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02-07-2022 February 7, 2022 Mayor and Council Meeting Minutes - SIGNED - LFF Sy� City y of Smyrna A. Max Bacon City Hall Council Chambers D 2800 King Street SE Smyrna, GA. 30080 ° uls_- Meeting Minutes - Final NGu�tic e- CFO 1tG� City Council Monday, February 7, 2022 7:00 PM A. Max Bacon City Hall - Council Chambers Roll Call Present: 6 - Mayor Derek Norton, Councilmember Travis Lindley, Councilmember Charles Welch, Councilmember Susan Wilkinson, Mayor pro ter / Councilmember Tim Gould and Councilmember Lewis Wheaton Absent: 1 - Councilmember Glenn Pickens Also Present: 1 - Scott Cochran Call to Order Staff: 6 - Joe Bennett, Penny Moceri, Jennifer Bennett, Dat Luu, Julie Barwig and Lisa Collins Mayor Derek Norton called to order the February 7, 2022 Mayor and Council Meeting held in A. Max Bacon City Hall Council Chambers at 7:00 PM. 1. Invocation and Pledge: The invocation and Pledge of Allegiance were led by Councilmember Charles Welch. 2. Agenda Changes: A. 2022-067 Approval to add item 2022-68 for road closure to the consent agenda. Councilmember Travis Lindley made a motion to approve item 2022-067 to add item 2022-68 for road closures to the consent agenda; seconded by Councilmember Charles Welch. The motion to approve carried with the following vote: Aye: 5 - Councilmember Lindley, Councilmember Welch, Councilmember Wilkinson, Mayor pro tern / Councilmember Gould and Councilmember Wheaton Absent: 1 - Councilmember Pickens 3. Mayoral Report: Mayor Derek Norton announced that Councilmembers Glenn Pickens and Austin _ Wagner were not present. Mr. Pickens was unable to attend the meeting due to a personal issue he had to attend to. Mr. Wagner was not present because he recently took a job with the City of Atlanta, and he has resigned his Ward 2 Council seat. The Ward 2 Council seat is now vacant. Qualifying is anticipated to be on March 8, 9, and 10, 2022, and the Special Election is anticipated to be tied in with the Primary held on City of Smyrna Page 1 City Council Meeting Minutes - Final February 7, 2022 the fourth Tuesday of May on May 24, 2022. Mayor Norton invited any candidates for the Ward 2 Council seat to the podium. Latonia P. Hines came forward and announced her candidacy for the Ward 2 Council seat. She stated that she has been a proud member of this community for over 20 years. She worked in the Cobb Solicitor's Office, the Cobb DA's Office, and she has been a public servant for many years. She further stated that it would be an honor to serve in this capacity for the community she has called home for so many years. A. PRC2022-01 Proclamation in Recognition of Black History Month Councilmember Lewis Wheaton presented and read aloud the Proclamation in Recognition of Black History Month: In Recognition of Black History Month Whereas: Each year during Black History Month, the City of Smyrna explores the history and cu.lture of African Americans, discovering stories of triumph of the human spirit, and Whereas: The 2022 theme for Black History Month is 'Black Health and Wellness, " focusing attention on how American healthcare has often underserved the African American community; and Whereas: 2022 is the 200th anniversary of the birth of Harriet Tubman, an abolitionist and conductor on the Underground Railroad, who was also an advocate for the equal care and treatment of African Americans; Tubman helped found a home for aged and indigent African Americans; and Whereas: Prominent Smyrnan, Mrs. Fanny Williams, was the single largest donor for the 1948 Marietta hospital on Montgomery Street which was the only hospital serving African Americans in Cobb County at that time; and Whereas: The City of Smyrna strives to improve the health and wellness of its community. In the past year, Smyrna has provided free access to COVID-19 vaccinations and vaccine information to everyone in the community through clinics and site visits; and Whereas: The City of Smyrna continues to work toward becoming an inclusive community in which all citizens are respected and recognized for their contributions to our community, the state, the country, and the world; Now Therefore: I, Derek Norton, Mayor of the City of Smyrna, Georgia, do hereby proclaim the month of February 2022, to be Black History Month. B. 2022-036 Performance by Mike and Mikari Tarpley from The Breakthrough Fellowship in honor of Black History Month C. PRC2022-02 Proclamation in Recognition of Georgia Arbor Day 2022 Councilmember Susan Wilkinson presented and read aloud the 2022 Arbor Day Proclamation: Whereas: The first Arbor Day was celebrated in 1872 in Nebraska as a special day for planting trees and has grown to thousands of celebrations in