Mayor and Council Meeting - A. MAX BACON CITY HALL - COUNCIL CHAMBERS — Minutes
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February 17, 2025 7:00 PM City of Smyrna Mayor and Council Meeting 2800 King Street SE Council Chambers Page 2 of 6 A. PRC2025-001 Proclamation in recognition of Georgia Arbor Day 2025 Citywide Councilmember Rickey N. Oglesby, Jr. read and presented the following proclamation. A PROCLAMATION By the Mayor of the City of Smyrna GEORGIA ARBOR DAY Whereas: The first Arbor Day was celebrated in 1872 in Nebraska as a special day for planting trees and has grown to thousands of celebrations in communities across our nation each year; and Whereas: Community partners, families, and friends will be joined together at local Arbor Day ceremonies to recognize the benefits of trees and urban forests; and Whereas: Trees will be planted across the state creating a lasting legacy for future generations; and Whereas: Trees improve water quality and quantity, reduce the erosion of precious topsoil, increase property values and economic vitality in business areas, provide shade, cleanse the air, create habitat for wildlife, and add beauty to communities and Whereas: Trees promote outdoor recreation which improves human health and well- being and reduces "Nature-Deficit Disorder" in children by encouraging more activity and connection to the natural world; and Whereas: All of Georgia benefits from forestry, which contributes billions of dollars annually to our state's economy and provides employment for more than 100,000 people; and Whereas: The City of Smyrna has been a Tree City for 22 years due to the celebration of Arbor Day; now Therefore: I, Derek Norton, Mayor of the City of Smyrna, Georgia do hereby proclaim February 21, 2025, as ARBOR DAY in Georgia and encourage our citizens to plant trees thus leaving a legacy for present and future generations. Julie Barwig, Environmental Services Director, announced that this Friday is Arbor Day. Every year Keep Smyrna Beautiful plants a tree in recognition and celebration of Arbor Day. This year they will plant a Serviceberry Tree, a native tree, at the Recycling Center next to the pollinator pocket garden. It is an excellent tree for bees, birds, and butterflies. They are also giving out tree seedlings as part of the adopt-a-tree program, especially Redbud trees. 7. Community Development Items 8. Privilege License and Show Cause Hearing 9. Formal Business A. RES2025-006 PUBLIC HEARING and VOTE: Authorization of Resolution RES2025- 006 regarding the City of Smyrna’s intention to opt out of the statewide adjusted base year ad valorem homestead exemption. This is Public Hearing 3 of 3. Citywide Joe Bennett, City Administrator, provided the following background: