2025-01-09 January 09, 2025 Mayor and Council Mini-Retreat Work Session Meeting Minutes - FINAL
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January 09, 2025 12:00 PM City of Smyrna Mayor and Council Meeting 2800 King Street SE HR Training Room Page 2 of 3 5. Return to Regular Session Councilmember Travis Lindley made a motion to Return to Regular Session at 1:55 PM; seconded by Councilmember Charles Welch. The motion to approve carries with the following vote: Aye: 7 – Councilmember Pickens, Councilmember Hines, Councilmember Lindley, Councilmember Welch, Councilmember Wilkinson, Mayor Pro Tem / Councilmember Gould, Councilmember Oglesby Nay: 0 – None Recuse: 0 – None 6. Other Business Councilmember Travis Lindley • City communications, including agendas, to citizens who sign up. Joe Bennett stated Carson Haynie is working on options. Councilmember Rickey N. Oglesby, Jr. • Unhoused, working class, laborers – south side of Smyrna has motels full of unhoused families • There are school bus stops going to the hotels • Cannot act like this is not happening or ignore it • Unhoused individuals are roaming neighborhoods and sleeping out in the open • Some homeowners are allowing some unhoused families to stay in their basements overnight • Nickajack Elementary, the largest elementary school in Cobb County, has a huge population of kids with free or reduced lunches • Very intentional about the conferences and talking to others about this issue • City of Marietta built a tiny home community • Would like to have meaningful conversations about this issue this year • Councilmember Susan Wilkinson – Rebuilding Together Atlanta helps with homes to allow people to stay in their homes and age in place. There are a number of Habitat for Humanity homes built in ward 5. There are 10 apartment complexes in ward 5, and another five complexes in the county that border ward 5 with many saying they have vacancies. • Nickajack Park – Cobb County will sell the park to Mableton for $1.00/acre because they are required to sell a certain number of parks to Mableton. He would like to continue to pursue obtaining the park. City Attorney Scott Cohran stated it is likely happening because of the 489 plan. Mayor Norton will speak to the Mayor of Mableton. Mayor Pro Tem Tim Gould • Staff did a great job with the holiday lights • Traffic Calming – wants to reduce speed limit on Atlanta Road from Ridge to Windy Hill. Joe Bennett stated they have tried twice, but the state has denied it both times. Mayor Norton suggested they get Kash Trivedi, the city’s lobbyist, to pursue that. Councilmember Hines (left meeting earlier, was present by phone temporarily) • Rose Garden preservation Councilmember Susan Wilkinson