communities across our nation each year; and Whereas: Community partners, families, and friends will be joined together at City of Smyrna Page 2 City Council Meeting Minutes - Final February 7, 2022 local Arbor Day ceremonies to recognize the benefits of trees and urban forests; and Whereas: Trees will be planted across the state creating a lasting legacy for future generations, and Whereas: Trees improve water quality and quantity, reduce the erosion of precious topsoil, increase property values and economic vitality in business areas, provide shade, cleanse the air, create habitat for wildlife, and add beauty to communities, and Whereas: Trees promote outdoor recreation which improves human health and well-being and reduces 'Nature -Deficit Disorder" in children by encouraging more activity and connection to the natural world; and Whereas: All of Georgia benefits from forestry, which contributes billions of dollars annually to our state's economy and provides employment for more than 100, 000 people; and Whereas: The City of Smyrna has been a Tree City for 19 years due to the celebration of Arbor Day; now Therefore: I, Derek Norton, Mayor of the City of Smyrna, Georgia do hereby proclaim February 18, 2022, as ARBOR DAY in Georgia and encourage our citizens to plant trees thus leaving a legacy for present and future generations. Julie Barwig, Keep Smyrna Beautiful Director, stated that as part of Arbor Day, they will be planting two shade trees at Chuck Camp Park. If residents would like to plant a tree, Keep Smyrna Beautiful has free tree seedlings available through the Adopt -A -Tree Program. Information can be found at keepsmyrnabeautiful.com. Councilmember Welch commended Ms. Barwig for the cleanliness and organization of the recycle center and thanked her for a job well done. 4. Land Issues/Zonings/Annexations: A. 2021-600 Public Hearing - Zoning Request - Z21-014 - Allow rezoning from GC to MU -Conditional for the development of 163 multi -family units, 20,409 sq. ft. of commercial/restaurant space, and 7,700 sq. ft. clubhouse space at a density of 23.5 units per acre - 6.9 acres - Land Lot 751 & 752 - S Cobb Drive & Oakdale Road - Arris Holdings. Ward 7 / Councilmember Wheaton Councilmember Lewis Wheaton made a motion to table to the February 21, 2022 Mayor and Council Meeting item 2021-600, a public hearing and zoning request (Z21-014) to allow rezoning from GC to MU -Conditional for the development of 163 multi -family units, 20,409 sq. ft. of commercial/restaurant space, and 7,700 sq. ft. clubhouse space at a density of 23.5 units per acre on 6.9 acres on land lot 751 & 752 located at S Cobb Drive & Oakdale Road by applicant Arris Holdings; seconded by Mayor Pro Tem/Councilmember Tim Gould. The motion to table carried with the following vote: Aye: 5 - Councilmember Lindley, Councilmember Welch, Councilmember Wilkinson, Mayor pro tem / Councilmember Gould and Councilmember Wheaton Absent: 1 - Councilmember Pickens 5. Privilege Licenses: City of Smyrna Page 3 City Council Meeting Minutes - Final February 7, 2022 There were no privilege licenses. 6. Formal Business: A. 2022-046 Approval to award the contract for Downtown Improvements - Site and Roadway to the lowest bidder, Ohmshiv Construction, LLC, 805 Progress Court, Suite A, Lawrenceville, GA 30043, in the amount of $2,438,999.56 to be paid out of 2022 SPLOST funds. Ward 3 / Councilmember Lindley Joe Bennett, City Administrator, presented the following background: Bids were opened for the above referenced project on January 26, 2022. After review and analysis of the four bids received, Ohmshiv Construction, LLC has provided the lowest bid. Below is a list of the bids received. CONTRACTOR CONTRACTOR LOCATION TOTAL AMOUNT Ohmshiv Const, LLC Lawrenceville, GA $2,438,999.56 CMC, Inc. Suwanee, GA $2,450,772.85 Baldwin Paving Co. Inc. Marietta, GA $2, 532, 077.84 CMES, Inc. Norcross, GA $2, 859, 967.35 It is the recommendation of Croy Engineering and the Purchasing and Public Works Department of the City of Smyrna, that the contract be awarded to Ohmshiv Construction, LLC in the amount of $2,438,999.56. Upon receipt of the City's concurrence, we will prepare the contracts and forward them to the Contractor for execution. Councilmember Travis Lindley made a motion to approve 2022-046 to award the contract for Downtown Improvements - Site and Roadway to the lowest bidder, Ohmshiv Construction, LLC, 805 Progress Court, Suite A, Lawrenceville, GA 30043, in the amount of $2,438,999.56 to be paid out of 2022 SPLOST funds; seconded by Mayor Pro Tern/Councilmember Tim Gould. The motion to approve carried with the following vote: Aye: 4 - Councilmember Lindley, Councilmember Welch, Mayor pro tem / Councilmember Gould and Councilmember Wheaton Nay: 1 - Councilmember Wilkinson Absent: 1 - Councilmember Pickens B. 2022-038 Approval to amend the FY 2022 budget for debt service (interest) payment for the Smyrna Downtown Development Authority (GA) Revenue Bonds (City of Smyrna Projects), Series 2021 in the amount of $658,384.03 to be funded from General Fund Reserves. Ward / Citywide Joe Bennett, City Administrator, presented the following background: Subsequent to the adoption of the FY 2022 budget the City completed financing for the DDA Series 2021 Revenue Bonds to jump start SPLOST 2022 projects and to fund $7.35M of General Fund related projects. The General Fund is responsible for all City of Smyrna Page 4 City Council Meeting Minutes - Final February 7, 2022 interest payments on the debt since the bond was not included in the SPLOST referendum. There is one interest payment occurring in FY 2022 that needs to be included in the FY 2022 budget in the amount of $658, 384.03. General Fund will show a transfer out to the 2022 SPLOST Fund for this payment and the 2022 SPLOST Fund will show a transfer in and also show the debt service payment. Approval to amend the FY 2022 budget for debt service (interest) payment for the Smyrna Downtown Development Authority (GA) Revenue Bonds (City of Smyrna Projects), Series 2021 in the amount of $658, 384.03 to be funded from General Fund Reserves. Councilmember Travis Lindley made a motion to approve item 2022-038 to amend the FY 2022 budget for debt service (interest) payment for the Smyrna Downtown Development Authority (GA) Revenue Bonds (City of Smyrna Projects), Series 2021 in the amount of $658,384.03 to be funded from General Fund Reserves; seconded by Mayor Pro Tem/Councilmember Tim Gould. The vote to approve carried with the following vote: Aye: 4 - Councilmember Lindley, Councilmember Welch, Mayor pro ter / Councilmember Gould and Councilmember Wheaton Nay: 1 - Councilmember Wilkinson Absent: 1 - Councilmember Pickens C. 2022-023 Approval to award Lichty Commercial Construction, Inc. (3445 Buffington Center, Atlanta, GA 30349) for the addition of a unisex family restroom on the east side of the existing Wolfe Adult Recreation Center using $188,806.00 of Smyrna Parks & Recreation funds from Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Public Facilities balance and authorize the Mayor to sign and execute all related documents. Ward 3 / Councilmember Lindley Joe Bennett, City Administrator, presented the following background: The City of Smyrna Parks & Recreation requested funds from Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Public Facilities balance for an addition of a unisex family restroom on the east side of the existing Wolfe Adult Recreation Center. Two bids were submitted, and Parks & Recreation and Finance recommend the contract be awarded to the lowest responsive and responsible bidder, Lichty Commercial Construction, Inc. 3445 Buffington Center, Atlanta, GA 30349 in the amount of $188,806.00. Councilmember Travis Lindley made a motion to approve item 2022-023 to award Lichty Commercial Construction, Inc. (3445 Buffington Center, Atlanta, GA 30349) for the addition of a unisex family restroom on the east side of the existing Wolfe Adult Recreation Center using $188,806.00 of Smyrna Parks & Recreation funds from Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Public Facilities balance and authorize the Mayor to sign and execute all related documents; seconded by Councilmember Charles Welch. The motion to approve carried with the following vote: Cityof Smyrna Page 5 City Council Meeting Minutes - Final February 7, 2022 Aye: 5 - Councilmember Lindley, Councilmember Welch, Councilmember Wilkinson, Mayor pro tern / Councilmember Gould and Councilmember Wheaton Absent: 1 - Councilmember Pickens D. AGR2022-02 Authorization for the City of Smyrna to continue as a Sub Recipient of the Cobb County Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program PY2022, to receive the grant amount of $261,658.67 for Public Facility Projects and Administration and Planning, authorize the Mayor to sign and execute all related documents. Ward / Citywide Councilmember Travis Lindley made a motion to approve item AGR2022-02 for the City of Smyrna to continue as a Sub Recipient of the Cobb County Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program PY2022, to receive the grant amount of $261,658.67 for Public Facility Projects and Administration and Planning, authorize the Mayor to sign and execute the all related documents; seconded by Councilmember Lewis Wheaton. The motion to approve carried with the following vote: Aye: 5 - Councilmember Lindley, Councilmember Welch, Councilmember Wilkinson, Mayor