2026-08-03 August 03, 2026 Mayor and Council Meeting Minutes - FINAL
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August 03, 2026 7:00 PM City of Smyrna Mayor and Council Meeting 2800 King Street SE Council Chambers Page 2 of 5 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 7. Community Development Items 8. Privilege License and Show Cause Hearing 9. Formal Business A. RES2026-008 Resolution to designate the City of Smyrna, Georgia a Bee City USA affiliate and authorize the Mayor to sign and execute all related documents Citywide Julie Barwig, Environmental Services Director, presented the following: The mission of Bee City USA is to galvanize communities to sustain pollinators responsible for the reproduction of almost 90% of the world’s flowering plant species by providing them with a healthy habitat rich in a variety of native plants and free of nearly all pesticides. We have more than 3,600 bee species in the US and more than 500 in Georgia alone. Pollinator-friendly communities can benefit local and regional economies through healthier ecosystems, and supporting pollinators fosters broad-based community engagement, environmental awareness and sustainability. Keep Smyrna Beautiful is already actively establishing pollinator gardens in public green spaces and promoting educational opportunities focused on native plants. To be a Bee City would mean hosting an educational event or pollinator habitat planting once a year, install and maintain Bee City signage, develop and implement a program to create or expand pollinator-friendly habitats on public and private land, and create and adopt an integrated pest management plan to prevent pest problems, reduce pesticide use, and expand the use of non-chemical pest management methods. The City of Smyrna will be the first city in Cobb County to be designated a Bee City. Councilmember Latonia P. Hines thanked them for their efforts, especially as this year is the 100th anniversary of the publishing of Winnie the Pooh, a honey-eating bear. Councilmember Rickey N. Oglesby Jr. made a motion to approve item RES2026-008; seconded by Mayor Pro Tem / Councilmember Tim Gould. The motion to approve carried with the following vote: Aye: 6 – Councilmember Pickens, Councilmember Hines, Councilmember Lindley (virtual), Councilmember Wilkinson, Mayor Pro Tem / Councilmember Gould, Councilmember Oglesby Nay: 0 – None Absent: 1 – Councilmember Welch