9/2/2025 Meeting Preview

You’ll see below some of the agenda highlights for our first meeting in September. I’ve added information from the council agenda memos and background on items that may be of particular interest, along with my thoughts on those issues. You can watch our meetings on the city’s Facebook and YouTube pages. Our meetings are typically on the first and third Mondays of the month. Workshop session begins at 6:00 pm; regular session begins at 7:30 pm; executive session, if necessary, takes place at the conclusion of the regular session.

You can access the full agenda packets here.

We welcome your attendance at our meetings and public comment is available near the start of the meeting, before any actions are taken. You can speak in person at the meeting or submit an e-mail with your name, address, and comment or remark to pcomment@collegeparkga.com no later than 7:30 pm on the evening of the meeting. The City Clerk will read your name, address and comment into the official record. If you have feedback for Mayor and Council directly, you can e-mail us.

WORKSHOP SESSION

3. Presentation on the Scope of Work and Memorandum of Agreement for the South Fulton Comprehensive Transportation Plan (SFCTP) and City of College Park participation. Presented by Lenise Lyons, City Planner.

We last engaged in an update of this regional transportation plan in 2020. This will allow us to apply for federal funding for some of these initiatives. While the Atlanta Regional Commission contributes most of the funding for this effort, the eight cities within the South Fulton region have to supply the remaining 20%, based upon population.

4. Presentation: "Wise and Well" Initiative in College Park. Presentation by Hospital in Your Home. Sponsored by Mayor Pro Tem Jamelle McKenzie.

The Wise and Well Initiative proposes to support seniors in all four wards. With a dedicated program coordinator, it will connect older residents to wellness activities, chronic disease support, and community resources. The $40,000 city investment funds outreach, service coordination, and a resource hub, with monthly reporting to ensure accountability. The goal is to help College Park seniors stay healthier, more connected, and able to age in place safely.

The program funds one coordinator. That means the reach across all four wards may be limited. Since Fulton County and other nonprofits already offer some senior services, we’ll need to make sure this program complements — not duplicates — what’s out there. This is a promising initiative. We’ll need to track results carefully to make sure it truly delivers for our seniors and justifies the investment.

6. Presentation: A request to proceed with (A.I.) Artificial Intelligence citywide. This workshop item is designed to introduce A.I. technology to staff, citizens, and executive leaders in phases starting with Change management designed for CCPK for the amount of $10,000 per phase.. This is a budgeted item from Councilwoman Tracie Arnold. Community Enhancement Non Capital GL Account Number: 100- 1100-52-7283 This item is sponsored by Chief Information Officer Michael Hicks.

The idea is to introduce AI in phases, beginning with “change management,” at a cost of $10,000 per phase, funded through the Ward 3 community enhancement account. AI has the potential to improve efficiency, strengthen services, and make government more responsive. I’m looking forward to learning more about what this could mean for our city and how it might benefit our residents.

REGULAR SESSION

7. Consent Agenda

As I’ve noted before, “[a]ccording to the Georgia Municipal Association’s Handbook for Mayors and Councilmembers, a consent agenda can be a useful tool when a governing body has a lot of business to cover. It typically includes noncontroversial items or those previously discussed and needing final approval, such as permit issuances, street closures, or bill authorizations. While a consent agenda can save time, it should never be used to bypass public participation or stifle open dialogue.”

We regularly utilized consent agendas in 2023. The items on the consent agenda were part of the workshop session for discussion and then approved in the regular meeting. Any member of the body could pull an item off of the consent agenda in the regular session for individual consideration. This process ensured each elected official understood the business at hand before a vote. This hasn’t happened with the use of consent agendas in 2024 and so far in 2025.

Additionally, for FY2025–2026, each member of the governing body has been allocated $900,000 in community enhancement funds—$500,000 designated for capital projects and $400,000 for non-capital expenditures.