pro tem / Councilmember Gould and Councilmember Wheaton Absent: 1 - Councilmember Pickens E. RES2022-04 Approval of Resolution RES2022-04 in support of the City's acceptance of a $30,000.00 grant from the National Fitness Campaign to install an outdoor Fitness Court@, provide match funding in the approximate amount of $155,000 to complete the project through CDBG PY20 and CDBG-CV funds, and authorize the Mayor to sign and execute all related documents. Ward 1 / Councilmember Pickens Joe Bennett, City Administrator, presented the following background. - The City of Smyrna has submitted a Grant Application to National Fitness Campaign (NFC) for participation in their 2022 initiative to install and activate outdoor Fitness Courts® in 200 cities and schools across the country. The City of Smyrna was awarded $30, 000 from the NFC Grant Committee to install an outdoor Fitness Court& As part of the grant process, NFC requests a Resolution of Adoption endorsed by the local governing body to accept and receive funds. The City of Smyrna plans to use CDBG PY20 and CDBG-CV funds to complete the local match for the project. The court will be installed in Jonquil Park. Councilmember Susan Wilkinson made a motion to approve item RES2022-04, a resolution (RES2022-04) in support of the City's acceptance of a $30,000.00 grant from the National Fitness Campaign to install an outdoor Fitness Court®, provide match funding in the approximate amount of $155,000 to complete the project through CDBG PY20 and CDBG-CV funds, and authorize the Mayor to sign and execute all related documents; seconded by Councilmember Travis Lindley. City of Smyrna Page 6 City Council Meeting Minutes - Final February 7, 2022 The motion to approve carried with the following vote: Aye: 5 - Councilmember Lindley, Councilmember Welch, Councilmember Wilkinson, Mayor pro tem / Councilmember Gould and Councilmember Wheaton Absent: 1 - Councilmember Pickens F. 2022-062 Approval to award the Council Chamber AudioNideo Update project to NetPlanner / Presidio (3340 Peachtree Road, Suite 1700, Atlanta, Ga. 30326) for an amount not to exceed $100,000.00 paid with funds from American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) on Georgia State Contract (99999-SPD-SPD0000048-0001), amend the FY 2022 budget to establish a project in the ARPA Fund and authorize the Mayor to sign and execute all related documents. Ward 3 / Councilmember Lindley Councilmember Travis Lindley made a motion to approve item 2022-062 to award the Council Chamber AudioNideo Update project to NetPlanner / Presidio (3340 Peachtree Road, Suite 1700, Atlanta, Ga. 30326) for an amount not to exceed $100,000.00 paid with funds from American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) on Georgia State Contract (99999-SPD-SPD0000048-0001), amend the FY 2022 budget to establish a project in the ARPA Fund and authorize the Mayor to sign and execute all related documents; seconded by Councilmember Lewis Wheaton. The motion to approve carried with the following vote: Aye: 5 - Councilmember Lindley, Councilmember Welch, Councilmember Wilkinson, Mayor pro tem / Councilmember Gould and Councilmember Wheaton Absent: 1 - Councilmember Pickens G. 2022-063 Authorization to continue the process to solicit proposals for the sale and removal of Aunt Fanny's Cabin building (2875 Atlanta Road, Smyrna, Ga. 30080) until 10:00am on Wednesday, March 16, 2022, when further discussion will occur at the Committee of the Whole Meeting on Thursday, March 17, 2022 regarding received responses and the final decision regarding the cabin will be decided and voted on at the March 21, 2022 Meeting of the Mayor and Council. Ward 3 / Councilmember Lindley Joe Bennett, City Administrator, presented the following background: After discussion at the February 3, 2022 Committee of the Whole Meeting and receipt of two responses that did not meet the criteria of the Request For Proposal (RFP) that closed on February 1, 2022 at 10:00 am, the Council consensus was to extend the time to receive RFP's until Wednesday, March 16, 2022 at 10:00 am to allow for more potential proposals to be accepted and reviewed. Upon review, the Council will discuss received responses and the final decision regarding the cabin will be decided and voted on at the March 21, 2022 Meeting of the Mayor and Council. Councilmember Susan W1Ikinson read a letter provided to her by a citizen: City of Smyrna Page 7 City Council Meeting Minutes - Final February 7, 2022 Another view of the history of Aunt Fanny's Cabin Imagine two women, from radically different worlds, collaborating on a business that becomes hugely successful at a time when women in general and minority women, in particular