Meeting discussionsStart with a topic.

Um so I appreciate that. Is there any questions of the applicant from council? Thank you. Thank you. I must have covered it all. For sure. Thank you all again. This is a public hearing. Nobody signed up, but is there if anybody walked in late that would like to speak for or against this item, please come up and be sworn in by our city attorney. Now, all right, seeing none, we'll close the public hearing and we will turn it over to Councilman Lindley, who is handling this uh issue this evening. Thank you. Uh thank you, Mr. Mayor. And again, thanks to uh Rusty and Joey and the team uh for for their effort and thanks to Triton Homes, Mr. Poston, Mr. Moore. Uh I think the the level of engagement with the neighbors is is what in my view is prescribed with with every project we consider. So, thank you all for for doing your part. It makes it easier when it gets calendar for Smyrna Municipal Court. I'm going to um start out by giving you all some instructions. Sounds like Judge Collins just made a It was entrance into the council meeting. Okay. I was just happy heard somebody else heard the voice. Continue, Mr. Lindley. Um with uh without further ado, motion due pass is presented. Second. Have a motion do pass, second by Miss Hines. All those in favor, please vote. Can we leave Mr. Pickkins outside for the rest of the month? And that's approved 6 with Council Member Pickkins recusing himself from this vote. Thank you all very much. One question I had that I I didn't ask and I'm just curious what what's the price point for these homes? What's the price point gonna be for these homes? I'm not going to hold you to it, but No, it's quite all right. Yes.

So, they'll uh high sevens, low eights um and it probably with add-ons. So, um that's what that's what the proposed price range or contemplated price range would be. So, it'll be really nice and I think it'll look great. It'll be a beautiful neighborhood when it's done. I think you'll be proud of it. They they would love to start as soon as possible. Ready to go. So, just needed this one step. So, thank you. I see the next door neighbor, the pastor's here, too. May maybe get some new members, too. Church. Good. Okay, we'll move on now. Um the formal business, we don't have any privilege license, show cause hearings tonight. Uh formal business, we have one, two, three, four, six items. Uh item A, adopt authorizing resolution 2025- Z008 approving an intergovernmental agreement economic development intergovernmental economic development agreement with the downtown Smyrna development authority. a preliminary official statement and other instruments relative to the issuance of series 2025 federally taxable revenue bonds for the purchase of approximately 12.72 acres at 390349 and 3967 South Cobb Drive as well as demolition site development and issuance costs related there too and this is regarding the uh old Emory Adventist hospital site on South Cobb Drive. Uh Mr. Bennett background please. Thank you sir. So, the downtown Smyrna Development Authority is under contract with Emory University to purchase the former side of Emery Hospital consisting of approximately 12.72 acres at 3903, 3949, and 3967 South Cobb Drive. The Downtown Development Authority has authorized the issuance of series 2025 federally taxable revenue bonds in an amount not to exceed 11,750,000 for the purp purchase as well as demolition site development and issuance cost related thereto. This resolution approves an intergovernmental economic development agreement between the city and the downtown Smyrna development authority. a preliminary official statement and other instruments as may be necessary relative to the bond.

Finance and economic development staff recommend adoption. Thank you, Mr. Bennett. I'll just say about this site, the the the city was approached about what by by Emory about what we would prefer to be at this site. And part of the part of the suggested uses or market uses for this site was, you know, 5600 plus apartments and, you know, a coffee shop. And this council has just talked about what what this community um what this community would want at that site. and we we thought we could probably bring some other uses that are more recreational based or or something that the the community can really be proud of. So, we're going to try to put that together for you all and I look forward to um future reports on progress. I'm excited about the opportunities for that space. Any questions or comments from council on this? Mr. Gould, one comment, Mr. mayor and uh yeah to echo your comments I'm very pleased that Emery came forward and engaged with us in conversation about what what we think the residences want there and look this is a great I think a great project for the city um as we explore some possibilities for that piece of property but just one one thing just to point out right in in the in the uh description here says to mention demolition of the buildings and that's not something that's going to happen um you know any anytime soon they'll be part of a bigger plan so not to not don't want anybody thinking that's going to happen including the the physician groups and pharmacy that is currently uh leasing that space back from Emory before this deal is done. The intention of this council is for them to continue doing that until we have master planned that space. So, uh no no need for those for those folks.

