Mayor and City Council Work Session

Mayor and City Council Work Session Tuesday, July 15, 2025 at 6:30 PM City Hall, 875 Main Street, Stone Mountain, Georgia 30083 Minutes 1 Mayor and Council: Dr. Beverly Jones – Mayor | Post 3 :Mayor Pro Tem Ryan Smith 2 Post 1: Council Member Anita Bass | Post 2: Council Member Mark Marianos 3 Post 4: Council Member Gil Freeman | Post 5: Council Member Shawnette Bryant 4 Post 6: Council Member Teresa Crowe 5 6 Staff: Shawn Edmondson - City Manager | Maggie Dimov - Assistant City Manager/Economic 7 Development Director/DDA | Shavala Ames - City Clerk | Angela Couch - City Attorney 8 9 Public Hearing was called to order at 6:32 p.m. 10 11 PRESENT: Council Member: Post 1 Anita Bass, Council Member: Post 2 Mark Marianos, Mayor Pro 12 Tem: Post 3 Ryan Smith, Council Member: Post 5 Shawnette Bryant, Council Member: Post 6 Teresa 13 Crowe, Mayor Beverly Jones 14 15 ABSENT: Council Member: Post 4 Gil Freeman 16 17 I. Public Hearing 18 19 1. Public Hearing on 6804 JBR Memorial Drive on proposed zoning from R-2 Home Occupation/Tax 20 Office to R-2 Single Family Vacation Home Facility, requested by City Planner Tamaya Huff 21 22 City Manager Shawn Edmondson provided a general overview of the proposed zoning as outlined in 23 the provided city council packet. 24 25 City Attorney Angela Couch reviewed the guidelines of the public hearing. 26 27 Public Hearing Comments 28 29 In Favor 30 31 Public Comment 1: Elisabeth Richmond – the process is very time consuming and expensive – in 32 support of zoning change when doing things right and legally. 33 34 Public Comment 2: Robby Terry Washington – discussed that she has many businesses already in 35 the City and does everything to stay legal and in compliance. 36 37 Opposed 38 39 No comments received. 40 41 ACTION: MOTION TO APPROVE A SPECIAL USE PERMIT WITH THE CONDITIONS SET 42 FORTH FOR 6804 JBR MEMORIAL TO ALLOW R2 SINGLE FAMILY VACATION HOME 43 FACILITY July 15, 2025 Workshop Meeting Page 1 of 6  44 Motion made by Mayor Pro Tem: Post 3 Ryan Smith, Seconded by Council Member: Post 2 Mark 45 Marianos 46 47 Voting Yea: Council Member: Post 1 Anita Bass, Council Member: Post 2 Mark Marianos, Mayor 48 Pro Tem: Post 3 Ryan Smith, Council Member: Post 6 Teresa Crowe 49 50 Voting Nay: Council Member: Post 5 Shawnette Bryant 51 52 II. Adjournment 53 54 ACTON: MOTION TO ADJOURN PUBLIC HEARING AT 6:46 P.M. 55 Motion made by Mayor Pro Tem: Post 3 Smith, Seconded by Council Member: Post 5 Shawnette 56 Bryant 57 58 Voting Yea: Council Member: Post 1 Anita Bass, Council Member: Post 2 Mark Marianos, Mayor 59 Pro Tem: Post 3 Ryan Smith, Council Member: Post 5 Shawnette Bryant, Council Member: Post 6 60 Teresa Crowe 61 62 MOTION PASSED (UNANIMOUSLY) 63 64 III. Call to Order 65 66 Mayor Jones called the meeting to order at 6:46 P.M. 67 68 IV. Determination of Quorum 69 70 PRESENT: Council Member: Post 1 Anita Bass, Council Member: Post 2 Mark Marianos, Mayor 71 Pro Tem: Post 3 Ryan Smith, Council Member: Post 4 Gil Freeman (absent at the beginning of the 72 meeting, later arrived at the beginning of Executive Session), Council Member: Post 5 Shawnette 73 Bryant, Council Member: Post 6 Teresa Crowe, Mayor Beverly Jones 74 75 V. Invocation and Pledge 76 77 Mayor Jones led the Pledge of Allegiance, followed