had little power to shape their lives. The real story at the heart of Aunt Fanny's cabin is inspiring. A few days before the attack on Pearl Harbor, Isoline Campbell McKenna, a wealthy Atlanta socialite who was the founder of the Atlanta Junior League, a service organization, and Fanny Williams, a talented Southern cook who worked for Mrs. McKenna's family, opened Aunt Fanny's Cabin to sell the produce of the tenants on Mrs. McKenna's family farm. Using one of the tenant buildings on the farm, Mrs. McKenna is quoted as saying she wished to provide the means for the workers on her farm to market their produce. This effort was not to exploit these people but to help them make some money. Mrs. Williams became part of the effort, by allowing the store to be named after her, selling her jams and jellies in the store and being there every day to greet customers. Soon customers were asking for more-- especially those customers who had recently arrived in the Smyrna area because of the new aircraft plant. In reaction to this thriving concern, the business expanded to include a restaurant serving the dishes Mrs. Williams had prepared for the Campbell family as their cook. The business even pledged 5% of their profits to the war effort. It was perhaps Mrs. Williams's profits from Aunt Fanny's Cabin and her skills at fundraising, which allowed her to become the biggest donor to the construction of a hospital for the Blacks located in Marietta. The AJC's report stated that many of the funds she collected were from visitors to Aunt Fanny's Cabin. On July 31, 1946, Fanny Williams was the honoree at the groundbreaking ceremony where the hospital was to be constructed. Aunt Fanny's Cabin was a win -win business. It helped poor people make money using their natural skills, it gave people jobs, and it honored the mission of the Junior League. It also demonstrated the entrepreneurial talents of these two women using the resources at hand. This collaboration lasted eight years, until Fanny Williams' death in 1949. Just a few years later, Isoline McKenna sold the business. It was the future owners of Aunt Fanny's Cabin who constructed and perpetuated the myths around the building and Fanny Williams, for their own profit. Newspaper articles contributed to the myth and stereotype by repeating and adding to the myths. Those are the people responsible for the negative views of this building, not Mrs. McKenna or Mrs. Williams. I would like the City Council to look at Aunt Fanny's Cabin in this light of its beginning, not the negative, divisive one which the uninformed and outsiders and revisionist historians have promoted. Fanny Williams was a victim of her race and her era. Do not victimize her further by assuming she was unintelligent and a willing victim of exploitation. She did the best she could and remained resilient under very adverse circumstances. Moreover, during her later years she prospered and became famous with the help and generosity of a woman who had no logical reason to help her. Mrs. McKenna was wealthy and had no need for the money this business generated. She did it because of her desire to help others less fortunate than herself, which is evident in her founding of the Atlanta Junior League and their mission. Do not demonize Isoline Campbell McKenna. This is a historic building whose upkeep has been neglected and whose condition is now used as an excuse to rid our city of this landmark. The story of these two women City of Smyrna Page 8 City Council Meeting Minutes - Final February 7, 2022 and the success of their combined efforts is something we should be proud of. This building should be regarded as a symbol to diverse members of our community coming together, using their talents and resources to help each other and even to contribute to the common good. It should not be destroyed or sold. It should sit proudly where it is and be respected and maintained in the spirit for which the business first located in it was conducted. Councilmember Susan Wilkinson read aloud her prepared talking points: I want to take this opportunity to express my specific concerns about the effort to remove or demolish Aunt Fanny's Cabin. 1. This building is a landmark in Smyrna but also a type of building, which preservationists now recognize as historically important and endangered. This type of building is where many poor Americans lived in the 19th and early 20th centuries, particularly in the South. Because these tenant homes were built for and/or by poor people and therefore not with the finest materials, they require protection and maintenance perhaps more so than the existing fine historic homes of the wealthy. I suspect many of our citizens of Smyrna ancestors may have lived in such a structure. I know my grandmother and her sharecropper family did. It is a structure worthy of preserving. We need to preserve the structure to tell the story of Fanny Williams and Isoline Campbell McKenna. 