---
date: 2023-10-30
title: Work Session Meeting Minutes
source: 2023-10/2023-10-30_Work Session Meeting_Minutes.pdf
pages: 1
---

COUNCIL MEETING
ACTION MINUTES
MONDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2023 6:00 P.M.
Mayor & City Council Administration
Mayor Anthony S. Ford Frederick Gardiner, City Manager
Mayor Pro Tem Yolanda Barber Vanessa Holiday, City Clerk
Councilman Elton Alexander John Wiggins, City Treasurer
Councilman John Blount Quinton Washington, City Attorney
Councilwoman LaKeisha Gantt
Councilman 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.
I. Call to Order – Mayor Ford called the meeting to order at 6:02 p.m.

II. Invocation – Kerri Stevens, ARC

III. Pledge of Allegiance – Recited by all in attendance except Councilman
Alexander.

IV. Roll Call – All members were present.

V. Motion to amend the Agenda to Remove Item #6 made by Councilwoman
Gantt; seconded by Councilman Blount. The motion passed 4-0.

VI. Motion to amend the Agenda to Replace Item #6 with a request for use of the
Merle Manders Conference Center for a Christmas event requested by State
Representative Angela Moore made by Councilwoman Gantt; seconded by
Mayor Pro Tem Barber. The motion passed 4-0.

VII. Motion to adopt the Agenda as amended made by Councilman Blount;
seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Barber. The motion passed 4-0.
VIII. Review of the Minutes
1. Council Meeting Minutes September 11, 2023
2. Work Session Minutes September 26, 2023
No Action

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PUBLIC COMMENTS
All persons wishing to speak for public comment must sign in with the City Clerk prior to
the beginning of the meeting noting your name, address, and phone number. You will be
allotted three (3) minutes. Speakers must respect all members of the elected body,
officials, and staff. Defamation, unruliness and/or swearing will not be tolerated.
There were no public comments.

Councilman Alexander joined the meeting at 6:04 p.m.

CONSENT AGENDA
3. Resolution in support of the award of the DD RLF Application by the
Downtown Development Authority of Stockbridge for the downtown project
located at 132 MLK Senior Heritage Trail, Stockbridge, GA 30281 on
behalf of the NOLA Bistro and Daiquiri Bar LLC.
Motion to approve made by Councilwoman Gantt; seconded by
Councilman Alexander. The motion passed unanimously 5-0.

NEW BUSINESS
4. Council consideration to approve the Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA)
between the City of Stockbridge and the Citywide Development Authority.
Presented by: Fredirick Gardiner, City Manager and Quinton Washington,
City Attorney
Motion to Table to hear following Executive Session made by
Councilwoman Gantt; seconded by Councilman Blount. The motion
passed unanimously 5-0.

5. Council consideration to approve submission of a grant application for the
Recreational Trail Program for restroom facilities at the west end of Reeves
Creek Trail off Flippen Road. The City of Stockbridge will submit a grant
application for the Recreation Trail Program with an estimated total project
cost of $450,000. The grant will require a minimum 20% ($90,000.00)
match. The City will commit to a 50% ($225,000.00) match using SPLOST
V funds which will be reimbursed by the grant. The grant application states
that if a City commits to more than a 20% required match, the applicant will
receive additional scoring points. So the City will commit to a 50% match.
Presented by: Jeremy Goodwin, Assistant Public Works Director
Motion to approve made by Councilman Alexander; seconded by Mayor
Pro Tem Barber. The motion passed unanimously 5-0.

6. Council consideration to approve request from Brentwood Parks HOA
Board that the 51% approval of all homeowners to install speed humps be
waived and speed humps installed at locations along Brentwood Pkwy and
a designated lined crosswalk installed in the amenities area to enable
pedestrians to safely cross the road. Homeowners in each individual
subdivision along Brentwood Pkwy can still individually petition the city to
install speed bumps with 51% homeowner approval per the City of
Stockbridge regulations.
Presented by Decius Aaron, Public Works Director
This item was removed from the Agenda and replaced with the item below.
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Council consideration to approve a request for use of the Merle Manders
Conference Center facility only, with no cost to the City, for a Christmas
event requested by State Representative Angela Moore, to take place on
Saturday, November 25, 2023.
Motion to approve made by Councilman Alexander; seconded by
Councilman Blount. The motion passed unanimously 5-0.

7. Council consideration to approve request from The Winding Creek
Subdivision HOA for the City to assume the responsibility of paying the
monthly streetlight bill for the subdivision's street lights effective January 1,
2024. The cost is $1,476.97 per month, $17,723.64 annually.
Presented by: Decius Aaron, Public Works Director
Mayor Pro Tem Barber requested the city’s Streetlight Policy Analysis as
discussed at the Retreat.

Point of Order made by Councilman Blount – upheld by Mayor Ford.

Motion to amend the Agenda to discuss the Streetlight Policy made by
Mayor Pro Tem Barber; seconded by Councilman Thomas, voting to
Approve; Councilman Alexander and Councilwoman Gantt Opposed;
Councilman Blount Abstained. Mayor Ford voted to Oppose. The motion
failed 2-3-1.

Motion to task staff to bring the Streetlight Assessment to the November
28, 2023 Work Session meeting made by Councilman Alexander;
seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Barber. The motion passed unanimously 5-0.

Motion to approve Item #7 made by Councilman Alexander; seconded by
Councilwoman Gantt. The motion passed unanimously 5-0.

8. Council consideration to authorize the Mayor to sign the Transmittal for the
update of 2028 City of Stockbridge Comprehensive Plan and submit to the
Atlanta Regional Commission and the Georgia Department of Community
Affairs for review.
Presented by: Ryan Anderson, Interim Community Development Director
Motion to remove the Item from the Agenda due to the incorrect verbiage
uploaded by department staff and replace with the correct verbiage as
referenced below made by Councilman Blount; seconded by
Councilwoman Gantt. The motion passed unanimously 5-0.

Council consideration to approve a Resolution for the adoption of the 2024-
2028 Five-Year City of Stockbridge Comprehensive Plan Update and
submit to the Atlanta Regional Commission and the Georgia Department of
Community Affairs.
Presented by: Ryan Anderson, Interim Community Development Director
Motion to approve made by Councilman Blount; seconded by
Councilwoman Gantt. The motion passed unanimously 5-0.

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9. Council consideration to adopt Sanitation Collection Senior Discount
Program for qualified senior citizens. Qualifying seniors will receive
a 75% reduction in the annual sanitation fees for their place of residence.
To qualify, seniors must: (1) Be age 70 or older; (2) Be the owner and a
resident of a single-family dwelling where the discount is requested;
(3) The annual household income for the applicant’s residence from all
sources does not exceed $57,200.00. Income must be confirmed by the
most recent tax return; and (4) submit income documentation to the City on
or before May 15th of each year.
Mayor Pro Tem Barber requested the Cafeteria List of Exemptions to
include Septic that was scheduled to be presented at today’s meeting.

Point of Order made by Councilwoman Gantt – upheld by Mayor Ford.

Staff was tasked with bringing the Cafeteria List of Exemptions to the
Council at the November 28, 2023 Work Session meeting.

Motion to approve with the age lowered to 65 and must apply for rebate by
January 31, 2024 to receive a discount for 2023 sanitation fees and apply
discount by May 15th to receive a rebate for 2024 sanitation fees made by
Councilman Blount; seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Barber. The motion
passed 5-0.

