We'll get the—I'll
call this meeting to order on Monday, October 1st, 2018.
I want to welcome everyone very glad to have us tonight, Pastor Brian Taylor of the Life
Church Smyrna Assembly of God at 4100 King Springs Road, who will come forward and give us our
invocation and lead us in the place of the flag. So, would everyone please rise.
Mayor Bacon, city council, will you join me in a moment of prayer before we begin our
mean tonight. Dearly, Father, we thank you for this time. We're able to come
together as a city to talk about issues relevant to our city, Father. I pray you'd
be in guidance of tonight's talks, Father. You bring peace, Father, and you have
your will be done in this place tonight. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.
I pledge
allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the
Republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with
Liberty, Injustice, Fra.
Thank you.
Before you, Brian, before you look,
is there, I don't like to talk about folks health problems.
I know the pastor, Pastor Shell's been a little under the
weather, how's he doing?
Because for the first time I texted him in it,
I don't think it went through so.
Right, yeah, so he had a successful surgery
and he's recovering.
He's actually in Florida right now on vacation.
So he's recovering.
He's recuperate. Yeah, he's good. Yeah, he's got surgery done. He's recovering. He preached Sunday. So it was it was kidney stones. Yes, sir
Do a lot better though. I mean good company. So yeah, good deal. Well, I'll let them know you asked. Thank you
Thank you so much for those folks that
Are looking for new church or new in town. I'm sure the folks that
Life church morning assembly God would love to have you there in the curb there on King Springs Road, right?
past Griffin Middle School, so
Thank you all very much.
Agenda change is the only thing that we have on the agenda is that when we get to item 4b,
which is a public hearing, that will be tabled until November 5th.
Other than that, the agenda is exactly as submitted.
Under the mayoral report, 2018-Sforge Air Force recognized City of Smyrna Employees Christy
Manna and Rebecca Power as recipients of the City of Smyrna Award for Ongoing Excellence
in Customer Service and the Johnkel Award for Service Excellence in Action.
I'll let Ms. Tammy Sadler-Jones address that issue.
Thank you, Mayor.
Good evening, everyone.
I'm going to have Ashley Yeoman, our ICMA Management Fellow, tell you about the award
and to share with you information about the two recipients, and I will come down and join
Ashley.
Good evening, everyone.
We have two great City of Smyrna employees we would like to honor and award tonight for
our quarter two of 2018 Employee Customer Service Awards.
The first award is the City of Smyrna Award for Ongoing Excellence in Customer
Service which is awarded for going above and beyond in delivering customer service to members
of the public and or staff.
Kristi Manna is awarded this award for ongoing excellence in customer service.
Kristi serves as the administrative assistant for the Smyrna Fire Department.
She is nominated by Deputy Chief Brian Marcos.
Along with being a positive representative for the city's fire department, Kristi genuinely
cares about delivering excellent quality work.
work. Her attention to detail and organizational skills are proof that she is always willing
to go above and beyond the call of duty in pursuit of excellence.
Well, I know her boss is here. I don't know if he wants to say anything, Roy. Chief Acron.
Thank you, Mayor. I just really hear in support of Christy, and she's very deserving of
this award. And we'd like to thank this city and thank the council and city administrator
her for recognizing her. She really does a fantastic job. You know, a lot of people,
it's the easy thing to say that she's the glue that holds everything together, but
in our case, it really is true. She does a fantastic job.
I would say if truth be known, she probably knows more about the department than you
do. I probably wouldn't argue with you.
Thank you. Congratulations. Thank you.
Our second award is the John Cole Award of Service Excellence in Action, which
which is awarded for going above and beyond in response to an event or incident in delivering
customer service. Rebecca Power is awarded this award tonight. She serves as the Youth
Services Librarian at the Smyrna Public Library. She was nominated by Mary Moore, the library
director, after Mary received the following unsolicited email from a customer. Just had
a conversation with Rebecca in the Youth Department of your library regarding some
needs I had for a high schooler. She was such a big help and answered all of
my questions, even about safety concerns I had. She even called me back to clarify some
information. Thank you for having her there. You are lucky to have her.
Scott, if you could get over to your left a little bit, I could get in the picture.
So many times we, we never know. I mean, all the time we never know what our employees
do, but we appreciate both of you all for both going beyond your normal duties and taking
care of our citizens. Thank you all very much. And as an extra award, you don't have to stay
for the meeting any longer.
Also under the Mayor's Report, this is, we have an election
coming up sometime in November. I always give folks the opportunity if you are running
for office to come forward and briefly tell us who you are and don't go over 30 seconds.
So anybody running for office, I know I've had three notes sent to me, says you have
a candidate for the Senate and the audience who wants to speak. I know that. Thank you.
Yes.
Hi, good evening. My name is Leah Aldridge and I'm the Republican nominee for State
Senate for the Sixth District. The Sixth covers Smyrna and Vinings here in Cobb
County, Buckhead and Sandy Springs in Fulton County. Thank you so much Mayor
Bacon and City Council members for allowing me to introduce myself to you
once again. I am so proud to be standing here. You know I've knocked a lot of
doors in Smyrna from Williams Park all over Smyrna. I've met with your
principals at Campbell High School, Mrs. Myes at Green Acres Elementary. I
I ran the Smyrna 5K this Labor Day.
I've been to the Smyrna Rotary.
I've had cups of coffee at Rev Coffee,
been to upward football games, and I
have been listening to the citizens of Smyrna.
The reason I've done this is because I
want to understand the unique character and quality
of the city if I'm going to serve as a state senator.
And I want to assure you that today is a continuation
of something I started a year ago when I first introduced myself to you.
I see myself in partnership with you to hopefully work together to ensure that Smyrna's future is bright.
I'd be honored to have your support and the vote of any citizens who are listening today on cable news.
Thank you very much for the time to introduce myself.
Again, I'm Leah Aldridge, State Senate for the 6th District. Thank you.
Thank you very much.
Anyone else?
Funding for office.
Just briefly, I just want to mention,
under the mayoral report,
that Smyrna was recognized in Money Magazine
as one of the top 50 communities
in the United States to live.
And we're very proud of that,
something that we didn't know about until after we got it.
But I think we're ranked number 44.
There was only two cities in the state of Georgia.
And the other one was Alpharetta.
Not sure where they were right.
I think they'd be in 25th or something, so.
Pretty neat honor for us, though.
Item four is land issues, zonies, and annexation.
A, 2018-411, authorization for apartment name change
from WDR-4 Wood Johnkel, LLC, DBA Alta at Johnkel
to the new name, DBA Sink.
SYNC at Johnclaw located at 1455 Spring Road Southeast with Carol Moore as the
agent. Is Ms. Moore by any chance here? Anything else you can add to that, Ms. Jones?
Alta at Johnclaw, they requested to change their name to SYNC at Johnclaw. The
proper name change application has been reviewed and approved by the Fire
Marshall, building inspector, city engineer, 9-1-1 communications, water department, and
the city marshals, as well as reported to the business license officer.
Staff does recommend approval of the name change.
Okay.
This is not a public hearing, so I'll turn this over to Ms. Blackmon, who represents
this district.
Ms. Blackmon.
Thank you, Mayor.
I was hoping that the agent Carol Moore would be here because I wanted to
definitely ask that question about or ask her a question as to where the sink
at Jean-Claude comes from which is really cool name so but with that if we
don't have any other questions from the council mayor I would like to have
us to approve 2018-411 authorization for apartment name change for WDR-4
Wood-Jeanquil LLC, DBA, Alta et Jeanquil, to the new name, DBA, Sink et Jeanquil, located
at 1455, Spring Road, Southeast, with Carol Moore.
And motion is second to approve this request for name change. Any discussion? All those in favor
of the motion?
Let's approve 7-C, bro.
Item number 4-B under land issues, zone is an annexation.
2018-347, public hearing, code amendment to sections 402712714716 and 720 of the zoning
zoning ordinance are proposed to add definitions related to breweries and distilleries, and
to list breweries and distilleries as permitted uses within General Commercial Light Industrial
Central Business District and mixed use zoning districts City of Smyrna.
As I mentioned at the beginning, this will be tabled until the 5th of November, Mr.
Tim Goode.
Thank you, Mr. Mayor.
We're going to move to table this.
So I moved to table 2018-347, code amendment to section 402, 712, 714, 716, and 720 of
the zoning ordinance are proposed to add definitions related to breweries and distilleries and
to list breweries and distilleries as permanent uses within the general commercial, light industrial,
central business district, and mixed use zoning districts, City of Smyrna.
Second.
Motion to second the table from November 5th. All those in favor of the motion.
It's approved 7-0.
The next items CD, E, F, G and H all deal with zoning amendments or changes in the zoning ordinance.
We will vote on these separately.
I think what we need to do is to, we're going to turn this over to Mr. Kinn, but these are
all public hearings.
I think you're going to get them all at the same time, Ken.
Is that correct?
Probably easier for us to go right through and vote on them independently.
I'll read C, ordinance 2018-13, public hearing, general code amendments for corrections
and updates for zoning ordinances City of Smyrna.
D, Ordinance 2018-14 Public Hearing Application
for MAP Amendments Updates for Zoning
Ordinance City of Smyrna.
E, Ordinance 2018-15 Public Hearing Mixed Use District Update
to the Zoning Ordinance City of Smyrna.
F, ordinance 2018-16, public hearing code amendments to the zoning ordinance to add new single
family residential zoning district city of Smyrna, G, ordinance 2018-17, public hearing
section 704 RAD update to the zoning ordinance city of Smyrna, and H, ordinance 2018-18,
public hearing, zoning ordinance, table, update, city of Smurram.
Ms. Jones, you'll give a quick background on how we got here and then we'll turn it over
and let Ken, if that's okay with Council, we'll do the first one and go from there.
The Community Development Department reviewed the city's zoning ordinances and to make
language more clear and to clean up existing areas that need updating.
They brought forth these following ordinances to the Planning and Zoning Commission.
And so with that said, I'm going to turn it over to Ken to give you more specifics on
each particular upcoming agenda item.
And as we go through this, each one of them, they're all public hearings.
So that means that if anyone wants to make any public comment concerning any of these
issues, we will give you that time during the agenda to speak.
So we'll start off with Ken and you go from there.
Thank you, Mayor.
As Ms. Soderland has indicated, there are a variety of reasons that these are coming
to you.
Some has to do that you've actually requested them in our retreats.
Some has to do that they were suggested in previous studies that we did over last year.
Some were suggested in our comprehensive plan.
So over the last 12 to 18 months, we've had a variety of reasons to do this.
the issue that I had put on our work program for our FY19 budget was to get
started on that. So this is the first phase of these amendments. We will bring
these to you more or less every quarter, not necessarily the quarter as the
calendar falls, but every three or four months we will bring them another
batch to you. So we actually we actually had brought seven to you. You've tabled
the one at our request so that we could have a little additional work on that.
But the other six are in this presentation here and I'll try to be as
succinct but as clear as I can. The first round which would be item C has
to do with general corrections and update and as you know anytime you do an
ordinance there's going to be a typo or there's going to be a grammatical
mistake or maybe words have changed maybe there's a better way to say stuff
and that's indeed what we've what we have done this is really cleaning up
those those type those kind of typos there's really three main changes that
we're dealing with here which are shown on the screen here in section 715 you
can see that we're we've taken out and encouraged the continued
concentration of tourist service that's a repeated phrase we don't need it in
there twice then we talk about not more than six dwelling units should be
permitted into single family attached building.
We have that elsewhere. It just
needs to be more consistent there. So it's sort of a cleanup issue. And then the
last one we feel has has now gotten to be an invalid paragraph. I think it
started out initially with a good intent. But through the years it has
not been used and both the city attorney and I have some concerns about its due process
issue and that has to do with the status of a rezoning if you do not obtain a building
permit then it automatically goes back to its original state.
That automatic aspect gives us due process.
So we are recommending that that whole paragraph be amended.
So those are the three major changes in item C.
Now on item D, this is an issue of how we actually process requests
and how that has changed through the years.
And unfortunately the ordinance itself did not keep up with the changes that we have made.
There's actually seven changes that we are recommending.
I'm not necessarily going to go through each and every one of those, but this will bring
the actual paperwork, the applications that we give out in line, or bring the ordinance
in line with how we actually practice our work.
Whether that's listing stuff that's already been listed on our applications, or adding
additional information. We practice that. These amendments here in D bring the two parties
together there. Item E, and there you can just jump it back. You can see that there's the
seven that we were talking about. Item E has to do with our mixed use. This is an
issue that was picked up as a result of our comprehensive plan because we have
added the term regional activity center and we need to amend our ordinance in a
couple places. There are three amendments that we were proposing to do that but
basically this is generated because of our comp plan. Now that we have an option
regional activity center we need to actually put that in our purpose and intent of that MU district.
And while we were doing that we realized that there is a typo or some unneeded words in there as well.
F is dealing with the addition of two new districts.
districts.
