATE ON FUTURE PROJECTS AND THE CURRENT PROJECTS.

HE'S. THAT'S SUCH A GREAT JOB WITH. BISHOP CONFERENCE WITH A HEAD BLOODY BUT UNBOWED. WISHES TO MAKE A REPORT THIS MORNING.

THE SOUTHERN CHRISTIAN LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE, WHICH WAS JAILED IN ALBANY BUT STILL WON THE BATTLE.

YEAH, BOMBED IN BIRMINGHAM, BITTEN BY DOGS WITH WATER HOSES.

TURNED LOOSE ON US. YEAH. BUT WE STILL TAME THE BULL.

AND. BUT FOR THE GRACE OF GOD, I WOULD HAVE DIED BECAUSE MY HUSBAND AND MY SISTER WERE IN ATLANTA, GEORGIA, WHEN THEY BOMBED OUR HOUSE AND CHURCH.

BUT, MY FRIENDS, WE HAVE A LONG WAY TO GO. JUSTICE IS NOT JUST IN AMERICA.

AND THE LATIN GRAMMY GOES TO CELIA CRUZ. ASUKA.

ASUKA.

ASUKA. REFERENCES. ESSER.

BAMBA. BAMBA. BAMBA. BAMBA. BAMBA.

TE QUIERO. BAILAR LA BAMBA. PARA PARA PARA PARA PARA LA BAMBA BAMBA BAMBA BAMBA BAMBA. SO HERE WE HAVE A MURAL HONORING JOSEPH HEXTALL JOE HEXTALL WAS THE FIRST BLACK CITY

[00:05:10]

HE'S A PILLAR OF THE COMMUNITY AND SOMEONE THAT WE CAN ALWAYS DEPEND ON TO MAKE SURE EVERYONE IS TREATED FAIRLY.

HERE IN THE CITY OF EAST POINT. WHEN IT WAS TIME TO HONOR HIM, WE DIDN'T EVEN HESITATE BECAUSE WHENEVER IT'S TIME TO HONOR ANYONE IN EAST POINT, JOSEPH HEXTALL ALWAYS SHOWS UP AND SUPPORTS EVERYONE.

THIS YEAR WAS HIS TURN TO BE HONORED. SO WE'RE JUST HERE TODAY TO HONOR JOE HEXTALL WITH THIS WONDERFUL MURAL.

OKAY, AS YOU ALL CAN SEE, WE WANT TO TAKE A DIFFERENT APPROACH TO TRY TO BRING THE WALL TO LIFE AND DOING SOMETHING UNIQUE TO SHOW THE BEAUTIFUL ART THAT WE'RE DOING HERE IN EASTPOINTE. AT THIS TIME, I'M GOING TO BRING CHRIS WAYNE UP TO TALK ABOUT THE PROJECTS HE'S ACCOMPLISHED SO FAR THIS FISCAL YEAR, AND AS WELL, HOW HE'S GOING TO CLOSE OUT THIS FISCAL YEAR.

GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL, CHRIS WAYNE, PUBLIC ART COORDINATOR FOR THE CITY OF EASTPOINTE. FIRST, FOR THOSE MURALS. BEFORE I BEGIN, I WOULD LIKE TO PUBLICLY THANK MICROSOFT AND SPECIFICALLY JONATHAN AND JOSETTE FOR THE HARD WORK AND FOR THE CONTRIBUTION, BECAUSE AS YOU CAN SEE, THOSE ARE BEAUTIFUL WORKS OF ART.

AND AS A CITY, IT DIDN'T COST US ONE DIME. SO IT'S I'M VERY GRACIOUS TO THEM FOR FOR THE WORK THEY PUT INTO THAT.

ABOUT THOSE MURALS. THAT WAS A REALLY GLORIOUS DAY WHEN WE PRESENTED THOSE MURALS TO THE CITY, BECAUSE WE HAD THE HONOR OF HAVING JOSEPH HEXTALL AND HIS FAMILY PRESENT, WHICH WAS GREAT. IT WAS ACTUALLY A SURPRISE TO HIM.

HE DIDN'T KNOW IT KNOW WHAT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN. WE TRICKED HIM AND GOT HIM THERE FOR SOMETHING ELSE. AND THEN HE SAW HIS MURAL. WE ALSO WERE HONORED TO HAVE THE FAMILY.

THE YOUNGEST SON OF DOCTOR RALPH DAVID ABERNATHY, PRESENT AS WELL.

KWAME WAS QUITE SURPRISED, EVEN THOUGH WE TALKED TO HIM ABOUT THE MURAL.

WHEN WE GOT TO THE MURAL SITE, HE WAS A LITTLE EMOTIONAL BECAUSE HE DIDN'T KNOW HIS MOTHER WOULD BE INCLUDED.

BUT WHEN WE WERE PLANNING THE MURAL, I THOUGHT IT WAS IMPORTANT THAT FROM THIS POINT MOVING FORWARD, WHEN WE HONOR THE MEMBERS OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS COMMUNITY THAT WE ALWAYS THINK OF THE WOMEN, IT'S NOT JUST THE MEN. IT ALWAYS HONORS THE MEN, BUT IT'S THE WOMEN WHO HELD IT DOWN WHILE THE MEN WERE OUT DOING OTHER WORK.

AND LASTLY, FOR THAT PARTICULAR EVENT, WE WERE HONORED TO HAVE OUR NOW MAYOR PRO TEM OF THE CITY OF SOUTH FULTON, LINDA PRITCHETT, PRESENT FOR THE CELIA CRUZ MURAL, BECAUSE, IRONICALLY, THAT'S HER AUNT.

SO IT WAS WONDERFUL TO HAVE HER PRESENT TO YOU KNOW, HELP CELEBRATE WITH US.

BUT THERE WAS A GREAT OCCASION. AND ALSO, WE'D LIKE TO THANK SOME OF OUR OTHER COMMUNITY PARTNERS, SUCH AS MARTA, BECAUSE WHEN IT WAS TIME TO MOVE FROM ONE LOCATION TO THE OTHER TO SEE THE WORK THAT HAD BEEN DONE IN THE CITY.

MARTA SUPPLIED ONE THAT BLACK HISTORY MONTH WRAPPED BUSSES FOR US TO BE TRANSPORTED THROUGH THE CITY OF EAST POINT AND AT ABSOLUTELY NO COST AT ALL.

SO THAT WAS THAT WAS A WONDERFUL THING TOO. AND IT ALSO HELPED TO IMPROVE OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH MARTA.

ASIDE FROM THAT, OTHER OTHER ACCOMPLISHMENTS THIS YEAR HAVE BEEN THE STANDING PEACE TREE INDIGENOUS PEOPLES FESTIVAL, WHICH IS A TWO DAY FESTIVAL WE HOST EVERY YEAR WHERE WE CELEBRATE THE ORIGINAL PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

SO WE HAVE THIS INDIGENOUS FESTIVAL, A TWO DAY FESTIVAL WHERE WE HAVE TRADITIONAL DRUMMING, SINGING, DANCING, FOOD. WE HAVE LIVE DEMONSTRATIONS ON HOW TO START, YOU KNOW MAKING HANDICRAFTS.

EVERYTHING IS A GREAT OCCASION. AND IT'S REALLY GOOD FOR, FOR KIDS WHO REALLY DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT NATIVE AMERICAN PEOPLE.

IT'S A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO COME OUT AND LEARN. AND TRADITIONALLY WE HOLD THAT FESTIVAL FESTIVAL IN AUGUST.

BUT WE'VE LEARNED FROM THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS. WE HAD THIS A LITTLE BIT TOO HOT IN AUGUST TO HOST THIS FESTIVAL, SO THIS YEAR WE'RE MOVING IT TO OCTOBER WHEN IT'S A LITTLE COOLER AND AND WE HAVE THROUGH CONVERSATION, WE DISCUSSED THAT EVEN WITH SOME OF THE TRADITIONAL NATIVE WEAR MADE BEING MADE OF ANIMAL FURS, THOSE PELTS WERE MADE TO KEEP THEM WARM WHEN IT'S COOLER OUTSIDE.

SO THEY'LL BE THEY'LL BE BETTER SUITED TO BE HERE IN OCTOBER AS OPPOSED TO BEING IN AUGUST.

NEXT IS THE LATIN JAZZ CONCERT. IT WAS A FANTASTIC SUCCESS.

LAST YEAR WE HOSTED IT. IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE HERE, BUT WE HAD SOME OTHER SCHEDULING CONFLICTS, BUT WE MOVED IT TO THE ANNEX BUILDING AND MADE IT HAPPEN.

WE PACKED OUT THE ANNEX BUILDING. I'D LIKE TO THANK THE EASTPOINTE HOUSING AUTHORITY FOR BEING KIND ENOUGH TO ALLOW US TO USE THEIR PARKING LOT FOR PARKING SPACES AND THAT SORT OF THING. IT WAS IT TURNED OUT TO BE A GREAT, GREAT SUCCESS.

IT WAS JESSE DIAZ AND HER BAND. WE HAD A WONDERFUL, WONDERFUL TIME.

ANOTHER PROGRAM WE HOST IS ELEVATED RHYTHMS. ELEVATED RHYTHMS ON THE SURFACE WOULD LOOK LIKE A DAY PARTY TO PEOPLE THAT JUST MUSIC HAS BEEN PLAYING OUTSIDE.

BUT ELEVATED RHYTHMS IS LIKE THE SPACE WHERE ART MEETS HEALTH.

IT IS A SPACE WHERE PEOPLE COME FOR HEALING AND READJUSTING AND REALIGNMENT THROUGH MUSIC.

WE DO THAT THROUGH A SERIES OF DJS THAT WE HAVE PLAYING MUSIC AND PROOF OF WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT.

[00:10:04]

YOU'LL SEE PEOPLE OF ALL RACES, ALL AGES. THERE ARE EVEN SOME SENIORS WHO COME AND ELDERS WHO ARE IN WHEELCHAIRS.

THERE'S A MAN HERE. A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO, WE HOSTED IT IN A WHEELCHAIR WHO COULDN'T EVEN WALK. BUT HE HE PUT LOCKED HIS BRAKES ON HIS WHEELCHAIR, AND HE DANCED THAT THAT SEAT AWAY. MAN, I'M TELLING YOU, IT'S A GREAT THING JUST TO SEE SOME OF THE OTHER ELDERS COME IN AND THEY WROTE LETTERS.

THEY GET OVER IN THE SHADE AGAINST THE OLD AUDITORIUM AND JUST SIT THERE AND JUST ENJOY THE VIBRATIONS OF THE MUSIC.

SO IF YOU HAVEN'T COME OUT TO EXPERIENCE ELEVATED RHYTHMS, I INVITE YOU ALL TO COME OUT AND CHECK IT OUT. IT'S A GREAT, GREAT OPPORTUNITY AND IT'S BECOME A A DESTINATION IS MADE EASTPOINT, A DESTINATION FOR A LOT OF VISITORS TO THE CITY.

NOW, I SPOKE WITH A GENTLEMAN THERE A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO, WHO TOLD ME THAT HE FLEW IN FROM NEW JERSEY JUST FOR THIS EVENT, WHICH BLEW ME AWAY. THEN THERE WAS ANOTHER FAMILY OF SIX, A MOTHER AND FATHER AND FOUR CHILDREN.

THEY CAME REALLY EARLY. WHEN THEY FIRST STARTED. THEY TOLD ME THEY CAME SO EARLY BECAUSE THEY DROVE DOWN FROM CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA TO PARTICIPATE AND THEY WANTED TO GET HOME BEFORE DARK. SO THEY CAME DOWN, GOT A COUPLE OF HOURS IN, AND THEN HEADED BACK TO CHARLOTTE.

SO THAT'S ANOTHER THING WE ARE REALLY PROUD OF.

SALSA IN THE CITY. SALSA IN THE CITY IS GREAT.

IT'S IT'S WHERE WE HAVE WE HAVE A LIVE SALSA BAND.

WE HAVE LIVE SALSA SINGERS, DANCERS, AND WE TEACH BECAUSE EVERYBODY THINKS THEY KNOW HOW TO SALSA DANCE UNTIL THEY COME HERE.

THEN WE THEY MEET THE INSTRUCTOR, AND THEY FOUND OUT THEY HAD ALL THE STEPS WRONG.

BUT THAT'S FINE. WE HAVE WE HAVE LESSONS FOR FREE FOR EVERYBODY.

AND THEY TAKE YOU STEP BY STEP WITHOUT THE MUSIC.

AND ONCE THEY TEACH YOU, THEN THE MUSIC STARTS AND YOU GET TO PRACTICE WITH MUSIC. SO JUST SO YOU KNOW, THIS YEAR WE'RE DOING SOMETHING A LITTLE DIFFERENT.

WE'RE GOING TO MASH UP THE LATIN JAZZ CONCERT AND SALSA IN THE CITY.

IT'S GOING TO TAKE PLACE MAY 24TH. HERE ON THE FRONT OF CITY HALL.

IT IS GOING TO BE A CELEBRATION IN HONOR OF CELIA CRUZ, BECAUSE THIS YEAR SHE WOULD HAVE TURNED 100 YEARS OLD.

SO WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A BAND, A COVER BAND, GOING TO COVER HER SONGS.

WE'LL HAVE VENDORS WITH TRADITIONAL FOODS. SO THE THEME FOR THE EVENING WILL BE CUBA.

SO EVERYONE'S INVITED TO COME OUT AND ENJOY IT WITH US. WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A LOT OF FUN OUT HERE ON THE FRONT LAWN OF CITY HALL. IT'S FREE. WE'RE GOING TO HAVE PHOTO BOOTHS LOTS OF SELFIES, POINTS AND JUST EVERYTHING. LIGHTS ACROSS THE FRONT LAWN JUST SO WE'LL HAVE A GOOD TIME.

SO EVERYBODY COME OUT AND JOIN US. JOIN US FOR THAT.

DIA DE LOS MUERTOS, DAY OF THE DEAD. THAT'S A CELEBRATION WE'VE DONE HERE NOW.

PROBABLY ABOUT 3 OR 4 YEARS IN A ROW. AND IT IS IT GROWS EVERY YEAR.

AS PEOPLE ARE LEARNING MORE AND MORE ABOUT WHAT IT REALLY MEANS THIS YEAR WE HAVE ALREADY MET WITH THE VENDOR.

THIS YEAR. WE'RE LOOKING TO EXPAND UPON AND MAKE IT EVEN BIGGER THIS YEAR THAN IT'S EVER BEEN, IF THAT'S POSSIBLE. BUT IT'S A GREAT, GREAT EVENT. AND WE IT'S ONE OF THOSE THINGS, THOSE TEACHABLE MOMENTS.

WE HAVE TO TEACH PEOPLE THAT THIS IS NOT HALLOWEEN. I KNOW YOU SEE THE SKULLS, BUT IT'S NOT HALLOWEEN.

SO IT'S TO CELEBRATE THE THE ANCESTORS WHO'VE GONE ON.

AND IT'S JUST A DAY THAT YOU TALK ABOUT THEM, SING, EAT FOOD.

SO THEY REMEMBER. BECAUSE DEATH TRULY OCCURS WHEN YOU'RE FORGOTTEN ABOUT THIS YEAR.

LAST YEAR. I'M SORRY. LAST YEAR, WHEN WE HOSTED DAY OF THE DEAD, ONE OF THE HIGHLIGHTS OF THE DAY WAS ASIDE FROM ALL THE WONDERFUL DANCING, BECAUSE WE HAVE DANCING, THEIR TRADITIONAL DANCING AND TRADITIONAL COSTUMES FROM CHILDREN, TEENAGERS AND ADULTS, AND IT'S REALLY, REALLY AMAZING TO SEE.

BUT ONE OF THE HIGHLIGHTS LAST YEAR WAS THAT WE HAD A GROUP OF EQUESTRIANS THAT COME IN AS WELL, AND THEY HAD THESE BLACK HORSES, AND THEY PAINTED LIKE BONES ON THE SIDE OF THEIR COATS, SO THEY LOOK LIKE SKELETONS.

IT WAS GREAT. THE HORSES WERE DANCING WITH THE LADIES HERE. SO IT WAS REALLY, REALLY, REALLY GOOD.

IT WAS A REAL BIG TREAT BECAUSE THAT'S SOMETHING YOU DON'T NORMALLY GET ON THE SOUTH SIDE. SO WE'RE REALLY TRYING OUR BEST TO MAKE SURE WE AMPLIFY THE VOICES OF THAT COMMUNITY AND KEEP THAT FESTIVAL GOING HERE IN EAST POINT. THE LAST ONE I HAVE HERE IS EXHALE.

EXHALE IS LIKE ELEVATED RHYTHMS. IT'S HEALTH ORIENTED.

IT'S A SPACE FOR PEOPLE TO REST. IT WAS ACTUALLY HOSTED AND IS HOSTED IN THIS VERY ROOM.

ALL THE BLINDS WERE DOWN JUST LIKE THEY ARE NOW.

WE HAD SPECIAL LIGHTS AGAINST THE WALL, KEPT IT KIND OF DARK IN HERE, AND WE HAD SOUND BOWLS, AND WE ALSO HAD A HARPIST. SO PEOPLE WERE ABLE TO LIE DOWN, REST MEDITATE, PRAY AND JUST KIND OF REST.

AS A MATTER OF FACT, THERE WERE PEOPLE IN HERE SNORING BECAUSE THEY WENT TO SLEEP, WHICH IS THE GOAL OF IT ANYWAY, BECAUSE A LOT OF PEOPLE, A LOT OF US GO THROUGH A LOT OF THINGS ON A DAILY BASIS AND REALLY DON'T REST AT ALL.

AND, YOU KNOW, THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT WE SPOKE OF BEFORE THAT EVENT EVEN BEGAN IS THAT IF THE PERSON NEXT STARTS TO SNORE.

DON'T LAUGH AT THEM. DON'T PICK THEM. YOU DON'T KNOW. THIS IS THE ONLY RISK THEY PROBABLY GET.

SO ALLOW THEM TO HAVE THE LATITUDE TO REST IN HERE.

SO THAT WAS A GREAT IT WAS SOLD OUT. IT WAS JAM PACKED.

SO WE'RE GOING TO DO THAT AGAIN SOON BECAUSE WE HAVE A LOT OF REQUESTS FOR THAT AGAIN.

SO COMING UP WITH A NEW FISCAL YEAR, WE ARE WELL INTO THIS.

WE'RE GOING TO END THIS ONE WITH A COMMUNITY SCULPTURE UNVEILING.

THERE'S GOING TO BE A A BOTTLE TREE IS BEING CONSTRUCTED BY AN EAST POINT ARTIST, CORRINA SEPHORA.

[00:15:07]

THIS SCULPTURE SPEAKS TO AN OLD CONGOLESE TALE OF WHERE THESE TREES HAVE THESE BLUE BOTTLES ON THEM, WHICH IN THE DARKNESS, THE BRIGHTNESS OF THE BLUE ATTRACTS EVIL SPIRITS.

THEY FIND A WAY INTO THE BOTTLE AND THEY CAN'T FIND THEIR WAY OUT.

WHEN DAYLIGHT COMES, THE SPIRITS DIE INSIDE THE BOTTLE.

SO IT'S A, IT'S A WAY OF, OF CLEANSING THE COMMUNITY.

SO THIS SCULPTURE WILL BE ON NORMAN BERRY DRIVE AT THE CORNER ON THE THE LITTLE POCKET PARK RIGHT THERE WHERE I THINK THERE'S LIKE THREE BENCHES THERE AND THEN A LITTLE GRASSY SPACE RIGHT IN FRONT OF IT AT THE FIRST CORNER AFTER YOU GO UNDER THE UNDERPASS THERE, THAT'S WHERE IT'LL BE LOCATED. WE'RE TRYING TO GET THAT READY FOR JUNETEENTH. WE'RE WORKING REALLY HARD ON THAT. IT'S A LOT, A LOT OF WORK BECAUSE IT'S NOT JUST LIKE IT'S NOT A LIVING TREE.

IT'S BEING WELDED AND MADE OUT OF METAL AND JUST, MY GOD, IT'S A LOT OF WORK.

BUT SHE'S GETTING IT DONE. SHE'S SUPER, SUPER EXCITED ABOUT THIS.

NOT ONLY WILL THE TREE BE THERE, IT'S ALSO GOING TO HAVE SOME LIVE PLANTINGS AROUND IT, AS WELL AS A METAL PIECE THAT GOES AROUND IT THAT EXPLAINS AND CONTEXTUALIZES THE STORY AROUND BOTTLE TREES, WHICH IS A BIG SOUTHERN THING.

SO ONCE WE MOVE BEYOND THAT, THE NEXT THING IS DRAG DOWN SOUTH.

EVERYBODY MARK YOUR CALENDARS FOR JUNE 7TH, SATURDAY, JUNE 7TH FOR DRAG DOWN SOUTH 2025.

IT'S ALWAYS AN EVENT HERE IN EASTPOINTE. TAKES UP THE WHOLE FRONT LAWN WE BLOCK OFF EASTPOINTE STREET, AND IT'S A DAY OF FUN FOR ALL. IT'S MOVED BACK TO THE FIRST WEEKEND OF JUNE SO IT DOESN'T CLASH OR COINCIDE WITH ANY OTHER EVENTS FOR THE MONTH OF JUNE.

ALSO, WE THOUGHT IF WE MOVED TO EARLIER IN JUNE, IT WOULD BE A LITTLE COOLER AS OPPOSED TO WAITING LATER ON WHEN IT'S REALLY, REALLY HOT. SO IT'S GOING TO BE A LITTLE EARLIER IN JUNE, AND IT'LL START LIKE AN HOUR LATER JUST TO MAKE SURE EVERYBODY'S COOL AND HAVING A GOOD TIME. SO I INVITE EVERYBODY TO COME OUT AND ENJOY THAT.

WE'RE IN MAY NOW. JUNE. ALL OF YOU WILL BE INVITED IN JUNE TO THE SOCCER IN THE STREETS MURAL CELEBRATION.

IT'S GOING TO BE PUBLICLY DEDICATED SOMETIME IN THE MONTH OF JUNE.

THIS IS BEING PUT ON BY SOCCER IN THE STREETS.

THAT'S WHY I CAN'T GIVE YOU AN EXACT DATE AS SOON AS THEY GIVE ME A DATE, BECAUSE I ALREADY TOLD THEM.

I SAID, JUST MAKE SURE ALL THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL ARE INVITED SO YOU GUYS CAN BE THERE. BECAUSE I TOLD THEM WITHOUT YOU, WE COULDN'T HAVE CONTRIBUTED THOSE FUNDS TO IT AND MADE IT ALL POSSIBLE. BUT WE'RE REALLY PROUD OF THE WORK THAT THEY'VE DONE ON THIS MURAL. THEY KNOCKED IT OUT.

UNLIKE THE FIRST TIME, THIS TIME THAT WE TOOK A LOT OF CARE IN PREPPING THE WALL PROPERLY, MAKING REPAIRS TO THE WALL AND MAKING SURE THE MURAL GOES TOP TO BOTTOM, END TO END ALL THE WAY ACROSS.

THIS MURAL HAS 32 COLORS ACROSS THE WHOLE THING, SO IT'S VISUALLY STIMULATING TO EVERYBODY.

AND NOW I LOOK AT IT NOW AND I ALREADY SEE PEOPLE. THEY'RE USING IT AS A SELFIE POINT.

SO I'M REALLY PROUD OF THE WORK WE'VE DONE WITH THAT.

LASTLY, WELL, NOT LASTLY, BUT THE JEAN-MICHEL BASQUIAT FITNESS COURT.

IT'S BEEN THERE FOR A MINUTE, BUT WE NEVER DID AN OFFICIAL DEDICATION. WE HAD A COUPLE HICCUPS WITH A LITTLE SMALL VANDALISM HERE IN THE CITY, BUT WE'RE WORKING AROUND THAT AND WE FIXED IT.

AND SO WE'RE GOING TO DO AN OFFICIAL DEDICATION TO WHICH ALL OF YOU WILL BE INVITED, AND YOU CAN COME AND HELP US LAUNCH THAT JEAN-MICHEL BASQUIAT FITNESS COURSE.

AS A MATTER OF FACT, IT'S BEING REWRAPPED AS WE SPEAK.

FOR ALSO FOR THE UPCOMING FISCAL YEAR, WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO ADDING TO THE EVENTS THAT WE HOST HERE IN JULY.

WE WERE LOOKING FORWARD TO HOSTING THE AFRICAN DRUM AND DANCE FESTIVAL IN COORDINATION WITH OUR PARTNERS AT TRI CITIES HIGH SCHOOL.

SO ASIDE FROM JUST BRINGING IN THESE THESE EVENTS AND HOSTING EVENTS, WE'RE TRYING TO BUILD COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS WITH EVERYONE BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO THINK ABOUT THESE MURALS. AS GREAT AS THOSE MURALS ARE AND AS GREAT AS THEY LOOK, THE CITY DOESN'T OWN ANY WALLS.

SO WHEN I WHEN WE WHEN IT'S TIME TO PUT UP A MURAL, I HAVE TO LITERALLY WALK IN LIKE COLD AND JUST ASK, CAN WE USE THE WALL? BUT THANK GOD WE HAVE SUCH GREAT, GREAT COMMUNITY PARTNERS THAT NOBODY HAS SAID NO.

SO FAR. IT'S BEEN ALL YESES ACROSS THE BOARD.

AND ALSO, WE'RE THINKING ABOUT PUTTING TOGETHER LIKE A BOOK FAIR WITH EASTPOINTE AUTHORS, BECAUSE WE HAVE QUITE A FEW AUTHORS HERE IN THE CITY OF EASTPOINTE, AND WE WANT TO GET EVERYBODY TOGETHER UNDER ONE ROOF, BE ABLE TO SELL A FEW BOOKS AND TALK ABOUT WHAT THEY'VE DONE, WHAT THEY'VE CONTRIBUTED. SO WE HAVE QUITE A FEW THINGS LINED UP FOR THIS YEAR ALSO.

ONE OTHER THING. STRINGS ON THE GREEN. WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A CLASSICAL CONCERT IN THE FALL.

IT'S GOING TO BE HOSTED ON THE GROUNDS OF THE EASTPOINTE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.

IT'S GOING TO BE OUTSIDE. SO WE HAVE QUITE A BIT COMING UP THIS YEAR.

SO AS YOU CAN SEE I KNOW I'VE BEEN UP HERE A LOT THE LAST 8 TO 10 MONTHS TALKING ABOUT INCLUSION AND DIVERSITY.

AS YOU CAN SEE, CHRIS HAS A WIDE RANGE OF VERSATILITY.

ON ART HERE IN THE CITY OF EASTPOINTE. ONE THING THAT HE DID FORGET TO MENTION, AND WE'LL BE ON OUR WAY.

IF WE DON'T HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, HE'S ALSO GOING TO BE INFUSING ART INTO OUR STEAM SUMMER CAMP.

SO WE HAVE A STEAM SUMMER CAMP FOR 6 TO 12 YEAR OLDS, AND WE'LL BE ACTUALLY INFUSING ART HEAVILY INTO OUR SUMMER PROGRAMING AS WELL.

BUT WE'RE HERE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS REGARDING THE UPDATE OR ANYTHING IN THE SPACE OF PUBLIC ARTS.

[00:20:08]

AND I ALSO JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR PRESENTATION, BUT I HAVE A QUESTION FOR YOU, MISTER SWAIN. THE WRAPPING OF UTILITY BOXES. I NOTICED THAT IT'S GOING ON DOWNTOWN, BUT WHEN I FIRST ARRIVED ON COUNCIL, ONE OF MY QUESTIONS WAS, HOW DO WE GET TO SEE THAT IN THE OTHER WARDS IN THE CITY? SO CAN YOU JUST GIVE AN UPDATE ON THE WRAPPING OF THOSE UTILITY BOXES? SURE. I SPOKE WITH THE VENDOR LAST LAST FRIDAY, AND WE HAD A CONVERSATION ABOUT IT, AND I TOLD HIM HE NEEDS TO FINISH WRAP UP WHAT HE'S DOING IN DOWNTOWN BECAUSE IT'S TIME TO HIT ALL THE OTHER WARDS, BECAUSE WHAT I FIGURED IS THAT WHAT I FIGURED OUT IS THAT THE WORK LOOKS SO GOOD, AND THE RESPONSE HAS BEEN SO GREAT TO WHAT WE'VE SEEN DOWNTOWN SINCE WE'VE ALREADY PAID FOR THAT ARTWORK.

AND IT'S WE TECHNICALLY OWN THAT ARTWORK. WE CAN REPEAT THE SAME WORK THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE CITY.

THAT WAY, NO NEIGHBORHOOD IN EAST POINT WILL GO UNTOUCHED BY ART, SO WE'RE WORKING ON THAT.

THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER FREELEY. THANK YOU, MR. PINKETT. AND THANK YOU, MR. SWAYNE. FOR YOUR PRESENTATION AND FOR ALL THE GREAT WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING.

I JUST PARTICULARLY AS I REACHED OUT TO YOU RECENTLY I THOUGHT THE ELEVATED RHYTHMS WAS REALLY, REALLY A GREAT EVENT. I WENT LAST YEAR TO THE FIRST ONE, AND THERE DEFINITELY IS A FEELING THAT IT'S JUST SORT OF GROWN ORGANICALLY OVER THE LAST YEARS, SO KUDOS ON THAT. IT WAS A REALLY, REALLY FUN EVENT.

COUNCIL MEMBER YES, THANK YOU. AND THANK YOU, MR. SWAIN, FOR YOUR PRESENTATION. AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP, DIRECTOR PINKERT.

MR. SWAIN, I KNOW THAT YOU WERE MENTIONING SOME OF THE EVENTS, SOME OF THE DATES OR THE MONTHS ARE CHANGING AND THOSE THINGS, IT'S A LOT OF GREAT STUFF, REALLY. CROSS-CULTURAL.

IS THERE A MASTER CALENDAR THAT WE MAY BE ABLE TO ACCESS, OR THE CITIZENS MAY BE ABLE TO GO TO, TO GET THE LATEST AND GREATEST INFORMATION IN TERMS OF WHEN ALL OF THESE WONDERFUL EVENTS WILL BE HAPPENING.

WE'RE WORKING ON THAT RIGHT NOW. WE HAD A CONVERSATION TODAY WHERE WE TALKED ABOUT HOW WE COULD PUT ALL THAT TOGETHER, SO PEOPLE WILL BE INFORMED AS TO WHEN EVERYTHING'S HAPPENING.

OKAY. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT. THANK YOU SO MUCH.

NEXT UP, FIFA WORLD CUP COUNCIL MEMBER BUTLER.

[VI.2. FIFA World Cup]

WHAT IS FIFA WORLD CUP? THE FIFA WORLD CUP IS A PREMIER INTERNATIONAL SOCCER WORLDWIDE, KNOWN AS FOOTBALL TOURNAMENT, ORGANIZED BY THE FEDERATION INTERNATIONALE DE FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION FIFA.

IT IS HELD EVERY FOUR YEARS AND FEATURES NATIONAL TEAMS FROM AROUND THE WORLD COMPETING FOR THE TITLE WORLD CHAMPION.

THE TOURNAMENT IS ONE OF THE MOST WIDELY VIEWED AND FOLLOWED SPORTING EVENTS IN THE WORLD, WITH MILLIONS OF PEOPLE TUNING IN TO WATCH THE MATCHES.

THE FIRST FIFA WORLD CUP TOOK PLACE IN 1930, IN URUGUAY, AND SINCE THEN IT HAS BECOME THE MOST PRESTIGIOUS COMPETITION IN THE INTERNATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE. THE WORLD CUP INCLUDES QUALIFICATION PHASES, WHICH TEAMS OF VARIOUS CONTINENTS COMPETE TO SECURE A SPOT IN THE TOURNAMENT. THE MAIN COMPETITION INVOLVES 48 TEAMS STARTING IN 2026, WITH THE EVENT CULMINATING IN THE FINAL MATCH TO DETERMINE THE CHAMPION.

THE FIFA WORLD CUP HAS BEEN WON BY COUNTRIES SUCH AS BRAZIL, GERMANY, ARGENTINA, FRANCE AND OTHERS.

NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. HOW ARE THE 48 TEAMS ORGANIZED? NEXT SLIDE. THE 48 TEAMS IN FIFA WORLD CUP WILL BE ORGANIZED INTO 16 GROUPS.

EXCUSE ME. DURING THE GROUP STAGE, THE TOURNAMENT FORMAT WILL INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING STAGES.

QUALIFICATION. TEAMS FROM AROUND THE WORLD WILL COMPETE IN REGIONAL QUALIFICATION TOURNAMENTS TO EARN A SPOT IN THE WORLD CUP.

THE QUALIFICATION PROCESS FOR EACH REGION EUROPE, SOUTH AMERICA, AFRICA, ASIA, NORTH AMERICA WILL BE DETERMINED.

HOW MANY TEAMS FROM EACH REGION QUALIFY? 48 TEAMS. GROUP STAGE. THAT'S THE FIRST ROUND WHERE 48 TEAMS WILL BE DIVIDED INTO 16 GROUPS, WHERE THREE TEAMS PER GROUP.

[00:25:06]

THE KNOCKOUT STAGE. ROUND OF 32. AFTER THE GROUP STAGE, THE TWO TEAMS FROM EACH GROUP OF 32 WILL ADVANCE TO THE KNOCKOUT ROUNDS.

THE KNOCKOUT STAGES WILL INCLUDE THE ROUND OF 32, FOLLOWED BY ROUND OF 16.

ET CETERA. ET CETERA. NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. THE DISTRIBUTION OF SPOTS.

48 TEAMS TWO 2026 EDITION. YOU HAVE EIGHT SPOTS FROM ASIA, NINE SPOTS FROM AFRICA, SIX FROM NORTH AMERICA, ETC., ETC.. NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. ATLANTA WAS OFFICIALLY SELECTED AS A HOST CITY FOR THE 2026 FIFA WORLD CUP ON JUNE 16TH, 2022.

NEXT SLIDE. HOW DOES EASTPOINT BENEFIT? IN OCTOBER OF 2024, I HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF JOINING MY FELLOW CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS FROM OTHER CITIES ON A FACT FINDING MISSION LED BY FULTON COUNTY CHAIRMAN ROBB PITTS.

AS THE PART OF THE CITY SISTER CITY INITIATIVE DURING OUR TRIP TO DOHA, QATAR, WE HAD THE UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY TO MEET WITH THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE TEAM OF THE 2022 QATAR FIFA COMMITTEE. OUR PRIMARY OBJECTIVE WAS TO EXPLORE HOW MUNICIPALITIES IN SOUTH FULTON CAN MAXIMIZE FINANCIAL OPPORTUNITIES. NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. THE MOST VALUABLE LESSON GAINED FROM THIS MEETING WAS THE IMPORTANCE OF MAXIMIZING FINANCIAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE CITY BY PROACTIVELY ENGAGING WITH AND CULTIVATING RELATIONSHIPS WITH SPORTS ORGANIZATIONS OF THE FOOTBALL TEAMS, KNOWN AS FOOTBALL CLUBS. THESE ORGANIZATIONS REPRESENT A CRUCIAL AVENUE FOR GENERATING REVENUE AND PROMOTING LONG TERM FINANCIAL SUCCESS FOR THE CITY. BY ESTABLISHING STRONG CONNECTIONS WITH THE FOOTBALL CLUBS AND THEIR SUPPORT NETWORKS, WE CAN UNLOCK VARIOUS AVENUES FOR PARTNERSHIPS, SPONSORSHIPS, SPONSORSHIPS, AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, ULTIMATELY DRIVING ECONOMIC GROWTH AND ENHANCING THE CITY'S THE CITY'S VISIBILITY ON A GLOBAL SCALE.

METRO ATLANTA IS POISED TO REAP SIGNIFICANT ECONOMIC BENEFITS FROM HOSTING THE 2026 FIFA WORLD CUP.

THE METRO ATLANTA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE ESTIMATES OUR ECONOMIC IMPACT OF APPROXIMATELY $503.2 MILLION, A HALF $1 BILLION. THERE ARE CERTAIN KEYS TO SUCCESS, WHICH I'M HAPPY TO DISCUSS, BUT I BRING THIS TO COUNCIL'S ATTENTION AS A PRESENTATION SO THAT WE CAN ASK THAT OUR CITY MANAGEMENT WORK WITH OUR CONVENTIONS BUREAU TO START TO COURT SOME OF THESE FOOTBALL CLUBS IN ORDER TO DRAW THEM INTO THE CITY, SO THAT WE CAN USE EASTPOINT AS A HUB FOR ONE OF THE TEAMS WHERE WE CAN DO VIEWING PARTIES.

THE CITY OF ATLANTA METROPOLITAN ATLANTA WILL HAVE GROUP STAGE MATCHES AND KNOCKOUT STAGE MATCHES.

THESE MATCHES WILL GO FROM MONDAY, JUNE 15TH TO MARCH 14TH.

I'M SORRY. MONDAY. YES. THURSDAY, MARCH JUNE 18TH.

SUNDAY, JUNE 21ST. WEDNESDAY, JUNE 24TH. SATURDAY, JUNE 27TH WITH THE KNOCKOUT MATCHES BEING IN JULY.

THERE ARE THREE KNOCKOUT MATCHES IN JULY, SO THAT ENDS THE PRESENTATION.

OPEN FOR QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS FROM MY COLLEAGUES.

I DON'T SEE ANY LIGHTS ON RIGHT NOW. I DO RECALL WHEN THE EAST POINT CONVENTION AND VISITORS BUREAU PRESENTED, I THINK IT WAS LAST MONTH. WE TALKED ABOUT THIS AND TALKED ABOUT THE CITY STAFF WORKING WITH THE EAST POINT CONVENTION AND VISITORS BUREAU.

I STILL DON'T SEE ANY OTHER LIGHTS ON, SO I'M NOT SURE IF ANYBODY ELSE IS CHIMING IN.

COUNCIL MEMBER BUTLER IS STILL, YOU KNOW, SHINING.

SO NO ONE ELSE HAS TURNED THEIR LIGHT ON. BUT I DO REMEMBER TALKING ABOUT THIS WHEN EAST POINT CONVENTION AND VISITORS BUREAU PRESENTED.

I FEEL LIKE IT WAS ONE MONTH AWAY IN MAY, ITS FIRST MEETING.

SO I THINK IT WAS APRIL LAST MONTH, AND THEY TALKED ABOUT FIFA, AND THERE WAS EXPRESSION OF THEM WORKING WITH

[00:30:03]

SO IS THIS A PART OF THAT SAME DISCUSSION? AND THE CITY MANAGER HAS AND COUNCIL HAS RECEIVED WHAT YOU'VE SHARED TONIGHT.

BUT I THINK THEY ALREADY AUTHORIZED THAT LAST MONTH.

YES. COUNCIL MEMBER CLEMONS THANK YOU, MADAM MAYOR.

AND THAT WAS A QUESTION. HAVE WE ACTIVELY STARTED MOVING ON THIS WHERE THE CVB IS WORKING WITH STAFF? THAT WAS A QUESTION FOR MR. JONES. THAT'S WHAT I'M ASKING.

THEY'VE HAD CONVERSATIONS, MR. JONES. YES, ACTUALLY, AS OF TODAY, WE HAD OUR FIRST MEETING AND DISCUSSED THOSE ISSUES.

THANK YOU. I YIELD. COUNCIL MEMBER FREELY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.

COUNCIL MEMBER. ANY THE QUESTION EITHER FOR YOU OR FOR MR. JONES. HOW IS THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT, MR. ROGERS DEPARTMENT ENGAGED ON THIS OR ARE THEY YET? WELL, AT THIS STAGE IT WAS A VERY EARLY ON INTRODUCTION MEETING.

BUT THEY WILL BE INVOLVED IN, IN THAT AS WE GO FORTH.

AND I PERSONALLY HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE USED THE FOOTBALL CLUBS TO BE A JUMP START TO CREATE ALL TYPES OF DIFFERENT TYPES OF, OF OPPORTUNITIES TO COLLABORATE AND EXCHANGE IN CULTURAL AND EDUCATIONAL AND BUSINESS ACTIVITIES.

SO IT IS A GREAT ENTRY TO HAVE MUCH DEEPER CONVERSATIONS IN BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS WITH A NUMBER OF COMMUNITIES AROUND THE WORLD. THANK YOU. NEXT UP

[VI.3. Ensue Smoothies]

THANK YOU. AND WE HAVE A NEW BUSINESS HERE, RIGHT HERE IN EASTPOINTE IN WARD A, IN THE PLAZA WHERE NICHOLAS IS AND THE OWNER OF ENSUE. SMOOTHIE IS HERE TO JUST SHARE SOME INFORMATION WITH US ABOUT HER BUSINESS.

THANK YOU. RIGHT THERE. OKAY.

MIC CHECK. ALL RIGHT. GOOD EVENING. HELLO, MAYOR.

AND THANK YOU, COUNCIL SHARON SHIRE, FOR ALLOWING ME TO PRESENT THIS EVENING.

HELLO, COUNCIL MEMBERS. MY NAME IS SUE WORTHY, AND I AM A HEALTH AND FITNESS ENTHUSIAST.

I'VE BEEN FOR 25 YEARS NOW. I'M ALSO KNOWN AS COACH SMOOTH SUE.

I AM A CERTIFIED PERSONAL TRAINER, GROUP FITNESS INSTRUCTOR INTEGRATIVE NUTRITION HEALTH COACH, AND PROUD OWNER OF ENSUE SMOOTHIES. ENSUE. SMOOTHIES IS A SMOOTHIE SHOP.

WE PROVIDE PLANT BASED SMOOTHIES, COLD PRESSED JUICES, WELLNESS SHOTS, AND ORGANIC TREATS.

I'D LIKE TO COMMEND THE CITY OF EASTPOINTE. FIRST AND FOREMOST, FOR THE PROCESS OF THE PERMITTING PROCESS, BECAUSE IT CAN. YOU KNOW, AS A BUSINESS OWNER, THE STRESS LEVEL CAN REALLY BE ON TEN, AND THEY REALLY HELP WITH SHOWING HOW CLEAR THE REQUIREMENTS WERE.

AND ALSO TOOK THE APPLICATION AND EFFICIENTLY PROCESSED IT.

AND YOU KNOW, IT JUST HELPED. IT REALLY WAS HELPFUL.

I WANT TO SHARE A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT ENSUES.

STANDS FOR THE NAME IT SUSAN ENSUES ITSELF. A LOT OF PEOPLE ASK, IS THAT YOUR NAME? AND IT'S NOT MY NAME, BUT E STANDS FOR ENCOURAGING THE COMMUNITY TO LEAD HEALTHIER LIVES, ESPECIALLY HERE IN EASTPOINTE, WHERE EASTPOINTE IS LOCATED IN A FOOD DESERT.

IN STANDS FOR NOURISHING THE BODY WITH HEALTHY, ON THE GO SNACKS AND MEAL REPLACEMENTS.

S STANDS FOR SOURCING. LOCALLY. WE SOURCE OUR FRUITS AND VEGETABLES LOCALLY.

UNITE STANDS FOR USING ENSUE SMOOTHIES AS A COMMUNITY HUB WHERE PEOPLE CAN ACTUALLY GATHER AND SHARE HEALTHY TIPS AND ENCOURAGE ONE ANOTHER, MOTIVATE ONE ANOTHER ON THEIR FITNESS AND HEALTH AND FITNESS WELLNESS JOURNEYS.

E STANDS FOR EDUCATE OR TEACH, TEACH AND ENCOURAGE THE COMMUNITY HELPING WITH INCORPORATING FRUITS AND VEGETABLES, PARTICULARLY SUPERFOODS, IN EPIDEMIOLOGICAL STUDIES SHOW THAT SUPERFOODS PROVIDE A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF PROTECTION

[00:35:08]

SO AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST, WE ALSO ARE HERE TO ENCOURAGE SELF-LOVE AND WITH SELF-LOVE.

I EMPHATICALLY BELIEVE THAT WHEN WHEN YOU EAT HEALTHFULLY, IT'S IT'S A TRUE FORM OF SELF-LOVE.

SO TODAY, WHAT I DID WAS I BROUGHT A TREAT FOR EVERYONE THE HEALTHY INITIATIVE THE ACTUAL BOWL THAT WE HAVE, IT'S ACTUALLY CALLED THE HEALTHY POINT, AND IT'S ACAI I.E.

MANGO, PINEAPPLES, LOCALLY SOURCED STRAWBERRIES AND I AM HAPPY TO SHARE IT WITH EVERYONE TODAY.

THANKS FOR HAVING ME. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU SO MUCH.

AND IF YOU JUST GIVE THEM TO THE CLERK, THANK YOU FOR CHOOSING EASTPOINT TO OPEN YOUR BUSINESS AND SHARING FEEDBACK AND FOR BEING AN EASTPOINT CORPORATE CITIZEN.

THANK YOU. OKAY. I THINK THEY MAY HAVE QUESTIONS FOR YOU.

SURE. I'M SORRY. I'M SORRY. YES. COUNCIL MEMBER MARK ROGERS, TELL US WHERE YOU'RE LOCATED.

WHAT'S THE ADDRESS? SO I AM LOCATED AT 2879, AND IT'S RIGHT IN THE PARKING LOT.

THERE'S ALSO A CHIROPRACTOR OVER THERE, AND THERE'S AN INSURANCE COMPANY, BUT IT'S 28, 79.

YEAH. OKAY? YES. SUITE THREE. BE IN THE HOURS OF OPERATION IS 10 TO 6 TUESDAY THROUGH SATURDAY.

COUNCIL MEMBER, SHROPSHIRE. AND WHEN WILL YOUR SHOP BE OFFICIALLY OPEN? YES. GOOD QUESTION. SO WE'RE HAVING A GRAND OPENING ON MAY THE 24TH.

COUNCIL MEMBER COMMON. THANK YOU, MADAM MAYOR.

THAT WAS MY QUESTION. FIRST OF ALL, WELCOME TO EAST POINT.

GLAD THAT YOU DECIDED TO BRING YOUR BUSINESS HERE TO THE CITY.

AND THAT WAS MY QUESTION. COUNCIL MEMBER SHROPSHIRE. I ASKED BECAUSE I DID RIDE BY TODAY AND I SAW THE BLUE PAPER THAT WAS UP.

SO YOUR OFFICIAL YOUR OPENING WILL BE ON MAY 24TH.

YES, MAY THE 24TH. AND I DID PUT ONE OF MY CARDS IN THERE WITH ALL THE INFORMATION AND THE ADDRESS AS WELL.

OKAY, GOOD. GREAT DAY. MY BIRTHDAY. SO LOOKING FORWARD TO COMING. WHAT? THAT'S YOUR BIRTHDAY? YES IT IS. ALRIGHT.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY IN ADVANCE. WE'LL HAVE A BIRTHDAY BOWL FOR YOU.

ALL RIGHT THEN. ALL RIGHT. WELL, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

AND WELCOME AGAIN. THANK YOU. NEXT UP, ANY COMMITTEE

[VII. COMMITTEE REPORTS]

ANYONE WANT TO SHARE ANY INFORMATION? COUNCILMAN MARTIN? YES. I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE SOME BRIEF NOTES ON THE HUMAN RESOURCES COMMITTEE MEETING, WHICH WAS HELD MAY 1ST AT 2025.

THE MEETING STARTED AT 6:07 P.M. SHARP. THE MEMBERS PRESENT WERE MAYOR HOLIDAY INGRAM, MONIQUE MELLETT, DEPUTY CITY MANAGER MISS IRIS JESSE, HUMAN RESOURCES DOCTOR MARTIN ROGERS, AND COUNCIL MEMBER FREELEY.

WE ADOPTED THE AGENDA. WE WENT THROUGH OUR MINUTES.

WE DISCUSSED THE HR COMMITTEE, PREVIOUS AGENDA ITEMS, WHICH INCLUDED A DISCUSSION ON EVALUATION FORMS FOR DIRECT REPORTS WITH INPUT FROM THE COMMITTEE AND GEORGIA MUNICIPAL ASSOCIATION STANDARDS.

WE ALSO DISCUSSED MEASURABLE GOALS FOR FEEDBACK FOR OUR DIRECT REPORT.

EVERYONE ON THE COMMITTEE COMMITTED TO REVIEWING AND SHARING FEEDBACK WITH COUNCIL THIS MONTH.

FOR A POSSIBLE PRESENTATION TO RETURN TO COUNCIL IN JUNE 2025 FOR A DECISION.

THANK YOU. OUR MEETING WAS ADJOURNED AT 6:40 P.M..

ANYONE ELSE? ALL RIGHT. NEXT UP IS ADOPTION OF THE COUNCIL AGENDA.

[VIII. ADOPTION OF THE COUNCIL AGENDA]

I MAKE A MOTION THAT WE ADOPT THE COUNCIL AGENDA.

SO MOVED. IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND? IT'S BEEN MOVED AND PROPERLY SECONDED.

ANY DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AYE. ALL THOSE OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. NEXT UP IS APPROVAL OF THE CITY COUNCIL.

[IX. APPROVAL OF CITY COUNCIL MINUTES]

IS THERE A MOTION, MADAM MAYOR? YES, COUNCIL. I MOVE THAT WE ADOPT THE COUNCIL.

[00:40:03]

SECOND. IT'S BEEN MOVED AND PROPERLY SECONDED.

ANY DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AYE. ALL THOSE OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. NEXT UP. WE DO NOT HAVE ANY PUBLIC HEARINGS THIS EVENING.

[XI. PUBLIC COMMENTS]

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. EASTPOINTE 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 UP FIRST.

I HAVE MISS OLIVIA HEMMING. OH, WHAT'D YOU SAY? I'M SORRY. I SAID OLIVIA. I TELL OLIVIA HEMMING.

HEMMING? SHE GAVE HER TIME. IS SHE HERE, THOUGH? YEAH. SHE'D HAVE TO BE HERE TO GIVE TIME. THE RULES SAY THAT A SPEAKER MAY GIVE SOME OR ALL OF THEIR TIME, UP TO THREE MINUTES TO ANOTHER SPEAKER, SO THEY HAVE TO BE HERE TO MAKE THAT ASSIGNMENT.

SHE DIDN'T DO IT. SHE HANDED IT TO THIS LADY IN THE RED.

ROOM. BUT BUT LIKE THE MAYOR SAID, SHE HAS TO PHYSICALLY BE HERE DURING THE ACTUAL PUBLIC COMMENTS WHEN IT COMES UP.

SO THE RULES HAVE CHANGED BECAUSE. THE RULES SAID THAT SHE HAD TO PHYSICALLY HAND IN THE FORM SHE DID, MADAM. WHAT DID I SAY, ATTORNEY WIGGINS? YES.

ATTORNEY WIGGINS. I AM LOOKING UP THE RULE ABOUT GIVING TIME.

AS IT IS, RULE 28 IS ON THE AGENDA.

I MEAN, GENERALLY PEOPLE ARE ALWAYS HERE WHEN THEY DO THAT.

SO THIS PROBABLY IS THE FIRST TIME THAT I RECALL THAT SOMEBODY'S NOT HERE TO GIVE TIME.

SO RULE 28, MADAM MAYOR, AND GOOD EVENING TO THE COUNCIL DOES NOT SPECIFICALLY SAY THAT THE SPEAKER MUST BE HERE.

IT DOES PROVIDE THAT THE SPEAKER MUST COMPLETE A FORM PRIOR TO THE START OF THE MEETING, AND SUBJECT MAY INCLUDE ANY SUBJECT, MAY INCLUDE ANY SUBJECT OF CHOICE, AND THERE WILL BE AN AGREEMENT IN TIME LIMIT. SPEAKERS THAT HAVE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK MAY GIVE ALL OR PART OF THEIR TIME, UP TO THREE MINUTES TO ANOTHER SPEAKER. SO IN THIS CASE WHERE THE INDIVIDUAL IS NOT HERE WITHOUT HER BEING HERE TO SAY THAT, OR THERE'S NO INDICATION ON HER FORM THAT SHE'S INDICATING TO GIVE HER TIME TO SOMEONE ELSE.

I'M NOT SURE HOW WE CAN VERIFY THAT. SO I'M LOOKING AT HER FORM NOW, AND IN THE SUBJECT DOES HAVE JOHN HEMMING WRITTEN DOWN, WHICH IS MRS THE OTHER MRS HEMMINGS DID INDICATE IT HAS HER NAME AS THE SUBJECT.

IT HAS HER NAME AS THE SO AS THE SUBJECT ON THE FORM.

YES. SO THE FORM HAS. DOES IT HAVE THE SPEAKER'S NAME? YES. SO THIS IS DAY NAME, WHICH IS OLIVIA HEMMING, THE ADDRESS AND TELEPHONE AND SUBJECT SUBJECT.

SHE HAS JOHN HEMMING. SO SHE INDICATES THAT JOHN HEMMING IS THE SUBJECT FOR HER COMMENTS.

TO THE COUNCIL OR THE MAYOR'S DISCRETION FOR WHAT TO DO, WOULD IT BE IN SILENT ON THE RULE? I THINK IT WOULD. SO I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE BECAUSE WE'RE STARTING A PATTERN AND SO IF NEEDS TO BE UPDATED, THEN TO REFLECT WHATEVER THE COUNCIL THINKS IS THE APPROPRIATE WAY FOR SOMEONE TO GIVE THEIR TIME TO SOMEONE ELSE.

OKAY. WHAT IS COUNCIL'S DESIRE? COUNCIL MEMBER.

BUTLER. MADAM MAYOR, IF WE COULD, WOULD YOU LIKE FOR US TO MAKE A MOTION TO ALLOW HER TO HAVE THE ADDITIONAL THREE MINUTES? THAT WAY WE WOULD BE CHANGING THE RULES THAT MUCH.

AND IF IT PASSES, THEN WE CAN SAY THAT WE VOTED TO ALLOW HER TO HAVE THAT.

[00:45:02]

IT'S BEEN MOVED. IS THERE A SECOND? BEEN MOVED AND PROPERLY SECONDED.

CITY ATTORNEY, IS THAT OKAY? YES. TO DO THAT MOTION TO ALLOW FOR THE LADY, THE INDIVIDUAL TO HAVE ADDITIONAL TIME. I THINK THAT RESOLVES IT TODAY, BUT THIS MAY COME UP AGAIN.

SO I THINK THE PERMANENT FIX WOULD, TO ENSURE THAT THE ORDINANCE IN RULE 28 REFLECTS THAT TO GIVE TIME REQUIRES PRESENCE OR AN INDICATION. A CLEAR INDICATION ON THE CALL TO ACTION FOR THE BOARD TO KNOW THAT, INDEED, THAT'S WHAT THE SPEAKER DESIRED TO DO. COUNCIL MEMBER MARTIN ROGERS.

YES. AND SINCE WE ARE GOING TO SET THIS PATTERN, I WOULD JUST LIKE COUNCIL TO BE MINDFUL OF JULY 1ST, 2024. WE HAD FOUR COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT VOTED NOT TO ALLOW PEOPLE TO SPEAK ADDITIONAL TIME DURING THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD. SO IF WE ARE GOING TO MAKE CONCESSIONS, THEN WE NEED TO MAKE THEM FOR EVERYONE.

BUT YEAH. JULY 1ST, 2024. FOR MEMBERS OF THIS BODY VOTED NOT TO ALLOW PEOPLE TO SPEAK IN MY MOTION FAILED. YEAH. I WAS IN REGARDS TO THE LAKESIDE PRESERVE COMMUNITY MEETING THAT DAY ON AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND.

SO LET'S JUST BE CONSCIOUS OF WHAT'S GOOD FOR THE GOOSE IS ALSO GOOD FOR THE GANDER.

THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER CUMMINGS. I'M SORRY.

I DIDN'T MEAN TO HAVE MY LIGHT ON. I'M SORRY. IF WE CAN PLACE RULE 28 ON THE WORK SESSION AGENDA SO COUNCIL CAN FURTHER DISCUSS AND MAKE A DECISION.

THIS WILL CREATE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR PEOPLE TO CONTINUE TO COME AND DO THIS, SIGN UP AND NOT BE HERE AND THEN PROVIDE ADDITIONAL TIME WITHOUT THE RULE BEING CLEAR.

SO IT'S SOMETHING THAT, BASED UPON OUR RECOMMENDATION FROM THE CITY ATTORNEY COUNCIL, NEEDS TO DECIDE AND MAKE A DECISION TO UPDATE THE RULE.

ANY FURTHER FAVOR. ALL THOSE OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES, MADAM CITY CLERK.

AND. OKAY. MISS JEFFREY HEMMING IS UP, AND SHE HAD TIME GIVEN TO HER BY MISS OLIVIA HEMMINGS, SO SHE WILL HAVE SIX MINUTES. GOOD EVENING, I'M GEOFFREY HEMMING.

2197 PEMBROKE DRIVE. THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING MY RIGHT TO SPEAK IN THE PUBLIC COMMENTS.

WE'RE ENTERING THE FINAL PHASE OF THE BUDGET SEASON, AND IN JUST A FEW WEEKS, YOU'LL BE ASKED TO VOTE ON THE CITY MANAGER'S PROPOSED BUDGET.

WHILE I APPRECIATE THE DETAILED NARRATIVE AND EMPHASIS ON FISCAL CAUTION, I'M CONCERNED THAT THE BUDGET FALLS SHORT OF ADDRESSING WHAT'S REALLY AT STAKE IN THE COMING MONTHS AND POSSIBLY YEARS. TONIGHT, I OFFER BOTH A CHALLENGE AND A SOLUTION.

FIRST, THE BIG PICTURE, BIG PICTURE. EAST POINT DESERVES A LEADERSHIP THAT IS FORWARD THINKING, COMMUNITY FOCUSED AND READY TO MEET THE MOMENT WE'RE FACING ECONOMIC UNCERTAINTY.

YET THIS BUDGET FEELS BUILT FOR COMFORT, NOT CRISIS.

IT HOLDS NEARLY $35 MILLION IN UNASSIGNED GENERAL FUND RESERVES, TRIPLE THE REQUIRED MINIMUM.

LET'S BE CLEAR. THE MONEY CAME FROM US, THE RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES OF THIS CITY.

WE PAID OUR TAXES. WE PAID OUR UTILITY BILLS.

AND INSTEAD OF INVESTING IN LONG REQUESTED SERVICES, MUCH OF IT HAS JUST SAT THERE.

NOW, WITH A RECESSION LOOMING, LAYOFFS RISING, AND HOUSEHOLD BUDGETS STRETCHED, IT'S TIME TO DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT.

THE PROPOSED BUDGET INCLUDES A RAINY DAY POLICY, BUT IT ONLY ALLOWS FOR ONE TIME EXPENSES LIKE CAPITAL EQUIPMENT OR GRANT MATCHES.

THAT DOESN'T TRULY PROTECT THE CITY IN A DOWNTURN.

AND IT CERTAINLY DOESN'T SUPPORT THE RESIDENTS WHO WILL FEEL THE IMPACT THE MOST.

EVEN WORSE, IT ASKS US TO TRUST THE CITY TO USE THESE FUNDS WHEN NEEDED.

BUT RECENT HISTORY SHOWS, AS EVIDENCED BY THIS LARGE RESERVE, THAT THAT HASN'T HAPPENED.

WE'VE SEEN OUR DOLLARS GO UNSPENT WHILE PROBLEMS IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS PILE UP.

SO TONIGHT I'M ASKING THE CITY TO CREATE A COMMUNITY DAY RAINY FUND, A PLAN FOCUSED ON HELPING RESIDENTS DIRECTLY.

HERE'S HOW IT WOULD WORK. SET ASIDE 3 TO $5 MILLION FROM RESERVES, NOT JUST TO PROTECT CITY OPERATIONS, BUT TO SUPPORT THE PEOPLE WHO KEEP THIS CITY RUNNING.

THE PROPOSED BUDGET ONLY EARMARKS ABOUT $350,000 FOR DIRECT RESIDENT ASSISTANCE.

I'M CALLING FOR 10 TO 14 TIMES THAT AMOUNT BECAUSE IN UNCERTAIN TIMES, OUR INVESTMENT SHOULD MATCH THE SCALE OF OUR NEED.

[00:50:01]

YOU COULD OFFER LOCAL SPENDING STIMULUS FOR SHOPPING AT EASTPOINTE BUSINESSES.

YOU COULD SUPPORT LAID OFF RESIDENTS WITH EMERGENCY CASH.

YOU COULD PROVIDE MICRO GRANTS TO SMALL BUSINESSES TO RETAIN JOBS.

THIS ISN'T A HANDOUT. IT'S A SMART REINVESTMENT THAT SUPPORTS PEOPLE AND SUSTAINS THE REVENUE OF OUR CITY.

IF YOU SUPPORT THIS IDEA, I'M HAPPY TO SHARE A SAMPLE OF WHAT IT COULD LOOK LIKE.

BUT NOW LET'S TALK ABOUT THE BUDGET AS IT STANDS.

IT REFLECTS A LACK OF URGENCY AND AT TIMES, A LACK OF RESPECT.

LET'S START WITH READABILITY. THIS BUDGET IS NOT RESIDENT FRIENDLY.

IF YOU HAVE TO FLIP BETWEEN FIVE SECTIONS TO MATCH THE DEPARTMENT GOALS TO THE FUNDING, THAT'S NOT TRANSPARENT.

THAT'S DISCOURAGING. THE URBAN REDEVELOPMENT FUND HOLDS OVER $440,000, BUT THERE'S NO PLAN TO SPEND ANY OF IT.

THIS MONEY COULD FIGHT BLIGHT. IT COULD SUPPORT SMALL BUSINESSES OR REVITALIZE OUR CORRIDORS.

THE UNRESTRICTED PORTION OF THE HOTEL MOTEL FUND STARTS AT A -$1.6 MILLION DEFICIT.

YET THE CITY CONTINUES TO PULL FROM FROM THIS FUND TO SUPPORT GENERAL OPERATIONS AND EVENTS.

THIS IS A RED FLAG. THE SOLID WASTE FUND STILL REQUIRES ABOUT A $295,000 BAILOUT, DOWN FROM $1.5 MILLION LAST YEAR, BUT THAT'S STILL CONCERNING. DO WE ACCURATELY COLLECT COSTS ACROSS ALL PROPERTY TYPES? DO WE UNDERSTAND THE COST AFTER MAJOR EVENTS, OR ARE WE JUST GUESSING AT COST AND REVENUE CAPTURE? AND LET'S BE CLEAR THIS RESERVE IS NOT JUST A SPREADSHEET LINE ITEM.

YOU'VE BEEN GIVEN RESOURCES AND TOO OFTEN YOU HAVEN'T USED THEM.

NOW THE RESIDENTS NEED THAT MONEY BACK. NOT SOME DAY, BUT NOW WE NEED REAL PLANS FOR REAL PEOPLE.

AND WITH THE WORLD CUP COMING TO THE REGION, THE BUDGET INCLUDES NO STRATEGY, NO FUNDING, NO INFRASTRUCTURE. ONLY NOW, AT THE 11TH HOUR, IS THIS CONVERSATION REALLY BEGINNING TO HAPPEN.

MY POINT IS THIS LEADERSHIP ISN'T JUST ABOUT CAUTION, IT'S ABOUT VISION.

AND EASTPOINTE NEEDS LEADERSHIP THAT INVESTS IN INVEST IN PEOPLE, PREPARES FOR DISRUPTION AND ACTS BEFORE OPPORTUNITIES PASS US BY.

YOU HAVE OUR MONEY, YOU HAVE THE TOOLS, AND YOU'VE HAD OUR TRUST.

PLEASE DON'T LET THIS RESERVE JUST SIT ASIDE WHILE OUR COMMUNITY BRACES FOR IMPACT.

GIVE SOME OF THAT MONEY BACK TO US SO THAT WE CAN LIFT OUR ENTIRE CITY BY INVESTING IN US AND ENCOURAGING US TO REINVEST IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS AND BUSINESSES.

WE CAN CREATE A CYCLE OF OPPORTUNITY, EVEN IN SOME OF THE DARKEST DAYS THAT WE WILL EXPERIENCE.

SINCE COVID, THERE WON'T BE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS FLOWING THROUGH LIKE THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT.

THIS TIME WE HAVE TO RESCUE OURSELVES, AND I BELIEVE IN US, THE RESIDENTS OF EASTPOINTE, TO DO JUST THAT.

THANK YOU. UP NEXT, WE HAVE MISS ANNA ADAMS. GOOD EVENING, MADAM MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.

MY NAME IS ANNA ADAMS. WAUDBY 2187 NOONAN STREET.

I HAD ONE SPEECH PLANNED, BUT THEN I REALIZED THAT DOCTOR MARTIN ROGERS WAS PROVIDING AN UPDATE ON THE HR COMMITTEE.

SO I WAS VERY HAPPY TO HEAR THAT. AND I TAKE IT THAT THE DOCTOR, MARTIN ROGERS, IS THE CHAIR OF THE HR COMMITTEE.

MY OTHER COMMENT WAS ABOUT THE BUDGET COMMITTEE.

IT'S BEEN A WEIRD A YEAR SINCE OUR NEW BUDGET COMMITTEE HAS BEEN FORMED, AND TO MY UNDERSTANDING, WE DO NOT HAVE A CHAIR YET FOR THAT COMMITTEE.

SO I'M ASKING WHEN THE COMMITTEE CHAIR FOR THE BUDGET COMMITTEE WILL BE ELECTED.

AND IF WE COULD DO THAT TONIGHT, ALTHOUGH COUNCIL MEMBER MITCHELL IS NOT PRESENT.

SECOND ALSO RELATED TO THE COMMITTEE, BUDGET COMMITTEE, WE'RE THINKING ABOUT THE NEW BUDGET.

AND THAT MAKES ME THINK ABOUT THE AUDITS AND WHETHER WE CAN HAVE AUDITS AS A STANDARD LINE ITEM TO TALK ABOUT EVERY MONTH AS PART OF THE BUDGET COMMITTEE UPDATES. IF MEMORY SERVES ELIGIBILITY.

ELIGIBILITY FOR GRANT FUNDING IS WAS IN DANGER AND IT HAD TO DO WITH THE OUTSTANDING AUDITS.

TO MY UNDERSTANDING, WE STILL HAVE A FORENSIC AUDIT.

THAT IS OUTSTANDING. AND MY QUESTION IS, WHEN DO WE EXPECT THIS TO BE COMPLETED AND SEE THE RESULTS? FISCAL YEAR 23, THE AUDIT LAST I REMEMBER IS THAT THE AUDITORS PRESENTATION WAS EXPECTED THE END OF JANUARY THIS

[00:55:01]

NOT YET OBVIOUSLY CANNOT BE STARTED. BUT DO WE HAVE A PLAN? WHO WILL COMPLETE THE AUDIT? WILL IT BE THE SAME AUDITORS AS FISCAL YEAR 24, OR IS THERE SOME ADVANTAGE TO ACTUALLY CHANGING AUDITORS EVERY SO OFTEN TO GET A FRESH LOOK AND PERSPECTIVE? I ALSO HAVE A COMMENT ABOUT THE WASTE DEPARTMENT.

ENTERPRISE FUNDS ARE SUPPOSED TO PAY FOR THEMSELVES.

NEVERTHELESS, THE WASTE DEPARTMENT HAS BEEN SUPPORTED BY THE GENERAL FUNDS OVER THE PAST YEARS.

MY QUESTION IS, WHAT NEEDS TO CHANGE FOR THE WASTE DEPARTMENT TO PAY FOR ITSELF? AND WHEN WILL WE WHEN WILL WE IMPLEMENT THE CHANGE? ALSO, WHAT IS THE PLAN TO RETURN THE PRIOR PRIOR YEAR'S SUPPLEMENTAL FUNDS BACK TO THE GENERAL FUND? AND MY LAST TWO MORE POINTS. THE CURRENT ORDINANCE ACTUALLY REQUIRES THAT GLASS RECYCLING BE PART OF THE RECYCLING OFFERING.

HOWEVER, RESTART GLASS RECYCLING A FEW YEARS AGO.

AND MY QUESTION IS CAN WE EITHER ASK THE CITY MANAGER THAT THIS SERVICE BE OFFERED OR CHANGE THE ORDINANCE? MY PREFERENCE WOULD BE, OF COURSE, THAT WE INCLUDE RECYCLING.

THANK YOU. UP NEXT WE HAVE MISS JACQUELINE SLAUGHTER.

GIBBONS. MISS JACKIE. MISS YOU. YEAH. YOU, MISS SLAUGHTER.

YEP. I CAN'T HEAR THIS MIC. ARE Y'ALL SPEAKING BACK THERE? I'M JUST SITTING BACK THERE LOOKING STUPID. GO.

JACQUELINE SLAUGHTER GIVEN I WAS LOOKING AT THE BUDGET THIS WEEK, 2425 BUDGET.

I GOT A COPY OF IT. I NOTICED SOMETHING THAT SANITATION SUE WAS IN THE DEFICIT IN THE RED AND I'M WONDERING WHY. I ALSO LOOKED ON THE COMPUTER AND FOUND OUT WE ONLY HAD 38,000 RESIDENTS LIVING IN THIS CITY.

AND I'M THINKING THEY HAD 38,020 YEARS AGO. SINCE THEN WE GOT PRINCETON LAKE, SAVANNAH WALL, A WHOLE BUNCH OF RESIDENTS, A SENIOR CITIZEN.

WE GOT SAVANNAH WALK, HERITAGE VALLEY LAKESIDE PRESERVE, AND WE'RE STILL AT 38 AND WE HAVE NO EMPTY HOUSES IN EASTPOINT.

SOMETHING WRONG WITH THAT PICTURE? SECOND, IF THE SANITATION SEWER IS IN THE DEFICIT, THAT MEANS SOMEWHERE ALONG THE WAY, THEY'RE PICKING UP GARBAGE FOR FREE. ARE WE BUILDING EVERYBODY? ARE WE CHARGING EVERYBODY UTILITY BILLS? BECAUSE I KNOW WHEN THEY FEEL SAVANNAH WALK.

THEY HAD ONLY TEN YEARS TO SWITCH OVER TO ATLANTA TO EAST POINT.

HAVE Y'ALL ENFORCED THAT LAW? HAVE Y'ALL LOOKED AT THAT? ARE Y'ALL JUST LETTING THEM RIDE FOR FREE? Y'ALL NEED TO LOOK AT OUR BUDGET AND SEE WHAT YOU ARE DOING WRONG.

WHO WE HAVE IN THIS CITY. WE SHOULD HAVE AT LEAST 40 BECAUSE EVEN THOUGH THEY TORE DOWN THE HOUSING PROJECT, THEY PUT UP A SENIOR CITIZEN DOWN OUR OWN STAND ROW.

AND I KNOW HOW MANY PEOPLE IN THERE BECAUSE I VISIT THEM ON A REGULAR BASIS.

EVERY FLOOR GOT SOMEONE ON THEM AND EVERY APARTMENT.

WE ALSO WE BUILD BEHIND CAMP CREEK SINCE THEN.

HAVE Y'ALL COUNTED THEM? ARE WE GIVING FREE UTILITIES AWAY? SANITATION? SEWER? BECAUSE SOMEWHERE ALONG THE WAY Y'ALL ARE NOT LOOKING AT WHAT WE OWN.

EVERYTHING ON THE WEST SIDE IS OWNED BY EAST POINT.

YOU GET TO WELCOME ALL ROAD. ON THE SOUTH. ARE YOU COUNTING THOSE? PRINCETON LAKE, SAVANNAH WALK ALL THOSE EAST.

ARE THEY PAYING UTILITIES? ARE THEY PAYING FOR SEWER? WE SHOULDN'T BE IN THE RED IN SANITATION. THAT'S THE CHEAPEST THING WE HAVE IN THIS CITY.

SO Y'ALL NEED TO START LOOKING AT THIS BECAUSE WE'RE GIVING AWAY THIS CITY.

GIVING IT COMPLETELY AWAY. AND WE STAND UP HERE TALKING ABOUT WE GOT A GOOD CITY.

WE DON'T HAVE A GOOD CITY. I MOVED TO EAST POINT 37 YEARS AGO BECAUSE IT WAS A GOOD CITY, AND IT HAVE NOT MOVED IN 37 YEARS.

IT'S THE SAME OLD UTILITY. I'M MOVE TO EAST POINT BECAUSE THERE WAS NO PROPERTY TAX.

[01:00:01]

SISTER SOLON, WHEN I HAD MY STROKE AND I STILL BOUGHT ANOTHER ONE.

SO, YOU KNOW, WE LOSE HIM. Y'ALL NEED TO START LOOKING AT WHERE WE HAVE MONEY AT AND STILL ARE GIVING OUR CITY AWAY TO OUR FRIENDS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS. NEXT SPEAKER.

UP NEXT, WE HAVE MISS ERNESTINE PITTMAN. MISS ERNESTINE.

YES.

GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. FIRST I WOULD ASK THAT COUNCIL MEMBERS, IT IS VERY RUDE OF YOU TO SIT UP AND HAVE TELEPHONE TEXT AND MESSAGES AND LOOKING DOWN AND GETTING INFORMATION FROM OUTSIDE TO TELL YOU WHAT TO DO ON THE INSIDE.

YOU WERE ELECTED BY US. SHOW US SOME RESPECT AND HAVE THE MEETING IN HERE.

NOT BE OUR CHAT. TEXTING IN WHAT TO SAY AND HOW TO DO THIS OR DO THAT.

AND WHEN YOU SPEAK, EVERYBODY IN THIS ROOM CAN HEAR ME NOW, CAN YOU NOT? I KNOW YOU CAN'T ANSWER. I CAN'T HEAR YOU. AND I'M SITTING RIGHT HERE ON THESE MICROPHONES.

THAT'S BECAUSE YOU DON'T WANT TO BE HEARD. YOU NEED TO SPEAK UP.

AND IF I CAN TAKE MY MASK OFF WITH MY TOOTH THAT JUST CAME OUT HERE AND LOOKING LIKE A LITTLE FOOL, SURELY WITH ALL YOURS, YOU CAN SPEAK UP AND TALK TO THIS EVENING.

I WANT TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WAS BROUGHT UP BY RESIDENTS HERE, AND MAYBE THAT WILL HELP IN THE CITY OF EAST POINT. THIS IS A MUNICIPALITY I'M IN THE PROCESS OF HIRING AN ATTORNEY.

I'VE ALREADY HAD ONE WANT TO FILE A WRIT OF MANDAMUS AGAINST THE CITY.

NOW, RESIDENTS OUT THERE. THAT IS NOT TO BRING CRIMINAL CHARGES OR TO DO AN INVESTIGATION.

THE STATE SAYS MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENTS, COUNTY GOVERNMENTS, CAN BRING A WRIT OF MANDAMUS AGAINST ANY GOVERNING BODY THAT DOES NOT FOLLOW ITS OWN POLICIES AND RULES.

WHICH MEANS YOU'RE NOT SERVING US. THIS GENTLEMAN BEHIND ME.

MR. WILLIE JACKSON, HE'S STILL TRYING TO GET HIS PROPERTY DONE WITH THAT STORM WATER PROBLEM.

MOST OF YOU HAVE NOT EVEN READ THE ORDINANCE FROM DECEMBER TO NOW.

THERE IS NO REASON WHY THAT HAS NOT BEEN DONE.

AND YOU CAN'T DO IT WITHIN THE NEXT TWO WEEKS.

WHY? BECAUSE YOU HAVE YET TO ADOPT AN ORDINANCE CREATING THE ADMINISTRATIVE APPEALS BOARD THAT HE NEEDS TO GO TO NOW BEFORE HE CAN EVEN GO TO SUPERIOR COURT, IF NEED BE.

SO THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT'S IN IT. ANOTHER ONE YOU NEED TO CREATE BY ORDINANCE, BY ORDINANCE, THE MUNICIPAL UTILITY ADVISORY COMMISSION. YOU DON'T HAVE IT, BUT NOT BY ORDINANCE.

THE CITY HAS OVER $7 MILLION, BECAUSE YOU'VE BEEN COLLECTING $600,000 FOR TEN YEARS TO RENOVATE THE AUDITORIUM OF A REVERED ONE TOWARDS THAT. THIS IS NOT THE 11TH YEAR.

WHEN WILL THAT AUDITORIUM BE FIXED? ONCE IT IS FIXED.

YOU DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM OPENING IT UP TO OUTSIDE PEOPLE COMING IN DURING THE WORLD CUP GAMES.

AND AS FAR AS SPENT. MY MINUTES. I'M MR. WILLIE JACKSON.

NEXT. YES. OKAY. AND THAT. AND THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE.

AND AS FAR AS THE BUDGET, I THAT'S GOING TO TAKE SOME WRITING BECAUSE IT THERE'S NO WAY WE HAVE $30 MILLION IN ANY RESERVE.

I MEAN, IT'S JUST NOT THERE. SO LET'S GO BACK AND MAKE SURE THOSE FIGURES ARE CORRECT.

AND BUT THE YOUNG LADY THAT SPOKE BEFORE ME THE FIRST ONE, SHE IS CORRECT.

SENIORS IN EASTPOINTE. COUNCIL MEMBER ATKINS HAS A FLIER OUT ABOUT HELP FOR THE UTILITIES THAT'S COMING FROM FULTON ATLANTA COMMUNITY ACTION AUTHORITY ON ALL RESIDENTS IN THE CITY TO KNOW THAT IT'S FOR SENIORS 65 AND OLDER HERE IN EASTPOINTE. THE CITY GOVERNMENT OF EASTPOINTE HAS ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO DO WITH THAT.

SO DON'T START CALLING AND COMING UP HERE. THAT WOULD BE AT SAINT PAUL MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH ON MAY THE 14TH FROM 10

[01:05:10]

ON THAT SAME DAY, WEDNESDAY, MAY THE 14TH, FROM 12 TO 3.

THEY ARE OFFERING FREE PRINTING BECAUSE IF YOU GO OVER THERE TO SAINT PAUL, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO HAVE PHOTOCOPIES OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS. IF YOU DON'T HAVE THEM, THEY'RE NOT GOING TO TAKE YOUR APPLICATION.

NOW, I KNOW THESE HAPPEN ON THE SAME DAY. I WILL BE SENDING OUT ON MY E-BLAST AND I POSTED ON MY WEBSITE THAT INFORMATION, BUT YOU WILL BE GETTING, I'M SURE, INFORMATION FROM OTHER SOURCES.

NOW LET'S GET BACK TO MY WRIT OF MANDAMUS. I FILED A WRIT OF MANDAMUS WHEN I WAS ON COUNSEL AGAINST FIVE COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO VOTED FOR A POLICY THAT IS CLEARLY STATED THAT THEY HAD TO PAY THE ATTORNEY.

THEY DIDN'T DO IT. SO I WENT TO COURT, GOT THERE.

THE JUDGE SAYS ALL ATTORNEYS PRESENT WILL BE PAID OVER $100,000 FOR A $35,000 BILL.

THIS IS NOT PERSONAL. THIS IS OUR MONEY THAT WENT THAT WAY.

AND I CAN'T ASSURE YOU THAT IN THE DIRECTIVE THAT THE NARRATIVE THAT WILL BE PRESENTED TO THE JUDGE.

CRIMINAL CHARGES WILL EMANATE FROM THAT. BECAUSE AS A COUNSEL, YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO POLICE YOURSELF AND HOLD YOURSELF ACCOUNTABLE.

BUT UP THERE ON THE COUNCIL, WE HAVE PEOPLE TAKING TRIPS.

WE HAVE PEOPLE PAYING MONEY FOR THIS AND PAYING MONEY FOR THAT.

YOU CANNOT TAKE TAXPAYERS MONEY AND CAMPAIGN ON IT UNDER THE GUISE OF PUTTING OUT INFORMATION TO RESIDENTS.

YOU HAVE A $4,000 DOLLAR COMMUNITY. WHERE WERE YOU SUPPOSED TO MEET WITH YOUR CONSTITUENTS? INFORMATION. YOU NEED TO RAISE THAT TO $20,000 BECAUSE EVERYBODY DO NOT HAVE ACCESS TO WI-FI CELL PHONES.

I'LL BE BACK NEXT TIME. THANK YOU. NEXT WE HAVE MISS BEVERLY GRANT.

MISS GRANT, CAN YOU I'M SORRY YOU HAD TO SIT HERE AND SIT DOWN. NO.

THANK YOU. YOU'RE WELCOME. GOOD AFTERNOON. BEFORE Y'ALL START MY TIME, Y'ALL NEED TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS AUDIO.

WE CAN HEAR NOTHING THAT YOU ALL ARE SAYING. IT'S LIKE YOU ALL TALKING TO EACH OTHER.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT HAS BEEN SAID, REALLY, OTHER THAN A FEW PEOPLE THAT MADE COMMENTS.

OKAY, WHILE I'M HERE, I HAVEN'T BEEN HERE IN A LONG TIME, BUT GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR, COUNCIL AND CITIZENS OF EASTPOINTE.

I RECEIVED A LETTER IN THE MAIL OVER THE WEEKEND AND IT SAID INTENT FOR PHIFER, AND I'M GOING TO READ IT BECAUSE I'M VERY UPSET ABOUT THIS LETTER. IT SAYS OUR RECORDS INDICATE THAT YOU OWE PROPERTY TAXES ON LISTED BELOW POLLUTANTS TO GEORGIA'S CODE SECTION 40 83-3.

THIS IS YOUR 30 DAY NOTICE OF OUR INTENT TO RECORD A FIFO ON THE GENERAL EXECUTION DOCKET AT THE FULTON COUNTY CLERK, SUPERIOR COURT. THIS RECORDING OF THIS FIFO WILL BE AGAINST YOU AND YOUR PROPERTY.

THE GENERAL EXECUTION DOCKET IS PUBLIC RECORD AND IS MONITORED AND REPORTED BY THE CREDIT BUREAU.

ADDITIONAL INTEREST WILL BE CONTINUED TO BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE PRINCIPAL BALANCE DUE.

THE PRINCIPAL BALANCE DUE IS $0.96. THIS IS MY FIRST CORRESPONDENT, SO IF I OWE.

IF I PAID $109.80, I CERTAINLY COULD HAVE PAID $0.96 AND I SHOULD HAVE BEEN CONTACTED.

AT LEAST I DON'T HAVE I DON'T NOTHING IN THIS SAYS THIS IS YOUR SECOND LETTER.

THIS IS YOUR THIRD LETTER. WE ARE TRYING TO REACH YOU.

I DON'T UNDERSTAND THIS. NOW, YOU GOING TO PUT A LIEN ON ME AND MY PROPERTY FOR $0.96? I NEED SOME MONEY. PLEASE DO. I DON'T KNOW WHO'S OVER THIS DIVISION, BUT THERE IS NO CHECKS AND IMBALANCE BECAUSE BEFORE THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN SENT OUT, I SHOULD HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED AT LEAST A CALL OR SOME TYPE OF CORRESPONDENCE BEFORE

[01:10:02]

WHAT IS GOING ON IN THIS CITY? AND I DON'T WANT NO APOLOGY, BECAUSE APOLOGIES NOW ARE JUST A MERE FORMALITY.

THAT'S JUST SOMETHING TO GET RID OF A PERSON TO GET.

GET THEM OUT YOUR FACE. I WANT TO KNOW HOW THIS HAPPENED AND WHY IT HAPPENED, AND WHY WAS I TARGETED WITH THIS TYPE OF, I MEAN, A THREAT. THIS IS REAL, A THREAT.

AND I WANT TO KNOW WHY. I'VE BEEN HERE SINCE 1987 AND IF THERE WERE ANY PROBLEMS, ALL YOU GOT TO DO IS LOOK AT MY HISTORY.

I DON'T UNDERSTAND THIS. AND I WANT SOME ANSWERS.

THE WAY WE GET OUR MAIL. IT WAS DATED APRIL THE 17TH, 2025.

AND IT SAID TOTAL DEW 0.96. AND THAT'S $0.96.

IF YOU DID ALL OF THIS, I YIELD MY TIME. I'M ANITA SMITH.

I YIELD MY TIME TO MR. GRANT.

WHAT WAS YOUR NAME AGAIN, MA'AM? ANITA SMITH.

ANITA SMITH. OKAY, I HAVE IT IN HERE. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. YOU CAN GO AHEAD. IF YOU TOOK ALL OF THIS TIME PAPER AND INK, YOU COULD. YOU SHOULD. THERE SHOULD BE SOME CHECKS AND BALANCES.

THIS IS A THREAT TO ME. OR WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO DO TO ME IF I DON'T PAY $0.96? I DON'T UNDERSTAND THIS, AND I AM VERY UPSET.

I HAVEN'T BEEN TO A COUNCIL MEETING IN QUITE SOME TIME AND DIDN'T PLAN TO COME TO ANOTHER COUNCIL MEETING.

BUT THIS KIND OF STUFF HERE, CUTTING PEOPLE UTILITIES OFF AND THEN SENDING A LETTER SAYING, OH, WE ARE SORRY. IT WAS A GLITCH. YOU ALL GOT TO DO BETTER OR WE GOT TO HAVE SOME MORE REPRESENTATIVE.

AND AS FAR AS THIS AUDIO, WE CANNOT HEAR WHAT YOU ALL ARE SAYING.

IT'S LIKE YOU ALL ARE TALKING TO EACH OTHER. YOU'RE NOT TALKING TO US.

SO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS AUDIO. IT NEEDS TO BE CLEARER AND PRECISE, AND WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO HEAR WHAT YOU ALL ARE SAYING.

PLEASE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. UP NEXT, WE HAVE NIKITA MOORE.

MORNING.

GOOD EVENING, MADAM MAYOR. MEMBERS OF THE EASTPOINTE CITY COUNCIL.

I AM MICHAELA MORAN, AND I LIVE IN LAKESIDE PRESERVE.

I AM BEFORE YOU TO EXPRESS MY DEEP CONCERN, MY DEEP CONCERN AND DISSATISFACTION WITH THE COUNCIL VOTING FOR MORE WAREHOUSES BECAUSE THIS WAS CONTRARY TO WHAT YOUR CONSTITUENTS EXPRESSED, THAT WE DO NOT WANT. CONSTITUENT AFTER CONSTITUENT AFTER CONSTITUENT STOOD BEFORE YOU AND EXPRESSED IN VERY CLEAR TERMS WHY ANOTHER WAREHOUSE IS A BAD IDEA BECAUSE IT AFFECTS THE QUALITY OF LIFE.

WE ARE EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTED. THAT A HEALTHY QUALITY OF LIFE IS DISCOUNTED BY YOU, AND PRO-BUSINESS IS HIGHLIGHTED BY BRINGING MORE WAREHOUSES TO OUR COMMUNITY, NOT THEIR COMMUNITY, BUT MEMBERS OF THEIR COMMUNITY.

COME INTO OUR COMMUNITY BRINGING MORE WAREHOUSES.

AS OUR COUNCIL, YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR ENSURING THE HEALTHY WELFARE OF OUR COMMUNITY AND MAINTAINING THE STANDARDS THAT WE EXPECT.

HOWEVER, YOUR RESPONSE BY VOTING FOR MORE HOUSES IN THIS MATTER IS DEEPLY DISAPPOINTING AND HAS LEFT YOUR CONSTITUENTS FEELING UNHEARD AND NEGLECTED.

[01:15:04]

GOOD EVENING, COUNCIL HONORABLE MAYOR INGRAM.

I'M REALLY GOING TO TRY TO JUST SPEAK FROM THE STANDPOINT OF REALLY THE RESIDENTS.

OKAY. MY NAME IS BARBARA JACKSON. I LIVE IN LAKESIDE PRESERVE.

SOME OF YOU MAY REMEMBER ME BECAUSE I SPOKE ACTUALLY AT BOTH MEETINGS WHERE THE MAJORITY OF YOU VOTED TO APPROVE YET ANOTHER WAREHOUSE IN OUR COMMUNITY. AND I'M HERE TONIGHT, AND I WAS ACTUALLY GOING TO KEEP IT TO ONE SIMPLE QUESTION, BUT BY THE TIME I FINISH, IT WILL PROBABLY BE SEVERAL QUESTIONS.

BUT THE FIRST QUESTION I WILL START OUT WITH IS WHY DO YOU? THOSE WHO VOTED FOR THE WAREHOUSES CONSIDER THE RESIDENTS UNWORTHY OF DEVELOPMENT THAT'S BENEFICIAL TO THE COMMUNITY? OKAY. I WOULD REALLY LIKE AN ANSWER TO THAT QUESTION BECAUSE WHAT THIS REALLY PORTRAYS TO ME, MY NEIGHBORS, MY FRIENDS, PEOPLE THAT I EVEN TELL OUTSIDE OF MY COMMUNITY THAT WE'RE BASICALLY BECOMING A DUMPING GROUND.

SO WHY ARE WE BEING TREATED LIKE A DUMPING GROUND? OKAY. AND WHEN THE RESIDENTS AND SOME OF THE COUNCILS ACTUALLY CALLED FOR US TO HAVE SOMETHING IN THE PROJECT THAT WILL BE BENEFICIAL TO US, IT WAS TAKEN AWAY FROM US.

IT WAS PULLED OUT OF US. IT WAS ACTUALLY ALMOST JUST OVERLOOKED.

OKAY. SO SOMETHING THAT WOULD REALLY BENEFIT THE COMMUNITY.

AND SO WHEN YOU SAY THAT ONLY WAREHOUSES COULD BE THERE, IS THAT REALLY THE HONEST TRUTH? RIGHT. WHY COULDN'T THERE BE SOME OTHER DEVELOPMENT? WHY COULDN'T THERE BE FOOD HALLS? RIGHT. WHY COULDN'T IT BE COMMUNITY CENTERS? RIGHT. WHY COULDN'T IT BE RETAIL? WHY COULD IT NOT BE SOMETHING THAT WE COULD BENEFIT, THAT PEOPLE CAN ENJOY, THAT PEOPLE CAN WALK THROUGH? AND ACTUALLY, EQUALLY IMPORTANT, BE PROUD OF IT.

I DON'T THINK MANY OF US CAN SAY THAT WE WOULD BE PROUD TO HAVE WAREHOUSES.

WHEN I TALK TO MY FRIEND, FAMILY AND FRIENDS THAT LIVE IN OTHER COMMUNITIES LIKE NEWNAN, PEACHTREE CITY, FAYETTEVILLE. THEY TELL ME ABOUT THE THINGS THAT DEVELOP IN IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD.

WHAT DO I GET TO TELL THEM? OR WE GOT SOME WAREHOUSES.

THAT'S NOT A VERY GOOD STATEMENT. IT'S NOT A VERY GOOD LOOK.

AND IT BASICALLY SAYS THAT YOU DO NOT CARE ABOUT THE RESIDENTS.

YOU DO NOT LISTEN TO THE RESIDENTS. OKAY. AND A WAREHOUSE.

HOW IS THAT GOING TO IMPROVE OUR COMMUNITY? IT WILL NOT IMPROVE OUR COMMUNITY.

IT WILL NOT IMPROVE OUR HEALTH. IT WILL NOT IMPROVE OUR QUALITY OF LIFE.

ACTUALLY, INSTEAD, WHAT IT DOES AND I'VE DONE SOME RESEARCH ON THIS, IT WILL LOWER OUR PROPERTY VALUES.

MATTER OF FACT, COMMUNITIES THAT ARE CLOSEST TO WAREHOUSES, THEIR PROPERTY VALUE GO DOWN.

ANYBODY WANT TO GIVE ME THEIR TIME? CAN I KEEP GOING, PLEASE? SO ONLY IF SOMEONE ELSE. WHO'S THE NEXT SPEAKER? THE NEXT SPEAKER IS MISS SONIA. SONIA LOW. NO.

TAKE YOUR TIME. ONE CLOSING STATEMENT. NOVEMBER IS COMING AND WE WILL REMEMBER WHO.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS. MY NAME IS SONIA LOW.

I LIVE IN HERITAGE PARK. I CAME HERE THIS EVENING TO EXPRESS MY DEEP DISAPPOINTMENT, FOLLOWING RIGHT ALONG BEHIND HER IN THE VOTE THAT TOOK PLACE ON APRIL 21ST. THE DECISION THAT WAS MADE WAS NOT IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE RESIDENTS OF THIS COMMUNITY AND THE CITIZENS OF EAST POINT.

WE ALREADY HAVE BEEN BURDENED BY THE MICROSOFT DEVELOPMENT, AND AT THIS POINT, ALL WE CAN SEE OVER THERE IS A SUBSTATION.

WE DON'T SEE ANY WAREHOUSES. WE DON'T SEE ANY BUILDINGS WHERE THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO BE WORKING.

ALL I SEE WHEN I LEAVE EVERY DAY IS A SUBSTATION, BUT THEY START WORKING AS EARLY AS 5:00 IN THE MORNING.

THEY WORK AS LATE AS 7 P.M. EACH DAY. THE ADDITION OF MORE WAREHOUSES AND THE RESIDENTIAL AREAS WILL ONLY ADD TO OUR FRUSTRATION.

INDUSTRIAL SPACES HAVE NO PLACE IN NEIGHBORHOODS.

I DON'T HAVE YOUNG CHILDREN, BUT I HAVE MY GRANDCHILDREN, AND I WANT THEM TO BE ABLE TO COME AND VISIT ME SAFELY.

[01:20:04]

FROM THE INFORMATION THAT I GOT FROM THAT MEETING, I MUST ASK A COUPLE OF PEOPLE QUESTIONS.

ONE COUNCIL MEMBER, FRIEDLI I MUST ASK WHY DID YOU VOTE AGAINST THE RESIDENTS? TO RECEIVE A COMMUNITY BENEFIT THAT COULD HAVE MADE A REAL DIFFERENCE FOR EVERY RESIDENT IN EAST POINT? COUNCIL MEMBER. ZIEGLER. I MUST ASK YOU, WHY DO YOU SIT ON THE BOARD AND MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS TO HELP RESIDENTS AND THEN VOTE AGAINST THEM? YOU AND COUNCIL MEMBER ATKINS BOTH PUT CONDITIONS ON THE PROPERTY WHEN YOU SHOULD HAVE VOTED NO TO BEGIN WITH.

WHAT VALUE DOES THIS WAREHOUSE BRING TO OUR COMMUNITY? SIX MEMBERS OF THIS COUNCIL VOTED AND EXCUSE ME, IN FAVOR OF THE WAREHOUSE AND AGAINST AN ORDINANCE.

AND WE HEARD ABOUT ORDINANCES EARLIER THAT WAS TO PROTECT RESIDENTIAL HOMEOWNERS.

THIS LEAVES ME AND THE OTHER MEMBERS OF THIS COMMUNITY WONDERING, WHO MATTERS MORE TO YOU AS THE COUNCIL? DO WE, AS THE CITIZENS MATTER MORE, OR DO THE DEVELOPERS MATTER MORE? A DEVELOPER MAY BE ABLE TO CONTRIBUTE TO YOUR CAMPAIGN, BUT THAT DEVELOPER CAN'T VOTE WHEN IT COMES TIME TO VOTE IN NOVEMBER.

WE CAN VOTE AND WE WILL VOTE. WE WANT SMART, RESPONSIBLE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT THAT INSPIRES PEOPLE TO WANT TO MOVE TO EAST POINT.

NOT ELECTED OFFICIALS THAT BLATANTLY IGNORE POLICIES THAT FORCE US TO LEAVE BECAUSE OUR NEIGHBORHOODS ARE BEING OVERRUN AND OVERRUN BY WAREHOUSES AND DIMINISHING OUR QUALITY OF LIFE. NO ONE DESERVES THIS. AFTER WORKING HARD TO BUILD A PLACE THAT THEY CAN CALL HOME.

MEANWHILE, WE DON'T EVEN HAVE ACCESS TO A DECENT PARK ON OUR SIDE OF TOWN, OR MORE THAN ONE OPTION FOR A RECREATION CENTER.

YOU WERE ELECTED TO REPRESENT US, TO PROTECT AND ADVOCATE FOR THE INTERESTS OF THE EAST POINT RESIDENTS, NOT TO PRIORITIZE DEVELOPERS, AND NOT TO DO THINGS THAT ARE NOT IN OUR BEST INTEREST.

THANK YOU. REMEMBER THAT IN NOVEMBER. UP NEXT, WE HAVE ANTHONY DOERR.

I'M SORRY. ANTHONY DOERR. OKAY. I'M SORRY I COULDN'T READ IT.

MY APOLOGIES. GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS ANTHONY DOUGLAS.

I'M AT 42, 98 SAVANNAH DRIVE OVER AT SAVANNAH WALK.

I'M IN WARD D, I WON'T DRESS ADDRESS THE COUNCIL.

I REALLY WANT TO TALK TO THE RESIDENTS BECAUSE IT SEEMS THAT WARD D IS UNDER ATTACK BY YOU GUYS.

YOU DON'T CARE WHAT WE THINK. YOU DON'T CARE WHAT WE WANT.

YOU VOTE AGAINST THIS OVER AND OVER AGAIN. YOU LOOK AT OUR COMMUNITY AS IF IT DON'T EXIST, THAT WE ONLY CONTRIBUTE TO TAXES. YOU DON'T CARE ABOUT ANYTHING THAT WE SAY.

I REMEMBER COMING TO A COUNCIL MEETING A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO, AND IT WAS A GROUP OF PEOPLE FROM LAKESIDE COMMUNITY, AND THEY EXPRESSED SPECIFICALLY WHAT THEY DID NOT WANT.

AND YOU GUYS TURNED AROUND AND VOTED AGAINST IT. I YOU KNOW, YOU'RE IN THE SEAT NOW.

THE ONLY THING THAT WE CAN DO IS COME NOVEMBER, WE CAN SPEAK WITH OUR VOTE, WE CAN GET WITH OUR COMMUNITIES, WE CAN GET WITH THE PEOPLE IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS TO SAY, YOU DON'T BELONG HERE.

YOU KNOW, I LOOKED AT THE MURAL THAT THE GUYS WERE PUTTING UP FOR MY MICROSOFT.

MICROSOFT'S DON'T DO ANYTHING FOR US, BUT BUT THEY JUST DESTROY OUR NEIGHBORHOODS.

THEY GAVE US A FREE CAR WASH SO I COULD RIDE THROUGH THE MUD AFTER I GET THE CAR WASH, JUST TO GO RIGHT BACK.

IT'S NOTHING. THE WAREHOUSE THAT YOU GUYS PUT IN THAT YOU VOTED FOR.

IF WE'RE SITTING HERE TELLING YOU WE DON'T WANT THIS, WHY ARE YOU VOTING AGAINST US? WE. WE PUT YOU HERE. I DON'T MISS AN ELECTION.

I HAVE NEVER MISSED AN ELECTION IN THE LAST TEN YEARS.

I'M NOT. I DON'T GET UP AND IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD, BUT I WILL THIS TIME, I PROMISE YOU.

I PROMISE YOU THIS TIME I WILL SPEAK TO EVERY ONE OF MY NEIGHBORS.

AND I WILL MAKE SURE THAT EVERYBODY VOTED AGAINST US.

WE WILL VOTE AGAINST YOU. THERE IS NO PARKS AND RECREATION IN WARD D, THERE'S NOTHING.

AND THE THINGS THAT YOU GUYS ARE DOING, IF WE COME UP HERE AND SPEAK TO YOU AND TELL YOU SPECIFICALLY WHAT WE WANT AND WHAT WE DON'T WANT, WHY ARE YOU WHAT WHAT ARE YOU GETTING OUT OF THE DEAL? WHAT ARE YOU GETTING THAT THAT THAT THAT MAKES YOU SAY, WELL, FORGET THEM. WE'RE GOING TO VOTE THE WAY I DON'T UNDERSTAND IT.

TIME AFTER TIME AFTER TIME. THEY'RE NOT TRUCKS RIDING UP AND DOWN DUNWOODY AND ALPHARETTA AND DOWN IN NEWTON.

LIKE WHAT SHE WAS SAYING WITH PEACHTREE CITY. AND LIKE OUR NEIGHBOR, WE LIVE IN A WAREHOUSE COMMUNITY.

ONE OF THE RESIDENTS SAID THAT. WHY IS THIS CITY NOT GROWING? WHY WOULD YOU MOVE HERE? WHY? WHY WOULD YOU MOVE TO EASTPOINTE? WHY HAVE YOU GOT TO OFFER NOTHING TO MOVE IN THE COMMUNITY.

WHERE? ANOTHER WAREHOUSE. WHERE? IF YOU DON'T CHANGE, I WILL CHANGE YOU.

[01:25:08]

DOCTOR ROGERS THERE. EVERYBODY. EVERYBODY ELSE HERE VOTED AGAINST US.

EVERY LAST ONE OF YOU, I KNOW THIS. I HAVEN'T TAKEN THE TIME TO LOOK AT THE BUDGET.

I HAVEN'T GOT THAT DEEP INTO EASTPOINTE POINT POLITICS BECAUSE I THOUGHT YOU GUYS WERE ON THE UP AND UP.

BUT WHEN I HEAR YOU SAY, WHEN WE COME UP HERE AND SAY, WE DON'T WANT THIS, WE DON'T WANT THIS, AND YOU SAY, WELL, SCREW YOU, I'M GOING TO VOTE FOR IT ANYWAY.

AND THEN WHEN THEY WANT TO GIVE US SOMETHING, YOU TAKE THAT OUT BECAUSE YOU'RE SAYING YOU DON'T CARE.

BUT MY VOTE CARE. MY VOTE. UP NEXT, WE HAVE ANGELA DOUGLAS.

SORRY ABOUT THAT. I GOT YOU, SHARON. SORRY ABOUT THAT.

SHANNON. ANGELA DOUGLAS I'M GOING TO GIVE HER MY TIME.

WELL, SHE TOLD US SHE WANTS MICHAEL. DOUGLAS.

WHO ARE YOU GIVING YOUR TIME TO? ANDREA. ANDREA CALDWELL.

OKAY. I DID SIGN UP AS WELL. OKAY. WHO'S NEXT? OH, NO. SHE'S SO YOU'LL BE AFTER THE NEXT PERSON.

AND THAT IS MISS LESLIE O'NEAL. LESLIE O'NEAL.

NOPE. ALL RIGHT, MISS CALDWELL, YOU CAN. MISS CALDWELL, YOU CAN.

COME ON UP. MISS CALDWELL. YES, YOU CAN COME ON UP.

AND SHE'LL HAVE SIX MINUTES WITH HER TIME GIVEN TO HER BY MISS ANGELA DOUGLAS.

GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS ANDREA CALDWELL. I AM A RESIDENT OF SAVANNAH WALK.

VERY MUCH LIKE YOU HEARD FROM THE COMMUNITY HERE.

I STAND WITH EVERYONE. I'M COMING HERE TO SPEAK ABOUT THE WAREHOUSE THAT WAS APPROVED IN WARD D.

I PERSONALLY ATTENDED PLENTY ZONING AND PLANNING MEETINGS SO THAT I COULD BE AWARE OF WHAT WAS COMING.

TO WARD D, I SPOKE IN TWO PUBLIC FORUMS. I'VE TAKEN TIME OUT OF MY OWN SCHEDULE TO COME HERE.

I SPOKE ONE IN FRONT OF THE COMMISSIONERS AND THEN ONE IN FRONT OF YOU ALL THE NIGHT THE VOTE TOOK PLACE.

AND LIKE MANY OF MY NEIGHBORS, I SAT BACK AND I WATCHED OUR CONCERNS BE HEARD AND THEN DISMISSED.

WE'VE BEEN VERY CLEAR WHAT WE WANT. WE WE DON'T WANT ANY MORE WAREHOUSES.

ESPECIALLY IN OUR BACKYARDS. BUT FOR WHATEVER REASON, THEY KEEP GETTING APPROVED EVEN WHEN WE STAND IN OPPOSITION.

I LEFT THAT MEETING FEELING SAD. I LEFT THAT MEETING FEELING HURT BECAUSE IT FELT AS IF MY VOICE AND MY COMMUNITY'S VOICE HELD NO WEIGHT.

I WAS PROBABLY ONE OF THE ONLY ONES IN THE COMMUNITY THAT ACTUALLY BEGAN TO TAKE A LITTLE BIT OF A SHIFT AND SAID, IF THE WAREHOUSE IS COMING, LET IT COME WITH A COMMUNITY BENEFIT, SOMETHING THAT WE CAN SEE, SOMETHING THAT'S ACTUALLY GOING TO BUILD OUR PROPERTY VALUES VERSUS TEAR IT DOWN.

BECAUSE I CAN TELL YOU, NO ONE WANTS TO PAY TOP DOLLAR TO LIVE NEXT DOOR TO A SUBSTATION.

IT JUST DOESN'T HAPPEN. I WANTED TO SPEAK TO JOSHUA, BUT I SEE HE'S NOT HERE.

BUT REALLY, FOR FOR EVERYONE. BUT SPECIFICALLY FOR THE WARD D ELECT US THAT STRONGLY SUPPORTED THIS PROJECT AND OVERLOOKED THE COMMUNITY BENEFIT ORDINANCE. I PERSONALLY REACHED OUT TO GREYSTAR STAR MYSELF JUST TO SEE AND JUST ASK, WOULD YOU BE OPPOSED TO DOING SOMETHING FOR THE COMMUNITY? AND THEY SAID YES. TELL US WHAT? HOW CAN WE HELP? THEY ACTUALLY MENTIONED OVER THE PHONE BUILDING A FACILITY THAT COULD HOLD 300 TO 500 PEOPLE, THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN PERFECT FOR THE SPORTS EVENT OR WHATEVER HE WAS TALKING ABOUT EARLIER.

THEY CAME TO THE MEETING AND EXPLICITLY STATED IN THE MEETING, AGAIN, WE ARE WILLING TO DO SOMETHING.

HOW CAN WE HELP? AND SIX OF YOU ALL VOTED NO.

THAT WAS VERY, VERY DISHEARTENING, EXTREMELY SAD.

AND I REALLY WANT TO KNOW WHY. WHAT WENT INTO THAT DECISION FOR YOU TO HEAR GREYSTAR SAY, WE WANT TO HELP, AND YOU STILL VOTED AGAINST ALL OF THE PEOPLE THAT CAME UP HERE AND SPOKE IN OPPOSITION KNOW WE ELECTED YOU GUYS TO ADVOCATE FOR US, NOT ADVOCATE FOR THE BUSINESSES THAT YOU'RE BRINGING HERE.

I WAS EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTED BECAUSE I FEEL THAT WE'RE NOT BEING ENGAGED WITH.

WE'RE NOT BEING LISTENED TO. AND THEN, OF COURSE, YOU'RE NOT ADVOCATING FOR US.

WE DON'T WANT ANY MORE WAREHOUSES. I HOPE THAT IS LOUD AND CLEAR.

AND FOR THE PEOPLE THAT VOTED YES FOR THE WAREHOUSE.

YOU ALL MAY BE GREAT PEOPLE. I'M NOT GOING TO TAKE THAT AWAY FROM YOU, BUT IT JUST SHOWS THAT YOU'RE NOT FIGHTING FOR US.

AND WE REALLY DESERVE PEOPLE THAT WILL. THANK YOU.

LASTLY, WE HAVE MISS MIRIAM TAYLOR.

[01:30:12]

MY NAME IS MIRIAM TAYLOR AND I LIVE AT 3730 LAKE ENCLAVE WAY IN THE LAKESIDE PRESERVE SUBDIVISION.

I SPOKE ALONG WITH MY NEIGHBORS AT THE LAST MEETING, IN OPPOSITION OF THE MARVIN ARRINGTON WAREHOUSE BEING BUILT IN OUR WARD.

TO MY SURPRISE, SIX OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS VOTED IN FAVOR AND I LEFT.

I WAS I WAS JUST COMPLETELY DEFLATED. I LOVE MY NEIGHBORS.

I LOVE MY NEIGHBORHOOD. THAT'S WHY I COME TO THESE MEETINGS.

BUT I TOLD SOME NEIGHBORS THAT I DON'T GET WHAT THE PUBLIC COMMENT PART IS ABOUT.

IF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE ALWAYS GOING TO GO AGAINST OUR COMMUNITY.

I ALSO SAID THIS WOULD NEVER HAPPEN IN SANDY SPRINGS, IN ROSWELL AND ALPHARETTA.

RATHER, I WOULD REALLY, REALLY LIKE TO UNDERSTAND FROM THOSE COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT VOTED IN FAVOR OF THE WAREHOUSE.

WHAT WAS THE REASON BEHIND THAT? I OWN A FEW PROPERTIES THROUGH MY LLC, AND I PAY A LOT OF TAXES TO EASTPOINTE AND TO FULTON COUNTY, AND I WOULD LOVE TO SEE SOME COMMUNITY BENEFITS FROM THE DEVELOPERS WHO BUILD IN OUR COMMUNITY AND THEN GO BACK TO SANDY SPRINGS, GO BACK TO ALPHARETTA AND GO BACK TO ROSWELL.

IF I CAN SAY ONE THING, DO NOT EVER GO AGAINST YOUR CONSTITUENTS BECAUSE PEOPLE WILL NOT FORGET WHO YOU ARE, WHAT YOU ARE, AND HOW YOU BETRAYED OUR COMMUNITY.

WE WILL NOT CONTINUE TO SUPPORT PEOPLE WHO IGNORE US AND BACKSTAB THE COMMUNITY.

ON THE VERY DAY YOU ALL VOTED FOR THE WAREHOUSE, ONE OF YOUR COUNCIL MEMBERS TOLD US THEY WEREN'T GOING TO VOTE IN FAVOR OF THE WAREHOUSE AND TURN RIGHT AROUND AND DID THE OPPOSITE.

WELL, WE WILL HOLD OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR ACTION ON ELECTION DAY.

WE WILL NOT FORGET THOSE COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO VOTED FOR THE WAREHOUSE AND WHO ALSO VOTED FOR THE TOWNHOMES.

THANK YOU. THOSE ARE ALL THE PUBLIC COMMENTS WE HAVE THIS EVENING.

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO SPOKE DURING PUBLIC COMMENTS THIS EVENING.

OUR NEXT AGENDA ITEM IS COUNCIL DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION ON ADOPTION OF PREGNANCY WORKERS FAIRNESS ACT POLICY.

[XII.4. Council Discussion and Possible Action on Adoption of the Pregnancy Workers Fairness Act Policy]

MADAM MAYOR, I MAKE A MOTION THAT WE OPEN THE FLOOR FOR DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION ON COUNCIL.

DISCUSSION ON POSSIBLE ON ACTION. ADOPTION OF A OF A THE A PREGNANCY WORK FAIRNESS ACT.

SO MOVED. IS 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 OPEN, ATTORNEY WIGGINS.

YES. AS YOU MAY KNOW HR AND THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH UPDATING SOME PERSONNEL POLICIES AND THE EMPLOYEE HANDBOOK.

IT WAS DETERMINED, THOUGH, THAT THIS POLICY NEEDED TO COME FORWARD OUTSIDE OF THAT PROCESS IN RESPONSE TO SOME EEOC GUIDANCE.

AND SO THAT'S WHY IT'S ON YOUR AGENDA TONIGHT.

HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. IS THIS TIME SENSITIVE? DO WE NEED TO OKAY. ANY QUESTIONS? NO QUESTIONS AT THIS TIME.

I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION THAT WE APPROVE. THE ADOPTION OF THE PREGNANCY WORKERS FAIRNESS ACT POLICY.

IT'S BEEN MOVED AND PROPERLY SECONDED. COUNCILMEMBER. YES.

MADAM ATTORNEY, CAN YOU TELL US WHAT THE DIFFERENCES WOULD BE, WHAT OUR POLICY STATES TODAY AND WHAT THE CHANGES WILL BE SO THAT WE'LL KNOW WHAT WE'RE VOTING ON? YOU DIDN'T HAVE ONE. OKAY. WE DID NOT HAVE.

YEAH. AND THE PREGNANCY WORKERS FAIRNESS ACT IS A NEWER ADDITION TO THE AMERICAN WITH DISABILITIES ACT THAT REQUIRES NOW THE INTERACTIVE PROCESS TO BE ENGAGED. WHEN THE. SO LET ME BACK UP. PREGNANCY IS NOT CONSIDERED A DISABILITY, BUT THEY ARE REQUIRING THE INTERACTIVE PROCESS TO BE USED. WHEN YOU DO HAVE AN INDIVIDUAL THAT NEEDS TIME FOR PREGNANCY.

AND SO WE HAVE HAD THE PREGNANCY DISCRIMINATION ACT.

[01:35:03]

OKAY. AND SO YOU DID NOT HAVE ONE. OKAY. SO IT'S IN ADDITION TO THE PDA.

OKAY. OKAY. AND IT MEETS THE COMPLIANCE OF EEOC S.

OKAY. THANK YOU. I DON'T SEE ANY ONE ELSE IN FOR DISCUSSION, BUT I DO THINK THAT IT MAY BE APPROPRIATE. COUNCIL MEMBER MYRA ROGERS, THERE'S A RESOLUTION ATTACHED TO THE AGENDA.

AND SO IF WE COULD FRAME THE MOTION IN THE TITLE OF THE RESOLUTION IT'S BEEN MOVED.

IT'S BEEN SECONDED. IT CAN BE AMENDED BECAUSE I HAVEN'T CALLED FOR THE QUESTION.

SO IF YOU COULD AMEND THE MOTION TO REFLECT THE TITLE OF THE RESOLUTION.

YES. I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE RESOLUTION TO AUTHORIZE THE CITY COUNCIL TO AMEND THE CITY EMPLOYEE HANDBOOK, TO INCLUDE A POLICY ON THE FEDERAL PREGNANCY WORKERS FAIRNESS ACT.

IS THERE A SECOND. THANK YOU. THERE'S BEEN WAS A MOTION THAT'S BEEN AMENDED.

THE SECOND STILL STANDS. ANY DISCUSSION ON THE MOTION? DISCUSSION. COUNCIL MEMBER BUTLER. YES. I DIDN'T RECEIVE THIS.

AND I'M JUST CURIOUS WHY WE DIDN'T HAVE THIS IN THE WORK SESSION SO WE CAN DISCUSS IT.

I WAS PUT ON THE AGENDA BY THE CITY ATTORNEY, WHICH DOESN'T ANY ITEMS FROM STAFF ARE NOT REQUIRED TO GO TO THE WORK SESSION.

I'M LOOKING AT THE COUNCIL AGENDA ONLINE. IT IS ATTACHED THERE.

MADAM CITY CLERK, I'M NOT SURE. WHEN YOU ATTACHED IT, IF IT WAS ATTACHED WHEN THE AGENDA WAS POSTED.

THE CITY ATTORNEY BEFORE YOU CAME IN INDICATED THAT THIS IS TIME SENSITIVE, AND IT IS SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO APPROVE.

THANK YOU FOR THAT UPDATE. I DIDN'T KNOW THAT PART.

I APPRECIATE IT. COUNCIL MEMBER MARTIN, I APOLOGIZE.

ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AYE.

ALL THOSE OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. NEXT UP IS COUNCIL DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION ON EMERGENCY PROCUREMENT FOR FIRE

[XII.5. Council Discussion and Possible Action on Emergency Procurement for Fire Station # 3 HVAC Unit Replacement. Vendor Maddox Mechanical Service for a Total Amount of $47,949.00 from CIP Account Building Improvements]

WE APPROVE THE ITEM. IT'S BEEN A MOTION THAT WE APPROVE.

AGENDA ITEM NUMBER FIVE. IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND? IT'S BEEN MOVED AND PROPERLY SECONDED. ANY DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AYE. ALL THOSE OPPOSED. MOTION CARRIES.

NEXT UP IS ITEM NUMBER SIX, WHICH IS ALSO AN EMERGENCY PROCUREMENT FOR CITY WATER.

[XII.6. Council Discussion and Possible Action an Emergency Procurement for the City Water Filter Plant HVAC Unit Replacement and Upgrade. Vendor Maddox Mechanical Service for a Total Amount of $165,057.46 from CIP Account Building Improvements]

IS THERE A MOTION? MADAM MAYOR, I MAKE A MOTION THAT WE APPROVE THE ITEM.

IT'S BEEN A MOTION THAT WE APPROVE. ITEM NUMBER SIX.

IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND? IT'S BEEN MOVED AND PROPERLY SECONDED.

ANY DISCUSSION? QUESTION. COUNCIL MEMBER. YES.

THANK YOU, MADAM MAYOR. AND THIS, I GUESS WILL BE OF THE CITY MANAGER OR HIS DESIGNEE.

SO THIS IS AN EMERGENCY PROCUREMENT FOR $165,000.

AND JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT IT'S EMERGENCY, BUT DO WE HAVE CONTINGENCIES IN THE CURRENT YEAR BUDGET TO ADDRESS THESE OR HOW DOES THAT IMPACT THE BUDGET CURRENTLY? NO, SIR. WE HAD THE FUNDINGS WERE IN THE BUDGET ALREADY FOR IT.

YES, SIR. BUT IT WAS EMERGENCY PROCUREMENT BECAUSE WE HAD TO MOVE FORWARD TO GET IT DONE BECAUSE IT WENT OUT. OKAY.

YES, SIR. SO THERE'S FUNDING FOR IT? YES, SIR.

THANK YOU. PROJECTS. TWO PROJECTS ALREADY STARTED.

ONE IS ALMOST COMPLETED. YES. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN.

MY MIND RIGHT. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? ALL THOSE OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. NEXT UP IS ITEM NUMBER SEVEN.

COUNCIL DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION ON FIRST AFRICAN COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION AND THE NEHEMIAH FOUNDATION FOOD GIVEAWAY.

IS THERE A MOTION TO OPEN THE FLOOR? MADAM MAYOR, I MAKE A MOTION TO OPEN THE FLOOR FOR DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION.

SO MOVED. IS THERE A 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, SHROPSHIRE. OKAY.

I PUT THIS ITEM ON THE AGENDA BECAUSE IT'S IN PARTNERSHIP WITH FIRST AFRICAN COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, AND IT'S FOR A FREE FOOD FOR A FOOD GIVEAWAY, BUT WHICH WILL HAPPEN ON SATURDAY, WHICH WILL HAPPEN ON A SATURDAY BASED ON THEM GETTING THE PRODUCT FROM THE ATLANTA FOOD BANK.

AND THE REASON WHY I PUT IT ON THERE IS BECAUSE IF IT HAPPENS, IT WOULD BE THE 17TH AND IT WOULD BE AT THE RECREATION CENTER.

[01:40:03]

SO THAT'S WHY WE, WE WANT TO USE THAT PLACE, BUT WE WON'T NEED ANY STAFF OR ANYTHING OUT THERE BECAUSE THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE ALL THE VOLUNTEERS THAT THEY NEED. WE JUST NEEDED A PLACE.

AND BECAUSE THE RECREATION CENTER AND IT'S A PARTNERSHIP WITH THEM TO USE IT BECAUSE IT'S ALREADY DESIGNATED AS A FOOD LOCATION DROP.

COUNCIL MEMBER BUTLER, JUST FOR CLARIFICATION, YOU SAID IT'S SATURDAY, NOT THIS SATURDAY.

IF IT HAPPENS, IT WOULD BE ON THE 17TH. AT WHAT TIME? IT WOULD BE IN THE MORNING. SO IT WOULD BE SATURDAY MORNING OR NOT ON THAT WEDNESDAY? NO. SO WE'LL STILL GET FOOD ON WEDNESDAY BECAUSE THAT'S EAST POINT.

BUT THIS IS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THIS COMMUNITY TO DO IT ON SATURDAY AS WELL.

WHEN YOU SAY THIS COMMUNITY I'M SORRY WITH AFRICAN WITH FIRST AFRICAN COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT.

OKAY. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER FRIEDSON, JUST TO CONFIRM, ARE WE SURE THAT PARKS AND RECREATION HAS NO PROGRAMING AT THE SAME LOCATION AT THAT TIME? I'VE ALREADY ASKED AND THEY DON'T. OKAY. ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? COUNCIL MEMBER MARTIN ROGERS. YES. I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE FIRST AFRICAN COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION IN THE NEHEMIAH FOUNDATION FOOD GIVEAWAY. DO I NEED TO STATE THE LOCATION AT THE JEFFERSON PARK RECREATION FACILITY.

THANK YOU. SECOND, IT'S BEEN MOVED AND PROPERLY SECONDED.

ANY DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? ALL THOSE OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES COMMENTS FROM COUNCIL. COUNCILMEMBER BUTLER AND COUNCILMEMBER CUMMINGS.

[XIII. COMMENTS FROM COUNCIL]

COUNCIL MEMBER BUTLER. YOU KNOW, WE'RE ON JUST. I'M SORRY.

I DIDN'T WANT TO CALL THE WRONG NAME. I APOLOGIZE, BUT FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR STAYING.

THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT. I WANT TO THANK ALL THE PEOPLE WHO CAME OUT TO EXPRESS THEIR DISCONTENT.

BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, I WANT TO SAY YOUR NAME BECAUSE I WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU FOR STAYING.

THANK YOU, MISS LOW. SORRY, MADAM MAYOR. THE REASON WHY WE VOTED FOR THE WAREHOUSE IS BECAUSE IT'S ILLEGAL NOT TO. AND I'M GOING TO READ YOU THE RULES SO THAT YOU WILL KNOW.

IT STATES A SPECIAL USE PERMIT AND VARIANCE APPLICATION REQUIRES DECISIONS FROM THE CITY COUNCIL THAT ARE QUASI JUDICIAL IN NATURE. WHAT THAT MEANS IS YOU CAN'T BE BIASED.

THAT'S PER LAW. WHEN WE HAD ONE COUNCILWOMAN PUT A FLIER OUT WITH THE EASTPOINTE LOGO ON IT, SHE BROKE THE LAW. YOU CAN'T DO THAT. IT WASN'T A REZONING.

IT'S A SPECIAL USE PERMIT. THAT COMPANY HAS BEEN IN THAT LOCATION SINCE 1988.

AND TO GASLIGHT THE PEOPLE ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON IS NOT FAIR.

I AM A RESIDENT TOO. I HAD A WAREHOUSE PUT IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD THAT I DIDN'T WANT, BUT THAT WAS A CHANGE OF.

IT WAS A CHANGE, NOT A VARIANCE. IT WAS A CHANGE IN ZONING.

SO LET ME SAY SOMETHING ELSE I WANT. I WANT YOU BECAUSE I WANT TO READ YOU THE FACTS.

THIS IS NOT OPINION. THIS IS FACT BECAUSE NOBODY WANTS TO DO THAT.

IN ADDITION, SAYS IN ORDER TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF DUE PROCESS IN A QUASI JUDICIAL DECISION MAKING PROCESS, THE HEARING BEFORE THE BODY MUST BE A FULL AND FAIR ONE BEFORE AN IMPARTIAL OFFICER, BOARD OR BODY, FREE OF BIAS, HOSTILITY AND PREJUDGMENT. ACTIONS TAKEN BY COUNCIL MEMBER I WON'T SAY THE NAME REVEAL THAT SHE IS BIASED, PARTIAL, HOSTILE TO, AND HAS PREJUDGED THE PENDING APPLICATION SUCH THAT THE ENTIRE PROCESS BEFORE EACH POINT IS INFECTED WITH DUE PROCESS VIOLATIONS. COUNCIL MEMBER BLANC CIRCULATOR ATTACHED.

FLIER UNDER. UNDER THE CITY'S LOGO. YOU CAN'T DO THAT.

[01:45:05]

WE HAVE A PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES THAT REFUSES TO GIVE DUE PROCESS UNDER THE FIFTH AMENDMENT OF THE CONSTITUTION.

IF IT'S WRONG FOR HIM, THEN IT'S WRONG FOR US ON THE MUNICIPAL LEVEL TO DO THE SAME THING IN ORDER TO NOT VIOLATE THAT LAW, THAT COUNCIL MEMBER SHOULD HAVE RECUSED THEMSELVES FROM THE DISCUSSION AND THE VOTE.

YOU CAN'T DO IT, PEOPLE. AND SO I UNDERSTAND HOW YOU FEEL.

WE ARE RESIDENTS. I DO YOU TELL ME I DON'T, I DO I LIVE IN EAST POINT, BEEN HERE SINCE 84.

HAD THE FOOD BANK WAREHOUSE PUT BEHIND A HISTORICALLY BLACK NEIGHBORHOOD.

SO YEAH, I THINK I KNOW WHAT I'M SAYING. JUST BECAUSE YOU DON'T AGREE DOES NOT MEAN IT'S NOT FACT.

I'M READING TO YOU THE FACTS RIGHT HERE. THESE ARE THE FACTS.

SO HERE'S THE PROBLEM. AND THIS IS THE SOLUTION.

ONE OF THE THE PEOPLE CAME UP AND THEY SAID THIS.

THEY CAN'T SEE MICROSOFT FROM THE STREET. THAT'S DONE ON PURPOSE.

THERE'S A WHOLE BERM THERE. SO YOU CAN'T SEE IT BECAUSE WE DIDN'T WANT THE PEOPLE TO TO HAVE TO DRIVE BY AND SEE A BIG OLD WAREHOUSE.

WE PUT THAT THERE ON PURPOSE IN OUR WHEN WE DO THIS.

HOLD ON JUST A MOMENT. COUNCIL MEMBER BUTLER.

AND THAT'S WHY I ASKED YOU NOT TO TRY TO TALK TO PEOPLE IN THE AUDIENCE, BECAUSE NOW WE HAVE A RESIDENT THINKING THAT SHE CAN RAISE HER HAND TO RESPOND BACK TO YOU BECAUSE SHE FEELS LIKE YOU'RE TALKING DIRECTLY AT HER.

SO, MISS LOWE PER OUR RULES, PUBLIC COMMENTS IS A TIME WHERE THE PUBLIC CAN GIVE COMMENT, AND IT SAYS THAT WE CAN'T RESPOND AT THAT TIME.

AND THEN IN THE COMMENTS FROM COUNCIL SECTION OF THE AGENDA IS WHERE COUNCIL GIVES COMMENTS.

I APOLOGIZE THAT IT FELT LIKE THERE COULD BE THIS EXCHANGE FROM THE DAIS AND THE IN THE AUDIENCE, BUT THAT'S NOT HOW IT IS. AND SO I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT I'M NOT IGNORING YOUR HAND, BUT JUST BASED UPON OUR RULES.

THAT'S THE PROCEDURE, AND THAT'S THE ORDER THAT I'M TRYING TO KEEP HERE.

BUT I UNDERSTAND THAT YOU STILL HAVE ADDITIONAL COMMENTS AND THERE'S WAYS THAT YOU CAN MAKE THOSE KNOWN.

WE HAVE EMAILS AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE, BUT I DON'T WANT YOU TO THINK THAT I'M IGNORING YOUR HAND.

AND COUNCIL MEMBER BUTLER, PLEASE REFRAIN FROM TRYING TO ENGAGE PEOPLE IN THE AUDIENCE SO THAT THEY FEEL LIKE THIS IS A TWO WAY CONVERSATION, WHEN REALLY, RIGHT NOW IT'S JUST COMMENTS FROM COUNCIL. THANK YOU, MADAM MAYOR. AND IF THAT'S THE INTENTION, I APOLOGIZE. I'M JUST ANSWERING QUESTIONS THAT WERE RAISED BY THE PEOPLE.

AND SO IT'S NOT DIRECTED BUT IT'S DIRECTED. SO I UNDERSTAND YOUR POINT AND EXCUSE ME FOR THAT.

WE MADE THAT SO YOU COULDN'T SEE IT FROM THE ROAD ON PURPOSE.

BY ADDING RULES TO THE DEVELOPMENT IN ORDER TO TRY TO LIMIT THE PROBLEM.

I'M GOING TO TELL YOU THIS, AND I'M ON THE RECORD FOR THIS.

THAT PROPERTY IS AN INDUSTRIAL SPACE. ALL OF THAT PROPERTY WAS ZONED INDUSTRIAL IN 1988.

THEN THE EAST POINT ANNEXED THAT PART OF UNINCORPORATED FULTON COUNTY, WHERE WE HAVE RESIDENTIAL INTO EAST POINT IN THE 2000.

THAT SHOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED. SO I UNDERSTAND YOUR FRUSTRATION, BUT NOBODY ON THIS BOARD MADE THAT DECISION.

SO THERE'S WE HAVE THESE LINES CALLED RULES AND LAWS THAT WE HAVE TO OPERATE IN IN ORDER TO REPRESENT YOU TO YOUR BEST OF YOUR ABILITY.

BECAUSE WHAT HAPPENS IF WE DON'T? THEN WE GET SUED.

THEN WE HAVE TO PAY FOR THE DEVELOPMENT IN WHICH WE DENY.

THAT'S LIKE THERE. WE JUST CAN'T DO THINGS AD HOC WHEN THERE ARE LAWS THAT PROTECT THAT.

AND I KNOW IT FEELS BAD. I UNDERSTAND HOW YOU FEEL, BUT THERE'S ONLY SO MUCH WE CAN DO.

WE DON'T HAVE THAT FLEXIBILITY THAT SOME PEOPLE COME OUT KIND OF TELL YOU, THIS IS WHAT WE COULD DO.

WE CAN'T DO IT. LET ME ADDRESS A COUPLE OF MORE ISSUES.

I AGREE WITH MR. DOUGLAS WHEN HE SAYS WE DON'T HAVE ANYTHING IN WARD D AND THAT THE THE BENEFITS OF MICROSOFT GOES TO SOMEBODY ELSE.

I AGREE 100,000% AND HAVE THOUGHT ABOUT THAT.

IN ADDITION TO THAT, THOUGH, IT WAS DISCUSSED WITH MICROSOFT TO FUND THE RECREATIONAL CENTERS, THE REC CENTER. THAT IS NOT GOING TO HAPPEN BECAUSE OF SOME THINGS WE DID ON THIS COUNCIL.

SO NOW WE'RE GOING TO GET A POCKET PARK WHEN WE COULD HAVE HAD A WHOLE REC CENTER PAID FOR.

IN ADDITION TO THAT, THAT RECREATIONAL CENTER, WHEN WE FIRST DISCUSSED IT BEFORE COVID, WAS MAYBE $15 MILLION.

NOW WE'RE LOOKING AT SOMETHING TWICE THAT. AND THE REASON WHY WE DON'T HAVE A REC CENTER NOW IS BECAUSE SOME PEOPLE ON THIS DAIS BLOCKED IT.

SO I UNDERSTAND YOUR FRUSTRATION, BUT I'M NOT GOING TO SIT HERE AND NOT TELL YOU THE WHOLE TRUTH AND NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH.

[01:50:04]

SO I GET IT. I'VE HAD THOSE CONVERSATIONS. SOME OF THESE THINGS THAT WE WANT TO DO, WE CAN'T DO IT.

BUT THE GOOD NEWS IS I THINK SOUTH MEADOW IS BUILT OUT.

THERE'S NO MORE WAREHOUSES, TO MY KNOWLEDGE, COMING ON THAT SIDE OF TOWN.

I LIKEN TO THIS YOU LIVE IN A SUBDIVISION. SOMEBODY WANTS TO BUILD A HOUSE IN YOUR SUBDIVISION AND YOU TELL THEM YOU CAN'T.

SOUTH MEADOWS IS AN INDUSTRIAL SUBDIVISION. WE CAN'T TELL THEM.

THEY CAN'T PUT AN INDUSTRIAL USE IN AN INDUSTRIAL SUBDIVISION.

NO MATTER HOW MUCH WE DON'T WANT TO DO THAT, WE CAN'T.

THE RULES DON'T ALLOW US TO DO THAT. AND SO WHEN PEOPLE COME TO YOU AND THEY DON'T TELL YOU THE WHOLE TRUTH, THEN YOU GET UPSET. AND I UNDERSTAND THAT. AND THEN WHEN SOMEBODY TRIES TO GIVE YOU THE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, IT DOESN'T SOUND RIGHT. AND I UNDERSTAND THAT.

BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN IT'S NOT EQUALLY AS TRUE OR FACTUAL.

AND TO MY MY OPINION, WHEN SOMEBODY DOESN'T TELL YOU THE WHOLE STORY, IT DOES A DISSERVICE TO YOU, THE RESIDENT, AND THEN YOU'RE FRUSTRATED. THAT'S NOT IT DOESN'T GO THAT WAY.

AND IT SHOULDN'T BE THAT WAY. I HAVE OTHER NOTES HERE TOO, ABOUT WHAT OTHER PEOPLE SAID.

I WILL REST WITH THAT AND I'M GOING TO END ON A POSITIVE NOTE.

SOMETHING HAS TO CHANGE. ON SATURDAY, I HAD THE PLEASURE OF WORKING WITH THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY TO ELECT A NEW CHAIRPERSON FOR THAT PARTY. HIS NAME IS CHARLIE BAILEY, AND I'M HAPPY TO SUPPORT MR. BAILEY SO THAT WE WILL HAVE STRONGER REPRESENTATION.

TALKING ABOUT COMMUNITY NEEDS, TALKING ABOUT SOME OF THESE RULES THAT HAVE BEEN BROKEN ON THE STATE AND THE FEDERAL LEVEL, AND HOW DOES THAT AFFECT YOU HERE IN EAST POINT.

IT AFFECTS YOU BECAUSE WITH THE RAMPANT HOMELESSNESS THAT WE HAVE IN METROPOLITAN ATLANTA, WITH PEOPLE SLEEPING UNDER BRIDGES, THAT IS A STATE ISSUE, AND NOBODY'S TALKING ABOUT IT ON THE STATE LEVEL WITH THE GRAFFITI ON THE HIGHWAY AND ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD.

THAT'S A STATE ISSUE, AND NOBODY'S TALKING ABOUT THAT ON A STATE LEVEL.

WE CAN'T KEEP USING MUNICIPAL DOLLARS TO TRY TO FIGHT STATE ISSUES.

AND THEN THOSE PEOPLE GIVE THEMSELVES TAX BREAKS, AND THEN THEY WANT TO PUT THE BURDEN ON KEEPING YOUR CITY SAFE AND CLEAN WITH PROPERTY TAXES AND $0.01 SALES TAX INCREASE.

SO I'M GLAD THAT WE HAVE A NEW PERSON TO HELP ADDRESS SOME OF THOSE ISSUES.

I SINCERELY APOLOGIZE TO THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE COME HERE FRUSTRATED BECAUSE THEY FEEL LIKE THEY THEY'RE NOT HEARD.

I UNDERSTAND HOW THAT FEELS, BUT YOU JUST NOT BEING TOLD THE TOTAL TRUTH.

AND IT'S FRUSTRATING FOR ME TO TO HAVE PEOPLE THAT I LOVE AND I SACRIFICE FOR EVERY DAY TO THINK THAT WE'RE NOT REPRESENTING THEM.

IT HURTS BECAUSE I'LL SAY THIS ABOUT EVERYBODY ON HERE.

NOBODY ON THIS DIOCESE IS ON HERE BECAUSE THEY'RE GETTING PAID.

FRIEND OR FOE, WE AIN'T GETTING NO MONEY FOR THIS.

EVERYBODY DOES IT FOR THE LOVE OF THE COMMUNITY.

SOME PEOPLE, AND THEY HAVE THE RIGHT TO THEIR OPINION, BUT THEY DON'T HAVE THE RIGHT TO COME.

TELL THE COMMUNITY, HAVE THE TRUTH BECAUSE THEY WANT TO WIN AN ARGUMENT OR WIN A VOTE.

THAT'S NOT WHAT WE'RE HERE FOR. EVERYBODY IS TEAM EASTPOINTE, AND IT'S OKAY TO HAVE A CONVERSATION OR A DIALOG ABOUT DIFFERENCES, BECAUSE THAT'S WHY YOU HAVE NON REPRESENTATIVES.

BUT IT'S NOT OKAY TO TELL PEOPLE HALF THE TRUTH IN ORDER TO WIN YOUR FIGHT.

AND SO I DO APOLOGIZE AT YOUR FRUSTRATION. I UNDERSTAND THAT, AND I'M EQUALLY AS FRUSTRATED BECAUSE I KNOW THAT I SACRIFICED FOR EACH AND EVERY ONE OF WHERE YOU VOTE FOR ME OR NOT, EVERY DAY.

AND IT'S A FULL TIME JOB, NOT PART TIME. COUNCIL MEMBER CUMMINGS.

[01:55:13]

MY COORDINATE TREMAINE MITCHELL, HE AND I HAD COME UP WITH AN IDEA.

WE DECIDED WE PARTNERED WITH, PARKS AND REC TO DO A SCREEN ON ON THE GREEN AT SYKES PARK.

THE ASK IS WE'RE LOOKING AT EVERY THE FOURTH SATURDAY IN THE FOURTH SATURDAY IN THE MONTHS OF MAY, JUNE, JULY AND AUGUST. ON THOSE DATES, WE HAVE A BIG BLOW UP SCREEN THAT WE'LL BRING OUT.

WE'LL DO IT ON THE TENNIS COURT OVER AT SYKES PARK.

IT'S GOING TO BE AT NO COST TO THE CITY. THE ONLY THING WE WILL HAVE IS WE'LL ASK PARKS WILL ASK SANITATION TO BRING OUT JUST SOME EXTRA TRASH RECEPTACLES TO ASSIST US WITH THIS.

I SPOKE WITH CHIEF BUCHANAN WITH REGARDS TO MAKING SURE THAT WE HAD THE THAT SOMEONE WAS THERE TO HELP TO MONITOR THE PARK, AND WE'RE LOOKING AT HE DID SAY THAT THE PARK RANGER COULD ADJUST HIS HOURS TO ACCOMMODATE US ON THOSE DAYS.

AND HE'D ALSO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE POLICE OFFICERS JUST TO RIDE BY, JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYTHING IS SAFE. THE THING TO ADD THAT I'M ASKING THIS EVENING IS BECAUSE WE'RE NOW IN THE SUMMER MONTHS, IT'S IT'S LATER BEFORE IT GETS DARK.

AND WITH THAT BEING SAID, I'LL PARK OURS. ARE THE PARKS CLOSE AT 9:00? SO WHAT I'M ASKING IS THOSE DATES, THE THE FOURTH SATURDAY IN EACH MONTH IS GOING TO BE MAY 31ST.

THAT'LL BE THE FIFTH SATURDAY. BUT THE OTHER JUNE, JULY AND AUGUST IS GOING TO BE JUNE 28TH, JULY 26TH AND AUGUST 23RD. ON THOSE DAYS, WE'RE ASKED.

MY ASK IS THAT THE PARK REMAIN OPEN UNTIL 11:00 THAT EVENING JUST TO ACCOMMODATE US, SO THAT WE'LL BE ABLE TO VIEW THOSE MOVIES.

SO THAT'S THE ASK, I GUESS. WE MAKE A MOTION.

MAKE A MOTION. SO I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION. THAT SYKES PARK BE ALLOWED TO STAY OPEN ON MAY 31ST, JUNE 28TH, JULY 26TH AND AUGUST 23RD UNTIL 11:00 PM SECOND.

IT'S BEEN MOVED AND PROPERLY SECONDED. YOU'VE ASKED THAT THE HOURS BE EXTENDED, BUT YOU HAVEN'T ASKED WHAT TO BE ABLE TO WORK DIRECTLY WITH STAFF TO COORDINATE AN EVENT, A COUNCIL EVENT WHICH WE HAVE SAID REQUIRES COUNCIL APPROVAL.

SO DO YOU WANT TO AMEND YOUR MOTION TO INCLUDE SPECIFICALLY THE EVENT THAT YOU'RE REFERENCING, BECAUSE IT'S NOT JUST STAYING OPEN LATER? IT IS ACTUALLY GETTING COUNCIL APPROVAL TO UTILIZE CITY STAFF FACILITIES AND ALL OF THAT FOR THE EVENTS THAT YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT HAPPENING MONTHLY.

WELL, I'D LIKE TO AMEND THE MOTION TO, TO INCLUDE STAFF TO BE ABLE TO WHAT IS IT TO VENICE? GREEN ON THE GREEN? YES IT IS.

SO WOULD YOU LIKE TO AMEND YOUR MOTION TO FOR COUNCIL TO APPROVE A SCREEN ON THE EVENT, A SCREEN ON THE GREEN EVENT AT SYKES PARK ON THOSE DATES, WHICH WOULD REQUIRE EXTENDING THE PARK TIME TO 11.

SO MOVED? YES. SO THAT'S THE AMENDED MOTION. THE SECOND STILL STANDS.

ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AYE.

ALL THOSE OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU.

COUNCIL MEMBER. ATKINS. YES. THANK YOU, MADAM MAYOR.

JUST WOULD LIKE TO MAKE AN ANNOUNCEMENT. I THINK THAT SEVERAL OF THE RESIDENTS HAVE RECEIVED THE FLIERS REGARDING THE OUTREACH INITIATIVE.

I'VE PARTNERED WITH THE FULTON ATLANTA COMMUNITY ACTION AUTHORITY AND SAINT PAUL MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH TO DO A SENIORS EVENT FOR UTILITY ASSISTANCE.

AND, YES, RIGHT AT THE CORNER OF HEADLAND AND BEN HILL.

SO 2870 HEADLAND DRIVE. THE EVENT WILL BE FROM 9 A.M.

TO 2 P.M. AND SENIORS 65 YEARS AND OLDER ARE ABLE TO COME AND IF THEY'RE ELIGIBLE, WILL RECEIVE UP TO $500 ON THEIR UTILITY BILL. I WOULD LIKE TO ALSO MENTION THAT THUS FAR FULTON ATLANTA COMMUNITY ACTION AUTHORITY HAS GIVEN ME SOME SOME DATA.

THEY STATED THAT IN THE YEAR OF 2024, THEY ASSISTED EASTPOINTE RESIDENTS TO THE TUNE OF $202,000.

AND THAT'S NOT COUNTING THE NINE NINE NINES THAT THEY HAD TO PROCESS.

AND THUS FAR FOR THIS YEAR, THEY'RE ALREADY UP TO $137,400.

THE EVENT ON THE 14TH COULD BE AN ADDITIONAL $50,000 TOWARD THAT NUMBER.

SO THAT'S GOING TO BE AGAIN ON WEDNESDAY, MAY 14TH FROM 9 A.M.

TO 2 P.M. AT SAINT PAUL MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH.

AND THAT ADDRESSES 2870 HEADLAND DRIVE. HAVE ALSO PARTNERED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE SOME FOOD THERE FOR THE SENIORS AS THEY

[02:00:10]

AND AS SOON AS THOSE ARE SECURED, I CAN ANNOUNCE THOSE.

MADAM MAYOR, THE OTHER THING THAT I WOULD LIKE TO MENTION IS THERE WERE A FEW RESIDENTS WHO CAME AND TALKED ABOUT THE BUDGET, AND IT WAS MORE SPECIFICALLY AROUND REVENUE GENERATION.

AND SO THAT'S A QUESTION TO OUR CITY MANAGER.

I THINK THAT WE HAD SEVERAL MEMBERS TO TALK ABOUT SOLID WASTE AS AN ENTERPRISE FUND OPERATING IN A DEFICIT.

SO IF THERE ARE ANY PLANS FOR THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE TO LOOK INTO HOW WE CAN IMPROVE THAT TO COME OUT OF THE RED.

IF YOU COULD LET US KNOW THAT AS A PART OF THE BUDGET.

AND THEN ALSO, I THINK THAT THERE WAS MENTION ABOUT THE HOTEL MOTEL TAX AND AND THEN, OF COURSE, THE FORENSIC AUDIT. IF THERE'S SOME DATES FOR THOSE AUDITS WHEN THEY WOULD TAKE PLACE AND THOSE WOULD BE MY ANNOUNCEMENTS FOR TODAY.

COUNCILMEMBER ROGERS. THANK YOU SO MUCH, MADAM MAYOR.

I WOULD FIRST LIKE TO THANK THE RESIDENTS THAT CAME OUT TONIGHT TO HAVE THEIR VOICES HEARD.

WHO BETTER TO DISCUSS THE IMPACT OF VOTING AGAINST RESIDENTS THAN THE RESIDENTS THEMSELVES? AS A RESIDENT, I WILL ALWAYS USE MY VOICE AND MY VOTE TO DO WHAT IS BEST FOR RESIDENTS.

IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT WARD OF THE CITY THEY RESIDE IN.

TWO WEEKS AGO, MEMBERS OF THIS COUNCIL VOTED AGAINST AN ENTIRE COMMUNITY OF RESIDENTS.

WE ARE ALL ALLOWED TO HAVE EMOTIONS ABOUT PEOPLE, PLACES AND THINGS.

HOWEVER, WHAT SHOULDN'T BE ALLOWED IS UTILIZING YOUR EMOTIONS TO DICTATE VOTING AGAINST THE RESIDENTS OF EASTPOINTE.

WHEN IT COMES TO THE CURRENT DEVELOPMENT ON BEN HILL ROAD, WE LIVE THERE AND EXPERIENCE IT EVERY DAY.

AS A RESIDENT, I CAME TO COUNCIL MEETINGS FOR ALMOST TWO YEARS, INSISTING THAT MORE BE DONE FOR THE COMMUNITY.

IN FACT, IF IT WASN'T FOR THE RESIDENTS, THE MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBER, SHROPSHIRE AND COOK, WE WOULDN'T HAVE HAD OPPORTUNITIES TO HAVE OUR VOICES HEARD. CAN YOU IMAGINE LIVING NEXT TO A SUBSTATION LESS THAN 300FT FROM YOUR PROPERTY, OR THREE DATA CENTERS THE SIZE OF FOOTBALL FIELDS? THEN LEARNING THIS WAS THE ONLY THING THAT COULD GO THERE.

NOT ACCORDING TO SECTION TEN 2079. IF IT WASN'T FOR THE WORK THAT WE DID, THE RESIDENTS MIGHT NOT HAVE A NOISE MITIGATION WALL, A POCKET PARK, AN UPCOMING JOB FAIR, A PROPERTY DAMAGE CLAIM PROCESS FOR RESIDENTS, OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE STUDENTS AT TRI-CITIES.

NOT THREE DATA CENTERS, BUT TWO IN THE SUBSTATION, WAS RELOCATED FURTHER AWAY ON THE PROPERTY.

ON APRIL 21ST, SIX MEMBERS OF THIS COUNCIL VOTED AGAINST THE CHARTER THEIR OWN OATH OF OFFICE.

ETHICS. THE ORDINANCE PUT IN PLACE TO PROTECT RESIDENTS OF THIS CITY.

ONE COUNCIL MEMBER BOLDLY MADE A MOTION TO DENY A COMMUNITY BENEFIT THAT WOULD NOT HAVE ONLY BENEFITED THE RESIDENTS, BUT EVERYONE ELSE IN THE CITY. SO MY QUESTION FOR THE COUNCIL WARD MEMBER IS WHY DID HE MAKE A MOTION TO STRIKE ITEM NUMBER EIGHT WHEN IT CLEARLY STATED IT HERE TO SECTION TEN 2067 WAREHOUSE INDUSTRIAL DISTRICT POLICY, SUBSECTION C PROCEDURES DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS, COMMUNITY BENEFITS THROUGH A THROUGH A DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT CONTRACT. ANOTHER COUNCIL MEMBER SENT OUT TWO SEPARATE COMMUNICATIONS.

AUGUST 13TH, 2020, ADVOCATING EFFORTS FOR ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE.

THE FAIR TREATMENT AND MEANINGFUL INVOLVEMENT OF ALL PEOPLE, REGARDLESS OF RACE, COLOR, NATIONAL ORIGIN, OR INCOME WITH RESPECT TO DEVELOPMENT, IMPLEMENTATION, AND ENFORCEMENT.

THIS MEETING IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE HERE IN EASTPOINTE, WE HAVE A NUMBER OF INDUSTRIAL PLANTS THAT ARE IN VIOLATION OF MANY STATE AND FEDERAL LAWS. IT'S INCREDIBLY HARD TO MAKE THEM ACCOUNTABLE.

LIVING NEAR THESE PLANTS THAT AFFECT OUR HEALTH.

THEN AGAIN, ANOTHER COMMUNICATION WAS SENT OUT ON SEPTEMBER 2ND, 2020.

AND I QUOTE, AS YOU KNOW, THE CITY HAS AN INDUSTRIAL MORATORIUM IN PLACE RIGHT NOW TO STUDY THE HEALTH, SAFETY AND WELFARE OF RESIDENTS WHO LIVE NEXT TO INDUSTRIAL AREAS.

[02:05:05]

HOWEVER, ON APRIL 21ST WHEN IT CAME DOWN TO ZERO WELCOME ALL ROAD! SHE SUPPORTED A VOTE AGAINST RESIDENTS EXCEPT FOR THE CONDITION OF NO REFRIGERATION.

BUT IT'S INCREDIBLY HARD TO MAKE THEM ACCOUNTABLE.

THE NEWEST MEMBER OF COUNCIL MADE THE BETTERMENT OF EASTPOINTE AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ONE OF HIS PRIMARY FOCUSES ONCE ELECTED.

HE DISCUSSED THE LOW INCOME EARNING HOUSEHOLDS IN EASTPOINTE AND HOW WE NEEDED ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TO BRING HIGHER EARNING HOME OWNERS TO EASTPOINTE.

A BRIEF SURVEY OF WARD D INDICATES THE MEAN TO MEDIAN INCOME LEVEL IS BETWEEN 70,000 AND $400,000.

40% OF WARD WAR. THE RESIDENTS ARE COLLEGE EDUCATED AND MANY OF THE RESIDENTS OWN THEIR OWN HOMES.

YOU ALSO VOTED IN FAVOR OF THE WAREHOUSE WHEN IT'S INCREDIBLY HARD TO MAKE THEM ACCOUNTABLE.

YOUR SUPPORT OF THE DEVELOPMENT FURTHER DIMINISHES OUR QUALITY OF LIFE, PROPERTY VALUES, INCREASED TRAFFIC, AND HEALTH RISKS. I WAS ALSO REMINDED THAT WHEN THE GOLDBERG ZONING APPLICATION CAME BEFORE YOU, YOU ADVOCATED FOR THE DEVELOPER TO HAVE A SPACE ON THEIR PROPERTY SO RESIDENTS COULD ENJOY THE BENEFITS OF WALKING UP TO PURCHASE A SANDWICH. IN WARD B, B AS IN BOY, JUST A GRAB AND GO AND THE DEVELOPER TOLD YOU THEY COULDN'T DO IT.

WE HAD A DEVELOPER BEFORE US WHO WAS WILLING TO PROVIDE A COMMUNITY BENEFIT AFTER SPEAKING WITH RESIDENTS, AND YOU VOTED AGAINST IT TWO WEEKS AGO, YOU AND OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS TOOK ISSUE WITH MY USE OF THE CITY'S LOGO TO INFORM RESIDENTS OF WARD D ABOUT A PROPOSED WAREHOUSE DEVELOPMENT, AN ISSUE THAT DEEPLY IMPACTS OUR HIGH INCOME EARNING NEIGHBORHOODS.

THE CITY LOGO IS BEING USED IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE FULTON ATLANTA COMMUNITY ACTION AUTHORITY LOGO.

THIS IMPLIES THAT BOTH ORGANIZATIONS HAVE AGREED TO PAY RESIDENTS BILLS.

DESPITE THE PROGRAM IN GEORGIA IS ONLY OPERATIONAL AND ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR HEATING ASSISTANCE.

BUT THE COOLING ASSISTANT PROGRAM, THE COOLING ASSISTANCE PROGRAM, IS TEMPORARILY CLOSED.

COUNCIL MEMBER SHROPSHIRE ANNOUNCED THIS SAME INITIATIVE AT THE MLK DAY OF SERVICE EVENT IN JANUARY, AND HAS BEEN A VISIBLE ADVOCATE FOR SENIORS IN OUR CITY FOR YEARS.

RATHER THAN COLLABORATE WITH HER. YOU APPROPRIATED HER IDEA AND WILL HAVE A MEETING IN HER WARD WITHOUT ACKNOWLEDGMENT.

THIS DESPITE THE FACT THAT WE HAVE AN OFFICE OF EQUITY, EMPOWERMENT AND INCLUSION THAT IS A PROVEN RECORD OF MORTGAGE ASSISTANCE, RENTAL ASSISTANCE, JOB RECRUITMENT, MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS ASSISTANCE, AND NOW HOME BUYING ASSISTANCE.

I HAVE BEEN INFORMING THE COMMUNITY SINCE 2011 AND WILL CONTINUE TO DO SO.

THAT'S WHAT I WAS ELECTED TO DO. LISTEN TO WHAT THE RESIDENTS WANTED.

NOT PUT PEOPLE OVER POLITICS AND PROFIT, BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY NOT ALLOW MY EMOTIONS TO TAKE CONTROL AND OUR VOTE AGAINST THE BETTERMENT OF THE RESIDENTS OR THE GREATER COMMUNITY. IT IS MY SINCERE HOPE THAT MOVING FORWARD, YOUR DECISIONS ARE MADE WITH CAREFUL CONSIDERATION OF THE COMMUNITY'S BEST INTERESTS AND NOT INFLUENCED BY EXTERNAL PRESSURES SUCH AS THE INVOLVEMENT OF THE DEVELOPERS LEGAL COUNSEL.

EASTPOINT IS IN FULTON COUNTY. FULTON COUNTY IS NOT IN EASTPOINT.

I TRUST THAT THE TEXT MESSAGES, TELEPHONE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT POSSIBLE LEGAL ACTION DID NOT CLOUD YOUR JUDGMENT.

GIVEN THE NUMBER OF PAST LEGAL ACTIONS THIS CITY HAS FACED, A MEMBER OF THIS COUNCIL HAD NO ISSUE OF BENEFITING FROM THE USE OF $14,457.88 TO PAY FOR HIS OWN LEGAL FEES. SO LET'S BE CLEAR WHEN WE TALK ABOUT ISSUES OF LEGALITIES AND IN IN WHAT IS BEING PUT OUT THERE, AT THE END OF THE DAY, NO ONE SHOULD PRESSURE YOU BECAUSE OF A THREATENING LETTER THAT, OH,

[02:10:03]

WHAT IF THE RESIDENTS DECIDED TO SUE AND AGAIN HOLD THAT NUMBER $14,457.88? IT'S CLEAR THAT THESE CHALLENGES ARE PART OF THE LANDSCAPE, BUT THAT'S PRECISELY WHY WE MUST MAKE DECISIONS ON WHAT IS BEST FOR ALL PEOPLE IN EASTPOINTE. AND FOR THE RECORD, COUNCIL CAN VOTE ANY WAY THEY WANT TO ON ANY ISSUE, ON ANY MATTER. YOU CAN VOTE TO SUPPORT IT OR YOU CAN VOTE TO NOT SUPPORT IT.

DON'T BE FOOLED. IF MICROSOFT WANTS TO BUILD A RECREATION CENTER, THEY STILL CAN.

A MOU WAS CONSTRUCTED WITH THE CITY AND THE GEORGIA SOCCER PARK ALMOST 12 YEARS AGO.

THAT GAVE THE CITY A TEN YEAR HEAD START TO CONSTRUCT A RECREATION FACILITY.

HOWEVER, THE ONLY TIME THAT THE MEMBERS OF COUNCIL TALKED ABOUT A RECREATION FACILITY WAS WHEN IT WAS THEIR ELECTION TIME.

THE CITY HAD TEN YEARS TO BUILD A RECREATION FACILITY.

WHERE WAS THAT ENERGY THEN? HOWEVER, DISCUSSIONS ONLY OCCUR DURING THE ELECTION SEASON. I HOPE THAT YOUR PERSONAL FEELINGS WERE NOT A DETERMINING FACTOR IN THIS DECISION, AND THAT YOU WILL BE ABLE TO PRIORITIZE THE WELL-BEING OF RESIDENTS, AS THAT IS ULTIMATELY THE RESPONSIBILITY WE ALL SHARE IN PUBLIC OFFICE. AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE ARE ALL WATCHING AND WAITING TO SEE HOW OUR LEADERS STAND UP FOR THE COMMUNITY, ESPECIALLY WHEN FACED WITH DIFFICULT CHOICES.

OUR EFFORTS TO SERVE THE COMMUNITY SHOULD BE ROOTED IN INTEGRITY, TRANSPARENCY AND COLLABORATION, NOT POLITICAL MANEUVERING. THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER.

SHROPSHIRE. WELL THANK YOU. I WANT TO ADDRESS ONE OF THE RESIDENTS WHO CAME DOWN, AND THAT WAS IN REFERENCE TO MISS GRANT. AND I SPOKE WITH THE CITY MANAGER ON FRIDAY WHEN I GOT THE PHONE CALL IN REFERENCE TO THAT.

AND I BELIEVE THE CITY HAS ALREADY WORKED OUT THAT PROBLEM.

AND I GUESS WE NEED MORE PROTOCOLS, MORE PROCEDURES IN PLACE JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT DON'T HAPPEN.

BUT COMING FROM HER STANDPOINT, I CAN UNDERSTAND WHY SHE WAS UPSET.

SHE WAS UPSET WHEN SHE CALLED ME ABOUT IT. AND SO I IMMEDIATELY CALLED THE CITY MANAGER TO INFORM HIM WHAT SHE RECEIVED AND WHAT WAS WRITTEN IN THE PAPER. SO AND I KNOW THAT THE CITY WORKED THE PROBLEM OUT, FIXED THE PROBLEM.

BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, IF SHE GOT A LETTER LIKE THAT, HOW MANY MORE SENIORS GOT LETTERS LIKE THAT? OR PEOPLE WHO PAY TAXES GOT LETTERS LIKE THAT? SO I GUESS WE JUST NEED TO BE CAUTIOUS OF WHAT WE'RE SENDING OUT AND JUST KIND OF PUT A THRESHOLD ON WHAT AMOUNT IT IS THAT GENERATES THE LETTERS TO BE SENT OUT. THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL.

AND LET ME SAY THANK YOU TO ALL OF THE RESIDENTS WHO CAME OUT AND SPOKE.

AND I KNOW WE HAVE BUDGET MEETINGS. SO JUST TO BE CLEAR AND AND I KNOW PEOPLE AND ACTUALLY THERE'S A COUPLE OF THINGS. SO LET ME SAY THIS FIRST, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE TALK ABOUT SANITATION AND THE DEFICIT THAT SANITATION IS IN.

WELL, I'VE BEEN IN THIS CITY 35 YEARS AND SANITATION HAS ALWAYS BEEN IN THE RED.

AND ONE, IT WAS BECAUSE ANIMAL CONTROL USED TO COME OUT OF SANITATION.

TWO, BECAUSE SANITATION IS ONE OF THE UTILITIES THAT THE FEES HAVE NEVER BEEN RAISED.

AND I DO KNOW THAT COMMERCIAL HAULERS WAS IN THE CITY AND THE CITY, THEY WEREN'T THEY WASN'T PAYING THE CITY WHAT THEY SHOULD PAY.

BUT NOW THERE'S SOME KIND OF POLICY IN PLACE FOR THE CITY TO GET PAYMENT.

BUT JUST TO BE CLEAR, WHEN THAT PERSON WAS ON COUNCIL, SANITATION WAS IN THE RED AT THAT TIME.

AND YOU CAN GO BACK AND LOOK AT THE BUDGET. AND I REMEMBER BECAUSE THEY USED TO TALK ABOUT THAT ALL THE TIME WHEN IT COMES TO A HOTEL MOTEL MONEY.

AND I DON'T FIND IT SURPRISING THAT THAT'S THE THING THAT PEOPLE WANT TO ATTACK.

WE HAVE BUDGET MEETINGS THAT THAT THAT IS NOT RUNNING THE DEFICIT.

IF IT IS, SOMETHING THAT WE DON'T KNOW, BUT THEY STOOD RIGHT BEFORE US AND GAVE AN UPDATE, AND I DON'T RECALL THEM SAYING THAT THAT'S RUNNING THE DEFICIT, BUT THE CITY MANAGER CAN ANSWER THAT QUESTION OR FINANCE DEPARTMENT.

[02:15:06]

I THINK THAT'S A GREAT EVENT. I THINK THAT IS SOMETHING THAT'S NEEDED.

BUT TO BE VERY CLEAR, AND I DO HAVE SOMETHING ELSE TO SAY, TO BE VERY CLEAR, WE SPOKE ABOUT THE THE LIHEAP PROGRAM ON JANUARY THE 13TH, 2025, AND IT WAS RIGHT BEFORE THE MLK DAY OF SERVICE.

AND I HAVE THE MINUTES BECAUSE I WANTED BECAUSE I KNOW WHAT I SAID AND I KNOW WHAT I DISCUSSED AND WHAT WAS DISCUSSED BECAUSE THE MAYOR BROUGHT THE PEOPLE, PUT IT ON THE AGENDA AND WHAT WAS DISCUSSED.

BECAUSE I BROUGHT IT UP, I SAID, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT I WANTED TO DO AT THE M.L.

KING DAY OF SERVICE. BUT BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T HAVE THEY WERE IN MEETINGS OR DOING SOMETHING, THEY WERE MR. GRANT WAS GOING TO CALL BACK. WE WERE GOING TO SET SOMETHING UP IN FEBRUARY.

WHAT IS REALLY DISHEARTENING IS THAT ANY PERSON THAT SITS UP HERE ON THIS COUNCIL AND TAKES SOMETHING FROM SOMEONE ELSE, AS IF IT'S THEIR IDEA AND TELL THE PERSON, DON'T HAVE ANY COMMUNICATION WITH THE PERSON IS WRONG.

IT'S WRONG. IT'S TOTALLY WRONG, AND I HAVE THE MINUTES TO PROVE IT.

YOU CAN SPEND IT, YOU CAN SLICE IT, YOU CAN DICE IT HOWEVER YOU WANT.

BUT IT IS WRONG. BUT I'M GOING TO GIVE YOU THAT BECAUSE I DO UNDERSTAND THAT IT IS CAMPAIGN SEASON.

I DO UNDERSTAND THAT PEOPLE NEED TO SHOW THAT THEY'RE DOING SOMETHING.

I GET THAT. SO IF IT MEANS THAT MUCH TO YOU? TAKE IT.

BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE KNOW WHO BROUGHT THE IDEA.

AND LET ME SAY THIS TO YOU ALL. THERE WAS SOMETHING IN THAT CONDITION.

AND YES, COUNCIL CAN VOTE ANY WAY THEY WANT. BUT THE PIECE THAT WAS NUMBER EIGHT, BECAUSE IT HAD EIGHT CONDITIONS AND AND YOU CAN GO BACK AND LOOK AT THE MENUS, LOOK AT THE TAPE.

THE, THE DEVELOPER SAID IF NUMBER EIGHT WAS INCLUDED, HE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO PERFORM.

HE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO DO WHAT HE NEEDED TO DO.

NUMBER EIGHT WAS LEFT OUT AND NUMBER AND IT WAS APPROVED WITH SEVEN CONDITIONS.

I'M GOING TO SAY THIS BECAUSE I'VE ALWAYS SAID IT BEFORE OUT OF SIGHT, OUT OF MIND.

THEY DON'T WANT IT IN THEIR AREA, BUT THEY'LL PUT EVERYTHING IN YOUR AREA BECAUSE IT MEANS NOTHING TO THEM BECAUSE THEY CAN'T SEE IT.

COME BACK WHEN THERE'S AN ITEM THAT'S IN THEIR WARD AND SEE HOW THEY VOTE THEN.

BECAUSE, SEE, THEY WANT THEIR AREA NICE, CLEAN AND PRETTY.

BUT WHEN IT'S OUT OF SIGHT, OUT OF MIND, THEY DON'T CARE.

REMEMBER THAT. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER ATKINS.

OH, SORRY. SO AGAIN, THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO CAME OUT TONIGHT.

I THINK THERE HAVE BEEN THREE PRESENTATIONS OF THE BUDGET TO THE COMMUNITY AND NOT ONE TO THIS COUNCIL.

WE RECEIVED THE BUDGET BY EMAIL, AND THEN I RECEIVED SOMETHING IN A LOOSE BINDER.

BUT THERE HAS NOT BEEN ONE PRESENTATION FROM STAFF TO COUNCIL ABOUT THE FY 25 BUDGET TO THIS ENTIRE COUNCIL.

I WAS HOPEFUL TO SEE THAT ON THE AGENDA TONIGHT.

IT'S NOT ON THERE, BUT THE FIRST MONDAY IN JUNE, PER OUR CHARTER, IS WHEN THIS COUNCIL IS TO VOTE TO APPROVE IT IN 2013, PRIOR TO US GETTING ON COUNCIL. ME, I'LL SPEAK FOR ME AND COUNCILWOMAN.

THAT'S WHEN WE JOINED. THE BUDGET WAS NOT APPROVED UNTIL DECEMBER OF 2013, SIX MONTHS AFTER THE REQUIRED DATE IN THE CHARTER. WE HAVE THREE FOUR MEET, THREE MEETINGS BEFORE BUDGET APPROVAL PER OUR CHARTER. AND TONIGHT, DESPITE THERE BEING THREE COMMUNITY MEETINGS AND THREE PRESENTATIONS OF THIS BUDGET TO THE COMMUNITY, STAFF HAS NOT PRESENTED EVEN THAT PRESENTATION TO THIS COUNCIL AS IT RELATES TO SANITATION IN THE HOTEL MOTEL FUND.

WHEN WE GOT ON COUNCIL IN 2014, THE CITY BUDGET? NO. THE ELECTRIC BUDGET HAD A NEGATIVE OVER -$3 MILLION DEFICIT.

[02:20:02]

IT'S CALLED A TAX ANTICIPATION NOTE. BASICALLY, WE WERE BORROWING MONEY PRIOR TO COLLECTING TAXES, ANTICIPATION THAT WE WOULD COLLECT THE TAXES TO BE ABLE TO PAY OFF THE NOTE THAT WE GOT TO BALANCE THE BUDGET, THAT WE INHERITED THAT DECISION. AND IN 2014, THAT WAS THE FIRST YEAR WHERE THAT WASN'T A PART OF BALANCING THE BUDGET.

WE HAVE NOT DONE THAT SINCE THE PREVIOUS HABITUAL PATTERN OF USING TAX ANTICIPATION NOTES.

PAYDAY LOANS TO BALANCE THE BUDGET. THE SANITATION ISSUE HAS BEEN AN ISSUE FOR SOME TIME.

WE'VE TALKED ABOUT COMMERCIAL HAULERS. WE'VE SAID THAT THERE WERE POLICIES IN PLACE.

WE SAID WE'RE GOING TO BE COLLECTING AGAINST THEM.

LET'S BE CLEAR HOW THIS GOVERNMENT WORKS. THIS MAYOR AND COUNCIL HIRES A CITY MANAGER WHO'S OVER THE OPERATIONS OF THIS CITY. EVERYTHING EXCEPT THE CHIEF JUDGE, THE CITY ATTORNEY, THE CITY CLERK AND THE CITY MANAGER REPORT TO THIS COUNCIL.

THE PEOPLE WITHIN THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT, THE CITY CLERK DEPARTMENT AND THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE REPORT TO THOSE PEOPLE.

AND THEN THE CITY MANAGER HAS SUPERVISION OVER THE OTHER OVER AROUND 500 EMPLOYEES IN THIS CITY.

THE CHARTER PROHIBITS THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL FROM GETTING INVOLVED IN THE DAY TO DAY OPERATIONS OF THE CITY, BUT WE ARE REQUIRED TO HAVE A LEVEL OF ACCOUNTABILITY THAT SHOULD FLOW FROM THE CITY MANAGER DOWN TO THE STAFF SO THAT OPERATIONS GET DONE IN THE CITY. THIS ROLE FOR ALL OF US BY CHARTER, IS A PART TIME ROLE WITH PART TIME PAY BUT FULL TIME EXPECTATIONS. BUT THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO GET PAID EVERY DAY TO PROVIDE SERVICES WITHIN THIS CITY.

AND LEADERSHIP. HAVING A CITY MANAGER TO HOLD THE DEPARTMENT HEADS ACCOUNTABLE TO THE THE ACCOUNTABILITY THAT'S COMING DOWN FROM COUNCIL TO THE CITY MANAGER. AND LET ME START, THE FIRST LEVEL OF OF SUPERVISORS ARE THE 38,000 PLUS RESIDENTS.

AND THAT'S CALCULATED BY THE CENSUS. SO YEAH, AT ONE POINT THE CITY HAD 44,000 PEOPLE.

BUT EVERY TEN YEARS THERE'S A CENSUS DONE AND THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO ARE REPORTED WHO BECOME OUR POPULATION IS BASED UPON THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO REPORT, WHO RESPOND. AND COMMUNITIES LIKE OURS, THE RESPONSE RATE IS LOWER.

SO IF WE DON'T HAVE IF WE HAVE LOWER RESPONSE RATES, THEY GUESS HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE IN THE BUILDINGS OR IN THE HOMES IN OUR COMMUNITY.

CITIES THAT HAVE 80 PLUS PERCENT RESPONSE RATES, THEY HAVE HIGHER POPULATION.

THEIR POPULATIONS ARE MORE ACCURATE. PEOPLE IN THE HOUSEHOLD ARE TELLING THEM HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE IN THERE.

IF YOU LIVE ON THE STREET AND THERE'S FIVE HOUSES AND THREE OF THEM RESPOND AND THE OTHER TWO DON'T.

WHAT THE CENSUS STAFF DOES IS THEY ESTIMATE THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE IN THE OTHER TWO HOUSES BASED ON THE RESPONSES OF THE FIRST THREE.

NOW, THERE COULD BE SEVEN PEOPLE IN ONE HOUSE AND FIVE IN THE OTHER.

BUT IF THAT'S NOT WHAT THEY COME UP WITH, IT'S A PROJECTION.

IT'S AN ESTIMATE. AND SO THOSE NUMBERS AREN'T FABRICATED.

IT'S ACTUALLY AN INCREASE FROM THE 2010 CENSUS OF ABOUT 13.9%.

SO PEOPLE WHO FORMERLY SERVED ON COUNCIL BRINGING UP NUMBERS THAT ARE BASED UPON CENSUS AND PROCESSES THAT EVERYBODY IN THIS COUNTRY GOES THROUGH, AND NOT REALIZING THAT OUR CENSUS NUMBER IN 2020 OR 2022 WAS ACTUALLY A 13.9% INCREASE FROM THE PREVIOUS NUMBER OF 2010, WHICH WAS BEFORE ANY OF US WERE ON THIS COUNCIL. AND I THINK THEY WERE AT THE TIME.

SHOULD HAVE YOU QUESTIONED THE WHETHER OR NOT PEOPLE ARE GIVING YOU ALL OF THE INFORMATION? SPEAKING TO ALL OF THE INFORMATION I THINK IS IMPORTANT.

IT'S BEEN A LOT OF DISCUSSION TONIGHT ABOUT THE WAREHOUSE DECISION.

AND I DO BELIEVE THAT ALL OF THE ORDINANCES, ALL THE INFORMATION SHOULD BE SHARED AND WHAT WAS ACTUALLY UNDER CONSIDERATION, I THINK PEOPLE SHOULD KNOW THAT. AND SO WHAT WAS SHARED WAS COMMUNICATION FROM THE LAWYER REPRESENTING THE DEVELOPER. BUT I'M GOING TO GO TO OUR ORDINANCE, WHICH IS 1079 TEN DASH.

2079D, WHICH IS THE LIGHT INDUSTRIAL DISTRICT, AND D DEALS WITH USES PERMITTED THROUGH USE PERMIT ONLY, MEANING YOU HAVE TO GET A SPECIAL USE PERMIT.

IT SAYS THE FOLLOWING USES MAY BE PERMITTED PER THE PROCEDURES AND STANDARDS SET FORTH IN ARTICLE D, SECTION TEN, DASH TWO, ONE, ONE FIVE ET SEQ. IN THE I ONE, WHICH IS THE LIGHT INDUSTRIAL DISTRICT.

[02:25:05]

THAT WAS THE ISSUE IN THAT ZONING DECISION, WHETHER OR NOT A SPECIAL USE SHOULD BE GRANTED FOR A WAREHOUSE WHERE IT'S BUILT TO SUIT THE DEVELOPER DID NOT SHARE WHAT TYPES OF USES ARE GOING TO BE IN THERE.

IT'S JUST THE WAREHOUSE BUILDING AND THEIR COME.

AND THEN THEY ASKED FOR A VARIANCE AND THEY HAD TO GO BACK FOR THAT.

I JUST READ THAT TO YOU. THAT'S WITHIN THE FIRST THAT'S ACTUALLY FULL SENTENCE OF THE PROVISION THAT THEY WERE TRAVELING UNDER.

AND THEY DIDN'T REALIZE THAT IT WAS A 5280 FOOT DISTANCE REQUIREMENT FROM RESIDENTIAL, SO I HAD TO GO BACK AND WHEN IT CAME BACK AGAIN, THEY WERE STILL ASKING FOR THE SPECIAL USE PERMIT AND A VARIANCE MEANING PERMISSION TO ALLOW THE WAREHOUSE TO BE LESS THAN 5280FT FROM RESIDENTIAL. THOSE WERE THE ISSUES.

AND SO EVERYONE HAS THE RIGHT TO VOTE, HOW THEY CHOOSE TO VOTE AND MAKE THEIR DECISIONS IN THE BEST WAY THAT THEY FEEL.

BUT THE ISSUES BEFORE US, THE LAND USE DECISIONS, WERE THOSE THE GEORGIA CONSTITUTION GIVES LOCAL GOVERNMENTS THE RIGHT TO DETERMINE LAND USE WITHIN OUR MUNICIPALITIES.

I WAS IN A MEETING RECENTLY AND THERE WAS A PRESENTATION ABOUT DATA CENTERS.

THERE'S A REGIONAL PLAN TO PUT 20 DATA CENTERS SOUTH OF I-20, AND NOT ONE NORTH OF I-20 OR NORTH OF ATLANTA, AND I ASKED WHY. IT'S LIKE MAYBE RHETORICAL. AND THEY SAID THEY WENT BACK TO THE MAP.

THEY HAD A SLIDE THAT HAD A MAP ON IT. THEY SAID, NO, THERE'S NO LAND AVAILABILITY.

I SAID, YOU'RE RIGHT, NOT TODAY. BUT THERE WAS.

AND WHEN THE LAND WAS AVAILABLE, DID THEY PUT INDUSTRIAL ZONING ON IT? SO IN SOUTH OF ATLANTA, THESE SOUTH FULTON CITIES, 20 DATA CENTERS SOUTH OF I-20.

AND SO WE AS ELECTED OFFICIALS HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THAT WE HAVE CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS AS WELL.

THE CITY HAS CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS TO DETERMINE LAND USE AND ZONING, AND TO DECIDE WHAT ZONING WILL BE PLACED ON THOSE LAND, ON THE LAND. AND THAT IS NOT INTERFERENCE WITH PROPERTY RIGHTS OR PROPERTY OWNER RIGHTS.

THAT IS A RIGHT THAT IS GIVEN TO THE CITIES AND THE MUNICIPALITY.

SO I JUST WANT TO MAKE CLEAR WHAT WAS BEING CONSIDERED OR WHAT THE DECISION WAS ABOUT BECAUSE THOSE WERE THE ISSUES, WHETHER OR NOT A SPECIAL USE PERMIT SHOULD BE GRANTED FOR THE WAREHOUSE, AND WHETHER OR NOT A VARIANCE SHOULD BE GRANTED TO GO AGAINST THE ORDINANCE THAT WAS PUT IN PLACE TO HELP ADDRESS THE PROXIMITY OF RESIDENTIAL TO INDUSTRIAL, AND HAVE IT BE AT LEAST A MILE AWAY. THE HISTORY OF INDUSTRIAL IN THIS CITY IS ROOTED IN RACISM.

JULY 15TH, 1912. THE EASTPOINTE CITY COUNCIL MADE A UNANIMOUS DECISION TO REQUIRE ALL BLACK PEOPLE WHO LIVED IN THIS CITY TO LIVE IMMEDIATELY ADJACENT TO TWO FERTILIZER PLANTS, AN OIL PLANT AND A CHEMICAL PLANT.

IT SMELLED SO BAD THEY CALLED IT STINK TOWN. IF THEY IF YOU WERE BLACK AND YOU WANTED TO LIVE IN THE CITY, YOU EITHER HAD TO LIVE THERE OR MOVE. UNFORTUNATE.

AND THEN THAT'S THAT AREA IS NOW KNOWN AS STINK TOWN.

I MEAN, IT'S NOW KNOWN IT WAS FORMERLY KNOWN AS STINK TOWN. IT IS NOW KNOWN AS EAST WASHINGTON.

SO WHAT DID THEY DO? THEY TURN LEMONADE LEMONS INTO LEMONADE.

HAD THRIVING PROFESSIONALS THERE. AN AMATEUR BASEBALL LEAGUE.

THERE'S A WHOLE PAPER WRITTEN ABOUT IT. RIGHT.

BUT LAST I BELIEVE, IT WAS LAST YEAR. I WAS IN A COHORT, AND WE WERE LOOKING AT DATA, LOCAL DATA, BECAUSE WE WERE PART OF THE CITY HEALTH DASHBOARD TO BE ABLE TO GET DATA AT THE LOCAL LEVEL.

AND WE WERE LOOKING AT THE LIFE EXPECTANCY GRAPH.

[02:30:03]

SO OVER 100 YEARS AGO, THE CITY COUNCIL MADE A DECISION THAT IS STILL NEGATIVELY IMPACTING THE LIFE OF RESIDENTS TODAY. NOT JUST NEGATIVELY IMPACTING THEIR LIFE, THEIR LIFE EXPECTANCY.

SO I'M HOPEFUL THAT AS WE MAKE THESE DECISIONS AND IN THE OPPORTUNITY OF NOW THAT WE MAKE DECISIONS AND PEOPLE LOOK BACK 100 YEARS FROM NOW AND SAY THAT'S WHEN THEY STARTED THE RIGHT WRONGS. THIS IS WHEN THEY DECIDED TO REALLY FOCUS ON THE IMPACTS OF INDUSTRIALIZATION NEXT TO RESIDENTIAL AND THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT COULD BE CREATED, BECAUSE IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT ONE DEVELOPER, IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT A PROJECT.

THIS IS REALLY ABOUT OUR COMMUNITY. THIS IS REALLY ABOUT UNDERSTANDING THE ABILITY THAT WE HAVE AND PEOPLE CAN TALK ABOUT AND MAKE IT SEEM LIKE IT'S JUST SO SIMPLE. NO. THERE ARE OPPORTUNITIES THAT OTHER COMMUNITIES TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT ALLOWED THERE TO NOT BE ANY AVAILABLE LAND FOR INDUSTRIAL USES. THAT ALLOWS FOR THERE NOT TO BE ANY INDUSTRIAL ZONING NEAR RESIDENTIAL.

AND THOSE ARE DECISIONS THAT LOCAL ELECTED OFFICIALS MAKE IN THOSE AREAS, OR THAT ARE MADE BY THE COUNTY IN AREAS THAT ARE UNINCORPORATED.

AND SO I ENCOURAGE RESIDENTS TO STAY ENGAGED.

I ENCOURAGE RESIDENTS TO STAY INFORMED. EVERYBODY HAS A DECISION, AND WHETHER YOU LIKE IT OR NOT, YOU HAVE TO RESPECT THE DECISIONS THAT PEOPLE MAKE.

BUT THERE'S A LEVEL OF ACCOUNTABILITY FOR ALL OF US.

AND MY WHEN I MAKE DECISION, WHEN I HAVE A CONVERSATION, THOSE 38,000, I THINK IT'S 358 BY OUR CENSUS NUMBER.

I CARRY YOU ALL ON MY SHOULDERS, AND I ALWAYS THINK TO MYSELF, WHAT WOULD I SAY TO THEM ABOUT THIS SITUATION IF I HAD TO EXPLAIN TO A RESIDENT WHY I MADE THIS DECISION, OR WHY I ADVOCATED FOR THIS. WHAT WILL I TELL THEM, REGARDLESS IF I'M HERE IN FRONT OF YOU? IF I'M IN A ROOM WHERE YOU CAN'T SEE ME, IF I'M HAVING CONVERSATIONS WITH PEOPLE, IT'S THE SAME LEVEL OF ACCOUNTABILITY, THE SAME LEVEL OF CONVERSATION, AND THE SAME LEVEL OF ADVOCACY TO PUT YOU FIRST.

AND SO THE HOTEL MOTEL TAX FUND AT A -1 MILLION, I'M NOT EVEN SURE HOW THAT'S POSSIBLE. IS REVENUE BASED.

IT'S GENERATED BASED UPON WHAT ACTUALLY COMES IN.

AND SO AGAIN, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN HELPFUL TO HAVE A PRESENTATION FROM STAFF TONIGHT.

HOPEFULLY WE'RE GETTING THAT ON MONDAY AT THE WORK SESSION SO THAT WE CAN ONE KNOW WHAT WAS SHARED WITH THE COMMUNITY.

BUT TWO HAVE DISCUSSIONS ABOUT CONCERNS OR ITEMS OR ISSUES THAT WE SEE IN THE BUDGET THAT WAS JUST PROPOSED.

IT IS A DRAFT BUDGET. IT'S NOT THE FINAL BUDGET, BUT THAT HAS BEEN PROPOSED TO US BY THE CITY MANAGER.

DO WE HAVE ANY EXECUTIVE SESSION ITEMS FOR TONIGHT?

[XIV. EXECUTIVE SESSION]

BUT TWO REAL ESTATE.

TAX. NINE. LEGAL LITIGATION. HOW MANY? NINE. HOW MUCH IS RIGHT? THAT NUMBER. I USUALLY DO ROMAN NUMERALS, BUT JUST ROUND THAT OFF THE NINE.

CITY MANAGER JONES I HAVE ONE LEGAL, WHICH IS A FYI.

SO PLUS ONE COUNCIL. ANY EXECUTIVE SESSION ITEMS FROM ANYONE? NO. LET ME CHECK MY PHONE FOR MY NOSE! ALRIGHT, SO WE NEED A MOTION TO RECESS INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION FOR TWO REAL ESTATE AND TEN LITIGATION MATTERS.

MADAM MAYOR, I MAKE A MOTION THAT WE ADJOURN INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION FOR TWO REAL ESTATE AND TEN LEGAL.

SO MOVED. IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND? IT'S BEEN MOVED AND PROPERLY SECONDED.

ANY DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AYE. ALL THOSE OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. WE'RE IN RECESS. MOTION TO RECONVENE.

MOTION TO RECONVENE. IT'S BEEN MOVED AND PROPERLY SECONDED.

[02:35:07]

SO MOVED. IT'S BEEN MOVED AND PROPERLY SECONDED.

ANY DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AYE. ALL THOSE OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. IN THE MATTER OF LORETTA MCGEE VERSUS PEREZ.

MORE IN THE CITY OF EAST POINT. NEED A MOTION TO PROCEED AS DISCUSSED IN EXECUTIVE SESSION.

SO MOVED. SECOND, IT'S BEEN MOVED AND PROPERLY SECONDED.

ANY DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AYE. ALL THOSE OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. NEED A MOTION TO APPROVE THE EXECUTIVE SESSION.

MEETING MINUTES. SO MOVED. SECOND, IT'S BEEN MOVED AND PROPERLY SECONDED.

ANY DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AYE. ALL THOSE OPPOSED.

MOTION CARRIES MOTION TO ADJOURN. SO MOVED. IS THERE A SECOND? IT'S BEEN MOVED AND PROPERLY SECONDED. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? ALL THOSE OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. GOOD NIGHT EVERYONE.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.