Mayor and City Council Work Session

Mayor and City Council Work Session Tuesday, July 16, 2024 at 6:30 PM City Hall, 875 Main Street, Stone Mountain, Georgia 30083 Minutes Mayor and Council: Dr. Beverly Jones – Mayor | Post 3 :Mayor Pro Tem Ryan Smith Post 1: Council Member Anita Bass | Post 2: Council Member Mark Marianos Post 4: Council Member Gil Freeman | Post 5: Council Member Shawnette Bryant Post 6: Council Member Teresa Crowe Staff: Darnetta Tyus - City Manager | Shawn Edmondson - Assistant City Manager - City Clerk | Danny Mai - Assistant City Clerk | Jeff Strickland - City Attorney City of Stone Mountain, GA Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/CityofStoneMtn/ Link to join Webinar: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/85727715572 Call to Order Determination of Quorum PRESENT Council Member: Post 1 Anita Bass Council Member: Post 2 Mark Marianos Mayor Pro Tem: Post 3 Ryan Smith Council Member: Post 4 Gil Freeman Council Member: Post 5 Shawnette Bryant Council Member: Post 6 Teresa Crowe Mayor Beverly Jones Invocation and Pledge Mayor Jones led the Pledge of Allegiance at 06:39 PM ET. St Phillips A&E (read by Mayor Jones) led the Invocation at 06:40 PM ET. Citizen Comments – Including comments from public/stakeholders (3 minutes per comment) Comments from the Public The public comments are reserved exclusively for comments from the public and not for immediate reply. The purpose of public comment is to allow the public to voice city related requests, concerns or opinions only during the public comment portion of the City Council meeting. I. The Mayor and City Council reserves the right to extend or limit the length of public comments based on: (1) the issue under discussion; (2) the number of items on the agenda; and (3) the extent to which the speaker remains constructive in their comments and questions. II. The public may not directly confront the public speaker but must direct all comments and questions to the Mayor and City Council. III. Public harassment of or confrontation with a public speaker will not be tolerated. Members of the public violating tenets two or three will be asked to sit down or leave the premises. Citizen Comment #1 (Eileen Smith): Smith thanked CM Bass with keeping her neighbors in the loop regarding the paving process. Additionally, Smith thanked the police force for keeping the peace at the fourth of july. Citizen Comment #2 (Susan Taylor): Taylor urged council to look into the 2012 LCI plan, specifically mentioning the importance of using the Baptist Lawn as a green space. Taylor mentions implementing festivals would be a great way to draw in visitors, day trippers, and individuals who would pass through the city. Additionally, Taylor provided statistics regarding the importance of revenue growth through the events. Citizen Comment #3 (Dave Thomas): Thomas discussed the importance of general free access to the Baptist Lawn. Additionally, Thomas noted that he is excited for the elementary school adaptation. Thomas does note that he is unaware of what support the city would provide to the school. Citizen Comment #4 (Ginger Criswell): Criswell noted that JBR would not be paved with the upcoming paving project. Criswell additionally noted the importance of implementing speed limit signs within the city, as this would improve traffic, public safety, and the safety of her neighborhood. Criswell urged council to consider and acknowledge the public image/impression of the City. Criswell urged the importance of annexation of the surrounding area, additionally she thanked the Planning Commission for rezoning the store. Citizen Comment #5 (FIND NAME): NAME noted that the Rockbrough streets were recently filled but noted that potholes were reforming within the subdivision. NAME requested that there be additional police patrols within the area, citing gun fire within the area. Specifically, NAME noted that a masked gunman ran through their backyard, which ultimately, prompted the request for additional police presence. Review of the Journal (Assistant City Manager & City Clerk Edmondson) Assistant City Manager & City Clerk Edmondson noted that there were no actions to be considered today. Reading of Communications Adoption of The Agenda of The Day MOTION TO ADOPT THE AGENDA OF THE DAY Motion made by Mayor Pro Tem: Post 3 Smith, Seconded by Council Member: Post 1 Bass. Voting Yea: Council Member: Post 1 Bass, Council Member: Post 2 Marianos, Mayor Pro Tem: Post 3 Smith, Council