by the invocation 78 79 VI. Citizen Comments – Including comments from public/stakeholders 80 81 Citizen Comment 1: Cheryl Dudley – reviewed provisions of the state constitution regarding 82 removing public offices; discussed elections, spending money and limitations to home rule. 83 84 Citizen Comment 2: Orea Parker – enough is enough – grew up in the city and experienced 85 injustice and racism; members of council silence people who speak up – there’s hate and a lack of 86 knowledge; people voted for elected officials – taking away rights to participate; community need to 87 rise up; reap what you sow. 88 89 Citizen Comment 3: Elisabeth Richmond – discussed the Mayor’s Caribbean podcast 90 referencing how Sherman Town was founded by slaves; Mayor stated who does not live in the city 91 should not be allowed to speak at city council meetings. 92 93 VII. Review of the Journal (City Clerk) 94 95 1. Consideration of an action on a request to approve July 1, 2025 Meeting Minutes, requested by 96 City Clerk Shavala Ames 97 98 ACTION: MOTION TO APPROVE JULY 1, 2025 MEETING MINUTES 99 Motion made by Council Member: Post 1 Anita Bass, Seconded by Council Member: Post 2 100 Mark Marianos 101 July 15, 2025 Workshop Meeting Page 2 of 6 102 Voting Yea: Council Member: Post 1 Anita Bass, Council Member: Post 2 Mark Marianos, 103 Mayor Pro Tem: Post 3 Ryan Smith, Council Member: Post 6 Teresa Crowe 104 105 Voting Nay: Council Member: Post 5 Shawnette Bryant 106 107 MOTION PASSED 108 109 2. Consideration of an action on a request to approve July 7, 2025 Special Called Meeting Minutes, 110 requested by City Clerk Shavala Ames 111 112 ACTION: MOTION TO APPROVE JULY 7, 2025 SPECIAL CALLED MEETING MINUTES 113 Motion made by Mayor Pro Tem: Post 3 Ryan Smith, Seconded by Council Member: Post 1 114 Anita Bass 115 116 Voting Yea: Council Member: Post 1 Anita Bass, Council Member: Post 2 Mark Marianos, 117 Mayor Pro Tem: Post 3 Ryan Smith, Council Member: Post 6 Teresa Crowe 118 119 Voting Nay: Council Member: Post 5 Shawnette Bryant 120 121 MOTION PASSED 122 123 VIII. Reading of Communications 124 125 IX. Adoption of The Agenda of The Day 126 127 ACTION: MOTION TO APPROVE THE AMENDED AGENDA OF THE DAY – WITH MOVING 128 EXECUTIVE SESSION TO THE TOP OF THE AGENDA AND ADDING A PERSONNEL ITEM 129 Motion made by Council Member: Post 2 Mark Marianos, Seconded by Council Member: Post 6 130 Teresa Crowe 131 132 Voting Yea: Council Member: Post 1 Anita Bass, Council Member: Post 2 Mark Marianos, 133 Mayor Pro Tem: Post 3 Ryan Smith, Council Member: Post 5 Shawnette Bryant, Council 134 Member: Post 6 Teresa Crowe 135 136 MOTION PASSED (UNANIMOUSLY) 137 138 X. Executive Session to Discuss Personnel, Legal, Cyber Security and/or Real Estate (if 139 needed) 140 141 ACTION: MOTION TO ENTER INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION AT 7:01 P.M. TO DISCUSS 142 LITIGATION AND PERSONNEL 143 Motion made by Council Member: Post 1 Anita Bass, Seconded by Council Member: Post 2 144 Mark Marianos 145 146 Voting Yea: Council Member: Post 1 Anita Bass, Council Member: Post 2 Mark Marianos, 147 Mayor Pro Tem: Post 3 Ryan Smith, Council Member: Post 5 Shawnette Bryant, Council 148 Member: Post 6 Teresa Crowe 149 150 MOTION PASSED (UNANIMOUSLY) 151 152 ACTION: MOTION TO ADJOURN EXECUTIVE