---
date: 2024-02-07
title: 02-07-2024 Minutes
source: 2024-02/2024-02-07_02-07-2024_Minutes.pdf
pages: 1
---

Where Community Connects

COUNCIL RE T REAT
5785 Peachtree Dunwo 0 (1y Rd.
Sandy Springs, GA 3 0 242
February 7, 2024
9:00 a. m
Summary M inutes
Mayor 8. Gig Council Administration
Mayor Anthony S. Ford Frederick Gardiner, City Manager
Mayor Pro Tem Kyle Berry Sr. Vanessa Holiday, City Clerk
Councilmember Elton Alexander Vacant, City Treasurer
Councilmember Yolanda Barber Quinton Washington, City Attorney
Councilmember LaKeisha Gantt Samantha Embry, City Attorney
Councilmember Alphonso Thomas

Mission: To provide visionary leadership and superior
municipal services that enhance the quality of
life for citizens while creating a welcoming business
atmosphere focused on sustainability and
expansion of tourism and cultural events.

Staff Present: Decius Aaron. Public Works Director and Frank
Trammer, Police Chief, Richard
Godfrey, Major and Ron Momon, Major

DAY TWO AGENDA

Mayor Ford called the meeting to order at 9:08 am.

invocation by Councilmember Thomas

Pledge of Allegiance recited by all in attendance.

City Clerk, Vanessa Holiday was asked to proceed with the roll call. All members were present.

Motion to adopt the Agenda made by Mayor Pro Tem
Berry; seconded by Councilmember
Gantt. The motion passed unanimously 5-0.

Mayor Ford read the Civility Pledge that has been adopted by the City: The way we govern ourselves
is often as important as the positions we take. Our collective decisions will be better when
differing
views have had the opportunity to be fully vetted and considered. All
people have the right to be
treated with respect, courtesy, and openness. We value all
input. We commit to conduct ourselves
at all times with civility and courtesy to each other.

Mr. Gardiner gave a review of Day One
referencing downtown project updates and incentives from
Mr. Allonce, the PATH Foundation Agreement and
scope from Mr. Ganther, the renaming of the Ted
Strickland Community Center, and updates from Falcon
Design Consultants; and gave an overview of

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meeting Agenda to include a presentation from the Police Chief, followed by a tour of Sandy
Springs.

Councilmember Alexander asked that the Connection Center remain
open to the public and include
marketing materials on display.

Councilmember Thomas noted the City Council has requested
timely updates and referenced MBO
(Management by Objective).

Mayor Pro Tern Berry agreed, noting there needs to be a cadence established whereas there is a
process by which the Mayor & City Councilmembers receive updates on projects, and that there is
to be a process and transfer of information, that in the event a Director
leaves, the project will
continue to move.

Councilmember Gantt noted the Council has previously established a
project reporting timeline and
there was a time when the City Office would place the report in the Agenda Book.

Councilmember Alexander noted he is focused on results and
prefers weekly updates and a
monthly report to be received no later than the seventh day after the end of each month.

Mr. Gardiner referenced the See Click software and information tool that is not
being used to
its full capacity; agreed with the weekly and monthly
reporting requests and referenced the growth
of the city without any executive positions added.

Police Degartment
Chief Trammer noted the importance of succession
planning, with crime as the metric; noted police
departments must police smarter and made a request for a Crime Analyst position along with a
$14,000 software program.

Councilmember Gantt noted it would be wise to make the investment in the
polling data software
which would be less costly than hiring staff. with benefits and
equipment.

Major Richard Godfrey noted it takes 8 ,

10 hours to look at migrant data; and noted there are
software programs available today to streamline the
process and will research the history of records
management system.

Chief Trammer noted the system previously used
by the County has been suspended as it was
deemed to be too convoluted; and noted the department has been
looking at software and is seeing
the cost of up to $500,000; and noted there are
validity questions with some of the databeing
received from the county and noted the police department is
currently paying Henry County
$39,000 annually and is paying $29,000 annually for the police use of the Tyler
Technology software.

Councilmember Thomas noted his concern regarding
patrolling and asked Chief Trammer what the
plan is to increase patrolling throughout the city for a more visible police presence.

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Chief Trammer noted there are four (4) Zones with one officer assigned to each
zone, and there are
challenges with having a young police department and different breed of officer in 2024.

Mayor Pro Tem Berry asked if the city is still utilizing Henry County for 911 Services and asked what
the frequency of reporting is.

Chief Trammer confirmed the Stockbridge PD is using the County for 911 services, and that the
you
can compare calls for service and incident reports; and noted the police department is using
more
real time data; noted the police department does not have a Special Investigations Unit and
will need to rely on Henry County; noted the Henry County Office has suspended their
Special investigation Unit due to a staff shortage, and recommends combining resources.

Councilman Thomas noted that there are a number of issues happening in the
background that
citi7ens and business owners are unaware of, and they just want to see
policing.

Mayor Pro Tem Berry noted you can use GClC Data to pull statistical data

Mayor Ford asked ifthere are Mutual Aid Agreements in place

Chief Trammer confirmed and note the police department relies on Georgia State Patrol for services

regarding accident fatalities at no cost; and noted the department is paying Henry County $6,000
annually to use the gun range, where initially the use was free of charge.

Chief Trammer noted the Henry County can enforce within the County, to include
Stockbridge city
limits.

Attorney Washington noted the citations may be beyond the Code of Ordinances, and the city
could not compel them to submit those citations to the Stockbridge
Municipal Court.

Mayor Pro Tem Berry noted that with the addition of the Stockbridge Police Department, the area in
which the Henry County Police have to cover has been reduced.

Chief Trammer noted the police department is working towards state certification
by the end of the
year, noting only 150 departments are accredited.

Mayor Ford asked about the recent news regarding Ring cameras

Chief Trammer noted the police department utilizes Flock cameras (18 Fixed) and (1 Mobile)
along majorthoroughfares, and in police vehicles; noted twelve (12) traffic cameras strategically
placed throughout and a drone program, all funded by ARPA; and noted there needs to be specific
training to operate the equipment.

Chief Trammer noted flashing lights are not required in the school zone, and that an SRO is in
place
directing traffic before and after school is in session; and noted federal funding was received for the
License Plate Readers in the school zones.

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Councilmember Alexander noted the homeless camps and panhandling must be addressed

Chief Trammer stated that in order to address the needs of the community, the police department
needs 79 officers, and the department is currently at (62) plus the (4) Public Safety Officers added
in the FY2024 Budget for a total of 66. therefore short (13) officers and needs two additional Code
Enforcement Officers.

Councilmember Gantt noted there needs to be more patrolling of businesses, more Code
Enforcement citations issued, citations for overgrown grass, and junk vehicles.

Councilmember Thomas noted the importance of Code Enforcement, Public Safety and Public
Works being critical departments of every city as they represent the face of the city, and
everyone
wants to live in a clean and safe city.

Chief Trammer noted that Major Godfrey is spending 70% of his time on financial matters and

grants for the department.

Councilmember Gantt asked what the role is for the Grant Administrator and what assistance
is being offered to the department.

Mr. Gardiner noted the Grants Administrator is to make sure the city remains in compliance with the

receipt of federal funding.

Mayor Ford asked where the city can find the funding for two additional Code Enforcement Officers

Mr. Gardiner noted 2024 is a wash, and the request would be considered for the FY2025
budget.

Councilmember Gantt noted that she would not commit to any new taxes.

Chief Trammer stated that his request is to increase the police department budget by $1.5 million
dollars for salary costs and equipment.

Councilmember Alexander asked at what level is the department currently operating, and what

adjustments can be made.

Chief response was Level C and needs a minimum of (10) ten additional officers

Mr. Gardiner noted $500,000 can be moved from Capital to salaries and $711,000 from the 2024
First Quarter Speed Detection funds to cover the equipment and would require a Budget
Amendment to be approved by the Council.

Councilmember Barber noted that it was her understanding that the 3.77 millage was implemented
to pay for police services.

Mayor Pro Tem Berry asked what the proposed revenue projects look like for Quarter 2, 3 and 4,
and also asked what grants are being sought.
Wny yd
