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Home My WebLink About2024-07-15 July 15, 2024 Special Called Mayor and Council Meeting Minutes - 8AM - SIGNED - LFSpecial Called Meeting Minutes — Final MAYOR AND COUNCIL A. Max Bacon City Hall Council Chambers 2800 King Street SE Smyrna, GA 30080 July 15, 2024 8:00 AM 1. Roll Call Derek Norton, Mayor Tim Gould Mayor Pro Tem (Ward 6) Glenn Pickens (Ward 1) Latonia P. Hines (Ward 2) Travis Lindley (Ward 3) Charles "Corkey" Welch (Ward 4) Susan Wilkinson (Ward 5) Rickey N. Oglesby, Jr. (Ward 7) City Attorney Scott Cochran City Administrator Joseph Bennett City Clerk Heather K. Peacon-Corn Present: 5 - Mayor Derek Norton, Councilmember Glenn Pickens, Councilmember Latonia P. Hines, Councilmember Travis Lindley, Councilmember Rickey N. Oglesby, Jr. Also Present: 1 - Scott Cochran Staff: 4 - Joe Bennett, Mike Hickenbottom, Heather Peacon-Corn, Kristin Robinson Absent: 3 - Councilmember Welch, Councilmember Wilkinson, Mayor Pro Tern / Councilmember Gould 2. Call to Order Mayor Derek Norton called to order the July 15, 2024 Special Called Meeting of the Mayor and Council held at A. Max Bacon City Hall in Council Chambers at 8:00 AM. 3. Formal Business A. 2024-160 Public Hearing for the 2024 Millage rate; there will be no vote on this date. Citywide Joe Bennett, City Administrator, provided the following background: The FY25 budget approved by Council included revenue projections based on 8.99 mills. This is the second of three required public hearings before the formal adoption of the 8.99 millage rate. Tax information was received from Cobb County on June 20, 2024. Per the information provided, the City would need to roll back the millage rate to 8.244 to not advertise a tax increase. In comparison, last year's millage rollback was calculated at 7.829. The official notice, and all required information, was posted in the Marietta Daily Journal on July 07, 2024. It was posted again on July 14, 2024. A press release was sent to the Marietta Daily Journal on July 1, 2024. It has also been posted on the City website. Page 1 of 3 July 16, 2024 City of Smyrna 2800 King Street SE 8:00 AM Mayor and Council Maadng Council Chambers This is the second public hearing of the three required. The first public hearing was a Special Called Mayor and Council meeting held this morning, July 15, 2024, at 8 am. The next public hearing will be held July 22, 2024 at 6:00 pm. The adoption of the millage rate will be an agenda item on the 6:00 pm Special Called Mayor and Council meeting on July 22, 2024. Kristin Robinson, Deputy City Administrator/Finance Director offered further information on why the millage rate sounds like an increase when, in fact, it will not be an increase. A public hearing was called. Stephanie Siegel, 1992 Oakdale Court, came forward and expressed that she felt there was not enough information regarding the millage rate meetings and why the millage rate is increasing. She stated there were no Facebook posts, no signs to announce the meetings, and she feels the Council is not interested in public opinion. Mayor Norton explained that these meetings and information were all properly posted in all of the appropriate places. He noted Ms. Siegel's presence at the public hearing. Charles Phillips, 3194 Isoline Way, wanted to clarify that property taxes will be higher, not because of the millage rate which has not been increased in several years, but because property values are higher. Ms. Robinson confirmed that the millage rate is not increasing, and Mr. Phillips' assessment is correct. B. RES2024-009 Approval of Resolution 2024-009 for the adoption of a moratorium for sixty (60) days on accepting or processing applications seeking the issuance of a sign permit for free j standing signs and authorize the Mayor to sign and execute all related documents. Citywide Joe Bennett, City Administrator, provided the following background: Due to a legal challenge, the City Council concludes that it is necessary and desirable to adopt a moratorium for sixty (60) days on accepting or processing applications seeking the issuance of a sign permit for free standing signs. The moratorium will extend for sixty (60) days beginning July 15, 2024, during which time the City will conduct a legal review of the City's Sign Ordinance. Staff recommends approval of Resolution 2024-009 for the adoption of a moratorium for sixty (60) days on accepting or processing applications seeking the issuance of a sign permit for free standing signs and authorize the Mayor to sign and execute all related documents. Councilmember Travis Lindley made a motion to approve item RES2024-009; seconded by Councilmember Glenn Pickens. The motion to approve carries with the following vote: Aye: 4 — Councilmember Pickens, Councilmember Hines, Councilmember Lindley, Councilmember Oglesby Nay: 0 — None Absent: 3 — Councilmember Welch, Councilmember Wilkinson, Mayor Pro Tem / Councilmember Gould Page 2 of 3 July 15, 2024 City of Smyrna 2800 King Street SE 8:00 AM Mayor and Council Meeting Council Chambers 4. Public Comment 5. Adjournment Mayor Derek Norton adjourned the July 15, 2024 Special Called Meeting of the Mayor and Council at 8:10 AM. Facilities are provided throughout City Hall for the convenience of persons with disabilities. THIS MEETING WAS PROPERLY NOTICED AND POSTED AT THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE NOTICING STANDARDS AS OUTLINED IN O.C.G.A. 50-14-3: The City of Smyrna webslte — ~v.smyrnaga.gov City Hall, 2800 King Street SE, Notice Boards Page 3 of 3 7.1 SPECIAL CALLED MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEETING - MILLAGE �I DEKEK NO TON, MAYOR 0VA111W A.iMA✓ ABSENT CHARLES A.WELCH, WARD 4 ABSENT TIM GOULD, WARD 6 MAYOR PRO TEM GLE NN PICKENS, W I .1'1' ' rA TRAVIS LMDLEY, WARD 3 ABSENT SUSAN WILKINSON, WARD 5 CITY SEAL m