ANNOUNCEMENTS OF UPCOMING MEETINGS
UPCOMING MEETINGS & ANNOUNCEMENTS: Council meetings will be held in the
City Council Chamber. Meeting dates, locations and times are subject to change or
contact City Hall offices at 770-389-7900 for updates.
• Stockbridge Citizens-Police Advisory Council meeting 1st Thursday of each
month at 6:00 p.m. at the Stockbridge Police Community Room 4545 N. Henry
Blvd. (Nov 2)
• Main Street Advisory Board Meeting, 2nd Friday of each month – Welcome
Center located at 130 M L King, Sr. Heritage Trail at 9am (Nov 10)
• City Council Meeting, 2nd Monday of each month at 6:00 p.m. – City Hall Council
Chamber (Nov 13)
• Youth Council Meeting, 6:30 p.m. - 2nd Monday of each month - City Hall Levi
Meeting Room - City Hall (Nov 13)
• Citywide Development Authority Meeting, 2nd Tuesday of each month at 6:00
p.m. - City Hall Levi Meeting Room (Nov 14)
• Downtown Development Authority Meeting, 3rd Tuesday of each month
Welcome Center 130 M L King, Sr. Heritage Trail (Nov 21)
• Youth Council Advisory Committee Meeting, 6:30 p.m. - 3rd Tuesday of each
month Levi Meeting Room - City Hall (Nov 21)
• Planning Commission Meeting, 6:30 p.m. - City Hall Council Chamber 4th
Thursday of each month– (TBD)
• City Council Work Session Meeting, last Tuesday of each month at 6:00 p.m. –
City Hall Council (Nov 28)

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UPCOMING CITY EVENTS/INITIATIVES

• Join Mayor Ford in partnership with S.H.E. 4 Women Veterans Inc. for the S.H.E. Factor
Women Veterans Expo & Summit, Saturday, November 4th from 11am - 4 pm at the Merle
Manders Conference Center

• Calling all Veterans! Join the City of Stockbridge for the Annual Veterans Day Luncheon on
Friday, November 10th from 11am – 1pm at the Merle Manders Conference Center as we
honor those who have served and continue to serve this great nation. Please RSVP
to:events@cityofstockbridge-ga.gov by Nov. 4th.

• Join Councilman Blount for Bingo Bash, Wednesday, November 15th from 10am – noon at
the Merle Manders Conference Center located at 111 Davis Rd.

• Join Mayor Ford for the monthly Meet the Mayor on Monday, November 27th from 10am –
noon. Please contact Rosalynd Rawls to schedule an appointment at 678-833-3348 or via
email at rrawls@cityofstockbridge-ga.gov

• Join Councilman Thomas for the Don’t Trash Stockbridge initiative centered around
education highlighting the causes and effects of Littering and Illegal Dumping. More
information to follow.

• Councilman Thomas is honoring Veterans with a Continuous Salute all year long. Please
send your pictures of Veterans with their name, branch, rank, and years of service
to rrawls@cityofstockbridge-ga.gov

Early voting is underway at the Merle Manders Conference Center located at 111 Davis Rd.
Stockbridge, GA from 7am - 7pm through November 3rd. Election Day is Tuesday, November
7th. Please be reminded that election day voting only takes place at your neighborhood polling
precinct. Please check your election day voting location at MVP.SOS.GA.GOV

MAYOR’S COMMENTS
Mayor Ford wished everyone a safe and Happy Halloween tomorrow; noted COVID-19
is still with us and encouraged everyone to get their vaccinations and boosters to stay
healthy; and notified everyone that Costco is having a ribbon cutting and grand opening
on Thursday, November 16, 2023 at 7:30 a.m.
Councilman Alexander noted Costco Gas is opening on November 2 nd.
Motion to convene Executive Session for Personnel, Real Estate, and Litigation made
by Councilman Blount; seconded by Councilwoman Gantt. The motion passed
unanimously 5-0.
Motion to adjourn Executive Session to sign an Affidavit and with no action regarding
Agenda Item #4 made by Councilman Blount; seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Barber.
The motion passed unanimously 5-0.
Motion to reconvene the meeting made by Councilman Blount; seconded by
Councilman Alexander. The motion passed unanimously 5-0.

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Motion to adjourn made by Councilman Blount; seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Barber.
The motion passed unanimously 5-0.

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