1/20/2026 Meeting Preview
You’ll see below some of the agenda highlights for our second meeting of 2026. 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 by signing up for public comment here, starting at 4:00 pm on the day of the meeting, or in person at City Hall starting at 4:00 pm. If you have feedback for Mayor and Council directly, you can email us.
This is our second meeting with the new public comment policy. In my preview of the November 17, 2025 meeting, I noted my concerns about the adoption of this policy, especially considering it was placed on the agenda the day before the meeting with very little opportunity for the public to weigh in on this significant shift in how we engage with our stakeholders. I still do not agree with this change. I cannot be in support of initiatives that make it more difficult for people to have their voices heard.
A note on Community Enhancement Funds:
In FY2025–26, 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, my colleagues and I 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 public discussion.
To ensure you have a real opportunity to weigh in on how these public funds are used (especially given the recent changes to the public comment policy), I believe 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 updates detailing how your community enhancement dollars are being spent. You deserve to know where and how your tax dollars are being invested.
You can see how community enhancement funds have been spent since the beginning of the fiscal year on July 1st through October 6, 2025 by clicking here. I will continue to supplement this information as I receive additional ledgers.
(Note: there is some overlap in the earlier information as I changed the parameters of my requests.)
I have also received questions about our overall spending. You can see all of the payments the city has made this fiscal year below. I will also update these records as I receive them.
WORKSHOP SESSION
1. Discussion on the Comprehensive Plan. Presentation by Inspire Placemaking Collective, Inc
2. Discussion on the Strategic Plan. Presentation from Consensus Solutions Incorporated, LLC
Both of these conversations are important because they help shape where our city is headed not just today, but years from now.
Our Comprehensive Plan update is required by the state every five years. It asks us to step back from the day-to-day work of running the city and think about what we want College Park to look like in the future: how we grow, where we invest, and how we protect what makes our community special. You can view our current Comprehensive Plan update here.
I presume Inspire Placemaking Collective will make a presentation, but we do not have it in the packet. If I receive it at a later date, I will share it with you.
Our Strategic Plan guides how the City delivers services over the next three to five years. It helps determine how staff time, funding, and other resources are used in the near term in order to make long-term headway on the plan itself. In short, it is the roadmap City leadership uses to turn our community’s vision into action.
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.”
For the first time in recent memory, all of the consent agenda items are from staff. They appear to be properly vetted and I don’t have any questions or concerns. It’s a consent agenda that aligns with best practices.
8. Regular Business
A. Consideration of and action on a request to approve an Ordinance for Hawthorne Ave., and Howard Dr., Stop Signs. This item is being requested by Interim Chief of Police, Sharis McCrary. This will service Ward 3. This is a budgeted item at no cost to the Police Department.
B. Consideration of and action on a request to approve an Ordinance for Godby Road and Godby Place Stop Signs. This item is being requested by Interim Chief of Police, Sharis McCrary. This will service Ward 2. This is a budgeted item at no cost to the Police Department.
C. Consideration of and action on a request to approve an Ordinance for Fredericksburg Dr; Glenda Dr and Lakeshore Dr Stop Signs. This item is being requested by Interim Chief of Police, Sharis McCrary. This will service Ward 4. This is a budgeted item at no cost to the Police Department.
When the City installs new stop signs, we are required to formally approve them through an ordinance. This step officially adds the signs to the City’s list of authorized traffic control devices.
Without this formal approval, enforcing the stop signs could create legal issues, especially if someone were ticketed for failing to stop at a sign. The ordinance ensures the signs are legally valid and enforceable.