SESSION AND RECONVENE THE CITY 153 COUNCIL MEETING AT 8:31 PM 154 Motion made by Council Member: Post 1 Anita Bass, Seconded by Council Member: Post 6 155 Teresa Crowe 156 157 Voting Yea: Council Member: Post 1 Anita Bass, Council Member: Post 2 Mark Marianos, 158 Mayor Pro Tem: Post 3 Ryan Smith, Council Member: Post 4 Gil Freeman, Council Member: 159 Post 5 Shawnette Bryant, Council Member: Post 6 Teresa Crowe July 15, 2025 Workshop Meeting Page 3 of 6 160 161 MOTION PASSED (UNANIMOUSLY) 162 163 ACTION: MOTION TO APPROVE THE RESOLUTION TO AUTHORIZE THE CITY OF STONE 164 MOUNTAIN TO PARTICIPATE IN THE AMICUS BRIEF IN SUPPORT WITH THE CITY OF 165 MILTON 166 Motion made by Council Member: Post 1 Anita Bass, Seconded by Council Member: Post 6 167 Teresa Crowe 168 169 Voting Yea: Council Member: Post 1 Anita Bass, Council Member: Post 2 Mark Marianos, 170 Mayor Pro Tem: Post 3 Ryan Smith, Council Member: Post 6 Teresa Crowe 171 172 Voting Nay: Council Member: Post 4 Gil Freeman, Council Member: Post 5 Shawnette Bryant 173 174 MOTION PASSED 175 176 XI. Committee Discussion Items 177 178 1. Stone Mountain Community Garden 179 180 Columbus Brown gave details and updates on SMCG as outlined in the report provided. Briefly 181 mentioned that he was informed that bathroom updates are underway and will help tremendously. 182 183 2. Planning Commission – No updates 184 185 3. Historic Preservation Commission 186 187 Katherine Meers – overview given on (3) cases that were approved unanimously at the last meeting. 188 189 4. Parks and Recreation Committee 190 191 Reverend Orea Parker – reviewed that discussions were had over a year ago regarding various 192 recommendations to the parks and projects; authoritative government towards the park and recs. 193 Committee; concerned about many deficiencies in projects, audits, council and bylaws. 194 195 Mayor Jones suggested scheduling a meeting with Interim City Manager. 196 197 XII. Staff Reports 198 199 1. Public Safety- Police Chief- James Westerfield Jr. 200 201 Police Chief Westerfield gave an overview of activity statistics and crime statistics from January 2025 to 202 April 2025, provided in the agenda packet. 203 204 XII. City Manager’s Report 205 206 1. Interim City Manager – Maggie Dimov 207 208 Interim City Manager Maggie Dimov reviewed the Operations Report as outlined highlighting key 209 accomplishments and updates. 210 211 Stormwater Administrator Mike Vasquez came forward to discuss stormwater within the City. 212 City Clerk Shavala Ames reviewed the Administrative Stats as outlined in the council packet. 213 214 XIII. Council Policy Discussion Topics 215 216 XIV. Unfinished Business 217 July 15, 2025 Workshop Meeting Page 4 of 6 218 1. Consideration of an action on a request to allocate funds for the Back to School Bash in 219 Rockborough, requested by Council Member Shawnette Bryant 220 221 ACTION: MOTION TO REALLOCATE $1500 FOR THE BACK TO SCHOOL BASH IN 222 ROCKBOROUGH 223 Motion made by Council Member: Post 4 Gil Freeman, Seconded by Council Member: 224 Post 5 Shawnette Bryant 225 226 Voting Yea: Council Member: Post 4 Gil Freeman, Council Member: Post 5 Shawnette Bryant 227 228 Voting Nay: Council Member: Post 1 Anita Bass, Council Member: Post 2 Mark Marianos, 229 Mayor Pro Tem: Post 3 Ryan Smith, Council