08-02-2021 August 2, 2021 M&C Meeting Minutes - SIGNED - LFOf SM y�
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Monday, August 2, 2021
Roll Call
City of Smyrna
Meeting Minutes - Final
City Council
6:45 PM
A. Max Bacon City Hall
Council Chambers
2800 King Street SE
Smyrna, GA. 30080
Council Chambers
Present: 6 - Councilmember Glenn Pickens, Councilmember Austin Wagner,
Councilmember Travis Lindley, Councilmember Charles Welch,
Councilmember Susan Wilkinson and Councilmember Lewis Wheaton
Absent: 1 - Mayor Derek Norton
Also Present: 1 - Scott Cochran
Call to Order
Staff: 7 - Joe Bennett, Penny Moceri, Heather Peacon-Corn, Lisa Collins, Tyler
Addison, Mike Hickenbottom and Tyler Lewis
Mayor Pro Tern Tim Gould called the August 2, 2021 Meeting of the Mayor and Council
to order at 6:45pm in the Council Chambers of A. Max Bacon City Hall.
1. Invocation and Pledge:
Pastor Jeffrey Pennington, Smyrna First Baptist Church (1275 Church St) was invited
to the podium to lead the invocation and Pledge of Allegiance.
2. Agenda Changes:
4.
5.
Mayoral Report:
There were no Agenda Changes.
Mayor Pro Tem Tim Gould noted Mayor Derek Norton was out of town and would not be
presiding over this evenings meeting.
He also spoke about the State of the City Address was held the previous week and
thanked the Chamber of Commerce, Chairman, Executive Director and City staff it
was a very positive and pleasant evening.
The link for the video is on City website as well as Facebook City page for public
viewing.
School started today.. be safe, be patient as we adjust to the traffic and buses.
Land Issues/Zonings/Annexations:
There were no Land Issues, Zonings or Annexations.
Privilege Licenses:
There were no Privilege Licenses.
City of Smyrna Page 1 Printed on 81912021
City Council Meeting Minutes - Final August 2, 2021
6.
A.
B
Formal Business:
2021-320
2021-329
Public Hearing and adoption of the 2021 Millage rate.
City Administrator Joe Bennett read aloud the background for this item as follows:
The FY22 budget approved by council included revenue projections based on 8.99
mills. This is the last of three required public hearings before the formal adoption of
the 8.99 millage rate. Tax information was received from Cobb County on June 24,
2021. Per the information provided, the City would need to roll back the millage rate to
8.468 to not advertise a tax increase. In comparison, last year's millage rollback was
calculated at 8.728.
The official notice, and all required information, was posted in the Marietta Daily
Joumal on July 9th and July 23rd. A press release was sent to the Marietta Daily
Journal on July 6. It has also been posted on our City website. This is the last
required public hearing. Additional hearings were held on July 19th at 7:00 pm and Aug
2nd at 10:00 am. This is the adoption of the millage rate.
Finance Staff recommends adoption of the millage rate of 8.99 for tax year 2021.
Mayor Pro Tem Gould noted and called the Public Hearing for this item and no one
came forward to speak in favor of or in opposition to this item.
A motion was made by Councilmember Corkey Welch to approve item 2021-320, a
public hearing and adoption of the 2021 Millage rate; seconded by Councilmember
Lewis Wheaton.
The motion to approve carried by the following vote:
Aye: 6- Councilmember Pickens, Councilmember Wagner, Councilmember Lindley,
Councilmember Welch, Councilmember Wilkinson and Councilmember
Wheaton
Update and adoption of the City of Smyrna Debt Management Policy
with written guidance providing parameters on long term debt borrowing
and authorize the Mayor to sign and execute any related documents.
City Administrator Joe Bennett read aloud the background for this item as follows:
he City currently has a debt policy as a part of a 2009 financial plan document. This
plan is specific to that time period needs to be replaced with a more comprehensive
policy. Approval and adoption of this new policy will provide guidance to staff when
looking at long term debt for the City.
The City needs written guidance providing parameters on long term debt borrowing. As
a part of the AAA bond rating process with S&P that was recently completed, we
discussed a need for a policy.
Staff recommends update and adoption of the City of Smyrna Debt Management
Policy with written guidance providing parameters on long term debt borrowing and
authorize the Mayor to sign and execute any related documents.
A motion was made by Councilmember Corkey Welch to approve item 021-329 to
update and adopt the City of Smyrna Debt Management Policy with written guidance
providing parameters on long term debt borrowing and authorize the Mayor to sign and
execute any related documents; seconded by Councilmember Glenn Pickens.
The motion to approve carried by the following vote:
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City Council Meeting Minutes - Final August 2, 2021
W
7.
8.
A.
B.
C.