2. The citizens of Smyrna raised funds in the late 1990's in order to preserve this structure and move it to our downtown. 3. This desire to get rid of Aunt Fanny's Cabin is in stark contrast to the City's purchase and renovation of the Reed House, former home of some of our wealthy citizens. The City purchased the Reed house and property for $1.8 million and then spent another $1.9 million renovating it. Yet, we are being told that a few hundred thousand dollars is far too great an expense to preserve Aunt Fanny's Cabin, a modest building and landmark with a renown and importance that far exceeds the Reed House. 4. The more 1 have researched the more inaccuracies I have found which have perpetuated for years. This structure and landmark deserves more of our consideration and our time to determine its future. The city should commit to stopping the discussion about removal or demolition right now and allow for 1) the time necessary for FACT based research about this structure, 2) time for a dialogue with the entire community about the building's future, 3) time for soliciting the opinions of professional preservationists and historians, 4) time to look at options for the use of the building that the entire community can participate in determining. I would like for the City Council to commit to the goal of preserving it rather than eliminating it. 5. For me, it is disturbing that we are having this discussion during Black History Month and on the eve of Women's History Month in March. I think the efforts of those who goal is ridding our downtown of this cabin, are being shortsighted and disrespectful to the entrepreneurial spirit of women like Fanny Williams and Isoline Campbell McKenna. Mayor Derek Norton explained that the Aunt Fanny's Cabin decision has already been voted on. The decision tonight is to extend the time for proposals to take the cabin and remove it from City property. A committee made up of councilmembers, faith leaders and community leaders will be formed to bring a recommendation forward on City of Smyrna Page 9 City Council Meeting Minutes - Final February 7, 2022 how to properly honor Fanny Williams in the same place the cabin currently sits. He mentioned that he spoke to Ms. Grimes from the NAACP, and she expressed that she is pleased that the City is going to memorialize Fanny Williams. Mayor Norton extended an invitation to Ms. Grimes to join the committee to memorialize Fanny Williams, and she has accepted. Councilmember Susan Wilkinson quoted from the Notice of Unsafe Structure document dated 04/21/2021a note by Chief Building Official Anthony Carter that read 'NOTE: Based on the age of this structure (1890's), it should be verified before any steps are taken if it is on any historical registers or considered a historical building. " Ms. Wilkinson stated that she will support the vote to extend the deadline time for proposals, but she wants it understood that should proposals come in that offer other ideas for the building, the Council needs to discuss those as well. Mayor Norton reiterated that this vote is to extend the time to receive proposals to have the building removed from City property. Absent that proposal, the building will be demolished because the policy decision has already been made. Councilmember Travis Lindley made a motion to approve item 2022-063 to continue the process to solicit proposals for the sale and removal of Aunt Fanny's Cabin building (2875 Atlanta Road, Smyrna, Ga. 30080) until 10:00am on Wednesday, March 16, 2022, when further discussion will occur at the Committee of the Whole Meeting on Thursday, March 17, 2022 regarding received responses and the final decision regarding the cabin will be decided and voted on at the March 21, 2022 Meeting of the Mayor and Council; seconded by Councilmember Lewis Wheaton. The motion to approve carried with the following vote: Aye: 5 - Councilmember Lindley, Councilmember Welch, Councilmember Wilkinson, Mayor pro tem / Councilmember Gould and Councilmember Wheaton Absent: 1 - Councilmember Pickens 7. Commercial Building Permits: There were no commercial building permits. 