Mayor and Council Meeting - A. MAX BACON CITY HALL - COUNCIL CHAMBERS — Minutes
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June 16, 2025 7:00 PM City of Smyrna Mayor and Council Meeting 2800 King Street SE Council Chambers Page 4 of 13 community were surprised. He is so proud of the program that has been built for both boys and girls soccer. II. DISCUSSION / ACTION ITEMS Public comment during this portion of the Agenda must be limited to matters on the Agenda for action. If you wish to be heard, please sign up with the City Clerk, come to the podium when called by the Mayor, state your name and address for the record and make your remarks. The time allotted for each speaker is as follows: Public Hearing - Five (5) Minutes 6. Proclamations and Presentations A. PRC2025-022 Proclamation in recognition of Juneteenth, June 19, 2025 Citywide Councilmember Rickey N. Oglesby, Jr. read the following proclamation: A PROCLAMATION By the Mayor of the City of Smyrna In Recognition of Juneteenth June 19, 2025 Whereas, Juneteenth, also known as Freedom Day or Emancipation Day, is celebrated each year on June 19th in the United States to commemorate the end of slavery; and Whereas, though the Emancipation Proclamation had been issued on September 22, 1862, with an effective date of January 1, 2863, it had minimal immediate effect on most slaves’ day-to-day lives, particularly in Texas, which was almost entirely under Confederate control; and Whereas, Juneteenth commemorates June 19, 1865, the day Union General Gordon Granger and 2,000 federal troops arrived in Galveston, Texas to take possession of the state and enforce the emancipation of its slaves; and Whereas, Juneteenth is the oldest known celebration of the ending of slavery. The celebration of June 19th was coined “Juneteenth” and grew with more participation from descendants. Juneteenth today celebrates African American freedom while encouraging self-development and respect for all cultures’ and Whereas, on June 17, 2021, the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act was signed into law, which established Juneteenth as an official federal holiday; and Whereas, the Cit of Smyrna approved the observance of Juneteenth as official city holiday in 2022. In recognizing the holiday of Juneteenth in the City of Smyrna, we acknowledge the challenges, successes, tribulations, and perseverance of all those who lived during these periods in out history; and Whereas, the City of Smyrna will host its Inaugural Juneteenth Festival on June 19, 2025, a community-wide celebration that honors the significance of this day through fellowship, education, music, and cultural expression; NOW Therefore, I, Derek Norton, Mayor of the City of Smyrna, Georgia, do hereby proclaim June 19, 2025, as Juneteenth in the City of Smyrna and encourage the community to join the commitment for anti-racism, racial and social justice, by encouraging a day of reflection, recognition, acknowledgment, and healing. B. PRC2025-024 Proclamation in recognition of LGBTQ+ Pride Month, June 2025 Citywide Mayor Pro Tem Tim Gould read and presented the following proclamation: A PROCLAMATION