I know that's your intent, but I don't I don't want them to be nervous about having to move tomorrow. But it's an exciting it's exciting project. It is. It is. Any other comments? I agree. a tremendous opportunity on South Cobb Drive uh where the the city and our citizens are looking for some uh some rebirth and redevelopment. So, uh awesome opportunity. Uh just as a point of clarification, uh the hospital has been closed, I know, since before I joined council. So, that's been five and a half years ago. Um and Mr. Cochran, there is a deed restriction that another hospital could not buy it unless Emery agreed to it. So the I just wanted for the public's sake the the hospital at that site uh is no more. Um so think that is worth mentioning that's we're not buying it and closing a hospital that's been closed for nearly six years been closed for a long time. And and also it's I think it's worth noting that I I've got full confidence that we're going to be able to put together a a an excellent use or mix of uses for that property to bring to the citizens. But if somehow the sky fell and we were unable to put a deal together, uh the market is still ready to proceed with other uses, uh whether it's multif family or whatever. So So the taxpayers in my mind, um are are in a in good shape. If we're able to do this, which I think we're going to be able to, we're we're going to have a nice product for y'all. If not, um you're still taken care of from a a finance standpoint if we were to go back out and sell this to the market. So, uh, feel good about the deal. And if there's not any other comments or questions, I'll entertain a motion.

Like to make a motion, Mr. Mayor, for item 9A, uh, resolution 2025- Z008 as previously read. Motion do pass, seconded by Mr. Oglesby. All those in favor, please vote. And that's approved unanimously. Thank you. We'll move now now to item B, authorization to approve the contract based off RFQ25-021 to tripleR paving and construction LLC in an amount not to exceed $1,422,468.54 to be paid from Elmig Funds in 2022 resurfacing line item for the milling and overlay of city streets and authorize the mayor to sign and execute all related documents. Mr. Bennett, the background, please. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. This project is to mill and overlay approximately 22 city streets as part of our citywide annual resurfacing purchasing and public works recommend authorization. Pretty straightforward. Any comments or questions? Just a a question, Mr. Bennett. Uh I think we were told the other night this equates to about 10 miles of paving. Is that correct? Yes, sir. Thank you. Any other questions? Entertain a motion. Motion do pass by Mr. Lindley, second by Miss Hines. All those in favor, please vote. That's approved. 70. Item C, authorization to amend the American Rescue Plan Act, ARPA fund, adopted project length budgets to reallocate funding from adopted project budgets and create additional projects. Mr. Bennett, the background, please. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. The city has completed several projects and needs to reallocate funing to other projects. We also need to establish project length budgets for several obligations that did not have an established budget. Staff recommends authorization to amend American Rescue Plan Act. And this is trueing up our budget. Yes, sir. Any questions or comments from council? All right. Entertain a motion. Move to pass by Mr. Lindley, second by Mr. Welch. Everybody, please vote. signs. You want to vote? You don't have to. You don't have to attack it. That's approved. 70.

Item D, authorization to approve extended incremental work hours and Sunday work outside the already approved hours work hours for couch group on the village green bathroom and and playground project. Mr. Bennett, which hours are they talking about here? Yes, sir. It extends um their work hours on Saturdays till 6 p.m. again on Sundays until 6:00 p. p.m. with no noisy or large work starting prior to 12:00 p.m. on Sundays. And we discussed this in in work session on Thursday and pre-consil before this meeting to clarify that that work in any morning would be interior work that did not create um noise. And I know this council is if that were to occur uh we would come back and amend this if should it pass. Any questions or comments from councel. All right. Entertain a motion. So move to pass by Mr. Lindley. Second by Mr. Pickkins. Everybody please vote. And that's approved. 70. Item E, approve an addendum to the amendment extending the term of the concession agreement with Gunonna Fly Now LLC until January 31st, 206, and authorize the mayor to execute all related documents. Mr. Bennett, the background, please. Yes, sir. The city of Smyrna has a concession agreement with Gonna Fly Now LLC covering the operation of the Fox Creek Golf Course on Windy Hill Road and Cobb County has a similar agreement with Gonna Fly Now LLC covering the operation of the Abuing Legacy Golf Course. The city recently approved an amendment to the concession agreement extended the term until January 31st, 206. The National Park Service has requested that its standard concession agreement guidelines be incorporated into the concession agreement guidelines and this addendum does that. Staff recommends approval. Thank you, Mr. Bennett. Any discussion? Okay, I'll entertain a motion. Motion to approve. Motion to approve by Mr. Wel, second by Mr. Lindley. Everyone, please vote. That's approved.

