City Council

Michael Coker – Mayor Michael Rudnick – Mayor Pro Tempore Tim Sullivan – Councilmember Kyle Shields – Councilmember Doug Ingram – Councilmember Mr. Bill Riley – City Attorney Mr. Jamieson Palmer – Interim City Manager City of Mulberry, Georgia Ms. Chandler-Faith Pitts – City Clerk www.mulberryga.gov Mulberry City Council Regular Meeting Summary City of Mulberry City Hall, 2089 Teron Trace, Suite 120, Mulberry, Georgia 30019 September 11, 2025, at 6:30 pm A) CALL TO ORDER: Mayor Michael Coker called the meeting to order at 6:30 P.M. B) INVOCATION: Dr. Dave Davis led the Invocation. C) PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Mayor Michael Coker led the Pledge of Allegiance. D) ROLL CALL: Present: Councilmember Tim Sullivan (District 1), Mayor Michael Coker (District 2), Councilmember Kyle Shields (District 3), Mayor Pro Tempore Michael Rudnick (District 4), Councilmember Doug Ingram (District 5). Absent: N/A Staff Present: Interim City Manager Jamieson Palmer, City Attorney Bill Riley, Assistant City Attorney Michelle Milkey, Director of Operations Kelly Cash, Acting Deputy Director of Community Development Richard Edwards, Planning Coordinator Mackenzie Battista E) MAYOR’S OPENING COMMENTS: Mayor Michael Coker thanked City Clerk Chandler-Faith for continuing her education and noted that Ms. Mackenzie Battista took the minutes for the September 11, 2025 meeting. Mayor Michael Coker outlined that the staff would present the budget in upcoming meetings. Mayor Michael Coker noted the importance of peace, and unity as people come together to continue to improve the places they live. F) COUNCIL’S OPENING COMMENTS: Mayor Pro Tempore Michael Rudnick noted the importance of remembering September 11, 2001, and continuing to come together to support each other. Mayor Pro Tempore Michael Rudnick expressed gratitude for the open dialogue with the constituency of Mulberry. Councilmember Doug Ingram expressed thankfulness for the continuing of open and respectful conversations as views are shared among the diverse constituency of Gwinnett County. Councilmember Doug Ingram noted that the Council with the help of staff continues to have productive relationships with the constituency and Gwinnett County. City of Mulberry I 2089 Teron Trace I Suite 120 I Mulberry, Georgia 30019 I (770) 341-9640 Mulberry City Council Regular Meeting Summary (September 11, 2025) Page 2 G) INTERIM CITY MANAGER’S OPENING COMMENTS: Interim City Manager Jamieson Palmer thanked those in attendance and highlighted that City Hall will begin the process of moving to a larger space. H) CONSIDERATION OF MEETING AGENDA: Councilmember Tim Sullivan made a motion to amend the agenda to add Qe) Discussion Regarding Building Placement and Qf) Discussion Regarding Signage Standards. Councilmember Doug Ingram seconded the motion. The motion passed 5-0. Mayor Michael Coker made a motion to adopt the agenda as amended. Councilmember Tim Sullivan seconded the motion. The motion passed 5-0. I) CONSIDERATION OF AUGUST 14, 2025 MINUTES: The Council discussed. Mayor Pro Tempore Michael Rudnick made a motion to adopt the minutes as presented. Councilmember Kyle Shields seconded the motion. The motion passed 5-0. J) CONSIDERATION OF FEBRUARY 20, 2025 MINUTES AMENDMENT: The Council discussed. Interim City Manager Jamieson Palmer added context. Mayor Michael Coker made a motion to approve the minutes as amended. Mayor Pro Tempore Michael Rudnick seconded the motion. The motion passed 5-0. K) CONSIDERATION OF MARCH 13, 2025 MINUTES AMENDMENT: Mayor Michael Coker made a motion to approve the minutes as amended. Councilmember Doug Ingram seconded the motion. The motion passed 5-0. L) CONSIDERATION OF JUNE 30, 2025 MINUTES AMENDMENT: Mayor Michael Coker made a motion to approve the minutes as amended. Councilmember Tim Sullivan seconded the motion. The motion passed 5-0. M) CONSIDERATION OF JULY 10, 2025 MINUTES AMENDMENT: Mayor Michael Coker made a motion to approve the minutes as amended. Councilmember Kyle Shields seconded the motion. The motion passed 5-0. N) PUBLIC COMMENTS: No one came forward to make a Public Comment. O) SECOND READ a) ORDINANCE # 2025-07-148: The Second Read of an Ordinance of the City of Mulberry, Georgia to Adopt Revisions to the Short-Term Rentals. TA-03 The First Read was on July 10, 2025. Public Hearing: Mayor Michael Coker read the Ordinance. Mr. Richard Edwards presented the purpose of the Ordinance. The Council discussed. Mr. Richard Edwards and Interim City Manager Jamieson Palmer added context. Mayor Michael Coker opened the Public Hearing for the Ordinance. Mayor Michael Coker opened the Public Hearing for those in favor of the Ordinance. Mr. Myles Schwartz of District 2 commented about signage. No one else came forward to speak in favor. Mayor Michael Coker closed Public Hearing for those in favor of the Ordinance. Mayor Michael Coker opened the Public Hearing for those in opposition of the Ordinance. None came forward to speak in opposition of the Ordinance. Mayor Michael Coker closed the Public City of Mulberry I 2089 Teron Trace I Suite 120 I Mulberry, Georgia 30019 I (770) 341-9640 Mulberry City Council Regular Meeting Summary (September 11, 2025) Page 3 Hearing. Mayor Pro Tempore Michael Rudnick made a motion to table Ordinance 2025-07-148. Councilmember Doug Ingram seconded the motion. The Council discussed. City Attorney Bill Riley and Interim City Manager Jamieson Palmer added context. Mayor Pro Tempore Michael Rudnick clarified his motion to postpone Ordinance # 2025-07-148 to the October 16, 2025 Council Meeting. Councilmember Tim Sullivan seconded the motion. The motion passed 5-0. b) ORDINANCE # 2025-07-149: The Second Read of an Ordinance of the City of Mulberry, Georgia to Adopt a Build-to-Rent Ordinance. TA-04 The First Read was on July 10, 2025. Public Hearing: Mayor Michael Coker read the Ordinance. Mr. Richard Edwards presented the purpose of the Ordinance. The Council discussed. Mr. Richard Edwards, City Attorney Bill Riley and Interim City Manager Jamieson Palmer provided context. Mayor Michael Coker opened the Public Hearing for those in favor. None came forward. Mayor Michael Coker closed the Public Hearing for those in favor of the Ordinance. Mayor Michael Coker opened the Public Hearing for those in opposition of Ordinance 2025-07- 149. No one came forward. Mayor Michael Coker closed the Public Hearing. Councilmember Doug Ingram made a motion to postpone Ordinance 2025-07-149 to the October 16, 2025 Council Meeting. Mayor Pro Tempore Michael Rudnick seconded the motion. The Council discussed. The motion passed 5-0. c) ORDINANCE # 2025-07-150: The Second Read of an Ordinance of the City of Mulberry, Georgia to Enable a Planned Development District. TA-05 The First Read was on July 10, 2025. Public Hearing: Mayor Michael Coker read the Ordinance. Mr. Richard Edwards presented the Ordinance. The Council discussed. Mr. Richard Edwards and Interim City Manager Jamieson Palmer added context. Mayor Michael Coker opened the Public Hearing for those in favor of the Ordinance. No one came forward to speak in favor of the Ordinance. Mayor Michael Coker closed the Public Hearing for those in favor of the Ordinance. Mayor Michael Coker opened the Public Hearing for those in opposition of the Ordinance. No one came forward to speak in opposition of the Ordinance. Mayor Michael Coker closed the Public Hearing. Mayor Michael Coker made a motion to adopt Ordinance # 2025-07-150. Councilmember Doug Ingram seconded the motion. The motion passed 5-0. d) ORDINANCE # 2025-07-151: The Second Read of an Ordinance of the City of Mulberry, Georgia for General Amendments to the Unified Development Ordinance. TA-06 The First Read was on July 10, 2025. Public Hearing: Mayor Michael Coker read the Ordinance. Mr. Richard Edwards presented the Ordinance. Mayor Michael City of Mulberry I 2089 Teron Trace I Suite 120 I Mulberry, Georgia 30019 I (770) 341-9640 Mulberry City Council Regular Meeting Summary (September 11, 2025) Page 4 Coker opened the Public Hearing for those in favor of the Ordinance. Mr. Myles Schwartz of District 2 commented about street widths for emergency vehicles. No one else came forward to speak in favor of the Ordinance. Mayor Michael Coker closed the Public Hearing for those in favor of the Ordinance. Mayor Michael Coker opened the Public Hearing for those in opposition to the Ordinance. No one came forward to speak in opposition of the Ordinance. Mayor Michael Coker closed the Public Hearing. Mayor Michael Coker made a motion to adopt the Ordinance. Councilmember Tim Sullivan seconded the motion. The motion passed 5-0. P) PRESENTATIONS a) Operations Presentation: Director of Operations Kelly Cash presented an update on Operations. The Council discussed. Director of Operations Kelly Cash and Interim City Manager Jamieson Palmer added context. Mayor Michael Coker introduced Chief Robert Jones who will be heading up the Code Enforcement Department as the Chief Marshal. Q) ACTION ITEMS (PART 1) a) Consideration of GIRMA Insurance Proposal: Mayor Pro Tempore Michael Rudnick made a motion to adopt the proposal as presented. Councilmember Doug Ingram seconded the motion. The motion passed 5-0. b) Consideration of Participation for HR Conference Proposal: Director of Operations Kelly Cash presented the purpose of the Conference Proposal. Interim City Manager Jamieson Palmer and Director of Operations Kelly Cash added context. Mayor Michael Coker made a motion to adopt the proposal as presented. Mayor Pro Tempore Michael Rudnick seconded the motion. The motion passed 5- 0. c) Consideration of Updated Meeting Schedule: Interim City Manager presented the purpose of the updated meeting schedule. The Council discussed. Interim City Manager Jamieson Palmer added context. Councilmember Doug Ingram made a motion to adopt the updated meeting schedule as presented. Councilmember Kyle Shields seconded the motion. The meeting schedule with Regular City Council meetings on the following dates: September 25, 2025; October 2, 2025; October 16, 2025; November 6, 2025; November 20, 2025; December 4, 2025; December 18, 2025. The Council discussed. Interim City Manager Jamieson Palmer added context. The motion passed 5-0. d) Consideration of JustFOIA Contract Amendment: Interim City Manager presented the purpose of the amendment. The Council discussed. Interim City Manager Jamieson Palmer added context. Mayor Michael Coker made a motion to adopt the amendment and allow the Mayor to execute the contract amendment. Councilmember Tim Sullivan seconded the motion. The motion passed 5-0. e) Discussion Regarding Building Placement: Councilmember Tim Sullivan presented the purpose for the discussion item, and asked staff to look into building placement. The Council discussed. Interim City Manager Jamieson Palmer provided context. City of Mulberry I 2089 Teron Trace I Suite 120 I Mulberry, Georgia 30019 I (770) 341-9640 Mulberry City Council Regular Meeting Summary (September 11, 2025) Page 5 f) Discussion Regarding Signage Standards: Councilmember Tim Sullivan presented the purpose for the discussion item, asked staff to look into signage standards, and provided clarification. Interim City Manager Jamieson Palmer confirmed preferred staff direction. R) ACTION ITEMS (PART 2) PUBLIC HEARING CASES a) Consideration of Case No. CIC-2025.07.1257: The First Read of the application of Gabrielle Schaller; and Owner: L Murphy, LLC c/o Mahaffey Pickens Tucker, LLP, for a change in conditions to amend the permitted uses. The property is located at 2797 Hamilton Mill Road, Buford, Georgia 30519, being Gwinnett County tax parcel 1001 988, and zoned C-2 (General Business District) Conditional. The First Read was on August 14, 2025 at 6:30 P.M.. Public Hearing: Mayor Michael Coker outlined the process of the Public Hearing Case and read the change in conditions case. Interim City Manager Jamieson Palmer provided context. Mr. Richard Edwards presented history of the case as well as staff and Planning Commission recommended conditions. Mayor Michael Coker opened the Public Hearing for the applicant. Ms. Gabrielle Schaller of Lawrenceville presented the history of the change in conditions case and applicants preferred recommended conditions. The Council discussed. Interim City Manager Jamieson Palmer and Mr. Richard Edwards provided context. Ms. Gabrielle Schaller added context. Mayor Michael Coker opened the Public Hearing for those in opposition to the change in conditions case. No one came forward to speak in opposition of the change in conditions case. Mayor Michael Coker closed the Public Hearing for those in opposition. Mayor Michael Coker opened the Public Hearing for those in favor of the change in conditions case. No one came forward to speak in favor. Mayor Michael Coker closed the Public Hearing for those in favor. Mayor Michael Coker opened the Public Hearing for those in opposition. Mr. Young Kim commented on spacing and the post office. Mr. Jose W Mbay of Buford commented about an allowable use as urgent care. Councilmember Tim Sullivan made a motion to approve the Change in Conditions with Staff recommendations. Ms. Gabrielle Schaller presented her rebuttal. Mayor Pro Tempore Michael Rudnick seconded the motion. The Council discussed. The motion failed 1-4. (Yea: Councilmember Tim Sullivan; Nay: Mayor Michael Coker, Councilmember Kyle Shields, Mayor Pro Tempore Michael Rudnick, Councilmember Doug Ingram) Mayor Michael Coker made a motion to approve CIC-2025.07.1257 with Planning Commission recommendations. Councilmember Doug Ingram seconded the motion. The motion passed 4-1 (Yea: Mayor Michael Coker, Councilmember Kyle Shields, Mayor Pro Tempore Michael Rudnick, and Councilmember Doug Ingram; Nay: Councilmember Tim Sullivan) City of Mulberry I 2089 Teron Trace I Suite 120 I Mulberry, Georgia 30019 I (770) 341-9640 Mulberry City Council Regular Meeting Summary (September 11, 2025) Page 6 S) FIRST READ a) ORDINANCE # 2025-09-152: The First Read of an Ordinance of the City of Mulberry, Georgia Providing for the Continuation of Ordinances and Laws During the Transition Period Legislatively Established for the City; to Adopt the Municipal Court Rules and Regulations in The City of Mulberry, Georgia: City Attorney Bill Riley presented the purpose of the Ordinance. b) ORDINANCE # 2025-09-153: The First Read of an Ordinance of the City of Mulberry, Georgia to Enable Equestrian Residential and Equestrian Commercial Districts and to Adopt Revisions to Base Residential and Base Non-Residential District Dimensional Standards and to Adopt Revisions to Permitted Uses for Base Residential and Non-Residential Districts, to Update Permitted Uses for Base Residential and Non-Residential Districts, and Other General Amendments into the Existing Code. TA-07: Mr. Richard Edwards presented the purpose of the Ordinance. The Council discussed. Mr. Richard Edwards added context. c) ORDINANCE # 2025-09-154: The First Read of an Ordinance of the City of Mulberry, Georgia to Adopt Revisions to the City’s Telecommunication Ordinance for the Purpose of Revising the Tall Structure Permit Procedures. TA-08: Mr. Richard Edwards presented the purpose of the Ordinance. The Council discussed. Interim City Manager Jamieson Palmer provided context. T) EXECUTIVE SESSION: Mayor Michael Coker made a motion to remove the Executive Session from the agenda. Councilmember Tim Sullivan seconded the motion. The motion passed 5-0. U) ACTION ITEMS (PART 2) a) Actions that may be required from Executive Session (If applicable) V) ADJOURNMENT: Mayor Michael Coker made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Councilmember Kyle Shields seconded the motion. The motion passed 5-0. The meeting adjourned at 8:28 P.M. City of Mulberry I 2089 Teron Trace I Suite 120 I Mulberry, Georgia 30019 I (770) 341-9640