Both the R8 and the R10 zoning districts are proposed. Right now we do not
have the ability other than our RAD district to really deal with developments that are
in that 3, 4, 3, 5, 3, 6 units per acre and up to 6 units. There's sort of a gap between
between those two points, and the RAD has been used in the past to fill that gap.
What we are proposing, which is also recommended as part of the COMP plan, is that we add both
an R10, which would add up to a little over four units an acre, as well as an RA classification
that would allow a little over five units an acre to sort of fill that gap.
So, you see we would be going from that mid, that sort of three and a half, and then we
have a little over four, then a little over five, and then the RAD allows up to six.
So we're filling in those gaps with the addition of these new districts.
So what you see here is R10 and R8 that's on the screen, and because we use what is
known in the planning profession as a pyramidal ordinance we don't have to list
every single use we just refer back to the previous district and then that'll
refer back and ultimately you get all of the uses that you need as a result of
that we don't have to have a real big amendment here and as you can see in in
the R10 district, it refers to everything in the R12.
So that's how the ordinance works.
So staff has encouraged and Planning Commission concurred as well for the addition of both
an R8 and an R10 zoning district.
G is dealing with our RAD districts and we are suggesting that we actually rename our RAD district.
Not drastically, we're just reversing some of the letters instead of residential attached,
detached, we are recommending that it's really residential detached and untouched
because most of the time we have emphasized
and the development community has responded
that it is more of a detached zoning classification.
Therefore, we feel that in this case,
the D needs to come before the A,
so that we're asking that it be switched to RDA.
As a result of that,
there's reference throughout the ordinance
that deal with RDA and we would just change those uses as you see here that's
up on the screen we're that's all we're doing we're changing RAD to RDA we're
not changing any standards within that district we're just changing how it's
represented and then finally in on H we there are three tables in the
ordinance where there's actually multiple tables in the ordinance but
three of the tables are affected because of the changes we have made tonight, as well
as bringing it back up to date, we had noticed there were a couple changes that had occurred
in previous updates that did not make it into those tables.
Obviously, you know, we are recommending R10 and R8, that needs to be added.
That's sort of an easy one.
But issues like the mixed use zoning district as well as some errors.
so you've got this is sort of a table of contents where we're introducing that
aspect as well as the table that has to do with what the actual requirements
within the district are in terms of setbacks and minimum lot sizes and the
like and then the final table picks that is a continuation of that for
commercial aspects that we're bringing that all together. Now that's it but I
also handed out tonight an update on our 8 and our 10 that we had picked up with
the assistance of Councilman Wilkerson
We had inadvertently, in the R10, we had said that it would reflect a medium density,
and we've given you an update to that. It really is supposed to say moderate density,
which is a little bit lower. And then in the R8, we actually said it was medium to high,
and it really should just be medium. So we've given you those updates,
and so my request would be that when you adopt that you would adopt based on what
we had presented to you tonight plus what we've handed out regarding those
density aspects. With that I feel like I've gotten through those fairly
quickly I'm happy to answer any questions that you have but they really are pretty
succinct I hope and with that Planning Commission and staff are
recommending adoption. All right well let's do this we'll start we have to
vote on these individually so we're going to start with C which is the
general code amendment for corrections and updates. This is a public
hearing. If anyone here would like to make any public comments concerning item C.
At the
record show there's none. And then I'll ask Mr. Tim Gould who chairs this committee to
make the motion. And also if there's any questions after he makes a motion then we
can answer those.
Thank you Mr. Mayor. I want to thank Canon as group for digging into the ordinances
and starting the process that'll go on for some time of continue to refine and
improve our zoning codes to be suitable to where we are here in Smyrna
currently in our for zoning needs. Anyway, Mr. Mayor, I'd like to motion to
approve ORD 2018-13 general code amendments for corrections and updates
for zoning ordinance city of Smyrna. Second. Motion second. Is there any
discussion.
It is not all those in favor of the motion.
Proof 7-0. Item D,
ordinance 2018, that's 14 public hearing. This is for the application for MAP
amendments. Is there anyone, this is a public hearing. Is anyone here that would
like to make any public comment concerning this issue?
That's the
approve ORD 2018-14 application for map amendments update to the zoning
ordinance city of Smyrna
motion a second it's in discussion although some favor
the motion please vote to
approve 7-0 item e ordinance 2018-15 public
hearing mixed use district update to the zoning ordinance city of Sumerna. This is a public hearing
because everyone here might make any public comment concerning this issue. That's the record show
there is no Mr. Tim Goode. Thank you sir. Move to approve ORD 2018-15 mixed use district update to
to the zoning ordinance.