Member: Post 4 Freeman, Council Member: Post 5 Bryant, Council Member: Post 6 Crowe Committee Discussion Items 1. Planning Commission N/A 2. Economic Development/Downtown Development Authority Dennis Phillips spoke on behalf of the DDA. She mentioned that the DDA recently signed a contract with a landscaping agency. Additionally, she noted the importance of additional social media coverage on local businesses. --------- COMMENTS BY COUNCIL ---------- CM Bryant asked for the name of the firm. She noted that the firm was called Crab Apple, citing 15 different companies responding to the RFP. 3. Historic Preservation Commission Elaine Vonge spoke as the representative for the HPC. She noted that there were three certificates that they looked at. She noted that the next HPC meeting would be at City Hall on 07.17.2024 at 06:30 PM ET. She additionally noted that there were two open seats with HPC. 4. Parks and Recreation Committee Rev Parker spoke on behalf of the Parks and Recs Committee. Parker noted that the P&R committee is finalizing the survey done in regard to the parks. Additionally, she noted that Mccurdy and Medlock Park have safety hazards. Parker noted that the P&R committee paused the book bench project. P&R discussed recommendations to the bylaws of the committee, in order to make the committee current, and appoint the mayor as the overseer for the committee. Parker noted that there are a plethora of events that the P&R committee would  like to host, in order to foster real community involvement. This way, the city would be able to utilize the various parks effectively, ---------------------- COUNCIL COMMENTS ---------------------- CM Bryant asked if she (Rev Parker) will reach out to the City Attorney, in reference to the P&R Bylaws. City Attorney Strickland noted that if the council wills it, then he will be able to look it. CM Bass asked Parker where the survey is located. Parker noted that she will speak with Gina regarding the survey to see if it needs to be updated/extended/ or removed. Staff Reports 5. Public Safety- Police Chief- James Westerfield Jr Chief Westerfield noted and read the various statistics (Police & Police Administrative) found within his report. Chief noted that crime statistics remained relatively stable, if not decreasing from the prior month. Chief Westerfield recognized the following members of the Police Department: -Ofc Wilson: Top shot award -Maj Parks: Finished her FBI Leadership Program, designed for executive police leadership that follows a model of professional development/modern police training. (REPORT ATTACHED TO AGENDA PACKAGE). ----------------------COUNCIL COMMENTS---------------------- CM Crowe asked Chief to further explain the situation regarding the stolen vehicle. Chief expended and provided further clarification. CM Bass asked for Chief's opinion regarding FLOC Cameras. Chief noted that some HOA's have installed the cameras, which assist the police department with data gathering regarding violent crimes, etc. CM Bryant asked what the speed limit on Ridge Ave was. Chief noted that the speed limit is 25mph. CM Bryant noted that some individuals speed recklessly past stop signs. 6. Administration- Assistant City Manager-City Clerk- Shawn Edmondson Assistant City Manager & City Clerk Edmondson spoke to council regarding the statistics in his report. (STATISTICS ARE FOUND WITHIN THE AGENDA PACKAGE) City Manager’s Report 7. City Manager - Darnetta Tyus City Manager Tyus spoke on various items mentioned in her City Manager's report. (ITEMS ARE IN THE AGENDA PACKAGE) ----------------------COUNCIL COMMENTS---------------------- City Manager asked if the grant writers can come first in the agenda. Council Policy Discussion Topics Unfinished Business 8. Discussion on the approval of the contract; in order to remediate, the code violations cited by the Department of Code Enforcement's Assessment of the State of the Depot (922 Main St, Stone Mountain, GA 30083). (City Manager Tyus) ----------------------COUNCIL COMMENTS---------------------- CM Crowe asked City Manager Tyus what next steps are after the depot has been cleared out. City Manager Tyus noted that once the demo has been completed, then the city will be able to find an appropriate use for the depo. City Manager Tyus noted that the bid presented was the most effective way to demo, clear out, and buttress the building. City Manager noted that this includes extermination, demolition, trash removal, and maintaining the structure... not just the extermination of the pests. CM Freeman asked the City Manager if the premium is guaranteed. City Manager noted she cannot guarantee the price, because there may be unexpected contingencies that the city is unaware of. City Mayor Jones noted that she would like to see how the city would utilize the building after the Demo, etc... City Manager Tyus noted that the city's Code Enforcement Department cited the city for failing to upkeep the building. City Mayor Jones requests additional information prior to making a decision. She also noted that she would like Roseberry to attend the meeting. MOTION TO APPROVE THE ITEM.  Motion made by Mayor Pro Tem: Post 3 Smith, Seconded by Council Member: Post 2 Marianos. Voting Yea: Council Member: Post 1 Bass, Council Member: Post 2 Marianos, Mayor Pro Tem: Post 3 Smith Voting Nay: Council Member: Post 4 Freeman, Council Member: Post 5 Bryant, Council Member: Post 6 Crowe, Mayor Jones MOTION FAILED. 9. Discussion on the approval of the "School Mentorship Program" between the City of Stone Mountain & Stone Mountain Elementary School AND Adoption of Stone Mountain Elementary School. (City Manager Tyus) ----------------------COUNCIL COMMENTS---------------------- CM Bass asked how administration and the school will go through the process of the mentorship program. City Manager Tyus noted that the school will host an orientation program and through an interview, assign individuals to various different programs. CM Crowe noted her experience with volunteering with the school. City Manager Tyus noted that the school will organize the orientation with individuals and the school is beyond excited to be a part of this program. She also noted that this program will be starting off fresh. City Mayor Jones asked what role City Staff will take part in. City Manager Tyus noted that there are various different opportunities for everyone to take a part of the program. CM Crowe requests that the school principal be in attendance to answer additional questions that the council may have. City Major Jones noted that she had reached out to the School District Super-Intendent, and that the super-intendent was not aware of any school adoption project. City Manager noted to council that she would like council to spearhead and managing the project moving forward. NO ACTION OCCURED... TABLED UNTIL SPECIAL CALLED MEETING. 10. Discussion on Matters Dealing with the Downtown Development Authority (CM Freeman/Attorney Strickland) ----------------------COUNCIL COMMENTS---------------------- City Attorney Strickland noted that the information attached to the package relates to the City's DDA, specifically regarding (1) Questions regarding to the DDA member training requirements (2) Status of the IGA between the city government and the DDA.  City Attorney Strickland provided a synopsis of the report that was provided. City Mayor Jones asked if there were any items that would need to be redacted from public disclosure. City Attorney noted that the items that he has seen thus far would not be redactable. City Attorney Strickland provided synopsis of the memo and further elaborated on it. New Business 11. Discussion on updates on City Finances: -Monthly Financial Report -SPLOST I Update - SPLOST II Update -ARPA Update -ARPA Opinion Update -Grants Report Update (City Manager Tyus) MOTION TO TABLE TO NEXT SESSION PRESENT Council Member: Post 1 Anita Bass Council Member: Post 2 Mark Marianos Mayor Pro Tem: Post 3 Ryan Smith Council Member: Post 4 Gil Freeman Council Member: Post 5 Shawnette Bryant Council Member: Post 6 Teresa Crowe Mayor Beverly Jones 12. Discussion on potential short term uses for the "Baptist Lawn" (5305 E Mountain St, Stone Mountain, GA 30083). (Chief Westerfield) Chief Westerfield spoke about the report and provided a synopsis of it to the City Council. (REPORT IS ATTACHED TO AGENDA PACKAGE) CM Crowe requests to have the item on the next session, so that the council may vote on the item. New Ordinances and Resolutions Remarks of Privilege CM Marianos requests a townhall meeting 06:00 PM -> 07:30 PM July 31st at City Hall. Announcements by The Mayor Executive Session to Discuss Personnel, Legal, and/or Real Estate (if needed) Adjournment Motion made by Mayor Pro Tem: Post 3 Smith, Seconded by Council Member: Post 5 Bryant. Voting Yea: Council Member: Post 1 Bass, Council Member: Post 2 Marianos, Mayor Pro Tem: Post 3 Smith, Council Member: Post 4 Freeman, Council Member: Post 5 Bryant, Council Member: Post 6 Crowe