8. Consent Agenda: A motion was made by Mayor pro tem / Councilmember Gould, seconded by Councilmember Lindley, to approve the Consent Agenda. The motion carried by the following vote: Aye: 5 - Councilmember Lindley, Councilmember Welch, Councilmember Wilkinson, Mayor pro tem / Councilmember Gould and Councilmember Wheaton Absent: 1 - Councilmember Pickens A. MIN2022-02 Review and approval of the January 13, 2022 Mayor and Council Committee of the Whole Meeting Minutes. Ward / Citywide These Minutes were approved. City of Smyrna Page 10 City Council Meeting Minutes - Final February 7, 2022 B. MIN2022-03 Review and approval of the January 18, 2022 Mayor and Council Pre -Council Meeting Minutes. Ward / Citywide These Minutes were approved. C. MIN2022-04 Review and approval of the January 18, 2022 Mayor and Council Meeting Minutes. Ward / Citywide These Minutes were approved. D. 2022-047 Approval to use Council Chambers for a Joint Ward 3 and Ward 6 Neighborhood Meeting, April 24, 2022, 4:00pm at A. Max Bacon City Hall, 2800 King Street SE, Smyrna Ga. 30080. Ward 3 / Councilmember Lindley Ward 6 / Mayor Pro Tem / Councilmember Gould This Authorization was approved. E. 2022-068 Approval for a road closure on Windy Hill Road at Burbank Circle for the dates 02/09/2022 through 02/10/2022 for the construction of the Windy Hill Blvd Improvements. Ward 5 / Councilmember Wilkinson This Authorization was approved. 9. Ward / Committee Reports: Councilmember Travis Lindley announced the rededication of Mt. Zion Cemetery on Sunday, February 20, 2022 at 1:30 PM. Councilmember Lewis Wheaton read from a prepared statement There has been much discussion regarding the future of Aunt Fanny's cabin. Some people have concerns about the prospect of the potential relocation of the building. Some have expressed concern about any potential memorial and it's adequacy to her story. An important part of that conversation is how we got here. Focus has been placed on the short term. The fact that in the summer of 2021, we heard a report by our staff on the poor conditions of the building that required its closure. The fact that the mayor convened a task force to determine its future. The fact that said task force met several times and had vigorous debate. The fact that repairs would cost at least $400, 000 to $600, 000 to conduct. The fact that we finally came to a full consensus to allow for either relocation or demolition of the building. And still for some, we have done the memory of Fanny Williams a disservice. But that is just the short term history. Upon taking office early in our administration, our new city administrator recognized the lack of a facility management plan to understand the health and well being of city facilities. Through the pandemic, staff diligently inspected facilities to determine their conditions and discovered major concerns with Aunt Fanny's cabin. These concerns literally ranged floor to ceiling, driven by many years of neglect. City of Smyrna Page 11 City Council Meeting Minutes - Final February 7, 2022 How did we get here? This question for me is too broad. Instead, I will ask: • How is it possible that no elected official in any prior administrations from the time the cabin was placed on the ground until this administration ever asked about its conditions? • How is it possible that no elected official in prior administrations ever considered that the oldest city building that has not been renovated might need active restoration efforts? • How is it possible that no elected officials in prior administrations ever asked a question or sought to repair the facility when the costs might have been $50, 000 versus $500, 000? • How is it possible that no elected officials ever asked how, or even if, the present Aunt Fanny's cabin tells the story of Fanny Williams? This Mayor and council have been asking questions that could have been asked at any moment prior to this administration. Yet they were not. We got here, simply because no prior elected officials had any care to ask any of the above questions, and certainly no action that would have addressed these concerns prior to today. Prior administrations allowed this disrepair to get to this point. In the span of exactly one month after our inauguration, this administration held the first ever city sponsored black history month celebration. Shortly thereafter, we included dedicated budget line for black and Hispanic heritage celebrations. Soon after we approved a non-discrimination ordinance, the first in the county. Meanwhile, we undertook a restoration and upcoming rededication of Mt Zion cemetery, a historic black cemetery a few blocks from where we sit. Soon we will hold the first city sponsored Juneteenth celebration. And now we are finally focused on a proper memorial to Fanny Williams. All of these are firsts for the city. One of the most emotional aspects of Fanny Williams life for me was her death. While she was apparently so beloved by the family that employed her, and that happily used her name to open a restaurant focused on revival of old Dixie, she was buried in