City of Somerna.
Motion is second.
In discussion.
All those in favor, motion.
Move 7-0.
Item F, ordinance 2018-16, public hearing.
Code amendment to the zoning ordinance
to add a new single-family residential zoning district.
City of Somerna, this is a public hearing.
Does anyone here like making a public comment
concerning this issue?
At the record show there is none.
Mr. Tim Goode. Thank you Mr. Mayor. This one has maybe a little bit more of an impact
on I think in how the City Council will do business creating the R10 and R8 zoning districts
allow us to stick more closely to a defined ordinance versus using RAD and with a wide
range of variances to accommodate particular needs. So this is I believe a nice addition
to our zoning code and makes it easier for us as a body to have a more formal appropriate
code.
So therefore I move, Mr. Mayor, I move to approve ORD 2018-16 code amendment to the
zoning ordinance to add new single-family residential zoning districts, City of Smyrna.
Motion second. Any discussion? All those in favor of the motion please vote.
Let's approve 7-0. Adam Gee, ordinance 2018-17, public hearing section 7-4, RAD update to the
zoning ordinance city of Smyrna. This is a public hearing. Is anyone here to send,
would like to make any public comment concerning this ordinance amendment?
at the record show that is none.
Mr. Tim Goode.
Thank you, sir.
Move to approve ORD 2018-17, section 704 rad update
to the zoning ordinance, city of Smyrna.
Second.
Motion is second.
Any discussion?
All those in favor, motion.
Let's approve 701.
Item H, ordinance 2018-18, public hearing zoning,
regarding ordinance table update city of Smyrna.
Anyone, this is a public hearing anyone here they'd like to make any public comment
concerning this issue. That's the record show there is none.
Mr. Tim Good. Thank you Mr. Mayor.
Move to approve
ORD 2018-18
zoning ordinance table updates city of Smyrna.
Motion second.
Any discussion? All those in favor
of the motion,
approved 70.
Item five is from previous licenses.
We have nothing.
Item six is formal business A2018-401,
approval of the reappointment of George Davis
to the civil service board for a two-year term
to expire November 16, 2020.
Mr. Jones, is there any background on that?
The civil service board is comprised of three members,
each serving two year terms. One seat is appointed by the council, currently held
by George Davis, one elected by fire police personnel, currently Barb Allen,
but up for reelection, and one appointed by the other two board members,
currently John Davis. George Davis' term is set to expire November 16, 2018, but
has requested reappointment to the Civil Service Board. Staff does
recommend appointment of Mr. Davis.
Ms. Blackburn.
Thank you very much, Mayor.
I would like to move that for approval of 2018-401, approval of the reappointment of
George Davis to the Civil Service Board for a two-year term to expire November 16, 2020.
Second.
Motion is second.
Pre-discussion.
All those in favor of the motion?
That's approved 70.
Before we go into bed, I want to thank Ken and his department for the, you know,
all the changes that we had approved tonight.
Thanks for your hard work and thanks for not taking all night.
I think we'll be here at 11 o'clock,
the way that sometimes you go on.
But thank you, thank y'all very much.
Item B, under formal business,
2018-415, authorization of a contract extension
with Zaxter Inc. for bike share program services
until March the 8th, 2019, in the amount of $14,400.
Ms. Jones, the background, please.
Zaxter Incorporated is planning to transition to a new regional bike system.
The target date to relaunch this new regional program will be the spring of 2019.
Rather than extend the current program with the city for another full year,
Zaxter is offering a short-term extension for six months.
The only changes to the contract will be the new end date of March 8, 2019,
and a reduced price of $120 per bike down from $130 per bike per month.
Staff recommends approval of the contract extension with Zaxter
for bike share program services until March 8, 2019 in the amount of $14,400.
Ms. Wilkinson.
Thank you.
So if there's anybody that would like to have any questions, I don't know if there's
anybody to speak on this.
Richard's not here, is he?
Is Richard here?
No, I don't know.
Do you want to speak about it?
Okay, thanks.
Overall the program has been very successful. There's 4,000 active users and as Ms. Sadler-Jones said this is simply extending our program and saving some money in the process.
Okay. If there's no other questions, I would like to move to approve item 6B2018-415.
authorization of a contract extension with Zaxter for bike share program
services until March 8, 2019 in the amount of $14,400.