70 with an exceptionally aggressive vote by council member Hines. Item F, approval to renew the property liability insurance provider with travelers insurance with OakBridge and Seville as the brokers of record in the amount of $1,163,43824 and authorize the mayor to sign and execute all related documents. Mr. Bennett, the background, please. Yes, sir. The city maintains property and liability insurance with an annual coverage period of May 1st, 2025 through April 30th, 2026. Rates are based on a look back of past claims, losses, and liability explo exposure taking into account the newly installed turf soccer fields. This policy includes risk management services provided by the brokers of record. The administrator recommends approval. Any discussion? All right. Entertain a motion. Motion do pass by Mr. Oglesby. Second. Second by Mr. Gold. All those in favor, please vote. That's more easily approved. 70. Next is the consent agenda. Mr. Bennett, can you please read the consent agenda for council approval? Yes, sir. Item A, MIN2025-074. Approval of the April April 3rd, 2025 committee of the whole meeting minutes. Item B, MIN2025-076. Approval of the AP April 7th, 2025 pre-consil meeting minutes. Item C, MIN2025-078. Approval of the April 7th, 2025 mayor and council meeting minutes. Item D, ATTH 2022-064, authorization for the closure of West Spring Street in the lower portion of the Market Village to King Street on Saturday, November 1st, 2025 from 7:00 a.m. until 11:59 p.m. for the Smyrna Public Safety Foundation at Vineyard Wine Market Jazz under the Gazebo private event. Council approval to serve beer and wine. Item E, ATTH 2025-065, authorization for the approval for the 2025 Smyrna Market road closure as follows. King Street from Steven Street to Bank Street, West Spring Street from the traffic circle to King Street, and Bank Street from King Street to Village Walk on Sunday, May 4th, 2025 from 8:00 am to 3 pm.

Thank you, Mr. Bennett. Do I have a motion to approve the consent agenda? So moved by Mr. Lindley, second by Mr. Pickkins. Everyone, please vote. And that's approved. 70. Now we're the to the citizen participation portion of our meeting. Uh we have believe we have anybody. Do we have anybody signed up? Got one. Matt Conn, 1439 Whitfield Street. Come on up. If you don't mind, I'd love to pass something out to y'all. Sure. So, I don't know who just hand it to Miss Heather and she'll Good evening everybody and thank you for uh all that you do and your work and thank you for having me here this evening. I enjoy coming to these meetings. Uh it's part of how I view my role as a pastor here in the city of Smyrna is just to know what's going on in in all arenas of the city and and the civics arena of it is one of the more important ones for sure. And so I wanted to come here tonight as well to celebrate something with all of you. And part of what I've just handed out there is a bit of who we are as a church and then also um something I'm super excited about which is our our brand, our new brand. And I'm not excited about the brand for the sake of the brand. I'm excited for about what the brand actually represents. And so that's a little bit of what you have in front of you right now. But the thing that I wanted to celebrate was the fact that my wife and I and our three-year-old daughter, we moved, we lived in Smyrna for 10 years up until 2020. And then we moved away and we were gone for about three and a half years.

And then the denomination that I'm a pastor with then gave me the green light to move anywhere almost anywhere in the country to start a new church. And we knew we had to rule out Atlanta first and in particular Smyrna first because of our history here. And the more we thought about it, the more we talked to people and the more that we prayed, the more we realized that we couldn't. And we had to come back to Smyrna. And we believe that um Smyrna doesn't just need one new church, but needs dozens of new churches. And we were excited to be one of those new churches that are here in the city because of all the growth that's happening and some of what that growth represents as well. And so we came back and our lives when we lived here before were very disembodied. We worked downtown. We we shopped up in Woodstock and Sandy Springs. Uh and really what we did in Smyrna was we went to the grocery store and we went out to dinner and we might have hung out with a friend or two. And then when we um came back, we we wanted to try to live a life that was hyper local, a life that and and therefore create a community that lived, worked, played, and actually worshiped together to. And so we are the church that Robert Harrison had he bought the Spring Street Baptist property. And so we're the church that he's allowed or brought in into that particular property. And so we're very excited to be partnering with him in that regard to also be so close to Smyrna Market Village. And speaking of Smyrna Market Village, you can see in our branding story here that when some of our members, we're going through our rebranding process itself.