Unlike the formal budgeting process undertaken by staff—where every dollar is tied to a specific line item—I and my colleagues did not go through that level of detail when these enhancement funds were allocated. As a result, some of the items being funded through these accounts are appearing for the first time on the consent agenda without any prior discussion.

In the spirit of transparency—and to ensure you have a real opportunity to weigh in on how these public funds are used—I believe that any community enhancement expenditure not specifically identified in the adopted budget should appear in the Regular Business section of the agenda, not the Consent Agenda.

As this fiscal year continues, I will provide quarterly updates detailing how your community enhancement dollars are being spent. You deserve to know where and how your tax dollars are being invested.

If the consent agenda is passed in its entirety, It will total more than $1.3 million in spending.

B. Consideration of and action on a request to approve security cameras for Hawthorne Station and Godby Rd. in the amount of $25,148.39. This is a budgeted item from Councilman Joe Carn Community Enhancement non capital Budget account number 100-1100-52-7282. This will service Ward 2.

Council hasn’t been provided any detail about the sites themselves — why Hawthorne Station and Godby Road were selected, and whether those are the areas with the greatest need. I believe staff, especially our police department, are best positioned to make those determinations. Before we commit these dollars, I’d like that analysis.

D. Consideration of and action on a request to approve purchase of outdoor work out equipment with shade at Brannon Park in the amount of $74,385.89 from Great Southern Recreation from the state contract with Omnia. This is a budgeted item coming from FUND: Recreation & Cultural Arts FY 2026 Budget G/L Account # 100 6122 54 7920- Recreation Capital Project. This will service Ward 2.

I don’t think adding outdoor workout equipment is a bad idea — it could be a real asset to Brannon Park. But this decision has come forward without sufficient community input. Before we spend nearly $75,000 installing permanent equipment in a neighborhood park, I believe residents should have a say in whether this is the right fit for their park and what features they’d actually use. Community voices need to be part of this process.

P. Consideration of and action on a request to approve a Community Initiative of the 20 Pearls Foundation Post-Secondary Advancement College & Career Enrichment Programs (PACE) at the Tracey Wyatt Recreation Complex. This item is requested by Councilwoman Tracie Arnold. Ward 3 Community Enhancement Fund Non-Capital FY2026 GL Account #100.1100.52.7283

This is a great foundation. That being said, it appears this agenda item is incomplete. I don’t see a particular dollar amount attributed to the support of this program. I am also unclear if any money contributed would be used exclusively for College Park residents.

Q. Consideration of and action on a request to hire Kanoom Construction, LLC to repair, construct, and restore two (2) stormwater creek basins located on the City easements at 4107 Monticello Way and 4099 Monticello Way. The cost estimate of the project is $30,389.79. This is a budgeted item. Ward 4 - Community Enhancement (Capital) GL Account #100-1100-54-7184 (FY2026). This item is sponsored by Councilman Roderick Gay.

Recently, Council approved $54,054 for a stormwater project on Winthrop Drive. I failed to raise an important issue at that time: the agenda packet did not include documentation of easements.

Now we’re being asked to consider another project — $30,389 for work on Monticello Way — and again, the packet contains no easement documentation. That matters. Under the Georgia Constitution, cities cannot use public funds to improve private property — that would be considered a gratuity, or gift, which is prohibited. Easements give the City the legal authority to enter, repair, and maintain stormwater systems. Without them, taxpayer money is at risk of being spent on land where the City has no legal right to work.

Flood control is essential, but so is protecting taxpayers from financial and legal risk. Before moving forward, we need clear answers on whether easements exist for these projects. If they do not, it is unclear how this work can legally proceed.

V. Consideration of and action on a request to Mill and Pave the City Owned Parking Lot at 2540 Riverdale Road, College Park, GA (Tax Parcel ID: 13 0029 LL0688). FUND: Ward 4 - Community Enhancement (Capital) GL Account #:100 1100 54 7184. Staff to choose from the two responsive paving estimates attached (both contractors are currently under contract for street paving) in the amount of $625,000. The scope should include milling and repaving, demolition and haul-off of 10 concrete base curbs, installation of 12 utility lights, and a new parking lot striping design. This item is being sponsored by Councilman Roderick Gay.

Ward 4’s Community Enhancement Capital account has $500,000 budgeted for the year. Prior to consideration of this item, that account has already been tapped for major projects — including $289,540 for Ward 4 street paving (Aug. 18) and $54,054 for stormwater work on Winthrop Drive (Aug. 18). We’ve already committed over $340,000 of the allocated budget.

An additional $30,390 for stormwater work on Monticello Way has been requested in this agenda (see above). This project is projected to cost $625,000 — which would push spending to about $1 million, double the budgeted amount.

This isn’t about whether paving the parking lot is a good idea — it’s about fiscal responsibility. Approving projects without aligning them to actual dollars undermines transparency. Residents deserve to know how these projects will be funded.

8. REGULAR BUSINESS

D. Consideration of and action on a request to contract Dishing Tea Entertainment with a Professional Service Agreement for the amount of $40,000.00. This is a budgeted item. Fund: Capital Improvement (Noncapital) (G/L 100-1100-52-7282). This item is sponsored by Councilman Joe Carn and Mayor Pro Tem Jamelle McKenzie. This will service all wards.

Demetris Taylor, the founder and owner of Dishing Tea Entertainment, wasn’t just floating his name — he was a serious, viable candidate for the Ward 2 seat. He publicly announced his run, updated his LinkedIn page to identify himself as a candidate, and actively promoted his campaign on social media. That shows intent and commitment. But when the qualifying period came (August 18–22), he did not pay the qualifying fee to actually appear on the ballot. Instead, he indicated on social media that “all will be revealed soon.” Now, almost immediately afterward, we see a $40,000 city contract for him on the agenda, without any competitive process for this work. The contract is for communications services that city staff haven’t requested, and the timing of these events understandably raises questions. Even if no promises were made, the perception is concerning. His campaign site is still live (as of 9/2/2025 at 8:30 am), underscoring how recent and serious his candidacy was.

F. Consideration of and action on a request to have a discussion on the Millage Rate, approve recommended Millage Rate for FY 2025-26 Advertisement and Press Release. The Total Tax Levy per fund is: General Fund $17,355,239.00, Hospitality Fund $3,075,097.00 and GICC Convention Center Special District $729,919.00. This agenda item is being requested by Terry Jackson, Finance Director and Phil Latona, Tax & Revenue Administrator. These are Budgeted items: Fund - Ad Valorem GL 100 0000 31 1100/1110, 270 4980 31 1190 and 275 4975 31 1190

It appears staff is recommending rolling back the current millage rate of 11.608 mils to 11.493 mils. I look forward to having a detailed discussion about this issue and learning more about our financial outlook.

G. Consideration of and action on a request for approval to piggyback on DeKalb County Contract ITB #22-101492 for Tree Cutting and Removal Services, awarding the contract to Casey Tree Experts in an amount not to exceed $100,000. Under this agreement, the contractor will provide all labor, equipment, materials, and supervision necessary to perform the following services: Removal of hazardous, dead, or diseased trees, emergency tree removal following storms or accidents. This contract will also cover Arborist Services. This is a budgeted item: FUND: Contractual Services (G/L 100-4200-52-6170) This agenda item is submitted by Lindell Y. Miller, City Manager.

There have been significant and well-founded concerns about trees falling during storms and at other times. Ms. Miller has indicated her desire to have an arborist inspect trees throughout the city and have dangerous ones removed. I am unclear about the amount being approved, however. The agenda memo indicates the expenditures will not exceed $100,000, while the proposed contract with Casey Tree Experts states the total cost will not exceed “$21,576.55 per year or single or combined occurrence.”