The motion is second to approve this contract extension. Any discussion? All
those in favor of the motion?
Proof 7-0. Item 7 is commercial building permits.
We have none. Item 8 is consent agenda. Ms. Jones, will you please read the
consent agenda for Council's approval. The consent agenda reads as follows. Item A,
approval of September 17, 2018, Mayor and Council meeting minutes. Item B, approval
of the September 17, 2018 pre-Council meeting minutes. Item C, approval of the
August 30 of 2018 Committee of the Whole meeting minutes. Item D, approval of
of the September 13th, 2018 Committee of the Whole Meeting
Minutes, Item E, Approval of the City's Wellness Program,
Renewal with Corporate Health Partners,
and Authorized Mayor to Execute Related Documents,
Item F, Approval of Use for Council Chambers
for Vinings Forest HOA Meeting, Tuesday, October 16th,
2018, from 6.30 PM to 8 PM,
Item G, approve the use of linear park on Concord Road for an event titled
Seeing Red Chili Cook Off, organized and managed by Wade's Fine Eatery Food Time
Emporium on October 20, 2018 from 1 p.m. until 6 p.m. to include alcohol
sales on the restaurant property, extension of premises for alcohol
sales to include but be limited to parking spaces adjacent to the
restaurant for the purpose of dispens- of beer dispensing from a single beer
trailer station along with carrying privileges of legally purchased beverages
for attendees into the park property the area designated as the event space for
the duration of the event. Mr. Mayor move approval of the consent agenda. Most
This is saying approve the consent agenda, while those in favor of the most, please vote.
Prove 7-0.
Committee reports will start tonight with Mr. Derek Norton.
Thank you, Mr. Mayor.
I want to remind everybody that this week is Public Safety Appreciation Week.
We had the pleasure of attending a breakfast this morning, recognizing our public safety
personnel, and some from SMERNA were recognized for exceptional service, examples of exceptional
service recently and that was Lieutenant Tommy Bates and Lieutenant J.P. Paul
from the Fire Department and Officer Heather Clemens from the Smyrna Police
Department. They were award nominees so if you go about your week I encourage you
to say an extra thank you to the men and women who protect us every day with
that IU. Miss Andrea Bluesting. Yes your honor I don't have anything this
this evening. Thank you.
Ms. Marilyn Blackman.
Thank you, sir.
I would like to just follow up with Councilman Norton.
I also attended the breakfast this morning
for our personnel public safety week
and want to send out a congratulations
to those, all of the individuals that were honored.
And just as he said, if you have an opportunity
to go by the fire station or the police department
and say hello and thank you,
that would be most appreciative.
Also just want to say, had a great time this weekend
at the North Georgia State Fair.
It was really a wonderful event and well attended.
Also had an opportunity to hang out with a lot of our furry animals this weekend
at the Wolfstalk, so hats off to Jennifer Bennett and our Smyrna crew
for doing a great job with that as well.
And then just want to welcome two new members to our staff,
Herman Hunter, who is our new Code Enforcement Officer,
and William Parker, our Economic Development Coordinator,
Just say thanks and welcome aboard guys. We look forward to working with you and one less
I just want to wish the family of Michael Dorsey, my deepest condolences, we lost a dear
Smyrna resident on September 19, the accident that happened on Church Road between the motorcycle
and the car. So again, just sending my condolences out to the family. With that, Mayor, I yield.
Mr. Corker-Wilch. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I just want to make sure and invite everybody
to the grand reopening of the Smyrna Century Garden behind the community
center this coming Saturday October 6th from 10 to 11 a.m. and that community
garden has been restored restored by the Johnkel Garden Club so everybody
please come out 10 o'clock in the morning. Love to have you there. That
a year. Ms. Susan Wilkerson. Thank you Mayor. I did want to say I also attended the
luncheon recognizing the public safety officers and I really enjoyed hearing
about the stories and they do a wonderful job and I want to remind people
to make sure you thank your public safety officers this week for the work
that they do. This is a week of recognition. Also I would like to make
an announcement for Mary Moore from the library. This is an announcement from the Friends of
the Smyrna Library and the Friends of the Library invite you to attend the second annual
Books and Brick Lego exhibit. The event is this weekend in the Smyrna Community Center
Magnolia Room. The exhibit will be created by the Dixie Lego Users Group, a club of
adult Lego enthusiasts. Displays include moving trains, landscapes, townscapes, and unique
individual creations. Activities include a free build station, crafts, and a reading
corner. Tickets will be sold at the door. The tickets are $8 for ages 13 and older, $4
for ages 5 to 12, and free for ages 4 and younger. The hours are noon to 6 p.m. on
Saturday, October 6th and noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday, October 7th. The proceeds
benefit the youth services collection of the Smyrna Public Library. And with that,
I yield. Mr. Tim Gu.