Member: Post 6 Teresa Crowe 230 231 MOTION FAILED 232 233 ACTION: MOTION TO MOVE RESOLUTION 2025-19 DEKALB COUNTY ELECTIONS AND 234 RESOLUTION 2025-20 BANKING RESOLUTION TO THE TOP OF THE AGENDA 235 Motion made by Council Member: Post 2 Mark Marianos, Seconded by Council Member: Post 1 236 Anita Bass 237 238 Voting Yea: Council Member: Post 1 Anita Bass, Council Member: Post 2 Mark Marianos, 239 Mayor Pro Tem: Post 3 Ryan Smith, Council Member: Post 6 Teresa Crowe 240 241 Voting Nay: Council Member: Post 4 Gil Freeman, Council Member: Post 5 Shawnette Bryant 242 243 MOTION PASSED 244 245 XVI. New Ordinances and Resolutions 246 247 1. Resolution No. 2025-19 – Dekalb County to conduct the City of Stone Mountain 2025 General 248 Municipal Election 249 250 ACTION: MOTION TO APPROVE RESOLUTION 2025-19 DEKALB COUNTY TO CONDUCT 251 THE CITY OF STONE MOUNTAIN 2025 GENERAL MUNICIPAL ELECTION 252 Motion made by Council Member: Post 2 Marianos, Seconded by Council Member: Post 1 Bass 253 254 Voting Yea: Council Member: Post 1 Anita Bass, Council Member: Post 2 Mark Marianos, 255 Mayor Pro Tem: Post 3 Ryan Smith, Council Member: Post 4 Gil Freeman, Council Member: 256 Post 5 Shawnette Bryant, Council Member: Post 6 Anita Bass 257 258 MOTION PASSED (UNANIMOUSLY) 259 260 2. Resolution No. 2025-20 – Banking Resolution to add Interim City Manager 261 262 ACTION: MOTION TO APPROVE RESOLUTION 2025-20 BANKING RESOLUTION TO ADD 263 INTERIM CITY MANAGER 264 Motion made by Mayor Pro Tem: Post 3 Ryan Smith, Seconded by Council Member: Post 2 265 Mark Marianos 266 267 Voting Yea: Council Member: Post 1 Anita Bass, Council Member: Post 2 Mark Marianos, 268 Mayor Pro Tem: Post 3 Ryan Smith, Council Member: Post 4 Gil Freeman, Council Member: 269 Post 5 Shawnette Bryant, Council Member: Post 6 Anita Bass 270 271 MOTION PASSED (UNANIMOUSLY) 272 273 XV. New Business 274 July 15, 2025 Workshop Meeting Page 5 of 6 275 1. Consideration of an action on a request to approve the bylaws for the Parks and Recreation 276 Committee, requested by Mayor Beverly Jones 277 278 ACTION: MOTION TO DENY THE BYLAWS AS WRITTEN AND FOR THE CITY ATTORNEY 279 TO DRAFT BYLAWS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PROPOSED PARKS AND 280 RECREATION COMMITTEE ORDINANCE 281 Motion made by Council Member: Post 6 Teresa Crowe, Seconded by Council Member: Post 2 282 Mark Marianos 283 284 Voting Yea: Council Member: Post 1 Anita Bass, Council Member: Post 2 Mark Marianos, 285 Mayor Pro Tem: Post 3 Ryan Smith, Council Member: Post 6 Teresa Crowe 286 287 Voting Nay: Council Member: Post 4 Gil Freeman, Council Member: Post 5 Shawnette Bryant 288 289 MOTION PASSED 290 291 XX. Adjournment 292 293 ACTION: MOTION TO ADJOURN THE MEETING 10:00 P.M. 294 Motion made by Mayor Pro Tem: Post 3 Ryan Smith, Seconded by Council Member: Post 5 295 Shawnette Bryant 296 297 Voting Yea: Council Member: Post 1 Anita Bass, Council Member: Post 2 Mark Marianos, 298 Mayor Pro Tem: Post 3 Ryan Smith, Council Member: Post 4 Gil Freeman, Council Member: 299 Post 5 Shawnette Bryant, Council Member: Post 6 Teresa Crowe 300 301 MOTION PASSED (UNANIMOUSLY) 302 303 304 305 _______________________________ _____________________________ 306 Dr. Beverly Jones, Mayor Shavala Ames, City Clerk July 15, 2025 Workshop Meeting Page 6 of 6