Aye: 6 - Councilmember Pickens, Councilmember Wagner, Councilmember Lindley,
Councilmember Welch, Councilmember Wilkinson and Councilmember
Wheaton
Approval of the Appointment of Ward 3 resident, Lem Ward, to the
Smyrna Housing Authority to fulfill current term that expires 12/31/2022.
City Administrator Joe Bennett read aloud the background for this item as follows:
Taneisha Simpson, current Ward 3 Smyrna Housing Authority board member, resigned
from the board effective July 19, 2021. Councilmember Travis Lindley is requesting the
appointment of Ward 3 resident, Lem Ward, to the Smyrna Housing Authority to fulfill
current term expiring 12/31/22.
The recommendation requested is for the approval of the appointment of Ward 3
resident, Lem Ward, to the Smyrna Housing Authority to fulfill current term that expires
1213112022.
A motion was made by Councilmember Travis Lindley to approve item 2021-335 for the
appointment of Ward 3 resident, Lem Ward, to the Smyrna Housing Authority to fulfill
current term that expires 12/31/2022; seconded by Boardmember Susan Wilkinson.
The motion to approve carried by the following vote:
Aye: 6- Councilmember Pickens, Councilmember Wagner, Councilmember Lindley
Councilmember Welch, Councilmember Wilkinson and Councilmember
Wheaton
Commercial Building Permits:
Consent Agenda:
The items on the Consent agenda were read aloud by City Administrator Joe Bennett
for Council approval.
A motion was made by Councilmember Travis Lindley to approve the consent agenda
as read aloud by City Administrator Joe Bennett; seconded by Councilmember Corkey
Welch.
The motion to approve carried by the following vote:
Aye: 6 - Councilmember Pickens, Councilmember Wagner, Councilmember Lindley,
Councilmember Welch, Councilmember Wilkinson and Councilmember
Wheaton
Approval of the June 3, 2021 Committee of the Whole Meeting Minutes.
The June 3, 2021 Committee of the Whole Meeting Minutes were approved.
MIN20214 Approval of the July 19, 2021 Pre -Council Meeting Minutes.
The July 19, 2021 Pre -Council Meeting Minutes were approved.
MIN2021-5" Approval of the July 19, 2021 Mayor and Council Meeting Minutes.
The July 19, 2021 Mayor and Council Meeting Minutes were approved.
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City Council
9. Ward / Committee Reports:
Meeting Minutes - Final August 2, 2021
Ward 7 Councilmember Lewis Wheaton had no report however made a plea to the
unvaccinated citizens and asked them to get their vaccine.
Ward 5 Councilmember Susan Wilkinsons had no report.
Ward 4 Councilmember Corkey Welch reminded the public that school was in session
and to be careful traveling the roads to keep students safe.
Ward 3 Councilmember Travis Lindley has no report.
Ward 2 Councilmember Austin Wagner reminded the public that the City still had free
vaccines for those still unvaccinated.
Ward 1 Councilmember Glenn Pickens had no report.
10. Show Cause Hearings:
11. Citizen Input:
12. Adjournment:
There were no Show Cause Hearings.
Monserrat Knowlton of 1367 Poplar Pointe SE commented that he is against the sale
of the lot for sale to Stillfire Brewery.
Dave Lincoln of 2860 Parkwood commented that he is against the sale of the City
green space acre to Stillfire Brewery as well as he is questioning the reasoning behind
Stillfire being the only consideration for this property and feels the sale and
greenspace planned is being done so around the brewery coming to the City.
Kathy Omaits of 207 Countryside Place SE commented she is concerned about the
lack of information being provided to the public about the development.
Kurt Austin commented about the short time frame of the project for downtown
redevelopment. and noted only two input meetings were held on June 6 and June 14.
He asked specifically how the brewery got the option to purchase this property. He
feels the Mayor and Council are not really interested in the Public Input for this project.
Pat Burns of 10 Concord Road spoke about being against the project and submitted
her paper comments to the Clerk's office for the official record.
Natasha D, of 400 Belmont Place spoke about the Downtown Development and asked
for morea more open process. Until recently she was unaware of the project. She
remarked that previously she had helped plan an Earth Day Festival on the space
being referenced for sale to the Brewery. Also she would like to see a traffic study
done for the area around the fountain.
Mayor Pro Tern Tim Gould adjourned the August 2, 2021 Meeting of the Mayor and
Council at 7:15pm in the Council Chambers of A. Max Bacon City Hall.
City of Smyrna Page 4 Printed on 892021
MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEETING
DEREK NOR —TON
MAYOR
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AUSTIN WAGNER, WARD 2
CHARLES A. WELCH, WARD 4
TIM GOULD, WARD 6
MAYOR PRO TEM
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GLENN IC ENS, WARD 1
TRAVIS LINDLEY, WARD 3
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SUSAN WILKINSON, WARD 5
S WHEATON, WARD 7
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