When some of our members did an aerial view of Smyrna just to try to get some inspiration for things and they saw that the fountain from an aerial view loosely represented a cross, that's when they just said, "We got to do something with this." So I agreed. We pushed into it. And then what they came up with ultimately, you'll see it's got some rounded edges on the cross because that represents the warmth and the welcome of our church. And then you can also see there's white lines in between the cross that goes to the center of the cross. And each one of those white lines essentially represents the different paths that people in Smyrna take to get to the economic and community hub of the city. But then also for us, it's our heart and our hope that people would actually come to Jesus through these different paths as well. of course, just as a pastor. So, I just wanted to let y'all know that we just launched public worship yesterday, Easter. And so, we are we're open for business, I guess you could say. And we invite you to come and join us anytime you want. And then also just to say as well that our heart, again, like I said, is for people to live, work, play, and worship here in Smyrna. I know that's your heart as well. I've come here long enough. I've had coffees with enough of you to know that. And so, you have a support a supporter in us and a supporter in our church, too. So, thank you for what you do. Pastor, I was going to ask you, how long ago has it been that you reached out and we went and had breakfast? It's been uh six months. Nine months. Been six, nine months. Congratulations to you for your first service and we're so happy to have you in the community.

Thank you. It's great to be here. [Applause] Anybody else wish to speak speak this evening? All right. So, we'll move on to ward and staff reports and we'll start tonight with Mr. Ricky Ogusby. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Uh, this weekend, uh, our spring sports are starting to come to an end here locally for our youth. And once again, our Smyrna local, uh, Smyrner Elite Spartans track team, which is also supported by Smyrna Parts. We have a lot of young talent that will be going to state and competing again. once again. So, I wish them luck. Uh, originally that was at Marorrow High School. Looks like it has changed to Love Joy High School. So, um, if you know any of those young athletes, a few are future Olympians, please give them a shout out and wish them luck. Thank you. I yield back, Mr. Mayor. Mr. Oglesby, you just reminded me and I'm I'm I have to I have to mention it. Uh, and I mentioned it in pre-cons. We had two uh state championship well five altogether I guess or four. Uh the nine-year-old girls basketball from Smyrna basketball won the state championship and we have three local gymnasts from the city of Smyrna including my daughter Samantha Norton who are state champions for their divisions. And so you're right we've got a whole bunch of talent in our uh in here in Smyrna and all across all sports and super excited about that. Thanks for mentioning it, Mr. Gould. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Uh, a couple quick things. Uh, we had the Campbell High School Education Foundation golf tournament today out of Fox Creek and pastor was there. Uh, it was a really good great outing and and appreciate the mayor and council for supporting that and, uh, to support one great programs at the at the Campbell High School.

Uh, voting for district 2 commissioner race is next Tuesday, April 29th. So, please come on out and vote. Most all of us, I think, give or take. I think they all live in district two, so please make sure we get out and vote. Thank you very much, Mr. Mayor. Mr. Wilkinson. Thank you, Mayor. Um, I want to remind everybody about the Jungquil Festival. Um, this coming weekend, Saturday and Sunday, there's over 150 um arts and crafts boots, booths, 12 um food booths, entertainment stage, and a variety of children's activities. Um, so I invite everybody to come out and enjoy the festivities this um, Saturday and Sunday. And then there will also be on May 3rd the Smyrna garden tour which will also be uh, it'll be before we have another meeting, but you can look online and get your tickets to do the garden tour. There's five homes that are in the tour and then the T-room at um, the Taylor Bronner House. and they will also have uh plants for sale at both of those events. So come out and enjoy the festivities. Thank you. Thank you, Miss Wilkinson. And also on May 3rd, uh is the junk jog. So you can sign up at supportsmyrna.org and there's information about it on the city social media as well. Mr. Welch, I'll be very brief. I just want to welcome Waterstone Church, Pastor Matt, to the community. Thank you for being here. Pastor I think you won an an item at the the raffle today that I hope you'll call me and share. It' be good. Mr. Lindley, I want to know now. I want to know what he wants. Well, you can ask him after. Um, we're having a robust discussion about what weekend is next. Um, so, as the mayor mentioned, the first public open house in person will be next Monday, the 28th, uh, at the community center.