J. Consideration of and action on a request to approve the renewal contract for Food Distribution Services to Favor House, Inc. in the amount not to exceed $50,000.00. The purpose of this renewal is to continue our partnership so that the City can continue to provide food distribution services to the residents of the City of College Park. This agenda item is being requested by Councilman Carn. This is a budgeted item. FUND: General Fund, City Wide Events (G/L 100-1100-52-6193) This will service all wards.

This is a renewal of a contract initiated last year. This program is designed to help ensure that residents in need continue to have access to healthy food, especially during times when families are struggling with rising costs. Food insecurity is a real challenge in our community, and investing in solutions like this matters. But as with any public investment, we need to know whether the dollars are making the impact they’re intended to. That means tracking metrics: the number of households being served, the frequency of service, and the percentage of food distributed that reaches College Park residents directly.

This isn’t about questioning the value of feeding families — it’s about accountability and transparency. Residents deserve to see how the program is performing, and Council, as stewards of taxpayer dollars, must make funding decisions based on clear results.

K. Consideration of and action on a request to approve an ordinance to transfer parcel ID numbers 13 0003 LL0449 and 13 0004 LL0588 (commonly referred to as Brannon Memorial Park) from Ward IV to Ward II and to dedicate the property as dedicated greenspace for parks and recreational use. This item is sponsored by Councilman Joe Carn and Councilman Roderick Gay.

L. Consideration of and action on a request for approval of an ordinance to transfer parcel ID numbers 13 0029 LL0753, 13 0029 LL0712, and 13 0029 LL0688 (totaling 18 acres at 2540 Riverdale Road) from Ward II to Ward IV and to dedicate the property as dedicated greenspace for parks and recreational use.. This item is sponsored by Councilman Joe Carn and Councilman Roderick Gay.

Section 5-4 of the College Park City Charter delineates which portions of the city lie in each ward. We can change those ward lines, but I believe we must do so in accordance with O.C.G.A. § 36-35-3(b)(1), which says in part:

“Municipal charters may be amended by ordinances duly adopted at two regular consecutive meetings of the municipal governing authority, not less than seven nor more than 60 days apart. A notice containing a synopsis of the proposed amendment shall be published in the official organ of the county of the legal situs of the municipal corporation or in a newspaper of general circulation in the municipal corporation once a week for three weeks within a period of 60 days immediately preceding its final adoption. The notice shall state that a copy of the proposed amendment is on file in the office of the clerk or the recording officer of the municipal governing authority and in the office of the clerk of the superior court of the county of the legal situs of the municipal corporation for the purpose of examination and inspection by the public. …”

I don’t believe we can legally transfer parcels from one ward to another in a single step. After this vote, the change would still need to be published in the City’s legal organ, and the matter couldn’t come back for final consideration until October at the earliest.

M. Consideration of and action on a request to approve contractor, Mahogany Construction to carry out essential upgrades and renovations to the Public Works Building located at 2233 Harvard Avenue, College Park, in the amount of $51,615.00. This agenda is being requested by City Manager, Lindell Miller, with funding to be allocated from the Building/Improvement line item (GL Account #100-4000-54-7530). This agenda will service all Wards.

Anyone who has visited the Public Works building knows it is in major need of improvement. It is my understanding the contractor performing the work in this instance is on a state contract, so no bidding was required. However, for a project such as this, it would seem prudent to get additional quotes to ensure we’re getting the best value.

N. Consideration of and action on a request to approve a resolution To Affirm the City’s Commitment to Remedy Long-Term Blight in Multi-Family Residential Developments. This item is sponsored by Mayor Bianca Motley Broom.

After learning about some of the City of Atlanta’s efforts to address blighted properties, I wanted us to consider a similar approach here in College Park. For far too long, we’ve dealt with multi-family property owners who have shown little interest in providing safe, stable, and quality housing for the families in our community. When a property has been blighted for ten years, that is a clear sign of a deeper problem. This resolution doesn’t create shortcuts — instead, it establishes a framework and a goal for how we can proceed if the last resort of condemnation becomes necessary.