Jonesboro in an unmarked grave. This administration is the one that inquired about identifying that grave for a possible marker, which is not possible because of disrepair of the cemetery. Because of disrepair, we cannot honor her where she rests. And now, we stand considering the exact same problem. How do we honor her through the disrepair? Except this disrepair came from years of neglect from this very dais. Every elected official prior to this administration is complicit in not asking any of the questions that could have been asked to appropriately honor this woman. Maybe they weren't important enough for you. But these questions are critical for me. And I am proud to sit on this dais and ensure they finally get asked. There is misinformation about the plan moving forward. I am excited to continue the work we have done to finally uplift Black history in the city of Smyrna. I am excited about the next steps to determine how to appropriately honor Fanny Williams the person, not the mascot that was created to advance a business. Notions of it being just a plaque and a chimney are false and absolutely absurd. Be a part of the process and conversation, but also be supportive of the shared goal we all have in trying to finally do the right thing. Please a part of the process and conversation. Also be supportive of the completely shared goal we all have in order to finally do the right thing. City of Smyrna Page 12 City Council Meeting Minutes - Final February 7, 2022 10. Show Cause Hearings: 11. Citizen Input: There were no show cause hearings. Shaun Martin - Williams Park Community - Ms. Martin expressed concern about removing Aunt Fanny's Cabin. She expressed disagreement with several statements made in the past by some councilmembers. Pat Burns - 10 Concord Rd. - Ms. Burns read aloud from a prepared statement. She expressed disappointment that the Council wanted to remove Aunt Fanny's Cabin. A copy of her full statement is part of the agenda packet. Maryline Blackburn - Ms. Blackburn thanked the Council for the extension of time to receive proposals for Aunt Fanny's Cabin. She expressed concern and disappointment that the Council did not engage the public more. Ms. Blackburn is opposed to the removal of Aunt Fanny's Cabin. Councilmember Travis Lindley expressed that while Ms. Blackburn served on the Council between 2018-2019, there was opportunity to discuss and attempt to repair the cabin. He asked that those minutes from Committee of the Whole sessions be researched to determine how often Aunt Fanny's Cabin was discussed. Rev. Charles Maxell - 5025 Duxford Dr. - Rev. Maxell thanked the Council for extending the time for proposals. He asked, "Are we arguing about saving a building of exploitation or are we arguing about celebrating the life of a person?" Take more time to celebrate the people, not the building. Montserrat Knowlton - 1367 Polar Pointe - Expressed opposition to demolishing Aunt Fanny's Cabin. Karen Shockley - West Village - She thanked the Council for recognizing Black History Month. She spoke about a GoFundMe account to assist with helping with the cost of saving Aunt Fanny's Cabin. She stated Black History is American History. A copy of her full statement is part of the agenda packet. Russell Smith - 5034 Duxford Dr - Mr. Smith asked what are the future plans for the real estate and the process to transform that property? Are there future plans to have other memorials that allow the community to have more than one Black History memorial? Mayor Derek Norton answered that a committee will be formed to meet and recommend how to properly memorialize Fanny Williams and tell her story. The committee will be chaired by Mayor Pro Tern Tim Gould. Councilmember Lewis Wheaton answered that the rededication of Mt. Zion Cemetery is important. The issue of memorializing Black History is personally important to Dr. Wheaton, and these are all steps in the right direction. Jenny Bartee - 4094 Laurel Springs Way - Ms. Bartee expressed that the Council seems to rush to erasing the City's cultural identity. She mentioned the brewery on Atlanta Rd., the teardown of Aunt Fanny's Cabin, the teardown of the central fountain. City of Smyrna Page 13 City Council Meeting Minutes - Final February 7, 2022 12. Adjournment: She asked the Council to reconsider the cabin vote. Mayor Derek Norton made a motion to adjourn the February 7, 2022 Mayor and Council meeting at 8:23 PM. City of Smyrna Page 14 MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEETING DEREK NORTON MAYOR VACANT, WARD 2 CHARLES A.WELCH, WARD 4 TIM GOULD, ARD 6 MAYOR PRO TEM HEATHER K. PEACON-CORN CITY CLERK GLENN PICKENS, WARD 1 �lp- UA TRAVIS LINDLEY, WAAD 3 WILKINSON,SUSAN •'D CITY SEAL 1 1