Thank you, Mr. Mayor. We had our first committee meeting of
the Education Committee of myself and Councilperson Wilkinson and
Councilperson Blackburn. And a great meeting, a lot of enthusiasm. The possibilities are
wide open for what we can do as a council and as a city to help and put impact and support
our schools here in Smyrna. So we're very, very excited and very enthused that the mayor
and council saw fit to form the committee. So I think it's a great thing. One of the
specific things we'll work on is some pedestrian safety. There was an unfortunate incident recently
by Argyle Elementary. We're a couple young kids. We're hit. I think they're fine physically,
but it just highlights the need for us to focus on pedestrian safety for families and
kids near our schools. Also, I want to touch on a project that Scott Andrews and Ashley
humans have been working on, the Youth Council. So they just finished selecting
their 11 talented high school students from three high schools in our area. I can think
orientation is this week and it's a great program to help engage our students, our youth, into
the city activities and continue to tie our city into more deeply into our schools. With
that, I yield.
Mr. Ron Middle.
Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I want to announce that the Finance Committee's next meeting is
on October 25th. We've had a challenge getting it scheduled properly. About October
25th, we're having two meetings I think upcoming, this one to complete work on the finance and
HR report outs. We'll have that one out soon, but that'll be all posted on the website.
October 25th is the finance committee meeting, regular reports from our finance department
and our progress toward goal on the budget. Secondly, I want to just note that I want
I want to thank the John Quill Golden Cake Kiwanis Club for inviting me to be their guest
speaker a week ago Tuesday.
I appreciate being with that team.
I didn't get through my entire presentation because there were question after question
after question.
They're a very curious involved group of leaders in the Kiwanis Club and I appreciate
them inviting me to speak.
And then finally, since we met last, the Atlanta Braves clenched the National League East pennant.
We are now going to go to the National League Championship Series for the privilege of hosting
the World Series right here in Cobb County on Sorna's doorstep.
Go Braves.
Mr. Jones.
Mr. Andrews.
Mr. Cochran.
Mr. Graham.
No?
Okay.
We do not have a show cause hearing. We got one person signed up for
citizens input, Alec Bakery, 3459 Shawnee Trail.
Comments is his topic.
My first comment tonight is
that we missed the deadline to consider term limits on the mid-term ballot.
I'd like to comment that I hope in the new year this council
re-considers doing a referendum on that. Marietta did it again and passed it so
I'm for it either way whatever the people think about next year is an
election year so it'd be nice to have a referendum where people especially new
people know where to go to vote on an issue and I want to emphasize that if a
council person is against it you got to remember it's not the person on the
Council's opinion. It's the people that voted him in office. So you look at the majority as well as
The taxpayers pay their salary. So it should be what the people in your ward want
Not what you think personally
Secondly
on this 300,000 you've got for a survey on
Drapik transit. I hope you consider sending that back
because you look at Concord Road that two years to do it and then we still got
just two lane two lane all we got was a center meeting sidewalks and a light at
Macaulay for $20 million that doesn't do it the roads are tight and
Smyrna and if they try to make a separate spot for look at Windy Hill as
well, how much you're going to do to impede traffic, it just doesn't fit.
And I think it's a waste unless you deal with through the air that the city cannot spend
the money to do a rapid transit.
I look at the buses that people are waiting for in Cobb County to go around Cobb.
They're empty.
And lastly, I hope this issue on buying that purchase on Spring Road is a dead issue.
I think it's absolutely ridiculous to spend, even think about $15 million speculating with
taxpayer money on something that we already have with the community center.
I find this an absolute insane idea and I hope this council ends that conversation
on that.
Again, you don't speculate with taxpayer money.
You only have to look at what Hickory Lakes and Smyrna Commons did
Speculating with our money and the millions of dollars we lost
And I hope that's as I say there's nothing there that we don't already have with the community center. We have
Thank you
concludes the
citizen's input
There's no other business be brought for this body out of credit is me your turn at 751